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Don’t break the bank Schools may no longer be in a position to spend large amounts on ICT solutions, but that does not mean that investment in this area has to end. Matthew Jane considers how to provide quality ICT opportunities on a shoestring
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ducational technology is constantly evolving. Whether it is the launch of the latest gadgets to engage learners or new ways of working collaboratively, there is always something new to grab the attention of students and teachers alike. But in these frugal times schools are increasingly struggling to provide the level of investment they would like in this crucial area. A recent BESA report, titled ‘Impact of New Technologies’, found that more and more schools feel they are unlikely to be able to maintain planned new technology investments for the coming year, with 56% of primary and 65% of secondary schools suggesting it is unfeasible. Although the big budgets of recent years have come to a screeching halt, it does not mean that technological innovation no longer has a place in the classroom. If anything, it is more important than ever to ensure learners are properly equipped. “Our evolving technological landscape continues to drive socio-economic change, so as educators we cannot afford to stop innovating or thinking creatively,” says Gareth Wynne from Futurelab. “We must embrace the learning possibilities of new technologies and provide every child with an equal chance to participate in this new technological culture.” Not only is this technology something that will fully equip learners to enter the world of work with applicable skills, it is now something that, from an early age, they will expect to use in day-to-day activities. For example, research shows that 60% of children regularly produce and distribute material on the internet. “Young people want to learn from their peers and many are keen to share their experiences to become valuable members
“Our evolving technological landscape continues to drive socio-economic change, so as educators we cannot afford to stop innovating or thinking creatively” of these online communities,” says Wynne. “Students are no longer constrained by their geography, types of resources they access or the people they collaborate with and we must embrace this in the school environment.” Fortunately, there have been some significant advances in technology that are allowing schools to save both money and energy while continuing to deliver a quality learning experience. “For instance, [there is] high speed internet access that gives access to web-based applications and desktop virtualisation, which is a form of shared computing,” suggests John Barco from NComputing. Virtualisation is a useful way of extending the life of hardware and infrastructure as it can be deployed on existing computers and servers. “Desktop virtualisation means using virtual desktops instead of traditional PCs,” explains Barco. “It can triple the size of a computer classroom without increasing the ICT budget.” As well as saving money on hardware, virtualisation could also help reduce energy bills. Cloud computing is another increasingly popular way for schools to save money while still delivering excellent service. “Infinitely scalable with transparent costs, schools can choose from a range of services tailored to their individual needs and budget,” says Chris Wiseman from Northgate Managed Services. “This enables schools to step into the cloud at their own pace while being able to reap the associated long-term cost savings.”