"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest". - Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)

Reflection in our case will be in checking to see that the things we have set in motion arrive at their destination. Relatively large sums of money are invested in school ICT systems. Not all schools get sufficient value from this investment and not all pupils benefit sufficiently from the power of this learning medium.

Measuring success is an important aspect of Implementing ICT. At the beginning this could be in the form of an audit of where the school is and what it needs to do. During the development of ICT it will be about monitoring progress on the ICT Development Plan towards the agreed goals. Towards the end of the development it will be seeing whether the vision for ICT is being achieved.

Self-review is a natural process of assessing our effectiveness. Peter Nicholls* had a quotation - "Life is self-marking" - meaning that we live the consequences of our decisions and hopefully learn from them. This is Confucius' third method by which we learn wisdom and the least best choice. In terms of ICT effectiveness in schools it is probably better to find out, than to wait and see.

Self review is about being proactive in finding out what our actions are leading us towards. Monitoring is checking the processes we have set in motion.
Evaluation is weighing up the outcomes to our endeavours.
Inspection is having an outsider, who may not know us well, do a formal check using criteria which hopefully we have used as well.

In this section we look at how a school's ICT programmes can be monitored and measured

*Peter Nicholls is a former chair of Naace Executive Committee