SocialTech

DigiLit Leicester - Secondary School Digital Literacy Framework and Survey

The DigiLit Leicester project has been up and running for nine months now. We've been incredibly busy, working with  schools across Leicester to design and implement a digital literacy framework situated in secondary (11-18 year olds) school practice. We've linked this to a survey open to all schools in the city's Building Schools for the Future Programme - in order to capture where school staff are across the city in terms of their current practice. This will help us promote and share the innovative and effective work currently happening, and support staff of all levels of confidence to move forward.  

We'll be using the survey results to work with schools to plan their next steps and to target activity where it will have the greatest impact.

There are three key project stages:

• Investigate and define digital literacy, in the context of secondary school based practice
• Identify current school staff confidence levels, and what the strengths and gaps across city schools are, in relation to this definition
• Support staff in developing their digital literacy skills and knowledge - raising baseline skills and confidence levels across the city, and promoting existing effective and innovative practice

The project is designed to benefit schools both prior to and after the opening of their new school, and to be of relevance to staff working in secondary schools both old and new. It will help all school staff supporting learning and learners to develop their skills and confidence in using technology – from absolute beginner to advanced practitioner. It recognises that staff work in different environments and have different strengths and interests.

The project team are pleased to share our first project outputs here – the development of a digital literacy framework situated in secondary school practice, and the creation of a survey tool designed to identify staff confidence levels in relation to the framework. We are releasing this report under an Open Licence, which means that others are free to share, adapt and use our work non-commercially – for the benefit of other secondary schools or other sectors. Please do get in touch if you make use of our work – we would be delighted to hear from you!

Download the project report:

DigiLit Leicester - initial report June 2013 (Word)

DigiLit Leicester - initial report June 2013 (PDF)

 

 

Cross-posted from LCC's SchoolTech blog.

 

School Educational Technologist Post - Job Description and Matrix

I've been working with Leicester City Council's HR Department, in consultation with secondary schools, to create a new school post - Educational Technologist. The career grade post - with three grades defined - will be of particular interest to schools who make use of ICT Managed Service provision, although schools who provide their ICT Service in-house may be interested in how the new post sits within existing or planned provision.

The overall purpose of the post is described as:

To provide support to the school/college in identifying and implementing the use of technologies which enhance learner outcomes and experience, and that improve administrative functions.

The major objectives of the post are:

• To ensure the effective use of technology for educational, community and business purposes and to share good practice, ensuring continuous improvement in the use, management and support of technology for staff and learners.

• To ensure the efficient and effective administration and management of accounts, systems and processes as appropriate.

• To ensure staff queries and requests for help are responded to and resolved quickly and that issues are correctly addressed.

• To ensure the development and technical maintenance of the schools online presence, resources and activity.

• To ensure the effective management and support of ICT equipment and facilities, including routine maintenance of computers and peripheral equipment takes place as appropriate.

• To keep up to date with new developments in technology, especially those relating to education and the school’s/college curriculum.

• To promote the use of new and existing technology, the devices, software, services and platforms that support the schools work and curriculum.

• To ensure that adequate arrangements exist for the security of data, systems and hardware.

• To implement and promote Leicester City Council's and the school/college’s policies and procedures relating to all areas of employment and service delivery.

You can download the JD and Level Matrix here:

Download Leicester City Council - Educational Technologist JD & Level Matrix 2013

 

Cross-posted from LCC's SchoolTech blog.