Learning and Teaching Scotland is a NDPB [Scottish Government public body], and one that has shown outstanding leadership in the use of ICT in pursuit of its mission of supporting teachers and schools.
Glow was the reputedly the world’s first national schools intranet providing a range of tools and resources for pupils and practitioners. These include game based learning, video material and communications via social media.
McClelland talks about a ‘fragmentation of user activity’ and an ‘absence of complete governance models’ that mean the vision for a ‘digital public sector’ has not been realised. To my mind there is significant scope for improving public services by thinking big in terms of procurement but this should not be done on the basis of one-size-fits-all. Glow was ahead of its time when it was first conceived in 2003 and drew on the best available thinking and technologies of the time. In 2011 we need smarter procurement that realises the cost benefits of aggregation and scale but also enables more flexible and adaptable solutions that better meet the needs of the users of the technology (in their multiplicity of roles as citizens, students, teachers, parents etc). It should not be either scale/sustainability or flexibility/adaptability – want and need both at the same time. Excellent public services are an investment in our future and always reflect a balance of cost v quality. Getting balance right is one that those looking to Glow Futures will I hope be trying to get just right.
The public sector should recognise that in the current economic environment a largely standalone and “self-sufficient” operating mode is no longer affordable and should commit to an era of sharing in ICT that will not only offer better value but also still meet the needs of individual organisations and their customers.
Lack of “oversight and governance” is a key reason for the current status.