Because of technology, the learning environment has been rapidly changing beneath our feet for the past decade and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. These changes are as important as (but probably more far-reaching and definitely more rapid than) those that resulted from the invention of printing.

Michael Gove’s speech on technology in education last week asked “What can technology do for learning?” The key word in the question was “learning” because, when assessing the potential impact of technology, it is best to concentrate on the purpose of the endeavour rather than on the processes that currently support it.

The ICT membership bodies Naace and the Association for Learning Technology are working with the Department for Education to encourage public discussion on the implications of these changes through the website http:schoolstech.org.uk.

Seb Schmoller, Chief executive, Association for Learning Technology, Oxford.