ICTiS 2008 SWGfL Merlin Update (Secondary) SWGfL Portal

SWGfL Merlin 6th Feb ‘08 - SWGfL chooses RM and Netmedia partnership to deliver learning platform services Piloting in 3 phases across the region between early May and late June Ready for early adopters in Sept ‘08

Funding Retained funding covering SWGfL Merlin licences for at least 3, and probably 5, years. Funding given to schools for purchase of further learning platform services such as VLEs (£3000 per school £20 per pupil)

Merlin Pilots Account Provisioning from SIMS (Early May) Functionality testing / admin tools (Mid May) Merlin-branded pilot - more functionality tests, uploading, customising etc - (mid/late June) Volunteer pilot schools may be sought when definite plans available Linda Duffy may be seconded 2 days/week until July to assist with training, implementation and engagement with SWGfL

Timelines  Indicates milestone payments JanFebMarAprMayJunJulyAugSept - onwards Contract Hosting Install Pilots preparation  Pilots Implementation - go live  Testing and feedback Engagement and Training Early adopter Merlin available

Possible Interfaces

What is happening in Dorset? Most Secondary schools have a VLE, but few have them embedded across the whole school Dorset e-ILP (Individual Learning Planner) - Chesil Partnership piloting in Summer term (plus others). The ILP supports Diplomas (Travel to Learn students) and the need to track attendance, student targets, tutor comment, assignments etc. The ILP has some VLE tools - personal space, eportfolio, resource library.

VLE Trials April - Dec ‘08 16 schools (First, Primary, Middle, Special) undertaking pilots of 5 commercial VLEs Fronter, It’s Learning, Kaleidos, Netmedia, and Studywiz Training in late April/through May Case studies to be created at the end of the trials to share with all Dorset schools

SWGfL Call-off contract The Grid is negotiating a call-off contract with suppliers from the Becta Learning Platform Framework Supplier catalogue for schools to help inform choice and save need for mini- tenders LA will pass on choices from schools to Grid for aggregated purchase probably twice a year. LA will be the intermediary

What about the SWGfL Portal? Available as a central service until April 09 Purchase decision for individual schools thereafter (subject to approval by Dorset Schools Forum) Integrated with Merlin, so those schools still using it can continue, but Merlin will provide better community / communication tools.

SWGfL Portal Those schools wishing to migrate Portal usage to Merlin should talk to Linda Duffy about the logistics. Consider being a Merlin Early Adopter in Autumn or Spring Term Wind-down plans TBC. Old accounts need wiping and schools may wish to retrieve old content.

For more information... SWGfL Merlin Becta