SMT Focus - the Value for Money Issue
Issue 2 – Summer 2010
In this Issue
Principal Praises Valued Service The current economic climate and calls for cuts in spending require learning providers to achieve more for less. What better place to turn for advice on how technology can help achieve this than your local RSC which, as Steve Willis, Principal of Stafford College explains, is a valuable, cost effective resource. Originally established in 2000 to facilitate college connections to the JANET network, the RSC remit today has expanded into many new areas. Offering a variety of low cost, and in many cases free services, the RSC is a central point of contact for advice on implementing the use of technology and e-learning in the FE and skills sector. Steve explains, “Stafford College has used the RSC extensively over the years and it’s an excellent resource. For example, staff have attended RSC hosted events and user forums for their own personal development. These events are very cost effective and we have also had input from the RSC at our e-learning themed staff development days at no charge to ourselves. Additionally, the RSC helped us to evaluate the college’s e-learning progress and carried out a self assessment review of our Learning Resource Centre.”
He adds, “We have also used the RSC as a sounding board to find out what’s happening in the sector, and discover if the college is moving forward in the right direction. To have this central resource is very valuable to the region, and it’s an organisation that can advise us on the latest developments in e-learning. We have also been able to try products through the RSC before committing ourselves to spending any money, for example, mobile kit, e-portfolios and assistive technologies.”
1. Principal Praises Valued Service 2. e-Books for FE 2. Making e-Savings 3. Open Source Alternatives Save College Thousands of Pounds 3. What is Open Source? 4. Cost Effective e-Learning Services on Your Doorstep 4. Contact Us
Staff at the college have attended numerous RSC events over the years which Steve feels are an excellent opportunity to learn about good practice at other organisations. “We struggle to find out whether we are spending our money correctly and it’s easy to get carried away with enthusiasm for a particular product. By talking to RSC staff and delegates at RSC events, you can find out about cheaper alternatives and learn about things that other colleges have tried – both successfully and unsuccessfully. It’s a great opportunity to share practice.” Find out more about the value for money services from the RSC on the back page of this newsletter.
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