Download Case Study

Anticipating the Future

Stoke Park has always been at the forefront of ICT learning, in fact, the school developed a school intranet for learning a number of years ago, extended the opening times of IT rooms from 7.45 am into the early evening and started using a VLE. In 1993 it identified and developed a “Learning Culture” — “where all students took greater responsibility for their learning and development and where learning would be challenging and enjoyable” — as a main priority for school improvement. The school has been in the process of developing their “Learning Culture” vision ever since, seeing new ICT teaching and learning resources as fundamental in realising it.

Meeting the Challenge

As their experience and ambitions grew it became clear to the school that their existing VLE was letting them down when it came to what they wanted to achieve from a learning platform. Head Teacher Bill Wolger lists the following issues the school had with their previous VLE: there was “a lack of innovation with the old platform, which did not develop as promised; an inability or unwillingness of the provider to respond to feedback or requests for modifications; a number of instances of instability of the platform; limited functionality, especially around interactive features”.
 
With the rest of their ICT infrastructure firmly in place and having had the previous experience of using a VLE, the school knew exactly what they were looking for when they decided to change their learning platform. Top of their list were: reliability, ease of use and ease of access for administrators, students, teachers and parents plus an attractive front page that they could personalise. They also wanted increased interactivity and for students to be able to monitor progress themselves.
Having had experience of developing their own e-learning materials they knew they needed something that was more than just an electronic textbook. Only the Viglen Learning Platform from “it’s learning” could successfully meet all of their criteria with its attractive easy to use interface and its unique ability to personalise learning.
 
As Janice Taggart, the VLE Team Leader, puts it: “The look and feel of the interface was appealing. It was also easy to create materials and it supported a wide range of programs. At least as importantly, it’s learning and Viglen appeared to be committed to developing the product to suit our particular needs”.
 
She goes on to explain: “We have seen ICT as an important medium for developing a learning culture, the Viglen Learning Platform from “it’s learning” fits into the long term aim of giving students access to learning resources whenever and where ever they want them”.

The Head teacher also believes that there have been several other very positive results of using the VLP package: “Firstly, the ability for the students to take over responsibility for learning themselves and secondly, we have been pleased with the enthusiasm of the pupils and their willingness to use the system in their own time, out of school hours”.
 
In fact, an industrious group of Year 10 Engineers identified the platform themselves as a way in which to work outside of normal school hours. Using the project feature they designed a remote control vehicle and won a national award for their efforts, being recognised particularly in their use of CAD.
 
The potential for learning has apparently motivated teaching staff too and in keeping with the school’s philosophy, despite the wide range of e-learning packages available, the school has generated all of their own e-learning materials, which has led to increased ownership and personalisation.
“A majority of teachers have been excited by the potential for improved learning; we have become increasingly imaginative in developing ways to use the VLE”, Bill Wolger explains.
 
Other features that the school is particularly impressed with include the self-marking tests that provide instant feedback for pupils. The email function allowing teachers to keep in touch with students on study leave (and chase up late and incomplete work) has also been very popular. Stoke Park is so enthusiastic about the Viglen Learning Platform from “it’s learning” that they are sharing their unique vision of teaching and learning with other schools in the area.