This short article aims to highlight the background, key features and current vision of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) project at Ranvilles Infant School. The full version of this research project is available through the University of Winchester library: Aubrey-Smith, F.S., (2007) 'How the implementation of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) can affect the strategic development of a whole school. MA(Ed) Dissertation. University of Winchester.'

Welcome to the Spring 2008 issue of Computer Education. In this issue we bring you a further perspective on the use of data, this time from Mike Bostock, while Helen Boulton and Pete Bradshaw explore the use of weblogs in supporting student teachers' use of reflective journals, a technique that readily transfers to younger learners. Jason Ohler offers further reflections on the philosophy of ICT in the classroom while Alex Savage provides a personal insight into BETT'08 and Jim Merret updates us on funding sources. A report on MOSEP is given by Ray Tolley while a series of articles from Christina Preston explores braided learning and social networking between professionals. Your Editor meanwhile considers 'interesting times' and how we are so close to transformational change but might never get there.

Going to BETT is always an exciting prospect. Will there be new interesting technologies that can enhance the teaching learning process? It is impossible to see everything at BETT, in fact sometimes I think it is impossible to find anything at BETT, it's so huge but I always hope to make new discoveries.

Waiting outside in the weak winter sun I talked to the people around me to understand who was coming to the exhibition. I talked to South Africans, Australians and I could see from the badges that this was a truly international exhibition. We should be proud and realise how lucky we are this event has such a draw.

This article is a personal view of some of the things that caught my eye and it is not meant to be representative of the whole exhibition.

Embedding ICT in history teaching: blogs, wiki's and podcasts

In the summer term 2006 I set myself the challenge of mastering blog's, wiki's and podcasting. Why? I was intrigued by these emerging on-line communication tools and wanted to incorporate them into the way I taught Year 6 history.

A report on a digital video project developing oracy and literacy for
all pupils, including those learning English as an additional language (EAL).

In February 2006 the Northamptonshire Advisory and Inspection Service, Primary ICT Team began a project with six schools from the Huxlow Cluster which was set up to show how using a video camera could impact on the raising of attainment in Literacy, particularly with written work.

In 1988, while teaching a professional development course for teachers concerning the use of telecommunications in education, I had an experience that changed me irrevocably. I had just finished describing the expectations for the final project, when a student raised her hand and asked if she could produce a video instead of writing a paper. The question caught me totally off guard. As I paused, mouth agape, I could feel old thinking and new paradigms chafing against each other like psychic tectonic plates. Watching a video was easy enough - but evaluating it as a school assignment? In the end, I told her that I would be happy to accept a video. In reality I was troubled by the fact that my print-based education had not prepared me for that moment or for the many moments like it that were sure to come.

Although there are risks in using the wonderful resources on the Internet, there is a great deal of advice and support available to parents, teachers and pupils. Here is a selection of some of the best online resources for those who need to update and get to grips with the issue of online safety, reviewed by Jim Merrett.

In this article Adrian Mee of the Institute of Education, University of London reviews the evolution of the UK e-learning policy narrative through a timeline of projects, programmes and documents which together form the diffuse body of policy which has funded and regulated the development of e-learning in schools.

Last summer Gillian set herself the challenge of mastering blogs, wikis and podcasting. Intrigued by these Internet communication tools she wanted to incorporate them into her teaching stratgy for Year 6 history. The article demonstrates what can be done with blogs, wikis and podcasts and as she says, 'it is amazing!'