These projects took place in the past. Readers may find the content interesting, so we have left the pages on the site. Although the projects are officially over, their outcomes continue to influence much of the work we undertake. In addition, our 'Teacher Zone' space on Think.com has been combined with the US-based 'Teacher Lounge' and is now called 'Teacher Zone'! Registered Think.com users can find this area either via the link on our area, or via the World page under 'Professional Development'.
A MirandaNet and Oracle Think.com Project
| Outline of Spaces | Background |
The Thinking Space team has been working on research and development in four programmes that are crucial in the transformation of teaching in the classroom using ICT. Central to this work is building online learning communities focusing on the elements that seem to be vital in creating learning communities in schools and amongst teachers.
Thinking about Learning is looking at the opportunities for learning community based software provides.
Thinking about E-Mentoring for potential peer mentors experienced teachers who support other teachers wanting to extend their use of ICT in their teaching
Thinking about Change focuses on a series of role play workshops designed to encourage senior managers to consider issues that impact on schools faced with the need to integrate new methods of teaching and learning.
Thinking Space for Teachers: work in this area concentrates on the UK Teacher Zone and research into good practice.
Since 1997 the government have invested more than £1.7 billion in the National Grid for Learning which is intended to raise standards and to transform teaching. Engaging the profession in the use of the NGFL has proved to be challenging. Oracle is one of the companies which accepted a government challenge to make the NGFL work for education. They have invested over £14 million in the development of Think.com, a learning environment which gives all children access to the power of the Internet in a protected environment.
This software was designed jointly with Professor Stephen Heppell at Ultralab and forms the basis of the Talking Heads community for head teachers and Grid Club for 7-11 year olds working at home and at school.
Since 1999, the MirandaNet Thinking Space team has been researching and developing the applications of Think in partnership with Oracle. Approximately £3 million is being invested by Oracle in this research, development and evaluation phase which already has 50,000 users.
Seminars and Publications
As part of the Thinking Space project, MirandaNet has been running a series of six seminars on Think.com.
The team are also producing a number of publications. Jane Dorner, Jane Field and Anne Sparrowhawk have written a definitive handbook to help teachers understand Think.com called, How to Think.com. This autumn, a book How to Build Online Education Communities – a teachers guide will be published, authored by Christina Preston, Jane Field and Anne Sparrowhawk.
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