Think.com brings Net learning to headteachers

UK headteachers are being offered the chance to boost their professional development online through a government-backed virtual college.

Anglia University's IT research think-tank, Ultralab, has worked with database giant Oracle to develop the Think.com site, which is designed to aid headteachers' personal development through chat forums and online learning.

The project has the backing of the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) through a six figure funding package and the provision of laptops to 2000 headteachers across the country.

"This is an example of the government putting money behind projects that allow professionals to get on with learning and personal development on their own," said Ultralab director Stephen Heppel.

The Web site includes a range of learning and self-help resources including a chat forum that maps discussion patterns showing links between subjects and people. Heppel thinks this model of learning, incorporating the fluid communication afforded by the Internet, could be exported to other fields such as health and law.

Ken Watson - an Ofsted Team Inspector and former headteacher - welcomed the idea, but said there may be some difficulties in encouraging headteachers to devote time to the learning network.

"Headteachers plagued by a lack of resources and time may think it would be better to spend the cash on an extra member of staff than a laptop," he said.

However, he did say that headteachers are often recruited to headships without any training or development support, and so might appreciate a Web-based source of learning.