J2E Project

Exciting new software trial

Between Easter and the end of September 2010 we are running a project alongside j2E.com (http://www.j2e.com) to trial their new online product which provides a 'Textease Like' suite of software tools, accessed online. An extract from their web site is below.

" j2e is an on-line, creative, writing and publishing tool, that uses many media - text, pictures, shapes, animations, sound, video, links and embedded objects. All pages saved are web pages, each with a unique web address (url) which can be accessed from anywhere, by a private or public audience. With j2e collaboration and sharing tools are built in. j2e is useful across much of the curriculum, for documentation, data collection, communication, sharing and collaboration. j2e provides a creative environment, that is fun to use."

With the revised frameworks, the Rose Report and changing primary curriculum many schools are reconsidering their ICT provision and contemplating moving away from the dedicated ICT suite to a more flexible solution using wireless technology and portable devices. One of the issues that schools have faced is that to connect these laptops/netbooks to the school's network is sometimes a technical issue and often involves a cost in purchasing extra software licenses.
Additionally, home access to school software is a barrier to pupils extending their learning beyond the school day as very few homes have access to curriculum software or find the purchase of software such as MS Office prohibitive. Therefore, some pupils cannot complete their work other than in school.
As j2e is web-based, no software is required by the end user, thus potentially breaking down these barriers to extending pupils' learning opportunities.
The trial will last from the beginning of the summer term until 30th September.
The trial is limited to a maximum of 10 schools.
Aims of the project

• To see whether access to web based software is beneficial to the school in allowing more immediate access to eLearning and extending learning opportunities into the home.
• To consider if, in the long term, it might be feasible, more beneficial and more economical to have web based software as the core curriculum software rather than the current approach of software residing on the school server.

School Commitment

• The school must have reliable wireless internet access for this project. This need not be a whole school wireless infrastructure, but could be a laptop trolley with a wireless router attached, or a some classrooms with wireless installed.
• The school must send at least one representative to a half day training session at North Hull CLC on Monday 19th April. We will be running one morning and one afternoon session. (Supply cover not provided).
• Successful schools will be notified about their time as soon as possible.
• The school must provide some feedback on the project and j2e's software. This could be a regular contribution to this paget be or a small case study at the end of the project.(Pupils' would be a very valuable part of this feedback).
• To allow j2e and/or the CLC to visit the school, (with appropriate notice) to see how the staff and pupils are proceeding with the trial.

J2e Commitment

• To provide 1/2 days training for schools.
• To provide access for the schools' pupils for the duration of the project
• To offer the schools a reduction in the subscription price of £.075p pppa if the school decides to subscribe.

CLC Commitment

• To provide a venue for the initial training
• To provide in-class support, if requested, to participating schools.
• To publish the feedback from participating schools.
• To provide statistics on the software's use, both in and out of school.
• To provide loan equipment (Netbooks) to schools. (Quantity available to each school is variable depending on the total number of requests).

If you would like to be considered for this project, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)