intouch the termly newsletter produced by RSC East Midlands
Summer 2008 Volume 6: Issue 3
Contents
Regional Showcase The RSC's annual e-fair on June 24th is an excellent opportunity for you and your team to get away from the classroom or office and explore what is happening within the region. Bookings are now open at www.rsc-em.ac.uk. The e-fair has run so successfully for the last three years at the University of Derby that this year we are switching venue to The Walkers Stadium, Leicester in order to increase the number of places available. The other major change in response to feedback from last year's visitors is that we've made the event more interactive with more going on to give you a wider choice. We'll be running 2 themed areas and a platform for smaller presentations, in addition to the keynote speakers, workshops and general exhibition that we've had at previous events. This year we are particularly keen to encourage teams from organisations, including across departments, to come along and work together on issues affecting their organisation. Being away from your usual workplace can help stimulate the mind and there will be plenty of ideas floating around for this to happen as best practice in the region is demonstrated! The event is free to all delegates in learning providers we support and the content of the e-fair is relevant to a wide range of roles including teaching and learning, management, staff development, technical IT and business support. Visitors are expected from across the post-16 sector including Further Education, Sixth Form and Specialist Colleges, Adult and Community Learning, Work Based Learning and Higher Education.
Keynotes The keynote speakers for this year will be Sir David Melville and Steve Moss. Sir David will open the event with a keynote looking at the challenges the sector faces in securing the benefits offered by e-learning to learners and learning providers. Sir David is uniquely placed to be informed on the challenges facing e-learning in the post-16 sector as he will draw upon the knowledge of the Committee of Inquiry into the Changing Learner Experience, of which he is Chair, as well as his position as Chair of Lifelong Learning UK, the Sector Skills Council responsible for the professional development of staff working in the UK Lifelong Learning sector. Steve Moss will provide an insight into the ways in which new buildings and new ICT solutions can support learning that engages young minds and encourage the development of skills essential for success in the 21st century in his keynote entitled “New Spaces, New Learning.� Steve Moss is the Strategic Director (ICT) for Partnerships for Schools and has specialist responsibility for ICT in the Building Schools for the Future programme, working with national agencies, local authorities and the ICT industry to ensure that the ICT solutions procured as part of the programme can have a transformational effect on the processes of learning, teaching and administration in schools. For further details on what's going to be available at the e-fair please turn over.
1 e-fair 2008 2 Federated Access Management: are you ready? 2 e-learning and your CPD 3 WBL update 3 Tablet PCs case study 4 e-Progress Reviews 4 New ACL advisor 4 Increasing Accessibility 5 Best practice around the UK 5 Excellence Gateway re-launch 6 Hints & Tips 6 New forums launched 7 Focus On: Project Support 7 Technology Exemplar Network 8 Best Practice in Higher Education 8 New services on trial 8 Forthcoming Events
Bumper Issue As you can see there's that much going on in the region that we've had to double in size! Do you have any suggestions or news you want to share with the rest of the East Midlands? Or maybe there's something missing that you want to hear more about? If so please get intouch.
Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning
Federated Access Management: are you ready?
What can you do at the e-fair?
It has been known for some time now that free use of the Athens service comes to an end in July 2008. After that date, institutions must pay for the service, or adopt another method of controlling access to resources.
Here's what's on offer:
Alternative solutions are well documented and you should by now have made a decision, or at least be well on the way to making a decision, about access management arrangements post July.
Full details are available on the RSC website as well as the option for reserving a place on the workshops of your choice. Places for individual workshops are limited and will be treated on a first come, first served basis.
If you haven't yet reached that decision, here are a few practical steps that you can take to help you along the way:
As well as the general exhibition area, where a variety of different organisation will be available for advice and guidance, in 2008 there are a number of new areas available that will be taking place throughout the day.
1. Send a complete list of resources to which you currently subscribe to the JISC Access Management Team via jisc-access-management@jiscmail.ac.uk who can then give you a clear picture of access management solutions available for your particular institution. 2. As well as library staff, involve a relevant senior manager(s) and technical staff in discussions about the options and implications of changes to access management. This is important. Athens was a library issue but federated access management is an organisational issue and any decisions will need to be made at a senior level. Show them the JISC introductory animation available on the JISC website at www.jisc.ac.uk. 3. Join the Federation now by sending a letter of application to JANET(UK), based on the template available via their website at www.ukfederation.org.uk. Even if you intend to continue using Athens, this is essential in order to ensure that you don't lose access to resources from service providers who may move away from Athens post July 2008 or new deals not available on it, such as the JISC BBC Motion Gallery. If you want to hear about the practicalities of implementing federated access management from colleagues who have been through the process, then come along to our e-fair on 24th June where there will be workshops for both technical and non-technical staff. 2
We're confident that whatever your role and organisation you will find plenty of interesting and relevant material at the e-fair.
Workshops In 2008 we have got a line-up of experts from both within the region and beyond who will be holding 45-minute workshop sessions on a range of topics.
No pre-booking is required for any of the following options and they have been created in response to feedback from last year's event.
Mini Presentation Area During the day there will be a series of short, sharp presentations on projects that have got examples of best practice and items of interest. It's also a chance for some of our exhibitors to showcase their products and services. If you have a short presentation that you want to give at the e-fair then please let us know. Demonstration zone Following feedback from previous e-fair delegates we have introduced this new area for 2008. This is a “Try it for yourself� area that will allow you to try out new technologies, software applications and bits of kit. Mobile learning hub This themed area will be devoted to mobile learning and feature a wide range of information on what's happening in this exciting topic, including information on the two MoleNet projects that are currently running in the East Midlands. We hope to see you there on Tuesday 24th June! Book your place now at www.rsc-em.ac.uk
e-learning and your CPD It has never felt right that, whilst only trained teachers can teach children in schools, anyone can teach older learners. Why should it be acceptable for learners in colleges and universities to have a worse deal? The introduction of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status and the associated changes in qualifications from September 2007 remedies a major deficiency, but with a twist. Whilst a schoolteacher keeps qualified teacher status for life, to keep QTLS the Learning and Skills practitioner needs to undertake a minimum of 30 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) annually, pro rata for part time teachers.
Adding the ability to use e-learning to their existing skills is a key part of CPD for practitioners. Teaching and learning now is very different to what it was twenty years ago. It will continue to evolve as our understanding of the learning process grows and as new technology becomes available. Each practitioner is responsible for their own CPD, but learning providers have to establish CPD programmes which give appropriate opportunities.
The Institute for Learning (IfL) looks after the registration of QTLS and monitors the CPD requirement. The IfL has adopted a reflective model of CPD. It is not about going on 30 hours of courses, but about taking ideas, applying them, reflecting on what happens, discussing with colleagues and planning what to do next.
Over a period of time, a practitioner must be able to develop a wide range of pedagogically sound e-learning skills. Since most good teaching ideas come from other people, there must be effective ways of sharing practice from both within the organisation (e.g. by peer observation) and outside (e.g. through placements).
The IfL is providing an online tool called Reflect, based on the Pebblepad e-portfolio, for members to capture their CPD. Reflect will include areas for reflections and action plans, as well as social networking tools such as a blog. Blogs are ideal for reflection and sharing ideas with others. They are being increasingly used on Teacher Training courses as a reflective diary. The IfL website is at www.ifl.ac.uk.
Critically, practitioners must be supported in applying these ideas and understanding how to use them effectively. This can mean establishing mentoring and peer support systems. It also demands the understanding of curriculum managers. The RSC can help you plan and implement effective CPD programmes to meet the 30 hour requirement - just get intouch.
WBL service up and running
Use of tablet PCs
We held our launch event “Making the most of e-learning” for the Regional Support Centre's service to the Work Based Learning (WBL) sector in February at the EMFEC Conference Centre in Nottingham.
Charnwood is a small WBL training organisation that since its founding in 1998 has operated in the pub and club sector.
More details on the provision that is available to WBL providers were unveiled and how it can be accessed, as well as the launch of a WBL mailing list, and further details of WBL forums - the first one being held on June 24th as part of the e-fair. In order to judge the state of the WBL sector in comparison to the other sectors that the RSC supports (FE, ACL, Specialist Colleges and some HE) a similar survey was carried out to the one done at our general launch at the end of last year. The results showed that the WBL sector was experiencing similar issues with a general lack of staff skills in e-learning and organisations only beginning to realise the potential use of technology. Consequently only 21% of regional organisations felt that the majority of their learners were having a blended learning experience. Stan Unwin (RSC WBL advisor) & Jeremy Scorer (Charnwood Training)
As an example of how a WBL organisation might be able to use technology in its business, we had an excellent demonstration from Jeremy Scorer from Charnwood Consulting, who showed how his organisation had used tablet PCs in the pub and club sector.
For further details of this example see the case study on the right. The afternoon session featured a series of workshops designed to introduce WBL providers to some of the most pressing topics in the sector. These taster sessions looked at e-portfolios, web 2.0 technologies and virtual learning environments and how they can be used in a WBL context, which triggered lots of discussion in the sessions. Delegates trying out PC tablets at the launch
Stan Unwin, WBL advisor for the RSC, commented afterwards that “it was really exciting to have a wide range of organisations at the event and to see the different ways that technology is being used in the sector and to help support the further use of technology in learning.” One of the delegates at the event, David Moreland from NHTA Ltd, remarked that “as a result of today's event we will look at our e-learning strategy and develop options for implementation over the next 12/18 months”. Copies of the presentations and a summary of the feedback can be seen on the RSC's virtual learning platform at www.moodle.rsc-em.ac.uk.
1. How would you describe the use of e-learning in your organisation?
3. What proportion of your staff are skilled in ILT?
Localised Co-ordinated Transitional Embedded Innovative
Less than a quarter of your staff A quarter to half of your staff A half to three-quarters of your staff More than three-quarters of your staff
27% 13% 47% 13% 0%
2. What proportion of your staff are skilled in IT? Less than a quarter of your staff A quarter to half of your staff A half to three-quarters of your staff More than three-quarters of your staff
0% 19% 27% 54%
47% 19% 27% 7%
4. What proportion of your learners experience blended learning? Less than a quarter of your learners 29% A quarter to half of your learners 50% A half to three-quarters of your learners 14% More than three-quarters of your learners 7%
About three years ago the main issue that the company faced on their training courses was poor retention and achievement. At the time achievement levels were around 42%. For courses that lasted 9 to 12 months, several staff were dropping off after only 6 or 7 months and not completing their studies. With the existing courses the main problems were about: • accessibility to the learners by training staff • accessibility to PCs for learners • a need for more flexibility in course provision Charnwood looked at many ways before deciding that they needed to adopt a very different approach to what they had tried before. They spent approximately £15k of their own money on tablet PCs and also bought e-learning software from a third party, as a business decision that was a big investment for the organisation at the time. The tablet PCs are situated in the actual pubs and clubs and for the whole duration of the training period learners in those organisations can get continual access. The training software on the tablet PCs allows learners to gain knowledge by following instructions, seeing demonstrations, and taking part in assessments. The decision to introduce the tablets and the new style of learning has made a phenomenal difference to Charnwood. After 12 months retention increased from 42% to 57%, and a couple of years further on, it now stands at approximately 78%. Learners are also completing the courses quicker. The length of stay for a Level 2 achievement has been reduced from 9-12 months down to 6 months on average, without the learners being rushed through the process. Charnwood now have just under 40 tablets out in industry with employers, and since they took the route of employing more technology in their training have applied for any available funding to help support learning. Jeremy Scorer, Managing Partner at Charnwood, has described the decision to use the tablets a “leap of faith - but one that has been very successful for the company”. Further details of this case study including an audio summary will shortly be appearing on the Excellence Gateway site at http://excellence. qia.org.uk 3
Are you progressing? Every so often it is a good thing to take stock of where you are, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and decide what you need to do next. An RSC e-Progress Review does just that for the state of e-maturity in a learning provider. Its form varies with need, ranging from a full health check conducted by the RSC, to frameworks for self-assessment. We have been carrying out these reviews for some time now with FE and 6th Form Colleges, but recently have completed them with Specialist Colleges and now our first Adult & Community Learning (ACL) managing agent. Leicestershire Adult Learning Service asked for an e-Progress Review to inform key decisions they are currently making and help prepare for an anticipated Inspection. They are very pleased with the service received. Peter Sapsford, Principal Adult Learning Officer, particularly welcomed the fact that the Review clarified decisions and concentrated on actions. “What's been really helpful is how practical it's been,” he said.
Increasing Accessibility Hinwick Hall College is a residential college close to Wellingborough, Northamptonshire that caters for students with physical difficulties; most also have either learning difficulties or behavioural issues, and some complex communication issues. They often have issues operating technology like MP3 players and computers and a solution was sought.
The Innovation Project
Benefits and future plans
The project aimed to build mobile cabinets with a range of equipment and software to fulfil two main functions.
To Mark Major, IT Technician & Facilitator at Hinwick Hall, “The benefits of this project have already been proven - giving students independent access to the kind of music and activities that most of us take for granted. The project aims to make the advantages available on a more consistent and long-term basis.”
Firstly to provide a mobile interface that allows student to play and share their own multimedia held on the College's central server. Secondly to provide a multimedia computer with extensive accessibility options that can be used as an extra resource in classes anywhere in the college. The first prototype box and equipment was assembled with software written to enable students independent access to their CDs and DVDs. Their discs were 'ripped' to Multimedia files and placed on a restricted part of the College server, enabling the selection and playback of video and music tracks through software. Delivery is via the College wireless network. The final version produced an accessible, mobile, wireless computer workstation with WiFi, USB, switch access, infra-red remote control window, webcam, microphone, card reader and DVD.
Sharon Cope, Quality and Workforce Development Officer, feels that “there's a security in receiving excellent advice about whether we are on the right lines.” If you would like an e-Progress Review, get intouch.
The box is on castors for movable use, and has a touch screen on a manoeuvrable arm that can be placed in the reach of students in wheelchairs of varying heights.
It will also provide accessible workstations that can be used in any part of the College to augment existing provision. New intranet development will be geared toward the trolleys and related digital signage. Interfaces that allow students to operate music and video content will become closely integrated with those they use to access e-learning materials, so the more the interfaces are used, the more general capability with technology the students develop. This project recognises the importance of enabling young people with a disability to do what every other young person does. The project ensures that all students have the advantages previously available to a few and that the opportunity will be available to future students as the design is practical and reproducible. For further information on this project contact Mark Major at majorm@hinwickhall.ac.uk.
If you want more information on the support that the RSC offers on accessibility please contact Martin Cooke on 01509 618118 or martin.cooke@rsc-em.ac.uk.
New ACL advisor Kathryn Robinson has been appointed as the new RSC advisor with responsibility for the Adult & Community Learning (ACL) sector following the departure of Sharon Hutchings in the Spring term. Kathryn has been on secondment, as a maternity cover, with RSC East Midlands since September last year and was previously our advisor with responsibility for the Higher Education sector. Sharon has moved on to Nottingham Trent University to further her passion in social policy and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank Sharon for her time here at the RSC, where she has been a real champion of the ACL sector since its inclusion in the RSC's remit in 2004.
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Hinwick Hall College has developed a new mobile cabinet to help students with accesssibility issues
Best practice around the UK This is the first of a regular feature where we will highlight an example of best practice around the UK by showcasing a case study from the Excellence Gateway website. This first example is entitled “Improving institutional effectiveness through U3 Technology (The Quality Pen)” and comes from Thurrock and Basildon College. We hope that it will give you inspiration. About U3 technology U3 technology is a new generation of mass data storage devices that are capable of carrying software as well as data files. When you plug the U3 smart drive into any PC, it will automatically run software that is installed on it, making any PC your own PC. When it is unplugged it leaves no personal data behind. The challenge The College was reviewing the delivery of the curriculum to ensure an enhanced learner experience. This meant that the whole of the documentation supporting learning and teaching had to be re-issued. Traditionally, their approach would be to publish a College Quality Manual. Instead the college decided that it wanted to find a more innovative way of doing so. Initially, the College staff intranet could have been used but there was no way of ensuring access had taken place. The second approach would have been to use a memory stick or pen, but this could simply be erased and then became null and void. What was wanted was a way of using the strong points of both. At this time the U3 technology for memory pens was evolving. On investigation it was found that it was possible to utilise this technology to create a memory pen that consisted of two sections: one which appeared as a small (50MB) read-only CD and the other a normal memory pen data area. This allowed the College to create a bootstrap program that would run every time that the pen was inserted into a College workstation.
The activity On insertion, the bootstrap automatically checks if the workstation is part of the College network, checks for existence of the correct directory on the memory pen and, if it meets these two conditions, reads the publishing directory to check the date stamps on the two sets of documents and updates the Quality Pen with any later or new documents.
The Gateway to Excellence The Excellence Gateway was re-launched at the beginning of April following a major redevelopment to the structure of the site so information is easier to find. One new feature is the Resources section, in which Ferl and ACLearn have become fully integrated. You can drill down through the vast content base to find exactly what you're looking for, and by adding filters or keyword you can refine your choices even further.
It then displays a web-based menu to the Quality Manual. If the Quality Manual directory does not exist on the pen, it is created and a complete set is re-copied to the pen. The outcomes The result of using Quality Pen at Thurrock and Basildon College has been that staff are consistently teaching in line with the Quality Improvement & Development Policy, linked to the learning and teaching agenda. In addition, the College has saved £44,000 in printing costs. The future It is hoped that the College will be able to adapt this technology in a way that can be embraced by the learners. The idea is that each learner will be issued with a U3 device, which will have Moodle VLE software running from within. This means that students can be regularly updated with the latest resources posted online every time they log on to a network machine. Furthermore, they can take the pen home and load up the software on their home PCs regardless of whether they have access to the Internet or not. Our thanks go to the Excellence Gateway website and RSC Eastern for allowing the reproduction of this case study. To view the accompanying videos to this case study and for further examples of good practice in the UK we recommend that you visit http://excellence.qia.org.uk.
Also added is a News section, which will be regularly updated and includes articles from across the further education and skills sector, as well as case studies developed by the Regional Support Centres across the UK. There are plenty of opportunities to personalise the website to highlight the parts that are most useful to you on your My Excellence Gateway profile page. For example you can add your favourite newsfeed to it for quick reference.
To access this one-stop shop go to http://excellence.qia.org.uk If you are interested in featuring on the website for good practice in your organisation, then please contact Kevin Spencer on 01509 618112 or kevin.spencer@rsc-em.ac.uk.
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Hints & Tips: Using Moodle Quizzes If you are using Moodle as your Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) then one of the features that you can use to enhance your learning and teaching are the quizzes contained in the package. They can be used as a dual purpose for both formative assessment and to enhance learning. If the teacher puts in sufficient feedback with links to resources within Moodle and the wider web, then the student can access content to improve their knowledge. The more the teacher puts in, the more the student will get out. It allows differentiation of students by outcome and individual students can see where they need to improve their knowledge, whilst those that are comfortable can carry on at their own pace. Setting up the quizzes can be a bit fiddly to start with - like many things for the first time. But practice should make this a simple task over time. We recommend that you stick to the multiple choice quizzes to start with. Here is an example of what you need to do in order to create a quiz. For the step-by-step guide: • go to our Moodle site at www.moodle.rsc-em.ac.uk • go into the RSC Forums and Specialist Interest Groups • the guide is within the Moodle User Group
New forums launched This summer term the RSC has introduced 3 new forums to its programme of events in response to demand from those involved in technology in the East Midlands Learning and Skills sector. The new forums are a good reflection of the different types of forums and user groups that the RSC supports. One of the new forums covers the topic of Accessibility & Inclusion, a second looks at an emergent technology, SharePoint, and the third reflects our expansion into a new sector for us, Work Based Learning. For a full list of all of the current ones see the box below.
After the forum Ian McCormick, IT Infrastructure Manager, from Derby College commented that he'd “taken a lot from today's session - in particular in regard to the importance of data recovery and the need for extensive documentation.”
The RSC forums are normally half-day, informal events that provide a means to share and build links with peers, explore issues of common concern, keep up-todate with developments in the field, and draw on the knowledge and expertise of the network.
RSC forums and user groups
Often there will be a focus, or an update on developments in some technology-related area as a theme for that particular session. There is no charge to delegates for these events and places can be booked via our website at www.rsc-em.ac.uk.
• Technical
Shortly after Easter the inaugural SharePoint forum was held in Nottingham and was well attended. Gordon Millner of the RSC created this particular forum following a survey of organisations in the East Midlands region that showed that several were using this piece of software or considering doing so.
• SharePoint
Gordon explained that he “saw SharePoint coming to the forefront of what was happening in the region” so after consulting with Learning Providers he decided to go for it and hold one of the first such forums in the country, and the response has been “very encouraging so far”.
Presenters at the inaugral SharePoint forum The first forum featured a Show and Tell from Alastair McGann at Brooksby Melton College, who presented the work that had been done to bring SharePoint into his organisation. 6
attended the second half of the forum to explain some of the critical issues that they had experienced with educational users of SharePoint and to give some guidelines in terms of planning, implementing, migrating and recovering SharePoint.
Vicky Henry and Richard Clarke from the Microsoft Education Support Centre,
• Adult and Community Learning (ACL) • Work Based Learning (WBL) • Specialist Colleges • Information Learning Technology (ILT) • Learning Resource Centre (LRC) • Heads of IT • New Build • East Midlands Information Skills (EMIS) • Management Information System (MIS) • Moodle Users Group For the next dates of these forums check the Forthcoming Events listing on the back page of intouch
The first Accessibility & Inclusion forum is scheduled for the 17th April at the time of going to print. Interest was looking very healthy for this new forum and over 30 places had been reserved for the event being held at RNIB Loughborough. Martin Cooke at the RSC introduced this event “as there has been massive interest in the region driven by governmental policies and advancements in learning technologies”. Finally, the third new forum for the summer term is the start of the Work Based Learning forum that will run as part of the RSC's annual e-fair (see front page for more details). WBL providers are encouraged to attend the event and then choose the WBL forum session in order to have a dedicated slot to network with other WBL providers and discuss the latest hot topics. If you think that there should be a forum or user group on any other technology-related issue that we don't currently facilitate then please get intouch with any suggestions. One of the topics under consideration at the moment is sustainability.
Focus on: Project Support Although an organic, bottom up approach can often get things started, the learning technology developments that tend to succeed are those that have been carried out in a planned and managed way. A planned approach can help ensure nothing important is missed, from thoroughly scoping out initial ideas, to evaluating impact and directing further development. Structured planning can also reduce any ambiguity or misunderstanding among those involved and ensure that critical factors are identified from the outset. With this in mind, the RSC are now actively encouraging and supporting a project-orientated approach to ILT development. This can range from a simple framework for the introduction of a new technology or process, to fullblown project management for large scale developments. The support we can provide includes: • help in identifying development opportunities and defining needs and objectives
We are currently supporting projects arising from successful funding bids in the East Midlands region (JISC and MoleNet) as well as smaller, non-funded developments. Our involvement ranges from attending project steering group meetings to working with curriculum teams to design and set up development projects, within departments and organisation wide. Projects supported to date include: the scoping and development of e-portfolios for FE and Work-Based Learning; e-Assessment for HE in FE; and mobile delivery of course materials. A project approach is not always necessary, but it can make the difference in ensuring that ILT developments are coherent, focused and have a real impact. If you would like support with a planned development project or would like to discuss ideas which may suit a project-driven approach, contact Ben Williams at the East Midlands RSC on 01509 618116 or ben.williams@rsc-em.ac.uk
• finding examples of effective practice in relevant settings • help with finding project partners
• assistance with planning your project • providing advice on suitable software and hardware
• liaising with the staff involved in your project and being on-hand when needed
The Technology Exemplar Network is all about sharing of experience and discussion of issues - a true peer support approach. All participating learning providers will be expected to proactively communicate across the network and share their aspirations, issues, learning points and areas for development in an open and honest manner, and to positively contribute to the objectives of the network. ISIS provides learning and assessment programmes for 420 apprentices scattered around rural Lincolnshire. Many live in remote areas so ISIS has developed systems of distance learning and distance assessment schemes, supplying laptops and digital cameras that help record work for assessment.
Following the announcement of the exemplars, the second round of applications were from organisations who wanted to become Developing Providers in collaboration with the original ten exemplars.
• providing advice and support in maximising the benefits of development work, through sharing project outputs
Resource Corner This edited collection from an international team of experts provides a practically-based overview of emerging Library 2.0 tools and technologies for information literacy practitioners. Peter was also the guest presenter at the LRC forum in the Spring term.
These providers are leading the way in the effective use of technology for learning and will work with other providers to help share and develop the use of technology across the sector.
To find out more about why each of the organisations chosen have been awarded exemplar status go to www.feandskills.becta.org.uk.
• support with meeting requirements, such as staff training, arising from your project
by Peter Godwin, University of Bedfordshire
Congratulations to ISIS Training and Recruitment who have been announced as one of the Technology Exemplar Network's ten exemplar supporting providers by Becta and the Learning and Skills Council.
Mick Gilroy, Programme Leader and E-learning Co-ordinator, believes that “the exemplar status will help us reach even further as we continue to develop and implement wider use of e-portfolios and e-learning strategies for our learners.”
• access to project management training through RSC hosted events and from other sources
Information Literacy Meets Library 2.0
Technology Exemplar Network
Teaching with e-learning in the lifelong learning sector by Chris Hill, RSC East Midlands
A new edition of a well-established book on teaching with e-learning. Emergent themes include harnessing technology, VLEs, personalisation, social networking and e-assessment.
21 applications were sent in from the East Midlands in a bid to become one of up to 50 providers chosen. The selection process is due to take place in mid- to late April, so at the time of going to print we're not sure how many have been successful. Fingers crossed! The RSC has helped some of these applications for Developing Provider status as part of our service on funding. If you are interested in receiving our support with any future bids please contact Ben Williams on 01509 618116 or ben.williams@rsc-em.ac.uk. 7
Forthcoming Events May 13th (am)
ILT Forum
14th (full day)
Modelling practice: e-learning for teacher trainers
20th (am)
Specialist Colleges Forum
20th (am)
LRC Forum
20th (pm)
East Midlands Information Skills (EMIS) meeting
Best Practice in Higher Education We are running a new event in the summer term on “Best Practice in Higher Education” that is free of charge and will take place entirely online. If you want to find out what's happening in the HE sector or are looking for some good ideas on the latest developments then you need to take part in one of the online sessions at the “Best Practice in Higher Education” event on 10th June. The event is fully online and will be of interest to both those working in the sector and for many outside who want to see what's happening in regard to learning and the use of technology. A range of experts will be running a series of topical presentations and discussions throughout the day. You can be totally flexible on what you do and don't want to take part in.
On tour at the ILT Spring 2008 Forum with Fred Ward (second right) at Bilborough College
June 3rd (am)
Heads of IT Forum
5th (am)
Technical Forum
10th (online)
Best Practice in Higher Education
12th (full day)
SharePoint 2007: Pulling IT Together
24th (full day)
e-fair 2008
25th (full day)
Mega Moodle
July 3rd (full day)
Enriching your learning materials with multimedia
Get intouch JISC RSC East Midlands Loughborough College Radmoor Road Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 3BT Tel: 01509 618110 Email: support@rsc-em.ac.uk Web: www.rsc-em.ac.uk 8
The programme for the day includes the following: • Transforming teaching and learning (Dr Keith Smyth from the Scottish TESEP project) • An IQER surgery looking at Quality Assurance and HE (Dr Mark Mabey from Foundation Degree Forward) • Communities of practice (Helen Walmsley from Staffordshire University) • E-assessment (Jo Richler from the Palatine HEA Subject Centre) The event is free of charge. All you need to do is to reserve a place and make sure that you have a machine with an internet connection. For more information and to book your place, simply go to the RSC East Midlands website at www.rsc-em.ac.uk.
Trialling new services In the RSC we are constantly looking for additional ways to help you embed e-learning and the RSC Steering Group has approved the development of two new services.
Scenario planning It must be worth strategic managers giving half a day to think about what the future might look like. Scenario planning is a way of considering critical uncertainties - significant changes outside of your control - that will effect the environment for learning providers. For example, how will your organisation be placed if social relationships based on electronic communication continue to grow apace or decision making power falls increasingly into the hands of the learner rather than the learning provider? We will help you explore.
Learner questionnaires What do your learners think of the technology you use with them? Is it effective? How does the learner experience differ from what you think it is? What access to personal technology do they have, or access at home? Where could technology help them be successful? We can conduct an online survey of your learners, analyse the data and report the findings with recommendations. This will give you a benchmark for progress. In both cases we are looking for opportunities to pilot and refine what we offer; if you are interested, please get in touch with Chris Hill on 01509 618114 or chris.hill@rsc-em.ac.uk.