FOCUS on technology-supported learning in further education

Abstract

The Dearing Report of 1997 has raised the profile of the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in learning and teaching. This in turn has led to a demand for staff development on the successful incorporation of ICT in education (Smith and Oliver, 2000). In HE, there have been a number of targeted funding initiatives such as the Computers in Teaching Initiative (CTI) and the current third phase of the Teaching and Learning Technology Programme. This latter programme focuses on embedding learning technologies rather than developing software products, leading to generic projects on the implementation of ICT in education. As these projects aim for cross-institutional transferability, there seems no reason why - although carried out in the context of HE - they should not be widened to address the needs of the FE sector.