SC GUIDEBOOK
RSC GUIDEBOOK 2011/12
RSC GUIDEBO www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/YH
E-LEARNING CONSULTATIONS • • • • We provide consultations to supported learning providers at no charge, giving advice and guidance on a wide range of e-learning issues, from implementing an organisationwide strategy to specific help on topics such as e-safety, sustainable IT, e-portfolios, e-assessment and more. At recent consultations we have:
Drafted the framework of a new ILT strategy and developed an action plan with the provider Discussed the use of iPads in teaching and learning Briefed SMT around e-safety Explored options for shared services
Our team has a wide range of expertise and may also be able to put you in touch with others in the region having the same issues in order to share experience. We are part of the JISC Advance family and can direct you to wider resources.
AREAS WE SUPPORT services, Staff development, Strategic development
We can provide guidance and support in more areas than you probably thought. Contact us to find out how we can help you with the following: Organisational efficiency Business processes, Inclusivity, Network management, Procurement, Self-assessment of e-progress, Shared
Learning and teaching Assessment, Content management, Digital literacy, E-Safety, Information advice & guidance systems, Initial teacher training, Learner support, Learner voice, Learning spaces, Quality enhancement, Technology for learning Sustainability Compliance, Green ICT, Infrastructure External engagement Employer engagement, Learning partnerships
E-PROGRESS REVIEW We take you through a review process and bring together key people within your organisation. We help to establish the key strengths within your organisation as well as highlighting areas for future improvement.
Do you want a baseline against which to gauge improvements in your e-learning strategy? Do you want a supportive view of your organisation’s strategy and a facilitated discussion to take this forward? Our E-Progress Review will provide you with an objective view of e-learning progress within your organisation and help you with future planning.
After discussion, we offer a series of pointers to further develop your e-strategy. A report and action plan is produced, including suggestions of how our services can support you in the future. A review is held approximately six months after the process to keep you on track. There is no charge to supported learning providers for this service.
RSC ROADSHOW
Do you want a staff development opportunity to experiment with technology? The RSC Roadshow provides an interactive training event with an emphasis on collaborative scenario based activities, aimed at teachers and trainers. Participants decide on a scenario that best suits their role. The aim
is to develop teaching and learning resources most useful to them. RSC Advisors give short presentations on different types of tools and technologies and how they can be used practically. Participants can then explore - with the support of RSC Advisors on hand to answer questions and give guidance. The intention is that the ‘kit’ or ‘tool’ is not the starting point. Participants think about what they want to achieve and then sell their idea to the group. Contact us to arrange hosting an RSC Roadshow at your organisation or check the Events page on our website for scheduled Roadshows!
WIRELESS NETWORK ANALYSIS We offer a loan service of the Fluke AirCheck. This handheld device allows you to assess your wireless network, including security settings and network availability. It can identify and locate wireless access points whether authorised or rogue and helps with fault finding. Do you need to check the coverage and signal strength of your wireless network? How can you check for ‘rogue’ devices causing interference? Our wireless network analysis service is part of our offer for those in technical roles and allows you to troubleshoot connection problems and check your readiness for wireless technologies.
Technical details: • Dedicated, handheld 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless network tester with instant-on technology • See wireless network utilisation by channel and quickly determine if it is wireless traffic or interference • WLAN connection tests - from probing to DHCP request to ping
TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION
No budget to try out technology? If you are a supported Work Based Learning or Adult & Community Learning provider, our Technology in Action project gives you the chance to explore learning ‘on the go’. After attending a training event on 25 January 2012, WBL and ACL providers can bid to loan mobile
devices to experiment with for learning, teaching, training and assessing. Successful bidders are then given the equipment for 10 weeks and must report on how they have used the equipment, what they have achieved and lessons learned. Our Advisors are available for consultation and to check on progress during the loan period. Providers can keep the technology on completion of a case study on their scheme. The bid deadline is 2 March 2012. Bidders must have attended the event on 25 January 2012. Full details are on our website.
OUT OF THE BOX MOBILE INCLUSION three weeks. We have resources to help you get the most out of the kit, including planning and impact sheets, video scenarios and suggested activities.
Our Out of the Box scheme provides a staff development opportunity to explore accessibility and inclusion kits, complete with suggested training exercises. The aim is to consider the practical application of each technology, tailored to your own needs. Providers can loan a kit for up to
Equipment to loan includes: Nintendo DSI, HTC smartphone, iPod Touch, Dragon Naturally Speaking software, Promethean ActivSlate & ActivHub, Texthelp Read & Write software, Wearable Camcorders and more. Use this opportunity to get staff together to ask what technology would mean to you, your learners, your organisation and current practices. See our website for details.
E-LEARNING INSPIRATION our supported learning providers. You can browse these via our website: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/yh/e-learninginspiration
We work with the Excellence Gateway to produce case studies of using technology effectively to improve curriculum design, management and delivery, meet specific learning needs and to support quality, planning and performance as an organisation. To date, the RSCs have produced over 300 case studies based within
Recent case studies have focused on organisation-wide approaches to classroom interaction, biometrics in the library, embedding e-learning, developing skills in a work-based setting, and using Facebook for engagement and retention. If you are trying out new ideas or have an example of something that is working well within your organisation, please contact us and you could become our next case study!
GET INVOLVED
We host regular forums (both online and face-to-face) focusing on different areas. They are usually accompanied by a mailing list which can be used to air issues and ask the community questions. Often, members are facing the same issues and can work together to find solutions. Our mailing lists are useful for people who find email the best method of
contact. Simply email requesting to join the group: • Excellence in E-Learning: YHILTMANAGERS@JISCMAIL. AC.UK • Excellence in Inclusivity: YHINCLUSIVITY@JISCMAIL. AC.UK • Excellence in Learning Resources: RSC-YH-LRC@ JISCMAIL.AC.UK • HE Forum: RSC-YH-HE@ JISCMAIL.AC.UK • Technical Group: RSC-YHTECH@JISCMAIL.AC.UK • Moodle User Group: YH-MOODLE-USER-GROUP@ JISCMAIL.AC.UK
RSC ON SOCIAL MEDIA Our Twitter account @JISC_RSC_YH also posts links to e-learning news and retweets things that have interested us. It is a way of keeping up to date with e-learning trends - so why not follow us?
We use Twitter during most of our events to highlight key points and useful links. A hashtag allows you to follow the event if you are unable to attend - or attendees can see realtime thoughts and comments from each other. It is a useful resource accompanying each event. Hashtags are provided with event booking information on our website.
Our new Facebook page is a CPD resource for busy people! It is a quick reference stop for interesting articles, useful resources and case studies to get you inspired. We’re keen to get your feedback and welcome any comments! ‘Like’ our page at: www.facebook.com/JISCRSCYH
STAY INFORMED events and new case studies amongst other items of interest. Subscribe to the e-bulletin by emailing support@rsc-yh.ac.uk, including your name, job title, organisation and the email address you wish to subscribe. We provide easy ways for you to keep up to date with e-learning news. The easiest way to keep in touch is to subscribe to our fortnightly e-bulletin. Our e-bulletin provides a round-up of the key issues in e-learning for the last two weeks. We highlight new funding opportunities, useful resources, important news, major
We also produce a termly newsletter that highlights current key issues, news and case studies. It includes an ‘Ask the Expert’ feature to answer your questions. The newsletter can be accessed via our website: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/yh/ stay-informed/newsletter
USEFUL REFERENCE
We have our own channel on YouTube - RSC TV. You will find videos accompanying our major events and projects here, as well as interesting resources. View our latest video via our website: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/yh/stay-informed/ rsc-tv or view all our videos at: www.youtube.com/JISCRSCYH
We also have a bookmark tag cloud on our website linking to our Diigo group of weblinks. This highlights interesting articles and resources we have come across on the web, such as guides to using social media, digital literacy resources, information on accessibility, open educational resources, federated access management, and more. View the bookmark tagcloud at: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/yh/stay-informed/ bookmarks or see our latest posts at: http://groups.diigo.com/group/ jiscrscyh
RSC EVENTS & NETWORKING Other major conferences are the Learning Resources Conference in October and the HE Conference in March.
We have a programme of events and forums for the region to come together to learn and share expertise. Our main event is the Summer Conference, which takes place each June. This is our showcase event, bringing together key themes and current trends and demonstrating new ideas from within the region.
We offer a range of face-to-face and online meetings with subjects ranging from the specific, such as online course delivery, to wider subjects such as digital literacy and e-safety. Find out more about current events on our website: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/yh/events Photos from previous face-to-face events are on our Event Gallery: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/yh/event-gallery
CONTACT US! 343 1000 or email us at support@ rsc-yh.ac.uk. You can also contact us via our Twitter account @JISC_RSC_YH or post on our Facebook wall at: www.facebook.com/JISCRSCYH We are here to help and the majority of our services are free, due to BIS and DfEE funding. Check our website for a list of all our supported learning providers.
Contact details for each member of our team are on our website. You will find a list of areas each team member specialises in: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/yh/contact
If you are interested in anything in this guide or have any questions then please get in touch! For general enquiries, our support line is 0113
Further information on all our services, events and forums is available on our website: www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/YH