Our conclusions are based on theresults of a survey conducted at the“Becoming e-enabled” event held inNovember to launch the RSC’s revisedfocus on strategic support. The surveyhad responses from 72% of the region’s40 further education, specialist andhigher education colleges and Adultand Community Learning managingagents.
Only 20% of the regional learningproviders see their organisation’s use of technology as ‘embedded’ (or better) so they cannot imagine doing the job without it.
The majority (80%) feel they have not reached this stage; most (45%) regard the use oftechnology as ‘transitional’ and starting to make a real difference, whilst in 35% it isrestricted to parts of the organisation and its use is at best co-ordinated.
A minority of learnersexperience new andemerging technologyblended into their course in most regional learningproviders. In 72% of learningproviders, less than half ofthe learners experience that blend.
The key to becoming e-enabled lies in staff skills.Again, only a minority feelthat staff have the skills toexploit the potential of newtechnology. In 79% oflearning providers, less than half of the academicstaff are skilled in the use ofe-learning and its pedagogy.
It’s our job at the RSC tosupport you in reaping thebenefits of technology toimprove recruitment,retention and achievement.If you would like us to helpyou become e-enabled, get intouch.
Becoming e-enabled: the results
Your SayIn future editions of intouch we plan to feature more details of what’s beenhappening in the learning providers inthe region. So we would like to hearfrom you. Do you have a project that you needto disseminate? Would something youare doing make a good case study? Ifso please get intouch.
intouchthe termly newsletter produced by RSC East Midlands Spring 2008 Volume 6: Issue 2
You are e-enabled when you successfully embed technology so it supports allthe key functions of your organisation and in the last edition of intouch weasked “Are you e-enabled?”. Now we can tell you how e-enabled a significantpart of the Learning and Skills sector is in the East Midlands .
Stimulating and supportinginnovation in learning
Contents1 Becoming e-enabled:
the results
2 New advisor starts
2 Round Three launch
3 Focus on: RSC technicalinfrastructure service
3 Hints and Tips
4 Work Based Learningupdate
4 Technology ExemplarNetwork
4 Forthcoming events
localised 10% innovative 3%
embedded 17%
transformative 45%
coordinated 21%
What proportion of your learners experience new and emerging technology
blended into their course?
Per
cent
age
of
Lear
ning
Pro
vid
ers
in t
he E
ast
Mid
land
s 40%35%30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
0 - 25% of learners
26 - 50% of learners
51 - 75% of learners
76 - 100% of learners
What proportion of your staff are skilled in the use of e-learning and its pedagogy?
Per
cent
age
of
Lear
ning
Pro
vid
ers
in t
he E
ast
Mid
land
s
45%40%35%30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
0 - 25% of staff
26 - 50% of staff
51 - 75% of staff
76 - 100% of staff
How would you describe the use of e-learning in your organisation?
We were delighted to welcomeGordon Millner to RSC East Midlandsin October last year as the newadvisor for Technical Infrastructure for the region.
“I have worked in engineering andcomputing for thirty years, but I’vealso combined it with twenty years ofteaching experience, the last ten beingin FE Colleges in the East Midlandsregion either as a lecturer or acurriculum manager for IT. Alongsidethose roles I have also run my ownpart-time IT consultancy for small andmedium-sized businesses (SMEs).
“I have always been enthusiastic inbeing able to combine technology with my own teaching and latterlyhave also helped others improve theirteaching in the classroom through theuse of Moodle, interactive whiteboardsand software programming tools.
“With the identification of factors fromboth a curriculum and a technicalperspective, combined with therevised scope of my technical rolewithin the RSC (see opposite page), I hope to provide a much morestrategic level of IT infrastructureadvice. This will help to ensure thatappropriate resources are allocated toprovide IT value for money and tomeet long term technologicalrequirements for both curriculum andadministration.
“If you want some advice on atechnically-related matter or just wantto give me an update of what’shappening at your organisation thenplease get in contact.”
Gordon MillnerTel: 01509 618120Mobile: 07799 470287Email: [email protected]
New Advisorfor TechnicalInfrastructure
Round 3 Launch“Becoming e-enabled: support for the strategic and effective use oftechnology” was the theme of the RSC’s launch event to cover thefunding phase from 2007 to 2010.
2
The aim of the launch event was toshowcase the extended supportavailable from the RSC and establish aneffective link between the RSC andstrategic managers in learning providersin the East Midlands who cover areassuch as curriculum, quality, technicalinfrastructure and staff development.
Tony Burgess, Senior Policy Manager,Technology for Learning at the national LSC delivered the keynotepresentation outlining LSC priorities and expectations for e-learning, in orderto set the national picture in which weare all operating.
The event was also an opportunity for three of the learning providers in the East Midlands to present regionalcase studies on the service provided by the RSC.
Delegates using interactive technology duringthe RSC round 3 launch event
The examples were drawn from differentsectors that we work with and thepresenters were:• Dawn Green, Vice Principal at
Portland College• Clare Holden, Learning Resources
Manager at Loughborough College• Jim Beizsley, Quality and
Curriculum Manager at Derby Adult Learning Service
The presentations gave a chance forcolleagues at other learning providers tosee the full range of services that theRSC has on offer and for collaborationbetween providers.
It was also an opportunity for delegatesto network and discuss priorities andissues within their organisations.
Chris Hill, Manager of the RSC,summarised the day as “an excellentopportunity for some new faces to learnabout the RSC and for some familiarfaces to see where the RSC is focusingits attention over the next three years.”
A short film and photos from theevent are on the RSC website.
We were saddened to learn of the sudden death of Tony Burgessover Christmas. Tony was anenthusiastic supporter of thebenefits that the use oftechnology gives and will begreatly missed.
What service is on offer?RSC East Midlands have created a series of Information Sheets that outlinethe services on offer to learningproviders throughout the region thatwill help you to realise the full extentof the provision available.
Kevin Spencer, Information Officer at the RSC explained: “the idea is that people should be able to get a good understanding of what we can do for them at a quick glance and then get intouch with us for moreinformation so that we can advise youon an individual basis”.
Fifteen Information Sheets are currentlyavailable but as we progress there willbe more services identified by the RSCand learning providers, so more sheetswill be created to reflect the newservices on offer, as part of a process ofconstant improvement.
The Information Sheets can beaccessed and downloaded via the RSC website or please get intouch and we can send you copies.
The JISC Regional Support Centre (RSC) exists to enable
learning providers to realise the opportunities created
by new technologies.
It provides a wide variety of services on an individual
and sector-wide basis for the Learning and Skills se
ctor.
Introduction to your RSC
Information
Sheet
1
Stimulating and supporting
innovation in learning
Does e-learning make a difference in your organisation
– and how do you know? What effect does investment in a learning platform
or interactive whiteboards have?
Does training staff in the pedagogy of e-learning raise
the quality of learning and teaching?
Measuring the impact of e-learning
InformationSheet
10
Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning
The JISC Regional Support Centre (RSC) can offer
you advice and guidance on a whole range of issues
relating to the use of new technology and e-learning.
Advice and Guidance
InformationSheet2
Stimulating and supporting
innovation in learning
3
Focus On: TechnicalInfrastructure Service
Hints & Tips
The latest remit has given rise tochanges in the support provided by the RSCs. This particularly applies to thetechnical support role which nowfocuses more directly on the strategicdevelopment of the technicalinfrastructure underpinningorganisational network systems, ratherthan providing direct technical support.
The role also advises on the key ITelements to be incorporated in thedesign of a new build, as well as adviceand guidance on the procurement andoperation of Management InformationSystems (MIS).
The technical infrastructure is of coursethere to support learning and teachingin the classroom and ever mindful ofthat, advice and guidance at thetechnical level will often focus onoptimising the learning environment.
This could be advice ranging from howto connect the interactive whiteboardsto the network system or advice on bestpractice to maintain the security andconfidentiality of information sharedbetween student and lecturer.
The security of the network will alsobecome increasingly challenging as the need for social networking sitesbecomes a focus for learning in theclassroom and the student who requiresaccess to the network on a “Martini” any time, any place, anywhere basis.
Institutions possibly now more than everneed to ensure that their networksystem is running at an optimum level.This is due to growing network demandsfor increased security requirements andinternet connectivity for downloadableresources requiring yet more bandwidth.
The RSC can help by undertaking a free,independent Network Healthcheckanalysis to understand how your currentnetwork infrastructure is performing.
This will help identify network trafficlevels and any actual and potentialbottlenecks within your network. Anadditional aim of the RSC NetworkHealthcheck is to encourage bestpractice in networks, systems andprocedures.
Part of the Network Healthcheck alsoinvolves identifying any skills gap thattechnical staff may be experiencing inorder to fulfil their role. The RSC would make recommendations fortraining and provide guidance on wherethis training could be undertaken. Itcould be a skills gap identified for some new technology that is on thehorizon, in which case the RSC wouldconsider providing a regional workshopand the formation of a forum group. Weare presently undertaking an analysis ofthe use of Microsoft SharePoint in theregion with this intention.
Other technologies affecting institutionsat the present time are those associatedwith wireless networking, e-portfoliosand Federated Access Management.There are institutions across the regionthat are currently installing, or haveinstalled, these and other systems andthe RSC will continue to facilitate thesharing of their expertise via the mailinglists, forums and workshops.
For further information on any of thetechnical infrastructure services weoffer please take a look at ourInformation Sheet 15, which isavailable on our website at www.rsc-em.ac.uk or alternativelyplease get intouch with our advisor,Gordon Millner (see opposite page for contact details).
Did you know that you can download the “How to” and “Ask the expert”films from Videojug to your phone, PSP and iPod? If not, it is worth a look as the process is relativelystraightforward providing you withease of access whenever your learnersor you want them.
Step 1If already registered login, if not followthe steps to register with Videojug.Search and find the video clip you wantto download.
Step 2Click on the download tab below thevideo clip and select the device youwant to download to.
Step 3Save the clip to your PC/laptop thenBluetooth or download to your phone,PSP or iPod.
www.videojug.comThe JISC Regional Support Centre (RSC) can offer you advice and guidance on a whole range of issues relating to the use of technology and help ensure your technical infrastructure is sound.
Technical Infrastructure Advice and Guidance
InformationSheet
15
Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning
ForthcomingEventsJanuary30
th(full day) Web2.0: emerging
practice and practicalapplication
February8th (pm) New Build Forum
14th (am) LRC Forum
14th (pm) EMIS Information Skills Meeting
18th (full day) Making the most of e-learning - a Work BasedLearning perspective
21st (full day) Getting your email and information under control
26th (full day) Strategic embedding of Moodle
Lucy Stone(Leicester College), Ruth Mable (Derby City LEA) & Gill Coker(Connexions,Nottinghamshire)presented at the ILTForum last autumn
March4th (am) ILT Forum
4th (am) Heads of IT Forum
6th (am) Specialist CollegesForum
11th (am) Technical Forum
13th (am) Moodle Users Group
18th (full day) RSC Higher EducationConference 2008
April1st (full day) Effective Professional
Development for QTLS
8th (full day) Project Management
17th (am) Accessibility andInclusion Forum
June24th (full day) e-fair 2008
Get intouchJISC RSC East MidlandsLoughborough CollegeRadmoor RoadLoughboroughLeicestershireLE11 3BT
Tel: 01509 618110Email: [email protected]: www.rsc-em.ac.uk
We have been visiting several learningproviders across the region operatingwithin different subject areas to raiseawareness of the RSC and what weprovide. These meetings have also beenused to research the use of technologywith providers and see what individualorganisations view as their priorities, inorder to gauge how e-learning can help them in the future.
The RSC has been working closely withthe existing WBL networks that are inplace in each of the counties that make up the East Midlands region. As well as visits we have delivered briefpresentations to several of thesenetworks, which have had goodrepresentation from the WBL providersin those areas.
The next stage for WBL is a regionallaunch for this sector which takes placeon Monday 18th February at EMFECConference Centre in Nottingham.The morning session will outline in moredetail the service provision that will beavailable to WBL providers, includingdetails of upcoming WBL forums, thelaunch of a WBL mailing list, and furtherinformation on which RSC services canbe accessed and how. There will also be
presentations by WBL providers whohave successfully embedded e-learningin their provision.
The afternoon session will be a series ofworkshops covering some of the mostpressing topics in the sector anddesigned to introduce WBL providers toe-portfolios, web 2.0 technologies andvirtual learning environments.
This event is free and available toanyone delivering Work BasedLearning in the region with an LSCcontract. Bookings can be made onour website at www.rsc-em.ac.uk andplaces will be on first come, firstserved basis.
Learning from each otherIn order to plan the implementation ofnew and emerging technologies, youneed evidence of what has worked todate. By reviewing real examples ofgood practice and sharing experience,you can further develop your plans forfuture investment and implementationof technology for learning.
The Technology Exemplar Network isdesigned to do just this. The Networkconsists of: Supporting Providers withsomething to share and exemplar status, responsible for taking a lead in developing the network; DevelopingProviders who are actively developingtheir strategy for embedding technologyin learning.
In this first round of LSC funding £3.9mis available. Each learning providertaking part will receive a capital grant ofup to £50,000 and a revenue grant ofbetween £7,000 and £7,500 to meet thecosts of releasing staff to take part.Submissions to be one of the tenSupporting Providers had to be in lastyear. However applications to be one ofthe fifty Developing Providers open on19th February 2008. Further details werenot yet available as we went to press.
One of the services we offer as an RSCis in helping you decide whether joiningthe Network could benefit yourorganisation and by supporting you insubmitting a bid. If you would like totalk to us please get intouch.
e-fair 2008The final programme for this popularevent held on the 24th June, at theWalkers Stadium, Leicester will beavailable at the start of the summerterm. Registration will open via the RSCwebsite at the same time.
New HE ConferenceFor those involved with HigherEducation, a new event joins thecalendar in 2008. Held on the 18thMarch in Birmingham, the conferencewill focus on plagiarism, transformationand collaboration.
Work Based Learning UpdateIn 2007 RSCs across England were given the remit of Work BasedLearning (WBL) in addition to the sectors that they supported already.In September last year, Stan Unwin joined as the WBL advisor for EastMidlands. Here’s a brief overview of progress so far.
4
