Spring 2004 Volume 2 • Issue 2
the termly newsletter produced by RSC East Midlands
Welcomefrom the Editor
In the last newsletter I mentioned that the remit of the RSC had expanded to
include support for specialist colleges and some aspects of higher education. Since
then, our remit has been extended further and we are now also supporting the
Adult and Community Learning Sector (see the article beneath for further details).
To help us maintain effective support for all sectors for which we are now responsible, we will shortly
be joined by two new members of staff. In addition Chris Bell, our e-Information Officer will be taking
on the role of Specialist College Advisor.
There are interesting and increasingly busy times ahead for us here at the RSC, as we venture into sectors
new, but I would like to assure all our customers, old and new, of our continued commitment and support.
Judi Millage, ILT Advisor
Derby College sprang into existence in 2002following the merger of three local colleges.Although ‘sprang’ might be an inappropriateepithet for such a traumatic upheaval. We arefortunate to have an enlightened seniormanagement team that felt that it was importantat this time to create a dedicated team addressingILT issues. In our case this involves every activityrelating to ILT, ranging across staff development,curriculum support, VLE administration andmaterials development as well as collegeadministrative systems development. We have ateam of 5 staff and are supported by a dedicatedband of 15 ILT champions seconded for a fewhours a week from their normal duties.
Working in ILT it’s easy to assume that everyoneelse is ‘of the faith’, that everyone understands theadded value that the appropriate use of technologyoffers us. It is sometimes a surprise that not all staffare of that view and need to be sold on the idea;that we have to take a step back and articulate theILT vision and demonstrate how ILT can enhancethe learning experience. That’s where we believethe FPP can help. It offers us a comprehensive toolthat we can adapt to whatever training situationwe find ourselves in. Through the JEB TILT awardit also offers us the opportunity to offer attractiveaccreditation at Level 4.
We were too late to be involved in the FPP pilotscheme but were keen to start work with thematerials as soon as they were available and ourChampions spent a day a week through thesummer term working through all the modules.We began in earnest by running “I LoveTechnology” week; a two day staff developmentcourse repeated within our administration week
in July for 120 staff. This involved the first fourmodules of the FPP interspersed with a range ofhands-on sessions, including deliverytechnologies, materials, and applications. OurILT champions led small groups of staff throughthe FPP modules and all the activities werecompleted online following a group discussion(often animated!).
Since then we have become licensed by the JEBto run TILT and our champions are taking 30 staffthrough the qualification as a pilot. This activityis operating as distance learning through our VLEwith tutorial support.
FPP activities are also incorporated into the ILTmodule of our Foundation Degree in SupportingLearners, which is classroom-based. We havefound, not unexpectedly, that our teaching staff,like the majority of learners, are social animals,motivated by working with others. Isolateddistance learning activities, even with learnerswho are committed and have good intentions canbe de-motivating for the learner and also for thetutors attempting to manage them.
To address this need we will be offering FPP/TILTgroup workshops led by the ILT team using all thetechnologies and ILT methods at our disposal.Not only to preach but also to practice good ILT.We aim to inspire and motivate by example.College certificates will be offered for thesuccessful completion of each FPP module whichwill be accepted as a unit of ‘essential criteria’now required of all staff in order to gain the nextsalary increment with their post scale.
Lynne Brandt, e-Environment Manager, Derby College.
Derby College
C O L L E G EFOCUS
RSCs Support Adult andCommunity Learning
Black Arrow is a Java Executable tool that allows NLNMaterials to run with navigation on a PC with noSCORM compliant Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)installed. Once opened by Black Arrow, the materialsare supplemented by a navigation pane which runsdown the left hand side of the browser. Usually this willconsist of forward and back buttons and a breakdownof the different elements contained within the materials.The tool allows for limited customisation of the lookand feel of the materials, including changing coloursand different style Forward and Back buttons.
To allow Black Arrow to run, the Java Executable fileJava2 Runtime Environment Standard Edition (J2re)version 1.2 or later has to be installed on the computerthat is to generate the navigation page. Black Arrowcan be downloaded from:http://www.nln.ac.uk/materials/technical/black_arrow_docs.asp
Once downloaded, Black Arrow can be opened bydouble clicking on NLN_Navigation_tool_v1.jar. Thenselect the manifest.xml file from the ‘unzipped’
material. Once the output file name has been selected,clicking on the Generate Output Files button willprocess the files and create the navigation.
When the output files have been generated you will befaced with a directory structure appropriate to theparticular set of materials that you downloaded. Withinthis structure will be a new index page generated byBlack Arrow, this is identified by a ‘_ba’ suffix on thefile name; double clicking on this will launch thenavigation frame page together with the content.
You can find out more about the NLN Black Arrow toolby visitingwww.nln.ac.uk/materials/technical/black_arrow_docs.asp.Alternatively RSC East Midlands has its own NLNMaterials page which can be accessed by visitingwww.rsc-east midlands.ac.uk/teach_and_learn/teach_and_learn_resources.asp.Here you can find a useful list of problems andsolutions users have faced when using the tool.
Chris Bell, e- Information Officer
What we are doing with the FPP
U s i n g t h e N L N w i t h B l a c k A r r o wH i n t s & T i p s
Forthcoming
EVENTSApril20th Technical Forum
21st Using ILT in English
22nd ASET OrientationWorkshop: Accreditationand funding for the FerlPractitioners Programme
29th Using ILT in Catering& Hospitality
May6th Using ILT in Teacher
Training
11th FPP Forum(provisional date)
13th Finding Images forTeaching & Learning
18th Using ILT in Basic Skills
20th MIS Forum
26th Using ILT in Business
June9th ILT Forum (provisional date)
10th Using ILT in Key Skills
15th LRC Forum (provisional date)
17th Web Forum (provisional)
22nd NLN Workshop: Re-craftingthe Content
23rd Creating an MLE
24th Technical Forum(provisional date)
For further details see our websitewww.rsc-east-midlands.ac.uk
I N S I D ET h i s i s s u eWelcome
RSCs support Adult andCommunity Learning
RSC Mailing Lists
Meet our new ILT Advisor
Focus on Security Software: Secure your Network
Paving the Way to Excellence ine-learning: e-learning standards guide launched
Forthcoming Events
College Focus: Derby College
Hints & Tips: Using the NLN Materialswith Black Arrow
Regional Support Centres already support FE colleges, Sixth Form colleges, Specialist colleges, and aspects of HE (HE
colleges and HE students in FE colleges). From February 1st 2004, the list for English RSCs gets even longer. We are very
pleased to welcome new colleagues from Adult and Community Learning (ACL). For us this means a great deal of work -
but we are looking forward to it.
All the services we offer the existing community
will be extended to include ACL, such as events,
visits, e-mail lists, forums and the helpdesk.
However, in some ways working with ACL will
be a little different. ACL is a very diverse sector,
with a big majority of part time staff and
thousands of delivery locations. Our work with
ACL will focus on the managing agents. In the
East Midlands these are the local authorities (of
which we have 9) who have overall responsibility
for ACL in their area. Some of these local
authorities deliver the service directly themselves,
others sub-contract, others do a mix of both. The
early priorities are to support them all in
developing an ILT strategy, which has to be
submitted early in 2005, and connecting them to
the internet through JANET. This differs from other
sectors where there is more emphasis on working
with practitioners.
In the RSC we know already that we have a lot to
learn. To concentrate on the ACL work, we are
appointing a new team member with an
understanding of the ACL area and the
development and implementation of strategy. We
will of course continue to work as a team, sharing
the workload and our individual expertise. When
our new Advisor for ACL is appointed an early
priority will be to visit all the ACL providers in the
East Midlands to start the dialogue going. Before
then, we’ll do the best we can!
The whole initiative has a really effective
support website at www.aclearn.net. It is being
led nationally by the National Institute of Adult
Community Education (NIACE) which is based
in Leicester; their website is www.niace.org.uk
Talking to people at our events, it is clear that
the different sectors already supported by the
RSC have much to learn from each other and
benefit from being members of the same
network. Your problems may already have been
solved in another sector. ACL takes for granted
difficult issues such as how you train part time
staff who only work a few hours each week and
how you provide a service which is very widely
scattered. We look forward to discovering some
answers as we start to work together.
Chris Hill, RSC Manager
w w w. r s c - e a s t - m i d l a n d s . a c . u k w w w. r s c - e a s t - m i d l a n d s . a c . u k
intouch
RSC Mailing ListsIn an increasingly hostile network environment, maintainingsecurity is vital. Before buying a security product, it’s alwaysworth looking to see what Chest Agreements are available.Chest negotiates with suppliers on behalf of FE and willtherefore have the best deal available for those products.
Chest currently has Agreements for the following security products:
• Sophos
A multi-platform anti-virus software for email gateways, file servers,
networked PCs, standalone PCs and laptops. 30 day trial downloads
are available from http://www.sophos.com. A new lower pricing band
is now offered. Prices start at £900 for a one year Sophos anti-virus
server and workstation licence, plus one free month, for up to 500 PCs.
Sophos Enterprise Manager, which automates virus updating from the
internet, is also available on the same basis from £300. More info on
http://www.chest.ac.uk/software/sophos/.
• Check Point FireWall-1
A fully integrated security suite, including all necessary functionality
for comprehensive, enterprise-wide security. Features include access
control, authentication, virtual private networking, third party device
management, network address translation, content security, ldap user
directory support, auditing and enterprise-wide management.
30 day trial downloads are available from
http://www.checkpoint.com/getsecure.html. The Chest Agreement
represents a reduction of approximately 50% on list price. More
information on http://www.chest.ac.uk/software/firewall-1/
• VCS Firewall
A secure, flexible firewall, designed to meet the most stringent
requirements for protecting networks from unauthorised intrusion.
When installed as part of a general network security programme, the
VCS Firewall will control, manage and audit all communication
between two networks. A 30 day evaluation period is available.
Special FE price - £1200 1st year, £900 subsequent years. More
information on http://www.chest.ac.uk/software/vcs.
• Veritas Software Corporation
A popular Chest Agreement. Provides a comprehensive range of
backup, storage, management and data protection products. Prices
vary. Trials are available from resellers. More information on
http://www.chest.ac.uk/software/veritas/
Focus on Security Software:Secu r e Your Ne twor k
intouch
Paving the Way to Excellence in e-learninge - l e a r n i n g s t a n d a r d s g u i d e l a u n c h e d
Page 3w w w. r s c - e a s t - m i d l a n d s . a c . u k
intouch
The RSC operates a number of email lists for the purposes of allowing college
staff to share ideas and best practice with their colleagues across the region. As
the use of these lists has grown, it has become necessary to add a method of
archiving list messages. This will allow users to search past messages for answers
to their queries and so help prevent the same questions being asked repeatedly.
To achieve this, the RSC has moved its email lists onto JISCmail, as
this gives the required message archiving facilities.
The following RSC email lists are now available through JISCmail :
• business-rscem Business Development
• ilt-rscem ILT Managers / ILT Champions
• lrc-rscem Librarians / Learning Resources
• mis-rscem MIS / CIS
• principals-rscem Principals / Deputy Principals
• sd-rscem Staff Development
• technical-rscem Technical
• webdev-rscem Web Resources / Development
• qm-rscem Quality Management
• speccoll-rscem Specialist Colleges
All members of the previous RSC email lists have automatically been
moved across to the new JISCmail lists, so no re-joining of lists
should be necessary.
To access the JISCmail system, go to the following URL
www.jiscmail.ac.uk
By entering the list name you require and following the login
process, you will be able to view the archived messages for that
particular list.
To post to a particular list, compose the message as normal, and then
send the message to [email protected], where “list-name” is
replaced by the name of the list to which the message is to be sent.
For example to send a message to the RSC’s mailing list for technical
staff, the message should be sent to [email protected]
Meet our new ILT Advisor Martin CookeBefore taking up this post I was working
from home as a LeTTOL Online tutor.
One of the things this has taught me is
the value of working in a team:
I make progress by having people around
me who are smarter than I am - and
listening to them. And I assume that
everyone is smarter about something than
I am. - Henry J Kaiser
I was gratified to
be able to answer
promptly, and I did.
I said I didn’t know. -
Mark Twain
LeTTOL, a course that helps participants
gain the skills needed to develop and deliver
on-line courses, is web-based and works
well without the use of a learning platform.
Cheap and cheerful still has its uses.
My first degree was in Politics and History -
there was a significant element of Marxism
included at the time (70s). How times change!
I taught Art and History in middle school,
though trained for Primary. Previously I
worked in libraries, both public and school,
and taught information skills.
My wife Diana and I have four children; the
eldest is currently on her gap year, and we
run a taxi service for the others. I am
interested in art, music, reading, cinema,
playing keyboard and hillwalking. I am an
armchair Munro bagger (try searching on
Google) and can even pronounce one or
two. I play keyboard in the church worship
band and help with the childrens’ activities.
Arthur C Clarke once compared looking for
specific information on the internet to
standing under a waterfall and trying to fill
a glass. One of our aims at the RSC is to
provide guidance to enable practitioners to
find peer-assessed resources, so this is
where we can help.
Martin Cooke, ILT Advisor
An important new reference document that is raising the standard
of e-learning developments was launched at this year’s BETT
conference, the annual educational technology show.
The document, ‘Paving the way to excellence in e-learning’, has been produced
by the National Learning Network (NLN) Materials Team which is responsible
for commissioning and managing the production of hundreds of hours of e-
learning materials that are delivered free to the learning and skills sector. The
team is based at Becta (the British Educational Communications and Technology
Agency), which manages the NLN materials development programme.
‘Paving the way to excellence in e-learning’ shares the procedures that the
team follow, and the guidelines that they issue to suppliers to ensure that the
materials commissioned for the NLN are of the highest quality possible. The
guidelines ensure that suppliers and local developers of e-learning materials
have a framework to work within, and that the NLN materials comply with
international technical standards.
The document covers important issues such as pedagogy, accessibility (both
design and technical requirements), technical standards and quality
assurance. It also contains information about the implementation and
dissemination activities carried out by the team to integrate the NLN
materials into the learning and skills sector, including support offered to
educators and technical staff.
‘Paving the way to excellence in e-learning’ has been distributed to all
colleges in England, to commercial developers and is also available in PDF
format from the NLN Materials website at: [www.nln.ac.uk/materials].
For more information about Paving the Way or about the NLN Materials and
Becta Development Programme call the NLN Materials Team on 024 7684 7031.
