KLZ Collaboration Site
Trying to communicate effectively with teachers or staff from other schools can be frustrating; emails can often lead to lengthy trails and if you miss a day or two in school they you find it difficult to pick up the conversation thread.
A collaboration site can be open or closed, and you choose who has access. Like all Microsoft SharePoint site collections, collaboration sites can contain;
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Calendar
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Notice boards
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Group areas
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Separate views for students and teachers
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News and Events pages
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Group front pages
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Digital Signage
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Document libraries
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Discussion areas (forums)
Surveys
Collaboration sites can be school led or can be at cluster level or even be Local Authority driven. The KLZ features a ‘white pages’ of all collaboration sites, giving a brief description of the site, and contact details for those interested in joining.
The KLZ collaboration sites can be sorted into;
Curriculum
Imagine having a group of sites dedicated to helping students, and each one specialising in a separate subject. For example, a secondary school student who is trying to get help at from parents about a particular subject (such as Algebraic Pyramids for example) could also log into the KLZ, and ask questions in the ‘Senior Mathematics’ collaboration site*. We hope that all subjects will be covered in the curriculum sites, but their use and availability is dependent on individuals within schools managing and maintaining the sites.
School Business
Many schools conduct business in the same way as other schools in Kent so it makes sense to have collaboration sites that allow individuals to discuss specialist non curriculum subjects such as Bursar, or School Caretaker, Health & Safety etc.
If a school has an active PTA, then a site could be created for the committee to meet and discuss the activities of the PTA. We are in discussions to include School Governors in the KLZ so they can have a safe, secure storage area.
Technology (non curriculum)
The local ICT staff and teachers with specialist areas of expertise can have areas to discuss all aspects of technology in schools.
The local ICT staff and teachers with specialist areas of expertise can have areas to discuss all aspects of technology in schools.
These sites would not normally be student sites, and would include; Video Conferencing; ICT discussion groups, best practices and “how-to’s”
Local Authority
As a secure, safe environment, Kent Learning Zone is ideal for collaboration sites which are sponsored by Kent. Having a secure log in means we can all join in (or not as the case requires) county led initiatives.
