Discover JISCProject

Bob ReadTraining and Development Adviser, ACER

(Association of Colleges in the Eastern Region)

Background to the project

• Further Education and Skills: Development and Resources Programme;

• Funding for new learning resources, methods and expanding opportunities in post-16 learning across the UK; 

• £1.35 m of funding;

• 32 projects with over 90 partners.

Discover JISC

• Funded by BIS

• Programme managed by JISC Advance

• Project managed by JISC TechDis

• Partner driven project: The partner providers were drawn from across the FE & Skills sector

Partners

East Riding Council Adult services

Karten Network

UK Online Centres

Derwen College

Weston College

Myerscough College

North East Autism Society Thornbeck

East Durham College

ACER

Essex Adult Community Learning

Objective of the project

The objective of the project was to build a community of excellence in inclusive practice based on a greater understanding of JISC and its resources and the skills to optimise their use and development.

Rationale

Lack of awareness of how JISC resources, services or Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) can be fully utilised to support inclusive learning;

Skills sets of practitioners is variable and may be a limiting factor in the exploitation of digital resources;

Many resources were not created with the FE and Skills sector in mind.

Three Strands

1 – Accessible Technologies/

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

2 – Staff Training Materials

3 – Curriculum Pathways

Discover JISC website

How we got involved!

Face to Face: Residential meetings

Online Collaboration: Google group

Virtual: 10 weekly 5-minute missions Range of Webinar sessions

Phone: Support from key TechDis staff

Individual: Action plans

• 30 assessors working nationally

• 1:1 workplace visits

• Equine Studies, Animal Care,

Floristry, Business Admin, Customer Services

• contextualised e learning resources that embed L1 & 2 Functional Skills in authentic and motivating ways

KEITS

• To provide workplace assessors with teaching material that they could use flexibly on a laptop or tablet in workplace settings

• To present small amounts of key information using accessible language

• To balance the text-based information with colour photos, audio & video, and up to date, relevant web-based material

 • To provide opportunities for assessors to develop candidates'

Functional English and Maths within practical contexts

Purpose of the modules

• To introduce candidates to open learning resource that they could use in preparation for an assessor visit, during a visit if the assessor is busy with other candidates or for revision afterwards

 • To offer interactive tasks that could be completed by candidates

to provide evidence for portfolios

 • To conclude with suggested

practical assessment activities relevant to the topics covered in the module

Create A Safe Environment

Mucking Out

Bedding Materials

Adult Community Learning Essex

Looked at Accessibility Technologies and Free and Open Source Software to create a bank of exemplars for entry level Foundation Skills learners which draws on the skills, information and techniques explored within the various strands of the project.

Entry Level 2: Literacy

Created a Scheme of Work for use in Entry Level 2 Skills for Life Literacy classes (covering 6 sessions).

Created 6 weekly lesson plans.

Embedded assistive technology and free software identified as a result of the project.

Entry Level 3: Literacy

• a specialist training provider based in Norwich, Norfolk

• Foundation Learning programmes covering creative

arts, media and graphics, music and sports and healthy lifestyle.

• explore use of e learning tools for use in the delivery of Functional Skills sessions at Level 1 & 2

Broadland Council Training Services

• Techdis Toolbox• different types of mind mapping tools• text to speech software• screen casting • QR codes• online sticky boards like Padlet and Lino it • use of Audacity to record & edit audio• converting workbooks into digital resources on the web

Other e learning tools BCTS found useful -