Promoting Equality and Inclusion

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Promoting Equality and Inclusion Rosetta McLeod
ICT Manager, Dundee City Council George Laidlaw
HT, Menzieshill High School
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• what do we mean by digital inclusion and
  exclusion?
• how is Dundee tackling the issue?
• minibooks at Menzieshill Academy
• how can national organisations, local
  authorities and commercial companies work
  together to promote solutions?

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• explore
• express
• exchange

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The vision

• access for all, whenever, wherever
• ability to be technological nomads
• blended learning needs blended technological
  solutions
• intuitive users

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Barriers to Digital Inclusion

• age
• competencies (skills, knowledge, attitude)
• location (eg urban/rural etc)
• socio-economic factors (income, culture etc)
• disability
• gender
• ready availability of appropriate ICT solutions
• etc

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ICT in Dundee the facts

• Intelligent Community Forum (top 7)
• Digital Observatory
• good ICT infra-structure in schools
• -15.81 in primaries 12.58 in secondaries
• - well on the way towards desktop/IWB in each
  teaching area
• high level of ICT/IT support

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BUT

• not all schools have ICT suites/pupil access to
  computers in the classroom
• not all new-builds have ICT suites
• not all pupils have access at home (Dundee
  towards the bottom in SIMD)
• not all teachers promote ICT skills
• sometimes a business-standard education network
  inhibits progress

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Dundee minibook project

• hands-on access to elements of Glow
• Pupil Pioneer project
• obstacles to overcome
• Glow Group

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Challenges and solutions

• Linux-based not supported by IT
• Linux-based not to connect to network
• need for a solution where low-cost technologies
  complement existing infra-structure
• pilot safe 3G filtered access (RM and T-mobile)
  at a fixed cost

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The Menzieshill experience

• Menzieshill High School, Dundee

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Discussion

• How can the various players (national
  organisations, local authorities, commercial
  companies) work together to develop solutions
  which will promote digital equality and
  inclusion?
• How can we overcome the technological barriers
  to equality and inclusion?
• Will Glow increase or decrease the digital
  divide?
• What are the implications of the draft
  Technologies outcomes?