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Curriculum Online - news update September 2008 Curriculum Online is now closed! The Curriculum Online website and catalogue that gave teaching professionals access to digital learning resources that could be bought using eLCs – e-learning credits is now closed. The catalogue is no longer maintained because ring-fenced funding via eLCs ceased at the end of August 2008 and therefore it is no longer possible to use eLCs to purchase digital resources. The Curriculum Online website and catalogue, which has been managed by Becta since January 2005, has given teaching professionals access to digital learning resources that can be bought using eLCs – e-learning credits. The total of funding of eLCs since the Curriculum Online Project started was over £500m. Future funding of digital resources From 2008 onwards, the Harnessing Technology Grant is the main source of funding for ICT in schools. Funding is allocated to local authorities - details on how much each one is receiving can be found on Teachernet at: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/capitalinvestment/allocations/statement/ Local authorities determine the basis on which to distribute the Grant to eligible schools, and are also entitled to keep up to 25% of their allocation centrally for collaborative purchasing on behalf of all schools. The Harnessing Technology Grant is capital funding and can be spent on ICT-related products and services which are classified as capital expenditure. Digital curriculum resources can be bought using the Harnessing Technology Grant, but only where the terms and conditions under which these products are supplied mean that they can be regarded as capital purchases (for example, if the assets acquired will have a life longer than the financial year in which they were purchased). Schools wishing to use the Harnessing Technology Grant for digital curriculum content services which involve an annual subscription are advised to contact their local authority finance teams to obtain their expert view on whether this is a permitted use of capital funding or if revenue budgets should be used to pay for such services. Schools are able to use other sources of funding in addition to the Harnessing Technology Grant to pay for technology-related products and services – these include Devolved Formula Capital and the School Development Grant (for revenue expenditure). For further information about funding for ICT in schools, please visit the Becta website at: http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=lv&catcode=ss_lv_bud_fun_03&rid=14499
Finding out about digital resources Once Curriculum Online has closed, schools will still want to find out about the educational software available to support the delivery of the National Curriculum. Using a search engine is likely to identify suppliers, many of whom are currently registered with Curriculum Online. In addition to suppliers’ commercial sites there are a number of other sites that offer information and advice on using ICT in the curriculum, including the following: The Becta Schools site contains information, advice and guidance on technology in education The TDA site contains information available on how to search for digital resources The Teacher Resource Exchange is a moderated database of resources and activities created by teachers Inclusion has a catalogue of resources to support individual learning needs QCA has guidance on planning, teaching and assessing the curriculum for pupils with learning difficulties The Standards site has information, guidance and links to resources for the Primary and Secondary National Strategies NAACE publishes a free newsletter focusing on ICT in education, as well as journals available on subscription NAACE Primary has articles on using ICT in the curriculum as well as product reviews |