Northern Ireland Virtual School

The Northern Ireland Virtual School was a concept that was discussed in the period 2001-2003 but it appears never to have actually started.

This was a period when several European ministries were considering virtual schools but the discussions in Northern Ireland are better documented than most.

Education Committee, Thursday 22 February 2001, MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

Review of Post-Primary Education in Northern Ireland

(quotations from http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/education/moe/moe010222.htm)

Mr Cargo from the Belfast Education and Library Board noted:

I shall pick up on the issue of providers. Currently, all our Boards are exploring the whole concept of alternative provision for 14 to 19-year-olds. NVQs are delivered off-site to increasing numbers of young people, in partnership with industry or other training organisations. Ultimately, those will have an impact on the shape of the education system.

At the moment, all five boards are considering the possibility of establishing a Northern Ireland virtual school for young people who are not currently attending any institution. Over the next five years, we will see a range of alternative models for delivering lifelong learning. All our debates show that it is important for us not to jump immediately into a simplistic debate about structures - important as that is - and that we take a holistic view. Ultimately, we need an education service that delivers excellence and allows us to contribute to the economic well-being and future development of Northern Ireland.

emPowering Schools Strategy: Paper 8: What is elearning and why it is important?

(quotations from http://www.empoweringschools.com/briefingInfo.asp?id=13)

This paper, written in January 2004, noted:

In the UK, however, little is understood about elearning in schools. Much of what is currently known world-wide is based on experience from higher and further education and from virtual high schools in the USA. While the evidence base in the school sector is relatively limited, the experience is generally positive, although lessons learnt from these contexts do not transfer directly or uncritically.

Northern Ireland is well placed, at this time, to take forward leading-edge research and development (R&D) in the application of elearning in the schools sector because of:

• the Curriculum Review, changes in the curriculum at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 and the review of post-primary schools;

• leadership development programmes provided by the Regional Training Unit;
• the investment in C2k and the creation of a common online learning environment;
• completion of NOF training in ICT by the vast majority of Northern Ireland teachers;
• a growing interest in the application of neuroscience, multiple intelligences and cognitive styles to understanding the learning process;
• elearning pilots and standard-setting through the Northern Ireland eLearning Partnership.

Based on pilot work completed during 2002/03 there is a need for further progress to create a Northern Ireland Virtual School, an organisational arrangement which would have the capacity support the collaborative provision of courses and thus supplement the work of schools. We set out below some initial priorities.

This programme should:

• be supported by a programme of independent evaluation;
• draw upon an ongoing review of relevant school-based research elsewhere;
• include elements of action-research;
• focus initially upon the areas below to develop quality indicators.

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