Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
BL/LL/21/07 15th August 2007
Learning Light helps Xoolon find the next Colin Jackson, Sebastian
Coe or Sally Gunnell
Learning Light (LL), a non-profit centre of excellence in the use of
learning technologies in the workplace, is helping schools around the
UK to discover the next generation of this country's sporting talent -
through the application of e-learning technology.
Learning Light (LL) has helped Xoolon - a fledgling e-learning business
- to launch the Xoolon Sports and Fitness Academy, a revolutionary
sports portal designed to improve primary and secondary
schoolchildren's sporting prowess and lead to better targeted teaching.
Launched in July, the service is being piloted by schools around the
country.
Physical education (PE) staff use Xoolon to evaluate pupils' key mental
and physical strengths. The system pinpoints those sports most suited
to individuals and highlights 'gifted & talented' as well as low
ability students.
The portal also offers the PE department its own customisable online
space to access ability assessment, communication tools, bulletin
space, advice on health and educational resources and a comprehensive
database of local clubs and facilities.
"The Xoolon sports portal combines ICT and education across the
curriculum," explained LL's David Patterson. "It dovetails with
nutrition and Healthy Schools initiatives, maths (in graphical
representations of PE results) and biology (analysis of sports moves
and impact on body) and can boost overall grading in many areas of
Ofsted inspections including quality ICT resources, PE and the overall
health and happiness of the school.
"Xoolon's sporting concept is stunning and, with the preparation for
the 2012 Olympics already underway, it really shows some innovative
thinking which could easily pay off in terms of Olympic medals and
other international sporting accolades," Patterson added. "LL has used
its pool of associates to source additional help and expertise for
Xoolon, introducing - in this case Graham Moodie of Hocapito - who has
been instrumental in helping Xoolon to market their unique portal
through offering the company practical marketing advice."
An all-round appraisal through a series of physical and mental tests
entered onto online 'Xoolometers' identifies to which six sports
children are best suited, making PE fun for everyone and allowing
teachers to gain better knowledge of their students' abilities.
Pupils and their mentors complete a sports psychology or 'mental
toughness' test developed with Sheffield Hallam University to identify
mental strengths and weaknesses, areas of development and to which
sports or positions (such as striker or goalkeeper) children are best
suited.
The total 'Xooscore' collates each child's mental and physical
competencies, allowing teachers to record results accurately against
national curriculum standards.
Children can print a certificate from the website showing which sports
(from athletics to lacrosse, rugby, tennis and water skiing) are their
'top three', providing a useful confidence boost for those unsure of
their sporting abilities. The portal also provides easily accessible
links to local sports clubs and facilities, fostering School Sports
Partnerships, better links with the community, and making it
straightforward for pupils to continue their activities outside school
hours.
Access to the Xoolon Sports and Fitness Academy for an entire school is
free to all feeder primaries and can be gained via a one off set-up fee
for secondary schools. For a per-seat annual sum, Xoolon can also offer
easy integration into a range of ten framework virtual learning
environments which support the National Curriculum within schools.
end
Notes for Editors
A case study relating to the use of the Xoolon system at Downend
School in Bristol is available, on request, from: Bob Little Press & PR
(tel 01727 860405; email
bob.little@dial.pipex.com)
About the Xoolon Sports and Fitness Academy:
-
Allows teachers to assess pupils' sporting abilities quickly and easily
-
Gives teachers the equivalent of specialist sports coaching knowledge
-
Provides teachers with better knowledge of their students' abilities
-
Identifies Gifted & Talented children and the less able, enabling
teachers to better support their pupils
-
Provides a useful driver for fostering School Sports Partnerships
between schools and clubs covering sports beyond the school range
For more about Sheffield-based Xoolon, please visit:
www.xoolon.com
About Learning Light Ltd
Learning Light is a non-profit organisation that builds relationships
between learning technology researchers, suppliers, buyers and learners
providing learner-centric information to encourage the growth of
learning technologies. By sharing comprehensive research, highlighting
successes and failures, Learning Light helps to promote the learning
technologies community.
Learning Light provides bespoke and individual services to help both
buyers and suppliers of learning technologies (e-Learning). Its current
services include:
Research Services
Providing access to expert insights, advice and guidance built on
indepth research. Helping organisations to effectively implement
learning technologies (e-Learning) and integrate them within their
workflow processes.
Membership Services
Partnering with leading thinkers in the industry and providing a
network for all interested in the field to share information,
knowledge, insight, experience and expertise, through utilising online
community tools, networking events, conferences and guru seminars.
Professional Services
Our highly experienced team offers organisations access to range of
competitively priced consultancy services supporting buyers with the
effective implementation of their learning technology (e-Learning)
requirements. And, for suppliers, helping to provide a range of
services to assist market awareness and generate growth.
In addition, Learning Light provides a comprehensive Professional
Development programme to help Learning & Development professionals
understand the significance of learning technologies in the workplace
today and how to effectively implement them within the workflow
processes of their organisation.
Sheffield-based Learning Light is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the
regional development agency for Yorkshire, and the Humber and Objective
1 South Yorkshire.
Further information from:
Mark
Pittaway/ Kay Simpson, Learning Light, 0114 201 5703
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
www.learninglight.com
