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!

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.

In 2006 Naace and QCA held a joint Think tank to try to get to grips with what we really mean by the term 'e-learning'. Like quite a few other e-words that have sprung up in the last year or so, we cannot assume that everyone will use the term in the same way. Does the 'e' just mean electronic, as in 'email', or something more profound?

Students who perform very well in some subjects can often, inexplicably it seems, do poorly in others. This is a common problem in almost every school in the UK. In fact, when compared to virtually every other developed nation, the UK performs very badly in terms of varying standards within schools. Tackling these differences has become a focus for many schools.

The use of ICT for performance data is fast becoming an issue as important for ICT professionals as its use in the curriculum. There is a wide gap at present between the 'Data-Confident' schools that use performance data systemically and know themselves well, and schools that use data in a more basic, functional way. The changes in the way that 'school standards' are being viewed require schools to demonstrate that 'Every Child Matters' rather than just those who gain five A*-C grades. New data analysis tools are simple enough to support action research by all teachers into their pupils' performance. Schools could demonstrate the consistency of provision by publishing measures of 'Within School Variation'.

Our first 'hot-seat' guest is Phia le Roux. She will be answering your questions from 9 January 2008. Phia has kindly agreed to share an hour per week 'live' at 4-5pm every Wednesday and will pick up and answer any other questions at 8.30am Mondays and Fridays. Please fire all your questions on what podacasting is about, why podcast, how to get started, what you need to get started, potential difficulties, problems encountered etc.

Sponsoring partners met with representatives of the Executive Committee, Board of Management and Officers of the Association to discuss a range of topical issues relating to ICT in education including the 2020 Vision statement, QCA Curriculum Review and Naace Position Statements.

This Naace Think Tank came at a seminal moment in considering where the UK education world should be moving with developments in the use of electronic data. Naace Members met with colleagues from industry, government agencies, Local Authorities and schools to discuss the development of management information systems (MIS) in schools alongside other emerging data-handling applications such as virtual learning environments (VLEs).