Transcript
Page 1: JISC RSC West Midlands SMT Focus

Confronting Sector Challenges

1. RSCs Join JISC Advance2. Latest e-Learning Good Practice From Our Region - Regional Survey Results3. Meet the RSC Team:HE Co-ordinator - My StudyBar Saves Organisations £500,0004. Online Tutorials for Finding Images and Videos - A Guide to Screencasting5. LSIS Introduce Regional Development Managers - Save Yourself Time Online: RSS Feeds6. Getting the Most From Moodle - RSC Launches Network-in-a-Box7. Apple iPad is a Hit with the RSC - iPad Alternatives8. Forthcoming Events - Green Tips From the Team - Coming Soon - Online Delegate Packs

The current economic climate can make it diffi cult for learning providers to invest in Information and Learning Technology (ILT) This is particularly challenging for the work-based and adult and community learning sectors due to reductions in funding. We spoke to Maggie Fobister, Training Delivery Manager for Shropshire Council, about how the organisation is meeting the challenge.

Maggie says, “The future is likely to be challenging as competition grows within our sector. Locally, large FE providers are better equipped to engage learners from an ILT perspective, yet our learners still expect the same levels of technology ie. a learning management system, fast and reliable internet access, interactive learning resources and reliable means of communication.”The Learning, Employment and Training Service within the Council has restructured in response to external funding reductions. The focus is now on the use of technology to enhance not just teaching and learning, but also to support business processes.

Maggie adds, “Our ILT development strategy is under review to better refl ect the changes in the organisation, in technological advances and in the wider educational environment. We anticipate that the revised strategy will help benefi t the whole organization; for example, the implementation of a fl exible business management system to streamline our processes.This approach fi ts in with the demand for cost-effective and value for money options.”

At the operational level, the service has already introduced a number of

key changes which include:

• An e-safety procedure which links to a safeguarding policy• Inventory of hardware, software and learning resources • IT training and development programme• E-Champions network to develop IT skills and promote innovation.

Maggie says, “The benefi ts include safer, faster computer networks, increased staff engagement, and increased resources such as Interactive Whiteboards, Busbi camcorders and digital voice recorders. We are also using Skype (free software which allows users to make voice calls over the internet) for staff communication to reduce travel time.”

As part of the ILT development strategy review, Maggie’s team called upon RSC West Midlands for advice and guidance.

Maggie says, “The RSC helped us to assess what stage we were at with technology and how we wanted to progress. This was really important as the four individual parts of our service (including work-based and adult and community learning, family learning and health & social care) have different needs and were at different stages in adopting technology. The RSC introduced us to some really useful self-assessment tools such as Generator (developed by Becta) and the WBL Positioning Statement.”

“Maggie comments, “The support we have had has been so useful. The RSC has helped us to identify innovative uses for existing resources. Workshops organised by the RSC have helped to develop our staff and provide excellent opportunities for networking. The RSC has also been invaluable for helping us share and access sources of best practice in e-learning.”

Maggie and her team expect to continue using RSC services to help overcome the barriers to technology that her sector faces.

SMT Focus Issue 3 – Winter

2010

In this Issue

1. Confronting Sector Challenges2. RSC Impact Report - Evaluating the Impact of e-Learning3. Getting the Most From Your Learning Spaces - Case Study: Refurbished LRCs Result in Increased Usage4. Contact Us - Improve Your 3 Rs - Recruitment, Retention, Results - JANET Connectivity for Business and Community Engagement

Page 2: JISC RSC West Midlands SMT Focus

Have you registered with the Gateway?

Evaluating the Effectiveness of E-learning

Your organisation has invested time and money in technology for teaching and learning, yet how do you assess the effectiveness of your investment? How can you evaluate the level of e-learning progress that has been made? Thanks to a free service from the RSC, you can fi nd out exactly how well technology is working for your organisation.

The E-learning Health Check has already benefi ted many providers from across our supported sectors. It is an independent, impartial review of the progress made by your organisation with the implementation of technology for teaching and learning. Carried out by members of the RSC, it has in some cases proved useful as a pre-inspection review and can:

• Support senior staff in e-learning decision and policy making• Inform current and future staff development for e-learning• Assist in the development of programmes to deliver consistent e-learning progress• Support business process activity in improving learner motivation and staff experience with e-learning; support improved internal systems• Support the development of e-learning infrastructure and learning spaces.

The Health Check highlights the main strengths, areas for development and key recommendations made by the RSC. The outcomes, in the form of a written report, are confi dential and will not be shared outside the RSC or with other learning providers.

A progress review will normally take place 6 months and 12 months following the date of the report.

The Health Check has proved to be of real benefi t for City College Birmingham, who used the service to help measure progress. Rob Jones, Head of Learning Technologies says:

“Having recently had our second E-learning Health Check from the team at RSC West Midlands in just over 2 years and refl ecting back on the process, I’m struck by the marked impact each individual visit produced.”

“The fi rst one, carried out in April 2008, allowed us to identify the areas that we felt needed work i.e. improving the student experience in the classroom. It resulted in the college writing an e-learning strategy that delivered real benefi ts ; increasing the level of ILT in the classroom coupled with an extensive teacher support programme.”

“The second Health Check completed in June 2010 was used to give an external view of our progress in terms of infrastructure, student experience and learning resources which delivered a much needed confi rmation that our strategy was working. It also identifi ed key areas where we could develop further, resulting in improvements to the college’s Learning Resources Centre and some new projects that we have plans to pilot. So all in all, an experience which proved to be key in supporting progress and producing real results. And, best of all, this high quality service was provided for free.”

If your organisation could benefi t from an e-learning Health Check, contact Allen Crawford-Thomas by e-mail at: [email protected]

The JISC RSCs are marking 10 years of support to the sector with the release of a new publication.

‘Regional focus: UK Impact’ outlines the impact that the RSCs have made on the sector. It features facts and fi gures, quotes from staff in RSC supported organizations and outlines how the RSCs have helped increase technology uptake, supported sector changes, and worked in partnership with JISC services.

The publication includes examples of how the RSC’s have made a real difference. Derwen College in the West Midlands for example has, through the support of the RSC and other JISC Services, become an e-mature college which is seen as exemplary amongst the specialist college community for its innovative use of technology. The college has also achieved ‘Beacon’ and ‘Technology Exemplar’ status and was nominated in 2009 for a Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) Provider of the Year.

The publication is available to download in two pdf formats – the original report and an accessible format.

The original report is available at: http://qurl.com/t4pv3

For an accessible version, visit: http://qurl.com/tnhsl

RSC Impact Report

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Page 3: JISC RSC West Midlands SMT Focus

eLearning Health checks – Refl ections on their impact at

City College Birmingham.

“Having recently had our second eLearning Health

Check from the team at RSC West Midlands in just over 2 years and refl ecting back on

the process, I’m struck by the marked impact each individual

visit produced.

The fi rst one carried out in April 2008 allowed us to identify the areas that we felt needed work

i.e. in improving the Student experience in the classroom

and resulted in the college writing an e-Learning strategy that delivered real benefi ts by

increasing the level of ILT in the classroom coupled with

an extensive teacher support program.

The second health check completed in June 2010 was

used to give an external view on our progress in terms of infrastructure, student experience and learning

resources and delivered a much needed confi rmation that our

strategy was working. It also identifi ed key areas where we

could develop further resulting in improvements to the college’s

Learning Resources Centre and some new projects that we have

plans to pilot. So all in all an experience which proved to be key in supporting progress and

producing real results. And, best of all, – this high quality service

was provided for free.”

Rob Jones, Head of Learning Technologies

City College Birmingham

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Rob Jones, Head of LearningTechnologies

City College Birmingham

Getting the Most from Your Existing Learning Spaces

With budget cuts and fewer funding opportunities available, learning providers are looking for other ways to improve organisational effi ciency, reduce costs and make use of existing resources and spaces.

Learning Space Review is a new service from RSC West Midlands which helps learning providers to plan for refreshing and refurbishing existing learning spaces.

Why have a learning space review?

The review is an ideal starting point in planning a refurbishment or re-organisation of a learning space and offers an outside, fresh perspective. Findings are informed by the experience of RSC staff, who have visited many of the region’s learning providers, as well as national guidelines from JISC and other organisations.

What does learning space review cover?

The review is designed to focus in detail on a single learning space, such as an IT suite, learning centre or library. The key aspects reported on include some of the following:

• Learning space profi le within the campus• Furniture, fi xtures and fi ttings• Colour scheme, signage and displays• Accessibility• Equipment such as PC work stations, learning technologies etc.• Layout suggestions to maximise use of space, promote purposeful working atmosphere and effi cient circulation of users• Reception facilities, staff facilities• Action plan for improvement – short and longer term suggestions

How much does it cost?

Learning Space Review is a free service, but there are a limited number of appointments available.

Thoughts from a learning provider

South Staffordshire College has already benefi ted from a review of its learning resource centre which proved to be very useful as Paul Richardson, LRC Manager explains:

“We have used the review as a catalyst to start change and improvements in our LRC’s. Many of the suggestions that Matt made were already in our own minds. However, having someone from outside the LRC and the organisation confi rm these was very helpful.”

“We have already started to make some quick changes as described by the report. We are planning a programme of improvements for the next 12 months and beyond.”

“We are changing the signage to a uniform style. and have already moved furniture to help with the layout. We are now in negotiation with estates to look at fresh paint and to improve signage pointing to the LRC’s.”

“We found this so useful that we would like Matt to come back and look at our other campuses and report on those too.”

How can I fi nd out more?

If you would like a review of a learning space in your organisation, please contact Matt Gallon by e-mail at: [email protected]

The Recently Refurbished LRC at the Sutton Campus, Birmingham Metropolitan

College

Birmingham Metropolitan College has recently achieved cost savings by refurbishing and re-purposing its existing Learning Resources Centres.

To bring the Learning Resource Centres at the Sutton Coldfi eld and James Watt campuses in line with the modern Matthew Boulton campus, the college carried out two cost effective refurbishments. It was anticpated that this would give students a more consistent experience, and encourage more use of the LRCs.

The refurbishment project included repositioning the LRC at the Sutton Coldfi eld, new furniture and more PCs which transformed the LRC and gave it a new build feel. At the James Watt campus, a smaller-scale refurbishment took place at a lower cost by utilising furniture and equipment from the now closed Josiah Mason campus. As a result, the LRC has the same look and feel as the other campuses at a fraction of the cost.

Since the refurbishments, there has been an increase in the number of resource and use of PCs. There has also been improvements in student behaviour.

Martine Owens, Associate Director of Student Services said, “The refurbishments can only have a positive impact. The more students we get in and the more respect they have for their new environment, the better their work will be and ultimately, this will result in better achievement. Its amazing what you can do with the existing space...and with a limited budget!”

To read the full case study visit http://qurl.com/pfzvy

Case Study: Refurbished LRCs Result in Increased

Usage

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Page 4: JISC RSC West Midlands SMT Focus

Improving Your 3 Rs - Recruitment, Retention, Results

JISC TechDis has recently launched a new publication, ‘Improve Your 3 Rs (Retention, Recruitment, Results)’ which provides advice to learning providers on how to comply with the Equality Act 2010’s new legislation. The Act, which came into force in Further and Higher Education in October 2010, brings together the legislation of recent years in a simplifi ed and strengthened form.

It aims to protect individuals from unfair treatment and support the development of a more equal society.

Organisations now have a duty to take a proactive approach to shaping institutional processes and the promotion of equality, so merely avoiding discrimination is no longer an option.

However, in addition to offering advice on complying with the new Act, the publication also outlines real practical and economic benefi ts to adopting inclusive practices. It provides a useful starting point and gives details of the JISC TechDis Online Accessibility Self Evaluation Service (OASES) – a free tool which managers can access to refl ect on current practice via an online survey. The publication also features steps to take towards accessibility maturity, and includes other sources of help and support. To access a copy of the publication visit http://qurl.com/dp3lw

JANET(UK) aims to simplify connectivity for business and community engagement.

JANET(UK) has put forward a proposal that will enable colleges to make more effective use of their existing JANET connection. The proposal centres around two key principles: • that a university or college’s business and community engagement activities are no different in principle to its teaching and research activities; and therefore

• it should be able to use its JANET connection(s) in pursuit of business and community engagement in exactly the same way as it uses JANET in its teaching and research missions.

Further information is available at: http://qurl.com/q655s

JANET Connectivity for Business and Community Engagement

JISC RSC West MidlandsTechnology CentreWolverhampton Science ParkGlaisher DriveWolverhamptonWV10 9RU

Tel: 01902 518982E-mail: [email protected]: www.rsc-wm.ac.uk

ManagerGreg [email protected]

E-learning Advisers

Christa Appleton (HE Co-ordinator)[email protected]

Jason Curtis (Learning Technologies)[email protected]

Jane Edwards (Adult & Community Learning)[email protected]

Matt Gallon (Learning Resources)[email protected]

Colleen Romero (Technical Infrastructure)[email protected]

Allen Crawford-Thomas (Teaching and learning)[email protected]

Theresa Welch (Work-Based Learning)[email protected]

Alison Wootton (Staff Development and Accessibility & Inclusion)[email protected]

Information Offi cer Kirsty [email protected]

Events Co-ordinatorLea [email protected]

AdministratorJan [email protected]

Contact us

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