The Naace Annual Strategic Conference and Exhibition opened in Torquay in early March 2008. This is the definitive ICT Conference in the UK for all those involved in advancing education through the use of modern technologies in learning and teaching.

Naace has introduced a 'hot-seat' where invited colleagues field questions over a four week period. Our guest in the 'hot-seat' will either answer online at specific times, or at pre-arranged regular intervals. We look forward to hearing from you!

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.'

In this month's Sharing Sucess Julie Cooper, Chair of Governors at Gloucester Road Primary steps into the Naace 'hot-seat'. Julie will be 'live' on Wednesday 9 and Wednesday 16 April between 7-8pm. Other features include Theo Kuechel's article originating from the Naace talklists regarding e-learning, a progress report on the Oracle funded 'Let's Play Project' and a summary of issues from last month's 'hot-seat'. Jim Fanning provides a fascinating two-day blog from The Tideway School.

In this issue, Mick Waters will be in our third 'hotseat'. I shall be giving Naace Members a sneak preview of the first of a series of ICT updates going into schools shortly. Also this month there is a focus on a brilliant day at St Paul's CoE Primary School Manchester as well as a summary of issues raised when Gareth Davies was the guest in last month's 'hot-seat'.

If you feel that you could make a contribution to Sharing Success please contact me at primaryeditor@naace.co.uk

In the July issue of Sharing Success, Christina Preston will be our live guest in the 'hotseat'. Our first live session will coincide with the 'Safe Social Networking Conference' to be held at the WLE Centre at the Institute of Education in London on Thursday 10th July between 4-5pm. Please post questions before during and after the live session!

Christina Preston advocates the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a catalyst for change in teaching and learning (www.mirandanet.ac.uk). She is the Founder and Chair of the international MirandaNet Fellowship established in 1992. The MirandaNet Fellowship was established in response to a need expressed amongst teachers for a supportive community of peers who would mentor each other in the exploration of ICT potential in teaching and learning (www.mirandanet.ac.uk).

The MirandaNet Fellowship strives to span national, cultural, commercial and political divides to provide an innovative and inclusive forum for professionals. Fellows who share their experience and expertise are building a professional knowledge base about the use of digital technologies in transforming teaching and learning. Interaction between educators, researchers, industry and government is at the heart of the learning processes that underpin and support good practice. Individual learning patterns and talents are celebrated through practice-based research strategies, peer e-mentoring and collaborative knowledge-building. Dissemination and publication are central to the Fellowship process (www.mirandanet.ac.uk/fellowship/vision.htm).

We have a bonus addition to our usual look at successful classroom practice. Our lead article looks at a case study from 'Let's Play', which is an online project linking schools in the UK with schools in Holland, Germany and Romania. I have also included my experiences in presenting a seminar at BETT for the first time which focused around the Lets Play Project.

Also featuring in this edition, we have Gareth Davies, Chair of the Naace Board of Management, sitting in our second 'hotseat' ready and waiting to field and answer questions.

Finally we have articles highlighting issues raised from last month on 'The end of school websites!' and when Phia Le Roux answered questions on her role in how to integrate the use of recent digital technologies such as podcasting and making movies into the classroom.

Why ask?

This may seem a strange and inappropriate question to ask as word e-learning is a ubiquitous term, but it is quite possible that by separating e-learning from learning, we might actually be holding back progress in the adoption of new models, and better tools for learning.
When we consciously, or otherwise, start to make a distinction between learning and e learning, we may be providing those, that are unlikely or unwilling to engage with it an escape route.

This raises some important questions; is is one form more of learning more appropriate than the other; and if so why? What are the differences in value between them? And, even more importantly; what type of learning would not benefit from, from technologies at our disposal?. Thinking about it in this way we soon realise that learning and the technology is only an enabler. In fact a great deal prescribed e-learning is likley to be relatively low level activities as pointed out by Stephen Hear. (*1)
"The experience of e-learning for many has been no more than a hand-out published online, coupled with a simple multiple-choice quiz. Hardly inspiring, let alone empowering"

Naace have been successful in securing a TDA bid won by Steven Coombes based at Bath Spa University and being delivered as a 'Visual Learning Course' by Christina Preston and John Cuthell at MirandaNet (based at The Institute of Education, London).

The talk lists have provided some really interesting and varied responses regarding VLEs. This week Roger Broadie and Martin Owen share their views ....