Debbie Simpson is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, University of Cumbria with a specialism in ICT. Her Masters research was on the educational potential of learning technologies. She is currently researching the impact of the introduction of Virtual Learning Environments in Primary Schools for her PhD. Prior to joining the University she taught both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 in Primary Schools in Lancashire, and was coordinator for a project supporting ICT innovation in small rural schools.