The evaluation explores the impact of East Midlands Broadband Consortium (EMBC) services and connectivity on schools, both in teaching and learning and in management and administration. It considers factors influencing the use of connectivity by teachers and schools and examines awareness of EMBC and expectations of the services provided. It highlights key challenges and makes recommendations, including the need to understand the potential offered by broadband through an increased and common awareness of information and communications technology (ICT) so that EMBC can engage in meaningful two-way dialogue with its users.

The evaluation was commissioned with a view to helping to implement a rolling programme of monitoring and evaluation which the East Midlands Broadband Consortium can use to inform their future development. In particular it is to be used to understand the impacts of EMBC’s work on schools and other stakeholders in order to support the identification and sharing of good practice and the identification of areas for development.

The evaluation was divided into two phases: an online survey of staff in schools and in non-school settings; and case studies of EMBC schools with broadband connection.

The research provides a positive endorsement of broadband connectivity in schools and of the difference that broadband is making to teaching and learning. The low uptake of the ancillary services, such as learning platforms, was largely due to end-users who lacked awareness about their potential and who considered these services to be difficult to use and unreliable. The report makes recommendations concerning: the need to raise awareness of information and communications technology (ICT) support and the potential of ICT; and how EMBC can improve its ongoing day-to-day support for users.

National Foundation for Educational Research
Phone: +44 1753 574123
enquiries@nfer.ac.uk

01/02/2006

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Karen Lewis, David Teeman, Lesley Kendall

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Digital services

Internet access