Virtualisation of South West College Curriculum Offer

Background Information

Six campuses

South West College covers the largest geographical catchment area in Northern Ireland and includes counties Tyrone and Fermanagh

The South West College has 18,500 student enrolments, is involved in a number of European projects, has a staffing complement of some 500 full-time staff and a similar number of part-time staff and a budget of £32M.

Winner 2012 - Further Education Innovation and Learning SupportWinner 2012 - Further Education Innovation in Technical Infrastructure

LoughNeagh

Dungannon Campus

Cookstown CampusOmagh Campus

Enniskillen CampusSkills Centre

INTEC Centre

LOCATION

Why Go Virtual?• Changing needs of diverse learning groups

• Growth of blended learning to widen access and participation

• South West College services a dispersed rural population supported by limited infrastructure.

• The recent disruption caused by inclement weather during the winters of 2009 and 2010

To Virtualise the Curriculum • The provision of an on-line learning experience for South West

College students, where students can access a rich variety of resources relating to their course.

• The development of e-learning modules across a variety of curriculum areas which can be delivered via the College Virtual Learning Environment.

• Develop links with a third world country to support students educational development and technical requirements.

• Introduce a virtual element to each College Service.

Virtualisation of College Services• Develop and implement on-line enrolments. • Develop and implement a service for on-line purchasing of

courses/services. • Develop and implement remote access for staff and students to

a variety of College services.

Main Objectives

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Additional Resource

To SupportContent

Development

VirtualDay

VirtualWeek

Virtual Servers &Thin Clients

SWC Virtualisation Timeline

BlendedLearning

Pilots2010-2011

SWC – Virtualisation Team

Virtualisation Project Manager – Ciara Duffy

Learning Technologist Tracy Sharkey

Learning TechnologistLouise Mullan

Learning TechnologistDarren O’Neill

Learning Technologist – Placement StudentStephen Power

Learning Technologist – Placement StudentTherese Evans

ProfessionalServices

DepartmentSocial Sciences

DepartmentTechnology Department

Training Department

Collaboration Within & Between Departments

Corporate Services

Department

Client Services Department

Curriculum Areas

Curriculum Areas Groupings

Health and Social Care Business

Media/Music ICT

Performing Arts CCLD

Art & Design Training

Engineering Hairdressing

Science & Agriculture Beauty Therapy

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Construction & Built Environ.

Sport ESOL

Lifeskills Essential Skills

What did Virtualisation Involve?• Virtualisation involved the provision of an on-line

learning experience for 5,655 students for one week, where students were able to interact with tutors and access a rich variety of resources relating to their course.

• This formed a seamless component of their programme of study, which was of equal standing in terms of quality and academic rigour to the ‘traditional’ and more recognisable components.

• The resources available to students varied depending on tutor choice but included vodcasts, podcasts, on-line tutorials, etc.

Staff Development InvolvedStaff Development

Advanced features of Blackboard • Wikis• Mash-ups• Journals

Blackboard Collaborate Features• Audio and Video• Instant Messaging• Web Tour• Upload Presentation• Breakout Rooms

Creating and structuring learning objects using • Xerte• Blackboard Learning Module

Teaching And Learning Online• The pedagogy of teaching and learning online presented by Marie

Martin, SWC e-Pedagogy Advisor

Stud-E Day - 19th October 2011

• Full Time & Part Time courses delivered online.

• 3885 students logged in from outside the college.

• 210 students attended the college to use computer services.

• All college support services logged in from outside the college via Remote Access.

• Helpline available for staff/students to deal with technical issues.

Stud-E Day - 19th October 2011(Results of Staff Survey)

Where did Lecturer’s Login from?

Stud-E Day - 19th October 2011What applications did staff use to deliver their

curriculum on Stud-E Day?

Virtual Week – 21st to 25th Nov 2011

• 5,655 students participated in online curriculum activities during Virtual week.

• 186 students from all levels of curriculum logging into team teach activity.

• Up to five team teach activities took place simultaneously.

• Students logging in remotely from home peaked at 3,885 students on day one of the Virtual week.

Virtual Week – Lecturers feedbackWhat applications were used by staff to deliver their

curriculum online during Virtual Week?

Virtual Week – Student feedbackStudent login locations

Virtual Week – Student feedbackDid your tutor use Blackboard Collaborate to deliver

their curriculum online?

Virtual Week – Student feedbackWhat the students said…

• “I enjoyed staying at home while still learning.”Daniel Carberry – EDEXCEL BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT (QCF) – Enniskillen Campus

• “Being at home and not having to drive up to Omagh as I live in Armagh.”Jonathan McCusker - QUB Foundation Degree In Energy Environmental And Sustainability – Omagh Campus

• “No travel costs and a more comfortable working environment at home.”Cornelius Boylan - EDEXCEL BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design (QCF) – Enniskillen Campus

LoughNeagh

Enniskillen

Skills Centre

OmaghCookstown

Dungannon

Virtualisation WeekThe Team Teach

November 2011

Team Teach Example - Video

Evidence of Blackboard VLE being used to deliver Curriculum Content - Video

Remote Access to all services

• Access to college network from anywhere.

• Access files stored on your college network drive.

• Enable Access to different departments Quality, Examinations, MIS, Student Services, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing.

• Enable use of specialist software that is available in the college on your own computer.

Autocad, Solidworks, Adobe Suite, Sage, Microsoft 2010, IWB Software, Solidedge, Jaws, Cato to name just a few.

Virtual Week Winners

Daniel Doran - Best Video Diary (Kodak Playful)Please click this link to view Daniel's Video Diary

Jamie Pantry – Best Virtual Student (iPad 2)Please click on the link to access Jamie's Video Diary

Owen McKee – Best Virtual Picture (Canon Camera)<- See Picture to the left

Shane McDaid – Best Virtual Diary (Kodak Playful)

Dawn Lawther – Best Staff Virtual Diary (iPad 2)

Benefits to the Organisation• Development of curriculum content so that it can be

delivered using a range of learning objects and delivery styles.

• Support learning outside of College timetabled hours which will contribute to improved retention and achievement.

• Common standard for Blended Learning delivery across all curriculum areas of the College.

• Reduce duplication in the preparation of learning activities/materials in the same vocational subject which will cut down on delivery costs.

• Staff will have access to a wider range of learning resources.

Benefits to the Organisation• Students will be able to access their learner profile

including exam results remotely from the College.• Students will have access to on-line services 24 hours

a day / 7 days a week.• Staff developed to a high level in using technology as

a tool to enhance teaching and learning• College can operate in the event of adverse weather

conditions.• Reduction in carbon footprint with the delivery of on-

line services and curriculum.• International reach for Curriculum Project Delivery.• Flexible working which promotes greater staff morale.• Widening Access and Increased Participation for

Students.

MovingForward

1Collaboration

BetweenDepartments

2Collaboration

With CollegeBusiness

DevelopmentUnit

3Collaboration

WithIndustry

4Collaboratio

nWith other

colleges

6Collaborati

on Internation

ally

5Collaboratio

nwith other academic

institutions

ALL proved possible through Virtualisation Project

Africa

N. America

S. America

Europe

Asia

Australia

Current International CurriculumProjects and Collaborations

South West College Virtualisation ProjectJoint Project with DAFA - Zambia