The eLearning Foundation

Web address of the case:

http://www.e-learningfoundation.com

Country of the case:

United Kingdom

Posting Date:

12 November 2007

Last Edited Date:

26 August 2008

Author:

Joe Cullen (Tavistock Institute)

schools | students | partnership

Type of initiative

Network

Case Abstract

The e-Learning Foundation aims to reduce the effect of this â€œDigital Divideâ€ by working with schools, parents and other stakeholders to ensure that all children have access to the learning resources that technology can make available, when and where they need them, both at home and at school.

Description of the case

Domain

eInclusion

Topic

Digital literacy and competences

Sector

Education, Science and Research | Local/Regional Community Development

Start date - End date

January 2001 (Ongoing)

Date operational

January 2001

Target Users

Young people at risk of marginalisation | Families and children at risk | People with no or poor digital literacy | SMEs, associations and intermediaries

Target Users Description

School children

Scope

National

Status

Operation

Language(s)

English

Policy Context and Legal Framework

Supports IUK Government's Inclusion Through Innovation, Tackling Social Exclusion Through New Technologies and Harnessing Technology: Transforming learning and children's services (DfES, 2005).

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative

Training and education

Overall Implementation approach

Partnerships between administration and/or private sector and/or non-profit sector

Technology choice

Not applicable/not available

Funding source

Public funding national | Private sector | Charity, voluntary contributions

Project size

Implementation: €49-299,000

Yearly cost:

€500-999,000

Implementation and Management Approach

The e-Learning Foundation performs three main tasks:
- Provides a free advisory and support service to help schools develop the most appropriate strategy to achieve high levels of home ICT access;
- Acts as a fundraiser and grant provider to help schools develop their own sustainable sources of income;
- Actively campaigns at government level to keep the Digital Divide at the forefront of public consciousness.

Technology solution

The Foundation mainly operates as a 'bridging' channel. It organised donations and other funding streams to enable schools to update their ICT systems

Impact, innovation and results

Impact

Since 2001, the e-Learning Foundation has helped over 220 schools in the UK give over 38,000 of their most deprived students and families home access to IT

The main innovation of eLearning Foudnation is not technological, It is institutional. It has developed and applied a new partnership approach that leverages funding to schools, students and parents in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. This in turn reflects a 'bottm up' approach to delivering key government policies on e-inclusion and e-learning

Track record of sharing

Many of the participarting schools have moved forward to develop their own ICT development programmes by building on the initial collaboration with eLearning Foundation.

Lessons learnt

Lesson 1 -Develop a bottom up approach to eInclusion.

Lesson 2 - Enlist the support of key stakeholders, including business, parents and schools.

Lesson 3 - Build in sustainability by developing funding mechanisms that create leverage.

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