The Scottish Schools Digital Network

(renamed SPARK)

Update

The current thinking is to provide a 100 Mb connection to each Local Authority.
Local authorities are recommended to consider broadband connections to educational establishments - Fife schools are being connected to the Council Wide Area Network in a 2Mb link..

There are two parts to the SSDN or SPARK (its new name) - Connectivity and a Learner Support Environment-a limited version of a Virtual Learning Environment (see explanation below).

Connectivity
The Scottish Executive has allocated funds to the provision of a national inter-connector which will be accessible by each LA through one or more hubs. This connector will offer more than one route to the internet and will operate at high speeds. This could be set at 10 or 20 Gbps as the backbone with possibly 622 Mbps outside the main centres.

Local Authorities (not just Education Authorities) are to be connected to the Inter-Connector. However, education is the driving force in this initiative.

What is a Virtual Learning Environment?

(Extract from the BECTa website)

A virtual learning environment (VLE) can be defined as a standardised, computer-based environment that supports the delivery of web-based on-line learning. It might support learners both within an institution and also distance learners, who remotely access course and assessment materials hosted on the institution's VLE. A VLE can support a range of learning contexts, ranging from conventional, classroom delivery to distance learning and on-line learning.

The full article is available from http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/whatis/
Training is seen as fundamental to the success of the programme and this has to be done by the EA and that on-line training will only be a component of such a programme.

The inter-connector is planned to begin in 2003 and the Learner Support Environment is to follow in a phased programme during 2004 and 2005.

 
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