2. 2
14/02/2013
My personal eLearning journey
• KnowledgePool, online training pioneer
• Creating a Knowledge Utility – the NGfL
• UK NetYear
• Netmedia – BGfL and BGfL Plus
• Birmingham eLearning Foundation
3. 3
14/02/2013
• Retirement brainchild of Professor Tim
Brighouse
• Establish an eLearning charity in
Birmingham
• Based on US experience in deprived areas
• Create level playing field of opportunity
• Engage teachers, pupils, parents and local
business
• Enhance educational attainment
4. 4
14/02/2013
The first two years
• Initial Trustees
• Slow progress
• Attacking fund-raising at two ends of the
spectrum
• Unsuccessful in engaging local businesses
• A more commercial approach needed
5. 5
14/02/2013
The context
• Birmingham has some of the most deprived
areas in the UK
• Examples of low levels of parental engagement
• High levels of FSM
• Mixed results being achieved
• Increasing youth unemployment
6. 6
14/02/2013
2003 a fresh start
• New trustees, strong education focus
• New Head of BeLF, Ian McCall
• New strategy
• New collaboration with BCC
• New vision…………………….
To give Birmingham’s
Children an unfair advantage
7. 7
14/02/2013
Specific Objectives
• Bridge the digital divide
• Provide Birmingham children with their own learning
device
• Get parents involved
• No child excluded through parental inability to afford
• Provide schools with the necessary administration, grant
support, commercial support and donation management
• Combine parental contribution with school funding and
grants
• Perform the role of honest broker
8. 8
14/02/2013
Benefits of working with BeLF
• BeLF is a charity with no commercial agenda
• Led by education focussed people who are committed to
Birmingham
• Able to provide impartial education technology advice
• Track record of engaging with parents and getting them
involved
• Project and financial management
9. 9
14/02/2013
What has BeLF achieved?
• BeLF has raised £1.5 in grants for Birmingham
schools
• BeLF has provided 36,000 children with
computers, laptops, tablets, slates etc.
• BeLF has managed thousands of monthly
transactions on behalf of schools
• BeLF has assisted schools in achieving enhanced
levels of parental engagement
10. 10
14/02/2013
Impact
• Enhanced pupil engagement and motivation to learn
• Children are developing multi-modal forms of
literacy
• New patterns and practice of homework seem to be
emerging
• Enhanced parental engagement
• Opportunity to research topics on the internet
• Development of self managed learning skills
11. 11
14/02/2013
Is there still a role for BeLF?
• Birmingham has some of the most deprived
areas in the UK
• Parental engagement still an issue
• Over 40,000 qualify for FSM
• Mixed results being achieved
• 23% youth unemployment
