Excellence Gateway Case Studies
"The text below covers Excellence Gateway Case Studies across the 9 regions from the start up to the end of Aug 2009...
...and there were probably more I could have included that you might have been interested in...
...I've tried to select what I thought were most appropriate for your role and interests, under some (very) loose headings!"
John Davey (RSC Information & Communication Officer)
1: Skills
Homefield College: Learning IT and pre-vocational skills through eBay
Published: 22 April 2009
In April 2008 a new vocational enterprise called Aladkins Cave was created by Homefield College as a project to develop the functional and IT skills of its students. The enterprise provides a service buying and selling items on the online auction site, eBay, thereby providing a wealth of learning opportunities for its students.
Portland College: Testing the switching skills of learners in specialist colleges
Published: 11 November 2008
A learning object aimed at Pre-entry Level learners reliant on switches for computer/communication aid access was developed by Portland College. No escAPE is a motivational game that helps develop an understanding of cause and effect whilst encouraging higher-level switching skills such as timing.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=167843
Darlington Borough Council: Libraries and Community Learning Service
Published: 29 October 2008
Community learning at Darlington Borough Council successfully uses different e-learning methods to attract and attain otherwise difficult-to-reach adults. The age of technology has not been embraced by many of these learners. Once learners have been introduced to computers and online learning, their new skills allow them to keep up with their child's learning and they often continue to gain further qualifications.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=166627
Trinity Training Services: Learning new skills - DVD production for retention and recruitment
Published: 17 November 2008
Learners at Trinity Training Services, a West Midlands work-based learning provider, produced a promotional DVD outlining how Trinity helps young people into employment, and to encourage those at risk of being not in education, employment or training (NEET). The project, a result of a Learner Innovation Grant (LIG), gave learners the chance to gain valuable new skills in technologies they had not previously used.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=168045
2: Resources
City of Sunderland College: Latest technologies inject fun into learning
Published: 13 May 2009
Andrea Errington teaches art and design, i-media and graphic design at City of Sunderland College. She uses a wide range of technologies in her lesson plans, such as mobile phone technology, podcasts, Dreamweaver and Flash, and also creates her own games and quizzes to add fun to learning. Students not only benefit from learning resources created by her with the latest technologies, but also learn how to use these technologies themselves. This provides them with a good grounding in digital work and prepares them for future employment.
South Tyneside College: Virtual games inject fun into learning
Published: 21 April 2009
Samantha Lavery, Business Lecturer at South Tyneside College, is passionate about making learning as much fun as possible and uses a range of interactive learning materials to enhance her students' learning experience. She develops some learning materials herself but also purchases commercial material from a variety of suppliers. She has recently won the RSC Northern e-Learning Award for Bringing Fun to Learning. The RSC Northern Awards celebrate exceptional contributions to e-learning and education in the North East of England.
Middlesbrough Adult Education Service: International language project on Moodle
Published: 19 May 2008
Middlesbrough Adult Educational Service has developed an innovative language project where learners can interact directly with native French, Greek or Spanish speakers through their virtual learning environment (VLE).
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=159430
Bede College: Developing virtual revision tools
Published: 2 May 2008
This case study explores the development of an innovative online revision resource for A-level Biology students at Bede Sixth Form College. It is an interactive programme on the college's VLE which combines music and learning.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=158999
New College Worcester: MP3s for learners with visual impairments
Published: 7 April 2008
This case study highlights the effective use of audio technology to support visually impaired learners. The Head of Science at New College Worcester has created a series of MP3s for GCSE Physics and A-level Biology students to re-enforce learning and help with exam revision.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=157248
Bolton Community College: ELVIS on video! - the development of video resources to engage learners in ACL
Published: 26 May 2009
Through its NIACE-funded ELVIS project, Bolton Community College developed a series of video resources to generate interest from the local community in its adult and community learning (ACL) courses. Initially working with a video production company, the College has used further project funding to progress to training tutors in developing effective video content for their courses.
Hugh Baird College: Hugh Tube - video on demand
Published: 11 December 2008
Three members of staff at Hugh Baird College have created a set of video resources to demonstrate joinery techniques and procedures. Learners can access the resources through touch-screen technology in the workshop environment, enabling them to revisit demonstrations when they are performing these techniques and procedures for themselves.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=169807
3: Staff development and strategy
Harrow Adult, Community and Family Learning: Working inclusively with learners
Published: 12 May 2009
Harrow has adopted a whole-organisation approach to accessibility. Tutors and staff follow a development programme that gives them the confidence, knowledge and access to advice to enable them to support all learners. "Accessibility is incredibly important to us as an organisation", says Harrow's Karen Bhamra, Adult and Community Learning Programme Development Officer. "It has helped shape who we are, the type of employer we are and the models of disability that we use to deliver our services."
Sutton College of Learning for Adults: Strategy to practice
Published: 29 October 2008
The vision of developing college-wide access to elearning at SCOLA is supported by the SMT and driven by curriculum managers who, with teaching as part of their role, perceive the benefits to learners. SCOLA has used its planning processes including the self-assessment report (SAR) and the e-Learning Positioning Statement (e-LPS), to take the whole college forward with an evolutionary approach to embedding e-learning.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=167015
Bristol Learning Communities: Councils co-operate to benefit adult learners
Published: 7 April 2008
This case study looks at the benefits for adult learners, which have been achieved through the co-operation of four local authorities who have combined forces to provide a virtual learning environment for their adult learners.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=157238
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Adult & Community Learning Department: Loaning equipment for learning in the community
Published: 29 June 2009
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Adult & Community Learning Department (Rotherham ACL) has developed an equipment loan scheme with their learning providers, as a result of funding from NIACE. This has had a major impact on learners in the community, making more equipment available and increasing learner support. A new IT culture is being established amongst staff and learners alike.
Calderdale Adult Learning (part of Calderdale Council): Resource Management in the Community
Published: 19 August 2008
Calderdale Adult Learning (part of Calderdale Council) is piloting a new approach to managing community resources to give the community ownership over the management and learning in the centre.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=163065
4: Equipment and technology
Care Training East Midlands: The mobile classroom
Published: 22 April 2009
Care Training East Midlands has successfully developed a carry-case that has all the necessary information learning technology (ILT) equipment to set-up a classroom wherever the learners are based.
Nottinghamshire County Council: Using ultra mobile PCs in adult and community learning (ACL)
Published: 26 January 2009
Nottinghamshire County Council's Adult and Community Learning Service (ACLS) working in partnership with North Nottinghamshire College have had a successful start in a pilot project using small mobile PCs to carry out teaching and learning in the dispersed community venues that it uses to deliver learning. The new devices have helped incorporate information learning technology (ILT) into settings where it has often been lacking historically, and more tutors are getting the devices as the project expands.
Thurrock Adult Community College: All aboard! Let's learn!
Published: 6 March 2009
Through LSC funding, Thurrock Adult Community College (TACC) purchased a single-deck bus, equipped with all the essential equipment that has allowed them to deliver fundamental IT skills within local communities. The bus travels to various local towns and villages which in turn has brought learning to the learners. This has proved to be very useful for those who perhaps have difficulty travelling to the main campuses or do not have the confidence to enrol on a course.
CSV Media Clubhouse
Published: 29 October 2008
CSV Media Clubhouse, a learning provider that specialises in providing work-based training in media and ICT, have adopted and are currently using a low-cost, portable media format called the CVCD which can be used by students to document their skills, interests and abilities using video, audio and other media.
Southend Adult Community College: Walk like an Egyptian - A new reflection
Published: 18 August 2008
Southend Adult Community College hosts a regular Middle Eastern and Egyptian dance class for all ages and abilities.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=163043
Thurrock and Basildon College: Improving institutional effectiveness through U3 technology (The Quality Pen)
Published: 26 February 2008
This case study looks at the innovative use of U3 technology at Thurrock and Basildon College, which has improved institutional effectiveness by keeping staff regularly up-to-date with college policy and quality standards. In addition, the implementation has saved the college a significant sum of money in printing costs. While the U3 Quality Pen is only used at staff level, it promises to be an effective tool for learners once it can be developed and harnessed effectively.
Southwark College: The impact of low-cost video cameras across the curriculum
Published: 9 December 2008
Southwark has introduced the Busbi - a low-priced, pocket-sized camcorder - to a number of curriculum areas. The Busbi offers one-button video recording and transfers video to a PC easily via a USB connection.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=169097
Richmond Adult Community College: Using technology to make a step change in business efficiency and responsiveness
Published: 19 August 2008
Richmond Adult Community College set out to make better use of technology to transform their business operations and to achieve greater efficiency and cost savings and succeeded in developing an integrated solution that has supported their key business processes during a period of substantial growth.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=163099
Newcastle City Learning and Gosforth Community Education: Social network for adult guitar class students
Published: 19 January 2009
'Jonny's Guitar Classes' is an online social network in Ning for learners of Jonathan McCourt's guitar classes at Gosforth Community Education, which is part of Newcastle City Learning. It contains blogs, discussion forums, video (vodcasts), photos and recordings which support and inform the learners outside their weekly classes. Ning is an online platform for users to create their own social websites and social networks.
Middlesbrough College: e-Learning and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Published: 6 November 2008
Middlesbrough College offers its ESOL learners an opportunity to enhance their English as well as a chance to use and develop their ICT skills through the use of technologies such as wikis, blogs and online recordings.
Portsmouth College: Streaming multimedia
Published: 19 May 2009
Since October 2008, Portsmouth College has been piloting its own internal media streaming service. Simply named TPC.TV, this new facility for students and staff combines open-source software with ‘retired hardware' to provide a highly cost-effective and simple-to-use solution to support teaching and learning with anywhere anytime video resources.
Amersham embeds exemplar e-learning into ESOL programme
Published: 15 October 2008
The outreach ESOL provision at Amersham & Wycombe College has found a new home in a purpose built ESOL Centre equipped with two well appointed IT suites, interactive whiteboards and the Blackboard learning platform. In just over a year, the outreach ESOL Centre has developed some of the best examples of blended e-learning in this sector and found great success by integrating IT skills courses within the ESOL programme.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=166594
Academy for Training: Learning Innovation Grant 3 funding puts Academy in touch with young workers
Published: 13 November 2008
Funding for capital expenditure is always difficult for small businesses and, in order to stay in touch with the young trainees in the catering industry, the Academy for Training needed Tablet PCs, a scanner, whiteboards, cameras and voice recorders. Funding through the Learning Innovation Grant (LIG) 3 project has meant that, not only has the company been able, in the Managing Director's words, "to move from the dark ages" - it has also been able to embark on a major new project to launch a virtual hotel in which the students can train online.
Weymouth College: Middle Ages meets 21st Century
Published: 19 August 2008
The masonry students at Weymouth College are developing an ancient craft with the aid of 21st century technology.
Henley College Coventry: Film production service improves teaching and learning quality
Published: 17 July 2009
Henley College has its own film production service and widely uses video in teaching and learning across the curriculum.
Sandwell College: Learning materials undergo Metamorphosis
Published: 7 April 2009
Sandwell College has purchased Metamorphosis - e-learning authoring software that converts Microsoft Word and PowerPoint documents into more interactive learning objects through features such as images, quizzes and closed exercises.
Solihull College: Blogs for Travel and Tourism
Published: 6 March 2009
Solihull College introduced blogging for students to record their experiences whilst on overseas study visits. This has proved to be a popular alternative to traditional paper-based reports.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=191908
Hull City Council Adult and Community Learning: Facebook your learners for engagement and retention
Published: 24 July 2009
Theresa Rowland directly supports her learners via the ‘Instant Chat' facility on Facebook. This case study highlights the successes of her method.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council ACL Department: The mobile classroom
Published: 26 June 2009
As more of its services are being transferred online, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Adult and Community Learning Department (Rotherham ACL) is piloting the loan of laptops with dongles so that all learning providers, especially those based in non-traditional learning environments, can connect to the Internet.
Longley Park Sixth Form College: LPTV - Networked TV for modern teaching
Published: 11 May 2009
Tutors have long found using videos beneficial to visual learners. Longley Park Sixth Form College has developed an in-house TV system that allows easy access, control, and flexibility for the organisation and its staff.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=206622
5: Systems
Harrow: Using Geographical Imaging Systems to map provision of personal and community development learning
Published: 11 May 2009
The Harrow Adult Community and Family Learning Service uses the Monterpoint management information system (MIS) and takes data from this to Arcview, a geographical information system (GIS). This enables some very sophisticated reporting for a small adult and community learning service. These reports enable Harrow Council and the Harrow Personal and Community Development Learning (PCDL) Partnership to be much more responsive to learners' needs.
Slough Borough Council Lifelong Learning: Slough adult and community learning Excels with custom-designed e-register
Published: 17 December 2008
Slough Borough Council (SBC) Lifelong Learning has developed an Excel-based electronic register that streamlines and integrates induction, initial assessment, individual learning plans (ILPs), withdrawn/retained statistics, learning outcomes and all necessary data into a single, easy-to-use spreadsheet, thus greatly reducing workload for tutors and practically eliminating data-entry errors. Oh and, by the way, it also takes the register.
North Yorkshire County Council: Recording inclusive evidence for learner progression
Published: 29 October 2008
A case study on the creation of an Electronic Learner Progress Book that includes video and audio evidence. It is intended to make the RARPA process more inclusive for learners with profound and multiple disabilities. The future potential of this project is also considered, including the development of the "e-personal passport" and facilitating a more joined-up programme of care for supported learners.
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/Programmes/page.aspx?o=166607
Sefton Enterprises Ltd: Improving the management and sharing of resources via a web-based interface
Published: 2 March 2009
Sefton Enterprises Ltd. was introduced to ‘Protopage' as a solution to managing and sharing information and documents across a consortium of Work Based Learning (WBL) Providers putting a funding bid together. The free, web-based ‘start page' did not take-off for the funding bid, but its potential was realised in helping staff at the organisation become more effective and efficient internally, and in the provision of information and resources for their students.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Produced and edited by John Dalziel (eLearning Adviser) JISC RSC-Northwest - Lancaster University