SchoolsOutGlasgow.net

SchoolsOutGlasgow.net was an online learning project aimed at addressing the learning needs of pupils who do not, or cannot attend school regularly. It ran from around 2003 but is no longer running.

The web site SchoolsOutGlasgow.net no longer exists.

SchoolsOutGlasgow.net was a response by Glasgow City Council (GCC) to the specific learning needs of pupils who do not, or can not, attend schools regularly. Interrupted learning has generally been associated with marked underachievement and a subsequent reduction in life chances, little access to job opportunities and a reduced likelihood of participation in life-long learning initiatives. The project, thus, could be seen as a move to ensure equality of opportunity in learning for some of the most vulnerable learners within the present construct of school education. It was, however, only one in a range of support for learning initiatives within GCC.

SchoolsOutGlasgow.net was an online learning project to support a range of learners with significant interruptions to their attendance at school or for whom school-based learning has not been viable. It was specifically designed to build on the lessons learned from GCC's involvement in previous ICT projects, such as the Ultralab Not.school.net.

Building on Notschool.net, it aimed to provide a more motivating, relevant and enabling learning experience through a dedicated tutoring team for pupils in outwith school settings. It was "needs led", responding to a continuum of learning needs, offering novel forms of communication and interaction.

It was expected to provide a relatively stress-free context for the learners and the tutors, with the freedom to develop new ways of working. In particular it was envisaged that learners would be enabled to take increased responsibility and control of their learning goals. Within this approach the traditional roles of the teacher and learner would become blurred. Cognizant that these young people could become isolated learners, it also aimed to develop a sense of community among the learners, by establishing a group identity and ethos within an on-line environment.

A key issue was how to provide a learning environment that would gain the commitment of the young person and her/his family and would be recognised by them as a valid educational experience.

The project was targeted at five specific groups - typical of those targeted by such initiatives:

1. young people who are absent from school on a medium/long term basis through ill health
2. young people who are alienated/school phobic and who are school refusers
3. young people who are Looked After by the local authority
4. young people excluded from school
5. pregnant schoolgirls/new mothers.

Details

From October 2002 until June 2003, the SchoolsoutGlasgow.net team addressed the needs of interrupted learners by the use of technology. Using tutor support for the learners, who will be working from home, the project aimed to provide personal, social, academic and vocational development through engagement with learning on the web.

Working within the context of the Scottish education system, SchoolsoutGlasgow.net gave students an interest in learning by peer encouragement, tutor support, empowerment and web access.

Content used in the project included existing and newly developed resources such as web and CD-ROM, online courses, avatar communities and web-cam tutorials to provide a new model for learning for interrupted learners in Scotland.

The use of games was aimed to provide stimulating educational experiences, particularly for those who have not engaged with mainstream educational activities.

The project also developed the use of educational games, helping to develop key skills such as communication, negotiation and team building.

Evaluation

The evaluation aimed:

• to assess the impact of the project on the socialisation/isolation of vulnerable and interrupted learners
• to identify any differential impact of the project for pupils from the targeted groups and from girls and boys
• to assess the effectiveness of online learning for vulnerable and interrupted learners
• to identify factors which facilitate online learning and those which disrupt online learning

A total of 27 recommendations were made following the evaluation. However, the project is no longer active.

The summary evaluation and full evaluation report are available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/12/20398/48688

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