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Promoting Equality and Inclusion Rosetta McLeod – ICT Manager, Dundee City Council George Laidlaw – HT, Menzieshill High School. what do we mean by digital inclusion and exclusion? how is Dundee tackling the issue? minibooks at Menzieshill Academy
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Promoting Equality and Inclusion Rosetta McLeod – ICT Manager, Dundee City Council George Laidlaw – HT, Menzieshill High School
what do we mean by digital inclusion and exclusion? • how is Dundee tackling the issue? • minibooks at Menzieshill Academy • how can national organisations, local authorities and commercial companies work together to promote solutions?
explore • express • exchange
The vision • access for all, whenever, wherever…… • ability to be technological nomads • blended learning needs blended technological solutions • intuitive users
Barriers to Digital Inclusion • age • competencies (skills, knowledge, attitude) • location (eg urban/rural etc) • socio-economic factors (income, culture etc) • disability • gender • ready availability of appropriate ICT solutions • etc
ICT in Dundee – the facts • Intelligent Community Forum (top 7) • Digital Observatory • good ICT infra-structure in schools -1:5.81 in primaries 1:2.58 in secondaries - well on the way towards desktop/IWB in each teaching area • high level of ICT/IT support
BUT…… • not all schools have ICT suites/pupil access to computers in the classroom • not all new-builds have ICT suites • not all pupils have access at home (Dundee towards the bottom in SIMD) • not all teachers promote ICT skills • sometimes a business-standard education network inhibits progress
Dundee minibook project • hands-on access to elements of Glow • Pupil Pioneer project • obstacles to overcome • Glow Group
Challenges and solutions • Linux-based – not supported by IT • Linux-based – not to connect to network • need for a solution where low-cost technologies complement existing infra-structure • pilot safe 3G filtered access (RM and T-mobile) at a fixed cost
The Menzieshill experience • Menzieshill High School, Dundee
Discussion • How can the various players (national organisations, local authorities, commercial companies) work together to develop solutions which will promote digital equality and inclusion? • How can we overcome the technological barriers to equality and inclusion? • Will Glow increase or decrease the digital divide? • What are the implications of the draft Technologies outcomes?