1. A child centered learning platform
Kowari
A child centered learning platform

2. Background
School has 348 nursery and infant pupils from a very mixed catchment area, approximately 50% of homes having access to the internet.
In we began to investigate using a learning environment when redesigning the school website. Supported by LA with a learning environment product that was rolled out to staff as tool to support planning and organisation through a number of training sessions.
September 2005 we started to develop areas that would support other stakeholders governors, parents and pupils ready for our launch in Summer 2006.
End of 2005 we had concerns about how we could fully use the platform to provide personalised learning for our pupils. The interface of our existing platform was unappealing and difficult for them to navigate. We looked at BETT 2006 for a solution.

3. Kowari as an alternative
The Pupil interface is child friendly and easy to navigate
The K-mail, K-Chatter and K-Debate support the school’s priority of purpose for writing
Tools within the pupil areas support their ICT development
Even very young children can easily save and access work from home or school
It needs minimal staff training to be able to use it effectively enabling teachers to set differentiated tasks for pupils which can be accessed from home or school
It is personalised for parents so that they are able to overview their child’s work and also send and receive information from school
E-safety is ensured as it is restricted to use within the school community

8. Launching the Learning Platform
Awareness raising for stakeholders:-
Staff - through training and in-house support
Governor training
Parents and pupils were involved in a launch event –
The General Knowledge Quiz Champions of New Invention which was transmitted to all classes and interested parties using Macromedia Breeze

9. Developing sustainability
Supporting staff to provide quality activities that are linked to the curriculum and further developing pupils ICT skills.
Foundation Stage pupils develop Personal, Social and Emotional education
Key Stage 1 – Literacy
Encouraging pupils to ask questions and write riddles.

10. KS1 History – After interviewing Blackbeard pupils continue to ask him questions through K-mail.

11. Teachers are able to differentiate tasks in the pupil journals
Teachers are able to differentiate tasks in the pupil journals. Pupils can easily access the appropriate activities from school or home.

12. K-chatter and K-debate ensure that all pupils are able to make contributions to lessons.

13. Improving home school links
Parents and pupils are informed of events through the journal. They are able to download newsletters and information leaflets.
Pupils review activities in their K-Journals, add additional notes and continue work begun in class.
There was a pirate named Jip,
A drop of rum he liked to sip,
He punished his crew with a whip,
They threw him overboard off the ship.
Pirate Pete had a gun,
He swapped it for a chocolate bun,
He ate so many he could not run,
In the end he weighed a tonne.

14. Children have begun to collaborate at home
Children have begun to collaborate at home. Year 2 pupils were particularly enthusiastic about a website they had been introduced to which involved finding pirate treasure. I found that they had ed each other clues on how to solve the mystery.

15. Parents need support to access and understand the purpose of a learning platform

16. Our findings to date
Of the two platforms that we are using parent and pupil access is far greater in Kowari
Initial teething problems with new products meant that we had a slow start
Parents are still a little reluctant to ask for help as they feel that we will be judgemental about their skill level
Pupil enthusiasm has helped to develop home use and this is now gathering momentum
Our after school stay and play has very limited attendance
Staff are beginning to embed activities using Kowari in their planning
Of the 50% who have internet access 70% use Kowari

17. Where next?
Increase the opportunities for using Kowari both in school and at home by extending provision for more Foundation Stage pupils
Share good practise with all staff through planning and preparation time and in-house INSET
Provide more opportunities for parents to attend awareness raising events
Develop pupil portfolios through ‘Footsteps’ a new tool provided by Kowari
Change the format of our ‘Stay and Play’ so that more pupils and parents who do not have internet access can take advantage
Develop the use of the platform as a consultation and evaluation tool