PERSONAL PROFILE
John Rudkin set up “johnarudkin.net’ in July/August 2011 after leaving Blackpool Council. It had been a long-time ambition to utilise my skills and experience in a way I feel is better fitting of todays educational sector. There have been rapid and challenging changes in the public sector, and their impact has had a combination of effects on education, the third sector and community programmes at a time when the Government is wanting increased Digital take-up (see Get-Online 2012 as an example)
Until 2011 I was Senior Manager and lead in a number of of public sector programmes, I have had experience and success in working in both the public and also the private sector - often with a focus on education, and also community and industry. I left teaching in 1988 to become a teacher advisor., and I have never felt that the experiences learned have been left behind
My work outside of direct classroom teaching teaching and management has all been about education, training and advising, leading me into on to working with Universities, Colleges, Communities as well as Adult and Community Learning and other public sector arenas.
Having been in the ICT industry for over 13 years during my career I have personal insights into those industries, and working internationally on educational initiatives, I have gained added insight into the way schools, college, students and teachers can benefit from the use of ICT in their learning.My experiences are quite unique, and I am always open to adding to them. I learn through involvement and by listening a to what people need, helping get the best from others as well as bringing ideas and potential new directions to the table.
Beginning teaching Design in 1978, I have always been as passionate about the power of great design, well applied technologies that can enhance learning, the design of environments to nurture good and effective working. The true power of ICT is in beginning to changeing the way we can do many things – for the better - as it becomes more of an accessible commodity, breaking away from its more complex and “geekish” image. It ICT is not a panacea for educational improvement, as (bad technology can make things worse, while good technology cannot necessarily make the wrong way to do something any better). Understanding what needs to happen, by using good data can lead to good design, and ICT can then offer a way for everyone to share in the knowledge so that they can influence their own futures. The catalytic impact of well well-managed programmes and chosen the right ICT married to great training or teaching is proving that it can be amplify the positive impacts and motivate people learners to greater success.
In education I have been the lead with teams ranging from 40 trainers coordinated in an NOF programme which trained 10,000 teachers, through a Faculty of teaching and support of 14-15 staff, down to working as a consultant without support on my own.. I have coordinated programmes that engaged large numbers of teachers and trainers, as well as others involving private companies, public sector partners and providers from many differing areas.
I am still as enthusiastic today as I have always been. The buzz I get from seeing great outcomes delivered keeps me hooked. You cannot match the delight of seeing students or team members grow because either the personal rewards are matched to growing expectation and hunger for more.
MY KEY SKILLS
I have extensive experience of working with people from varied backgrounds, both public sector and private Industry. Both in managing teams and running projects or programmes up to £1.5m in value
My initial teacher training was in the field of Design Education. I am a proponent of Design methods.
I am, by nature, a creative individual. I can recognise and help develop this in others.
I am a multiple presenter and contributor to education debate, and a lead participant in the International Apple Learning Interchange. I can consistently present ideas and communicate well.
I can use ICT creatively, as well as productively, and I can differentiate clearly between ICTs that add value and those which impose restrictions.
I am proficient in both Mac and PC OSes, having had experience of both major Operating Systems.
I have successfully led a number of change programmes, from mass training to locally leading work on Workstyles and Accommodation. The latter using a Systems Thinking approach..
I am able work effectively at multiple levels of involvement, and have experience of everything from initiatives focusing on the needs of the disabled to working in Parliamentary led programmes
I am able to work effectively, efficiently, both in teams and alone, and I am openly self motivated.
I understand the issues that arise in organizations at management level, and can manage aspects of motivational development, working under stress and the impacts that this can have on staff.
CAREER PROFILE
2008 – 11/07/2011 Most Recent Role: Blackpool Council, Senior ICT Manager
Responsible for relationship between Schools ICT and Council Corporate ICT.
Responsible for technical coordination with Buildings Schools of the Future Programme (3 institutions remain in the scheme, but on severely reduced budgets)
Technical Overview and Advisory capacity for all elements of physical ICT Infrastructure to SchoolsI am due to leave this role in July (or earlier) due to Council Cuts.
Advisory capacity to Schools.
Previous Duties:
I was was responsible for relationships between Blackpool Council ICT and external bodies.
Blackpool currently provides services for other councils, and on initially embarking on the Blackpool Building Schools of the Future, among many other shared service areas. Blackpool is retaining and growing the local Infrastructure for all council and school services, however we areI am also working with bodies such as the NorthWest Grid, Telewest , BT and Vodaphone as well as Ukerna’s JANET.
Until 3rd November 2010 I was responsible for ICT planning and strategies based around Blackpool’s major corporate relocation and moves (this leads up to the £212m regeneration and civic centre development). Working with services to assist in change of Workstyles and Modernisation.
Still responsible for the rollout of major technology enhancements such as desktop and mobile strategies and the introduction of internal wireless networks a part of our workstyle changes programme. I one area, by interoducing Video Conferencing, significant savings have been made in travel and staff time, which has led to tangible cost savings.
I have been involved in the deployment of town wide WiFi. working with colleagues and partners to roll out Wireless Blackpool initially and successfully piloted as part of NOTSCHOOL in the town.
In parallel: I was a Trustee of the Inclusion Trust and NOTSCHOOL for 5 years until February 8th 2010..
Membership of Blackpool’s “Building Schools of the Future” working party.
Member of the Blackpool ICT Network (part of Lancashire and Cumbria ICT Cluster)
Applied and successfully helped establish Apple Regional Training Centre on behalf of Blackpool Schools Improvement Service. Now linking to local 6th Form College.
I am a Committee Member on the local N-VISION organization (assisting the Blind and partial sighted in the Area). We are developing more programmes around the Talking News Service.
2005 - 2008: Blackpool Council eCommunity Manager
Bidder and Lead Officer in the ERDF funded I-CAN Project (Interactive Community Access Network) £525,000 programme successfully delivered.
Led bid in the UK Digital Challenge, placed in final 3 projects for the Northwest (finally awarded to Manchester) over 2007-8.
Introduced Young Foundation to Blackpool Education Team. Studio School is now a fundamental part of the BSF programme.
I was responsible for the development, implementation and delivery of the Blackpool Community Portal, Blackpool4Me (www.blackpool4Me.com). This site is still delivering community services 6 years on.
Lead Officer for the Blackpool eCommunity Partnership involving local FE, HE, Schools, PCT, Emergency Services, Voluntary and other partners)
Instigated the £150,000 blueIRIS Podcast and streaming project with the Society for the Blind. supported by Apple UK, the BBC and Ultralab. Part of ‘Apple VoiceOver’ seeding/testing programme.
Instigator of the successful “iBrowse” project focused on learning opportunities for the sight disabled. iPods for the Blind, as I initially presented to Pascal Cagni, Apple Europes Director in Malta 2002. Working with NIACE (FE), this project became part of a National Exemplar Programme.
http://www.alt.ac.uk/docs/elearningv2.pdf
I was a member of the Founding Board of the Lancashire Digital Development Agency and Lancashire lead for the Community Strand until its formal disbanding 2 years ago.
Worked with Blackpool Schools ICT Team to establish select and establish a suitable VLE - Fronter Virtual Learning Environment.
Holder of Massachusetts Adjutant Generals Coin for work on ICT links with Educational Programmes for the Massachusetts National Guard.
Ran Podcasting courses for Blackpool Council staff.
I was the European Moderator for the Apple Learning Interchange (Global Village) outside of my work hours until 2010
I now hold the title “Apple Distinguished Educator” in recognition of success in Education. This
I was invited and attended the Apple HE Leadership Summer Workshop at Hakone Gardens during my summer vacation in 2008. At this even we laid the foundations for the creation of iTunes University.http://tinyurl.com/y9ws245
2003 - 2005: Blackpool Education, Leisure and Community Learning: eCommunity Manager
As eCommunity Manager I was responsible for bringing together various services around appropriate and effective ICT delivery strategies.
I trained Adult and Community Learning Staff in the use of media creation resulting in the adoption of highly effective technologies and this triggered the introduction of a range of new course programmes for Blackpool residents.
Managed the “ICT in the Community” work as part of the Council’s major reorganisation of the Libraries Service. Managed a small outreach team to deliver outputs from two sites, one Mac equipped. 2004 - 2006.
I introduced “NOTSCHOOL” to Blackpool Council. This was set up to cater for the needs of approx 70 disadvantaged, school phobic and poor attending students.
I was asked to act as the personal support and adviser to the Blackpool Chief Executive.
Prior Work
2000-2003: Strategic Project Development Manager, Apple Computer UK Ltd., London
My role was primarily to develop strategic relationships and identify relevant key programmes for Apple UK to engage in at a commercial and partnership level. Working with the UK Country Manager and closely with the UK , European and International Educational Teams as well as cooperatively contributing to other key marketing projects. My primary focus was latterly the £1.5m contract with the South Yorkshire eLearning Programme, which I won for the company. It was delivered successfully with third party suppliers and partners over one year. I actually delivered this programme in the field.
My connections with DfES and my close working with Ultralab provided the opportunity for Apple to be part of the pre-Building Schools of the Future Programme (Classrooms of the Future). Apple was selected as the most appropriate solution for the ICT needs.http://www.meadlands.richmond.sch.uk/school/ingenium/default.htm
I represented Apple at regular DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) meetings, working closely with the DfES schools and FE leadership teams. During this time I also worked closely with the emerging University for Industry, sectorial specific training organisations as well as international development teams from US, Asia and Australia.I took the reigns of the Xemplar initiated teacher- training programme, which was failing badly, and tdeveloped it, working with a team from the United States. I also set up a team in Scotland, and we trained 10,000 Scottish teachers. This was a project that put Apple firmly in the sights of many Scottish Authorities after a period of acknowledged decline. I still have the letter from the MD of Apple UK thanking me. I’m really proud of that.
Ran I ran Scottish “Computer for Teachers” programme. I sold 3,500 computers to teaching staff.
1998-2000: Head of Higher and Further Education Marketing, Apple Computer UK Ltd., London
I led Apple UK’s highly successful Higher and Further Education Marketing position. During this period Apple started looking at direct targeting of the sectors, and I was, along with the them Sales Manager, responsible for the move toward direct selling.
I was fortunate enough to have been working with the early incarnations of the University for Industry, LearnDirect. I considered them to be so potentially important that I had Tim Cook (currently stand- in CEO of Apple Computer Inc.) To fly in and talk to UfIs lead team at the time. He came personally to our initial meetings with this key player in training.
I led meetings with all of the “Creative Sector” Skill Specific Training Organisations including e-Skills, Skillset and the Print Industry developing relationships and links to mutual advantage.
During this period I was working very closely with Government (representing UK Industry – something I persuaded the then DfES to recognise in Apple UK), as well as working in conjunction with NILTA (now NIACE), FEDA, UCISA and a number of other training related providers. I sat on the then Ministerial Panel looking at the future of the ICT Industry in Education as a whole.
Leading corporate marketing initiatives, of significance during this period was the development of communities of interest. I established these in order to ensure communication continuity and information flow between professionals and users of Apple technologies. I initiated the creation of a range of case studies and the publication of both “ The Education Interface” newsletter and web based ‘push’ email subscription services.
http://bit.ly/q63tdV
I was also involved in the evolution of Apple UKs web presence in the Higher Education sector.
In 1998, for work completed in Liverpool in cooperation with the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, I was Awarded Athenaeum Bi-Centenary Medal.
1995-1998: Higher Education Development Manager, Apple Computer UK Ltd., London
Representing Apple UK, my role was focused in the northern regions of the UK, from Birmingham to t
he Scottish border. During this period I was awarded two industry prizes known as the “Golden Apple Awards” in 1995 and 1997 for work in my designated regions. I supported a range of initiatives at this time, and explored strategies for gaining Apple some unrivaled access to new markets. In particular I worked with one College in the region to develop the penetration of Macintosh from 4 to in excess of 600 machines over a period of 2 years. I built up relationships using Apple’s core strengths. I also grew Apple’s relationships with major players in the HE and FE arenas by supporting initiatives. Apple were founder sponsors of QUILT (FE National Training Programme run by FEDA) as well as working in partnership with NAITFE (Now NIACE) . Apple was a founding sponsor of NAIFHE and I maintained relationships and progressed our exposure, knowledge and sales.During the latter period in this role the Apple European launch of the ADE (Apple Distinguished Educator) programme was announced. I championed this initiative and was pleased that I was able to have first ever ADEs appointed.
1989-1995: Educational Consultant (later Sales Manager), Holdens Computer Services, Preston
This role was my first outside of an LEA, and was the result of being “headhunted”. I was tasked with establishing the educational credentials of what was to become one of the premier Apple Educational Dealerships in England (I am very proud to say) by 1993. Relationship building, communications were at the heart of my developments. During this time I worked with a number of customers, as well as supporting Apple at various events. My proudest moment was bringing in what was one of Apple UK biggest ever single sales of Macintosh into Humberside LEA.
1988-1989: Advisory Teacher, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire
Part of an Advisory Teacher team, I was tasked with the development of frameworks and the training of teachers across the region in the introduction of National Curriculum Design and Technology. I introduced Apple computers to many schools and championed the use of the Macintosh for its simplicity and its durability. It was during this time that I began to reap the benefits of my IT experience and the practical benefits of using this platform. I initiated a number of resource creation projects and was able to contribute to publications and develop databases of resources.
1983-1988: Head of Faculty Expressive and Creative Arts, Craft, Design Technology and Music, Lancashire County Council, Highfield School, Blackpool Leading what was the largest Faculty in the school, my task was to prepare for the massive changes and develop the path towards the National Curriculum. I worked closely with colleagues on development of ‘Technology’ programmes, linking and partnering with other stake-holders across the town and across the county.
1981-1983: Head of Craft, Design Technology, Hodgson High School, Poulton-le-Fylde
I was challenged to take a traditional ‘Craft’ model Department and radically reshape it to meet the requirements of Craft, Design and Technology.
1979-1981: Head of Design, All Saints RC High School, Blackpool
After one year of teaching at All Saints I was promoted to Head of the newly created Design Department. I built the Design area from scratch during this period.1978-1979: Teacher of Craft, Design Technology, Westhoughton High School, Bolton
My first job in teaching was in Bolton, the nearest place I could find that offered the new ideals of CDT
Education: (18+)
Eaton Hall College of Education, Certificate in Education (Design Education with Distinction) 1977University of Nottingham B.Ed (Hons) Design Education 1978; Prior to HE: Matthew Humberstone Grammar School, Grimsby.
Interests and hobbies
I have several interests that in some cases have been relevant to my roles throughout my career. I have a great interest in technology itself, being interested in science and how that can be applied. This interest extends to me being an early adopter of new technology and products, but I like to think I am astute and knowledgeable enough not to make mistakes in choice. I research, experience and compare – usually these days being a phase 2 purchaser.I am interesting in music, film and media – so technology supports that interest. I aim to be a mid-level enthusist, but again enjoy knowing and learning – and helping others.I am happy to run and maintain my own computer network at home, and at a simple level have integrated computers, TVs, media centres, games consoles, phones and other mobile devices together into a stable home digital environment. I choose carefully, deploy with trust and experience.I have designed and built a number of bespoke HiFi Loudspeakers in the past. I started in my late teens and completed a pair of unusual full range horns two years ago.I am an avid reader of fiction (enjoy Science Fiction and similar) and studying people, and what makes them tick. Possibly this has something to do with the teacher in me? – I employ Design Thinking, I’m now researching Systems Thinking.
I can be found on Linked-In, FaceBook, Twitter, Foursquare, Gowalla, Yammer, and on my own web site at http://www.johnar.me.uk.
REFEREES:
Details on request