If you have any comments and/or contributions to make, please send them...

• ...using the Online Comment/Feedback Form or
• ...email the editor John Dalziel at support@rsc-northwest.ac.uk
  

The Regional Support Centre eMagazine provides news of funding, current projects, initiatives and examples of good practice in eLearning, and offers ideas and support for the HE, FE, ACL, 6th Form and Specialist College Managers & Practitioners, that are supported by the RSC here in the Northwest.

"I've downloaded some excellent software from this site" (John Dalziel eLearning Adviser)

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) has agreed to establish and support a commission in order to

• identify best practice in the UK and internationally across each of the key arenas in which adult learning makes a significant contribution,
  
• identify the values, principles and practical steps needed to give life to life-long and life-wide learning for all communities of the UK.

As part of this work, the Commission of Inquiry will be issuing a number of calls for evidence on particular themes. At present we are calling for evidence on learning in the workplace.

Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Commission. The closing date for evidence is 27 November 2007.

In particular, the Commission invites evidence on the following areas:

• Future skills needs in the workplace
• Work organisation and leadership
• Funding and regulation of learning in the workplace
• Variations within the above categories by region, sector and age

In addition we welcome evidence on any area relevant to the work of the Inquiry. This evidence can be submitted at any stage, however please indicate that it is not linked to a particular call.

Further information about the Commission of Inquiry is available from http://www.niace.org.uk/lifelonglearninginquiry

Evidence should be submitted to lifelonglearninginquiry@niace.org.uk

More information in submitting evidence is available from http://www.niace.org.uk/lifelonglearninginquiry/Evidence-work.htm

This is a public call for evidence. Recipients of this notice are encouraged to draw it to the attention of others who may wish to submit evidence to the Inquiry.

 

• Wednesday 7th November 2007

ICT Conference: The Essential Skills for the 21st Century

• Thursday 29th November 2007
  

  Annual Mental Health Conference

• Thursday 6th December 2007

Engaging with research: developing a new future

Venue: East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham

Event information:

• Arrival and registration is at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 4:00pm.
• Event fee per person: £225 £198 - NIACE Members (includes lunch, tea/coffee)
• Only application forms with the payments section completed will be processed Please note that if you wish us to invoice your employer we require a copy of the Purchase Order before the form is processed 
• Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed application forms
• Completed and signed application forms must be faxed or posted to NIACE by the closing date. Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted
• Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail. Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be posted out one week before the event
• Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions.
• If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact:
  Gurjit Kaur
  Tel: 0116 204 2833
  Fax: 0116 254 8368
  Minicom: 0116 255 6049
  E-mail: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk  

Our Learning Journey

Lessons learnt and future thinking in adult learning, skills development and mental health

Venue:Thistle Marble Arch Hotel, Bryanston Street, Marble Arch, London W1H 7EH

Adult Learning and mental health

For many people with mental health difficulties it is not the cognitive difficulties associated with mental ill-health that prevents them from accessing learning, getting into work or in using other community resources such as libraries or leisure centres, it is the real, or fear of, stigma and discrimination that prevents active involvement and increases social isolation.

Adult learning and skills development can play an important role in tackling stigma and discrimination. It provides opportunities to widen social networks and be with other people, it can lead to improved job prospects and it can be a means to building confidence, hope and optimism.

Over the past two decades the number of people experiencing mental health difficulties accessing learning and skills provision has increased. There is evidence of better collaboration between learning providers and mental health service providers. There are more examples of good practice in supporting learners with mental health difficulties to achieve. Increasingly, learning and training providers are realising the need to involve and listen to service users/learners with mental health difficulties about what matters and what helps them to learn. This is the journey we have made so far.

But we cannot be complacent. There are still many challenges to face if people with mental health difficulties are to have the same access to learning, skills and employment as other people, and the same opportunities to lead fulfilling lives and to get on in life. This is the journey we have yet to make.

Adult learning and skills providers need to address the following questions:

• What are the key things we still need to get right in adult learning for people with mental health difficulties?
• How do we need to develop our services?
• What are the campaign issues for those involved in adult learning and mental health?
  

This conference is about:

• Raising awareness of the campaign issues for those involved in adult learning, work-based skills development and mental health
• sharing the good practice and ideas we all have about how best people with mental health difficulties can access and achieve in adult learning and skills/work-based learning
• highlighting the key issues and challenges in tackling inequality, stigma, discrimination and lack of social mobility that face many people with mental health difficulties.
  

At the conference NIACE will launch a new 'One in Four' campaign pack.

This pack includes resources and ideas to help you raise awareness of mental health, challenge stigma and discrimination and debate the issues that matter to you.

The conference will be a very interactive event, reflecting the voice of the learner, tutors and other key stakeholders working in, participating in or using adult learning and skills or health and social care provision, and will have opportunities to share ideas and shape future thinking. Participants will have the opportunity to visit 'market stalls' and discuss innovative projects and good practice and opportunities for people to network.

Arrival and registration is at 9.45am.

The conference ends at 3.30pm.

Conference Fee: £198 (The fee includes a copy of the One in Four Campaign pack, and CD - rom, lunch, tea/coffee).

For further details and to reserve a place, look up:

http://www.niace.org.uk/conferences/Conferences.htm

Enquiries to Gurjit Kaur on 0116 204 2833; e-mail: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

Learning and Skills Research Network (LSRN) Conference

Thursday 6 December 2007

Venue: Thistle Marble Arch Hotel, Bryanston Street, Marble Arch, London W1H 7EH

CONFERENCE ALERT
The Learning and Skills Research Network conference will bring together practitioners from...

• further and higher education,
  
• adult community learning,
  
• voluntary organisations and
  
• training providers who are interested in research and development in the Learning and Skills Sector.
  

The conference provides a unique opportunity to share interests and explore how research can help our understanding of the policy and practice of facilitating learning for young people and adults.

The conference re-launches the national LSRN network and welcomes both new participants and those who were regular attendees at the LSRN conferences between 1997 and 2003.

Conference themes

1. Engagement with research and development
2. Working collaboratively
3. Building research capacity
4. Increasing the influence of research findings
5. Action research and its role in improving practice

What Participants will get out of attending the event

• An update on national policy and current research in the sector
• An opportunity to meet with colleagues regionally and nationally
• An opportunity to disseminate research findings nationally
• An opportunity to meet members of regional networks
  

The conference will count towards the 30 hour CPD requirement for all FE staff

On returning to work, participants will be able to:

• draw upon the LSRN website which will contain papers and resources from the event
• join their regional LSRN
• identify appropriate opportunities within their own organisations and practice to engage with research
  

Conference Fee: £150 per person to include lunch, tea/coffee

Arrival and registration: 9.45am. The conference ends with tea at 4pm.

 

For further details and to reserve a place, look up: http://www.niace.org.uk/conferences/Conferences.htm

Enquiries to Gurjit Kaur on 0116 204 2833; e-mail: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

Build your confidence

If you are a manager, team leader or considering moving into a leadership role don't miss this opportunity.

Healthy and balanced organisations are ones where leadership is courageous, the vision for the future is clear and everyone can contribute to improving results. We are pleased to announce one-day courses run by Trainer and Coach - Annette Zera, previously Principal of Tower Hamlets College, which will help expand your leadership and management skills and challenge the way you think about engaging staff.

Getting on Brilliantly 1

Getting the best out of groups and teams
Tuesday 29 January 2008
MAC Arts, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH

Participants on this course will:

• think about how to get the best out of groups and teams
• try out some different ways of running meetings
• get some practical ideas that make a difference
• think about how to encourage people to express their passion for what they do
• discuss key leadership and management issues and approaches
• reflect on how they might do things differently
• challenge some received wisdom.

Build your confidence

If you are a manager, team leader or considering moving into a leadership role don't miss this opportunity.

Healthy and balanced organisations are ones where leadership is courageous, the vision for the future is clear and everyone can contribute to improving results. We are pleased to announce one-day courses run by Trainer and Coach - Annette Zera, previously Principal of Tower Hamlets College, which will help expand your leadership and management skills and challenge the way you think about engaging staff.

Getting on Brilliantly 2

Getting the best out of line management - How do we get the best out of people and enjoy being a line manager?
Wednesday 30 January 2008
MAC Arts, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH

This one-day training session will expand your leadership and management skills and confidence. You will work on different ways of engaging with staff and learners; approaches that are efficient, effective and energising and used in the most innovative and successful of organisations.

Participants on this course will:

• think about how they choose people
• focus on how they use their time
• consider different ways of doing things
• reflect on how best to give and receive criticism
• consider how people in the wrong job can leave with dignity
• sharpen systems and procedures to expedite rather than protract difficulties
• challenge some received wisdom.

There are 40 places per course.
Fee: £245 pp per course includes tea/coffee, lunch and support materials

Arrival/Registration is at 9.30am for a 10.00am start. Sessions end at 4.00pm

If you would like to reserve a place on the above courses visit the NIACE website: http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/TrainingCourses.htm

Enquiries to: Gurjit Kaur on Tel: 0116 2042833
Email: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

• Northwest Information Skills Group Meeting: 14th November (RSC)
  
• PROJECT MANAGEMENT: 16thNovember
• eGuide Plus Workshops: 23rd November 2007 & 3rd June 2008 (NIACE & RSC)
  
• eGuides Programme 2007 - 2008 (NIACE)
  First 3-Day event in Northwest - 8th, 9th October and 8th November 2007 - Liverpool
  Second 3-Day event in Northwest - 19th, 20th February and 3rd April 2008 - Liverpool
  Third 3-Day event in Northwest - 9th, 10th April and 13th May 2008 - Manchester
  eGuides National Event 13th March 2008 - The University of Manchester Conference Centre (NIACE)
  
• ePortfolios: PebblePad Roadshow: 20th November 2007
• Functional skills for adults - events and training: 6th December 2007
  

The next meeting of the Northwest Information Skills Group will be held on the 14th November at West Cheshire College, Chester Campus.

The speaker for the meeting will be Sangeet Bhullar from Wisekids http://www.wisekids.org.uk/

This event is free to attend and refreshments will be provided.

Location: West Cheshire College
Contact: Anthony Beal - West Cheshire College - A.Beal@west-cheshire.ac.uk

The day is aimed at senior managers and anyone who needs to manage projects in Further Education Colleges or Higher Education Institutions.

No prior knowledge is assumed although the event is suitable for staff with previous experience of projects as well as beginners.The workshop will be an interactive day aiming to raise levels of knowledge about taking a structured approach to Project Management, covering the following areas:

• Why Projects Fail - Common pitfalls/problems
• Methodology - Structure, approach and rationale, good practice
• Project Start-up - Alignment with organisation strategy, identifying the sponsor & other key roles, defining the project, stakeholders, building the project team, setting up the infrastructure, costing the project, project lifecycle
• Project Planning - Establishing the baseline, building in accountabilities, tools and techniques, estimating and scheduling, analytical methods, contingency planning, staff development
• Managing a Project - Monitoring and review, reporting, meetings management, managing by exception, re-planning, people management - conflict, negotiation, change
• Controlling a Project - Risk management, issue management, change control, project controls database, quality control, user acceptance
• Change Management - Climate and culture, communication, involvement and consultation, managing resistance, Project/Programme Manager's role
• Project Closure - Post project review

The content will be flexible to enable the workshop to be matched to the needs of delegates.

More details and booking form at http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk/component/option,com_events/task,view_detail/agid,27/year,2007/month,11/day,16/Itemid,256/ .

Location: Carnforth Railway Station
Contact: Benita Wiseman on 01524 593801
£60.00 per delegate

23rd November 2007 and 3rd June 2008; both in Liverpool.

These workshops are designed to offer you the chance to extend and refresh your skills, to provide more support with creating your own resources, discovering and repurposing existing resources, and with the delivery of your cascade training programme.

The aims of the workshops are to develop the skills and knowledge that the core programme introduced and, for those involved in early eGuide Training, to extend and refresh skills.

You can select one of four options as the main content of your workshop:

1. E-assessment: this option looks at different approaches to e-assessment including e-portfolios and will support participants in developing an outline for a basic e-portfolio.
2. Learning Platforms: this option will look at the features of a learning platform and participants will consider how to plan and implement the effective use of a learning environment.
3. Mobile Technologies: this option looks at the variety of mobile technologies available, and the potential for using them to enhance teaching and learning.
4. Online learning tools: this option looks at the variety of online learning tools available, including Web 2.0 technologies, and ways they can be used to enhance the learner journey.

Note: The materials and activities for these options are designed for self-study and/or work in small groups. There is also time to focus on creating or developing relevant and appropriate resources.

The workshops also offer an opportunity to share experiences and good practice with other E-Guides and consider how to incorporate new ideas into your cascade training.

Don't miss out: please complete the attached booking form stating your preferred option.

For maximum benefit from this training, you are advised to come to the workshops with ideas, and/or resources currently used, for schemes of work, lesson or session plans, learning tasks and activities which you would like to enhance with an ‘e' approach relevant to your chosen optional topic.

• The E-Guides Plus workshops are designed for participants who have previously undertaken some e-learning training.
• This may include staff who have been trained through the E-Guides cascade training programme within an organisation.

Candidates undertaking the Certificate in Educational Use of ICT qualification will be able to undertake the controlled assessment task (one hour) at the workshops.

Either Colin or John or both, eLearning Advisers from the RSC-Northwest will be present at the Northwest Workshops, offering both support and an opportunity for peer networking.

The day will start at 9:30 am and finish at 5:00 pm.

If the dates above are not suitable you can attend other workshops across England...

2007

• 23rd November Liverpool (RSC-Northwest)
• 28th November Guilford (RSC-South East)
  
• 4th December London (RSC-London)
• 5th December Leeds (RSC Yorkshire & Humber)

2008

• 15th January Leicester (RSC East Midlands)
• 16th January St Neots (RSC Eastern)
• 5th February Birmingham (RSC West Midlands)
• 7th February Taunton (RSC-South West)
• 22nd April Newcastle (RSC Northern)
• 23rd May Leeds (RSC Yorkshire & Humber)
• 29th May Birmingham (RSC West Midlands)
• 3rd June Liverpool (RSC-Northwest)
• 6th June London (RSC-London)

Events begin from October 2nd in London. Maximum of 20 participants per event.

You can access the schedule at http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/TrainingCourses/eguides.htm#Schedule

• Materials have been updated
  - core remains the same. E-Guides are given contact details for RSCs and names of ACL and WBL Advisors (known at time of going to press).

• Action plans:
  E-Guides not currently likely to receive a grant, but nevertheless the cascade is expected and ongoing membership of the E-Guides mail list (managed by Becta) and E-Guides network area on Moodle is encouraged.

• Accreditation will be offered during this phase.
  Certificate in Educational Use of ICT - JEB Level 3.
  This requires assessment in controlled conditions as previously.
  There will be three ‘accreditation workshops' next year.
  
  
• E-Guides Plus:
  13 of these events are planned throughout the country.
  Funds are tight and we are hoping to recruit in greater numbers - maximum of 20 per event.
  E-Guides Plus will be open to
  
  • all trained E-Guides
    
  • and staff who have received some e-learning cascade training.
    

There are four E-Guides Plus topics to choose from:

• Online learning tools (incl. social networking)
• Mobile Technologies
• Learning Platforms
• E-assessment

Materials are currently being written for self-study at the workshops. However, it is planned that each topic will also include a focus on creating appropriate and relevant content, and a consideration of the topic in relation to cascade training.
Trainers will be seeking to encourage group interaction, even though participants will be able to follow their own choice of topic to study.

Attendance at the E-Guides core three days, and two E-Guides Plus would therefore add up to 30 hours CPD.

E-Guides materials have been (loosely) mapped to ePD framework.

E-Guides National Event 2008

Thursday March 13th in Manchester.
One-day event with focus on implementation of online and blended learning.
Details and programme will be released in November.
Further details available at http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/TrainingCourses/eguidesnatevent08.htm .

Note: There will be a substantial cost to this event, but a bursary programme will enable eligible participants to attend if their organisation cannot afford to send them.

In response to a growing demand for an in-depth product demonstration PebblePad have organised a series of events across the UK – many hosted by existing PebblePad users. Attendance at the event is free; refreshments will be provided and all delegates will receive a free account to further explore the system. The structure of the presentation will be:

•  An overview of ePortfolio Drivers in the FE, HE and Professional Domains
•  Where PebblePad fits in an institutional learning ecology
•  How to create, review, share and link assets
•  The 20 second Blog and 1-minute ePortfolio
•  Showcasing examples of use from diverse users
•  The customer perspective
•  Q&A – a learning and teaching perspective
•  Q&A – a technical perspective

The structured presentation will take approximately 2 hours concluding with refreshments. Delegates are welcome to stay to chat after the event.

Find out more at http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/roadshow.asp . 

QIA is offering a series of regional and in-house briefings to offer information and support for providers of adult (post-19) education and training.

Regional Briefings

These briefings will take 2 to 2 and a half hours, from 1 pm until 3.30 pm, and will provide information on all three functional skills. 

The regional briefings will explore:

• general and current information on the place of functional skills
• why we need functional skills now
• functional skills in the larger skills agenda
• application and transfer of skills
• the functional skills (pilot) standards
• advice for transition from current provision to functional skills. 

The meetings will be ideal for the following:

• work-based learning providers, employers and training organisations
• the secure estate
• Education Business Partnerships and Lifelong Learning Partnerships
• SfL advisers, providers and clusters
• Adult and Continuing Education, including Local Authority provision
• ESOL providers
• providers of family learning/literacy
• Higher Education
• professional development centres
• providers who offer support to post-19 adults with learning difficulties
• voluntary & community organisations, eg. Prince's Trust, YMCA, Skills Force
• Learn Direct
• Connexions and other careers, information advice or guidance centres.  

The briefing date and location, here in the Northwest, are 6th December 2007 at Manchester.

Other briefing dates and locations are... 

• North East; Darlington; 26th November 2007.
• Yorkshire/Humberside; Leeds; 29th November 2007.
  
• East Midlands; Leicester; 5th December 2007.
• Northwest; Manchester; 6th December 2007.
• South East; London; 7th December 2007.
  
• East; Peterborough; 11th December 2007.
  
• West Midlands; Birmingham; 1th December 2007.
• London; London; 17th December 2007.
  
• South West; Bristol; 7th January 2008.

Please ensure that all bookings have been received at LSN at least one week prior to the briefing you wish to attend.

To book your place on a regional briefing, please go to  http://www.lsneducation.org.uk/events/results.aspx?title=%25&Prog=Functional%20Skills&Region=%25 .
or you can make a telephone booking through LSN's Information and Customer Centre by calling: 0845 071 0800  

To...

• address the needs of individual learning providers ; managers, eGuides, ILT Champions, Curriculum Leaders, Learning Resource Managers, Staff development Leaders, etc.
  
• provide appropriate guidance with eLearning
• know someone actually reads the eMagazine ☺.
  

Viewers who accessed the eMagazine...

• as a menu driven website came from...
  
  • Lancaster, Bolton, Crewe, Oldham, London, Sale, Bury, Wembley, Belfast, Stockport, Chester, St Helens, Manchester, Huyton-with-Roby, Warrington, Walton-le-Dale, Boothstown, Derby, Stalybridge, Salford, Birkenhead, Wolverhampton, Widnes, Renfrew, Stafford, Billericay, Rochdale, Lincoln, Kendal, Bootle, Aston, Liverpool, Accrington and Loughborough;
• as a Single webpage came from...
  • London, Stalybridge, Manchester, Stockport, Bolton, Heywood, Sale, Irlam, Blackburn, Southport, Lancaster, Rochdale, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Bury, Sunderland, Derby, Lincoln, Bristol, Poplar, Loughborough, Whitehaven, Kempston, Billingham, Birkenhead, Chester and Norwich;
• via the Archive came from...
  • Lancaster, Manchester, London, Huyton-with-Roby, Bolton, Stalybridge, Stockport, Heywood, Wolverhampton,
    Warrington, Bootle, Wembley, Belfast, Crewe, Widnes, Billingham, Darlington, Wrexham, Bury, Billericay, Walton-le-Dale, Lincoln, St Helens, Accrington, Loughborough, Irlam, Oldham, Boothstown, Thames Ditton, Whitehaven, Liverpool, and Kempston;
  We also had viewers from...
  • Sydney Australia, Haifa Israel, Ankara Turkey, Woerden Netherlands and Florida USA.
    

You can now take a guided tour of the new , improved RSC NorthWest Website via http://webtour.notlong.com/

• This link will take you on a step by step trail through various pages of the site, with...
  • an annotated summary of each page and
    
  • clear arrows allowing you to work through the tour at your own pace.
• You can also add your comments along the way.

The tour was created using the free toolbar from http://www.trailfire.com which allows you to create and share guided path through any number of websites.

Kevin Hickey
e-Learning Adviser
e: kh@rsc-northwest.ac.uk t: 01524593799 m: 0779 2037994

 

The Association of Learning Providers (ALP) is delighted to announce the launch of the Learning Innovation Grant (LIG) phase 3 with another £2m capital investment available for work based learning providers. The additional £2m (capital only) provided by the LSC follows the success of the Learning Innovation Grants (Phase 1 and 2) which ALP has distributed to the WBL sector to engage in innovative projects.

 

The overall aim of LIG 3 remains the same -

• to promote and encourage innovation in the use of e-learning in the delivery of work-based learning.
  
• The focus is on innovations in teaching and learning that have a direct impact on improving the learning experience.

 

To be eligible to apply for a grant

• your lead organisation must be an independent WBL organisation holding an LSC contract for either Apprenticeships, Train to Gain or E2E delivery as at 1st August, 2007.
  
• In this phase applications can be made for a minimum £30,000 to a maximum £150,000.

 

Both the ALP , and the LSC , very strongly recommend consortia bids, which will be reviewed favourably for the higher level of funding available.

 

You are able to access the grant application form and prospectus in 2 ways:

1. Online and word documents via http://www.elearningproviders.org (Learning Innovation Grant (LIG) phase 3 section)
2. Word documents and a link to the online documents via http://www.learningproviders.org (News section)

 

"We would prefer to receive your application form online. However, if this is not possible please complete the Word form and forward to: lig3@learningproviders.org"

 

Applications must be returned no later than midday, 22 November 2007. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

 

Any queries can be emailed through to the LIG Project Office on lig3@learningproviders.org for the attention of the LIG contract manager.

 

JISC  invites institutions to submit funding proposals for projects to re-use learning content; that is projects to develop, run and quality assure technology enhanced courses using reused and repurposed learning materials sourced externally to their institution. Projects will be expected to construct or ‘revamp’ a module delivered largely via electronic means documenting the issues faced in developing and running the course in a case study.

Deadline for receipt of proposals: 12:00 noon, Friday 30 November 2007.

Between 30-40 projects will be funded with up to £25,000 available per project.

The full Circular can be found by going to http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/funding_calls/2007/10/reuseofcontent.aspx .

Jim Judges, e-learning Advisor (Teaching and Learning), JISC Regional Support Centre West Midlands, says...

"Following a consultation with our local Moodle users here in the Midlands a new "Moodle-UK" mailing list for Moodle users across the UK has been created, with users from other smaller mailing lists being invited to join this new larger list. The idea is that any non-region specific questions, queries and comments relating to the educational use, administration and installation of Moodle can be shared with over 180 (and rising) Moodle
users.

To join you can either:

(1) Subscribe manually at:http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/MOODLE-UK.html and select "Join or leave the list".

Or

(2) Send an email to listserv@jiscmail.ac.uk In the body of the email you need to insert the following line (add your own Forename and Surname): SUBSCRIBE MOODLE-UK FORENAME SURNAME

For any users who are worried about annoying levels of JISCmail email can I suggest that you login to your account http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk and through subscribers corner > select the list > and choose "digest" under subscription type. This will mean you will get a maximum of just one daily block of messages in one email for that particular chosen list."

• Become an Expert Interviewer — Fast
• Identify staff ICT skills
  
• JISC Podcast: Federated Access Management
• JISC Podcast: Promoting open access
• Web 2.0 and Intellectual Property Rights
  

At some point in your Web career — whether as blogger, podcaster or vodcaster — it’s likely you’ll find yourself in the position of interviewing others. If you’re a professional journalist, doing an interview is fairly straightforward. But what if you’re no expert?

Read more at http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/16/become-an-expert-interviewer-fast/ . 

...talks about the Skill Scan system they use to identify staff ICT skills.

Subscribe Free
Add to my Page

The UK Access Management Federation now has 100 members.  In this podcast interview (http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2007/10/podcast15markwilliams.aspx ), Mark Williams from JISC’s Access Management Team describes the work of the federation and the benefits to those implementing federated access management.

Repositories are being established and developed across the UK to help make research papers and other resources freely available to all who want to use them.

In this podcast, JISC programme manager Andy McGregor speaks with Philip Pothen about the recent developments in this area and how JISC’s work is beginning to impact on further and higher education.

To download/listen go to http://www.jisc.ac.uk/Home/news/stories/2007/10/podcast16andrewmcgregor.aspx . 

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Consultants Naomi Korn and Charles Oppenheim talked to Sara Hassen, JISC Communications Manager, in a Skype interview about the interesting challenges we will face related to IPR in the education sector associated with the use of Web 2.0 & Social Software, and issues we need to consider and address.

Visit http://www.jisc.ac.uk/Home/news/stories/2007/09/podcast14naomikorncharlesoppenheim.aspx for details of the podcast. 

• Accessibility webcast
  
• Digital Textbooks
• Free e-Learning tools
• North of the border
• The meaning of ‘personal data’

Is also now available, with subtitles, on DVD. Copies have been sent to the Principal's Office in both the FE and HE sector.
If you would like further information on this subject please refer to the JISC Legal website at: http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/Webcast/accesswebcast.html

Textbooks... Brand New, Half-Price & Totally Digital; an opportunity to get textbooks digitally and save up to 50%

Textbook Categories include... Accounting, Anatomy & Physiology, Biological Sciences, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Earth & Environmental Science, Economics, Education, Engineering/Computer Science, English, Film/Theatre, Health and Human Performance, History, Mathematics, Physical Science, Plants & Animals, Political Sciences, Psychology, Social Science & Humanities and World Languages.

Find out more and get a free sample at http://www.zinio.com/?ns=mhhe&rf=zin-home .

Or watch an overview below...

Mike Moran, eLearning Adviser RSC- Northern Ireland, has put together a Word doc composed of the items that he has personally seen and bookmarked - he has used it with success in a recent Learning Resources Forum.

Mike says "Please feel free to use and update".

The six ‘Transformation Projects’ funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) have recently reached the end of the project period and the results have now been published by the JISC (which acted as the transformation programme manager). A unique guide to the outputs of each project was published on the 9th October and these can be viewed or downloaded by clicking on the links below:

• Individualised support for learning through e-Portfolios  [ISLE] http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sfcbookletisle.aspx .
  
• Re-engineering Assessment Practices in Scottish Higher Education [REAP] http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sfcbookletreap.aspx .
  
• Transforming and Enhancing the Student Experience through Pedagogy [TESEP] http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sfcbooklettesep.aspx .
  
• Collaborative Transformation of Course Delivery [BlendEd] http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sfcbookletblended.aspx .
  
• Collaborative Learning in the Life Sciences [CELLS] http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sfcbookletcells.aspx .
  
• e-Construction Transformation Project http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sfcbookletectp.aspx .
  

"The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published revised guidance on the meaning of ‘personal data’. The change of direction is in response to a recent landmark case which resulted in the Court of Appeal adopting a narrower interpretation of ‘personal data’ than most practitioners and experts had previously followed. It is important to note that institutions, by virtue of the Data Protection Act, have responsibility as data controllers and as such should remain familiar with current data protection guidance and legislation."

Find out more on the ICO website at http://www.ico.gov.uk/about_us/news_and_views/current_topics/what_is_personal_data.aspx ,

or download the ICO press release at http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2007/determining_what_is_personal_data_press_release_final.pdf .

 

• Basic sums 'stress 13.5m adults'
• Call for major science campaign
• Call for more university links
• Changes to Biz/ed
• Colleges strive for long-term sustainability
• 'Cutting edge' science then and now
• Degrees 'should give more detail'
• Gift vouchers for college costs
• 'Learn as you earn' at your desk
• Lecturers' pensions may cost more
  
• McInternet and Fries
• Role of further education in local communities
• Students to be given own minister
• Technophobes lurk in FE
• The Global Demand for Graduates
• Virtual Libraries
• Warning over UCAS Form cheating
• Wi-fi health study gets go ahead
  

Some 13.5m adults in the UK become stressed out when asked to carry out basic sums, research suggests. And 10m adults lack confidence in using literacy skills, analysis of questionnaires completed by 1,001 adults for Learndirect suggests.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7027569.stm  

 

...is needed if the UK is to keep its place in the global economy, a key report warns.

Lord Sainsbury's Review of Science said there was a danger of a "race to the bottom", unless British firms moved into high value goods and services. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7030194.stm .

..with the aim of widening the social range of students in higher education.

Universities Secretary John Denham has set out how the ties could work, saying partnerships could help both sides. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7036891.stm .

...for students and educators in business studies, economics, accounting, leisure, sport & recreation and travel & tourism.

At the end of 2006, Biz/ed (www.bized.co.uk) was transferred from the University of Bristol to Cengage Learning (formerly Thomson Learning). With this transition came the need to move the site from the old www.bized.ac.uk domain to the new www.bized.co.uk domain. For the past year, users have been able to access Biz/ed seamlessly on both www.bized.co.uk and www.bized.ac.uk by means of an HTTP [301 - Moved Permanently] redirect. Since September, anyone attempting to access the site on www.bized.ac.uk is being directed to a page offering a message and a hyperlink rewritten with the correct domain.

On 30th November, the www.bized.ac.uk domain will be removed from the Domain Name System, meaning that from that moment on, Biz/ed will only be accessible on the new www.bized.co.uk domain. The redirect page, currently implemented, will also not be available.

...in England sets out a vision of how colleges can become truly sustainable in the short, medium and long terms.

Green examples are highlighted such as the two-storey-high photovoltaic wall at North Manchester Sixth Form Centre, that is producing enough energy for up to 60% of the college’s lighting.

Meanwhile, Walford and North Shropshire College uses power generated by an anaerobic digester, as well as from its own wind turbines and photovoltaic cells.

FE colleges recognise the importance of sustainability and can play a major part in educating the population, says the document.

For more details go to http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,,2192260,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8 . 

The Faraday science lecture is being relaunched and expanded in its 80th year, to reach an even wider audience.

 

Instead of a series of illustrated talks 2008 will see a year-long programme of activities including challenges, films, teaching resources, school visits, online games and events around the UK.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7018966.stm . 

 

...be supplemented with more detailed information about students' achievements, says a report.

But an inquiry conducted by university leaders says it has not found any better degree classification system. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7045060.stm .

...are being launched under a pilot scheme.

The vouchers, which are being piloted in nine colleges in England, will be worth £50. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7047656.stm .

 

Background to the project

The Leitch Review of Skills to 2020 (December 2006) sets out the stark reality that the UK is falling behind its competitors, in part due to the lack of skills of the workforce. Employers have been challenged to turn this situation around, and commit to workforce development. Funding support through large scale programmes such as Train to Gain, have a particular focus on the needs of the hard to reach learner and those who have pre-level 2 or basic skills needs in literacy and numeracy.
IT user courses often attract low-skilled learners and could be used to help improve literacy and numeracy in a very accessible way. Suitably qualified teachers and tutors could maximise the benefits of the flexibility of the ITQ IT user qualification to recognise and address these needs. There is evidence to suggest that IT user skills development can contribute significantly to literacy and numeracy.

ITQ has been used successfully with learners at all levels, and the flexibility of the qualification structure allows it to be used with learners both in and out of employment and to achieve a variety of learning goals.

Project Aim

The 'ITQ for Life' project sets out to make a significant impact on UK competitiveness and productivity by using the attraction of IT user qualifications and skills development to increase standards of literacy and numeracy.
ITQ for Life will be a 'full' ITQ certificate programme at Level 1, in line with the developing Qualification and Credit Framework. Units will be prescribed in order to maximise opportunities for embedding literacy and, numeracy. Curriculum resources will be developed or signposted to aid delivery and assessment.

Project Objectives

• Identify opportunities for delivery of functional literacy and numeracy skills within the context of ITQ;
• Develop a Level 1 IT user qualification (ITQ) incorporating Level 1 literacy and Entry level 3 numeracy skills within the requirements of the QCF;
• Design a specific assessment regime, and supporting curriculum framework to deliver this qualification via a number of Skills for Life scenarios within which 'ITQ for Life' can be delivered.
• Pilot the 'ITQ for Life' with learners and centres.

Initial Approach and Methodology

The project runs to March 2008. Initial work has focused on identifying and researching the needs of the target market for 'ITQ for Life', and on mapping the Skills for Life standards in Level 1 literacy and Entry Level 3 numeracy to existing IT User NOS at Levels 1 and 2.

A number of Skills for Life scenarios - using a mobile phone, researching a family tree, planning a journey, personal budgeting, planning a wedding, using online auction sites, buying a computer - have been re-structured to explore how they can be used to deliver and then assess both ITQ and SfL Literacy and Numeracy.
Popular online programmes for beginners IT user skills development (eg BBC Webwise, Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum) have also been mapped.

September - November 2007

During this phase we will consult widely on the 'ITQ for Life' with employers, stakeholders and other relevant agencies, and finalise the learning outcomes and assessment criteria through the following activities:

• Publish draft 'ITQ for Life' proposal for consultation through the following mechanisms:
  • one-to-one interviews with employers and key stakeholders to gain qualitative feedback from employers and key stakeholder experts;
  • employer and stakeholder seminars across the devolved nations and English regions;
    
  • focus groups to assess the usability of the qualification and to ensure that the language used is clear and easy to understand for target audiences, eg: Adult and continuing education; Offenders; People with very basic IT user skills;
• Consolidate feedback into revised NOS and 'ITQ for Life' programme;
• Develop an attractive IT User skills development programme to deliver the qualification and prepare guidelines for training providers;
• Recruit pilot centres from FE, WBL and ACL sectors.

December 2007 - March 2008

During this phase we will trial the 'ITQ for Life' qualification with centres and learners, evaluate the programme and undertake the approvals process:

• Undertake market testing of the 'ITQ for Life' units with centres and learners and evaluate the trials;
• Evaluate and finalise qualification structure, content and assessment, ensuring emerging qualification is in line with overall ITQ strategy and NOS review;
• Update the e-skills Passport with 'ITQ for Life' profiles;

How you can help

We will be consulting widely with employers and key stakeholders, educators and other relevant agencies throughout the project. In addition, we would welcome the support to

• identify providers with both ITQ and SfL expertise to take part in trials
• host focus groups to explore the needs of the target audience

For further information about this project, please contact Genny Dixon (genny.dixon@e-skills.com )

Imagine a world where education came to you without you having to leave the office or factory where you work.

At the end of the course you gain a qualification which gives you not only a career boost but also valuable points towards a degree qualification. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7041885.stm .

 

Lecturers and other staff in universities and higher education colleges have been warned they may have to pay more for their pensions.

Employers in higher education have decided to review their pension schemes for academic and other employees. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7049041.stm .

 

If anything it is growing. For example, McDonald's has announced plans to offer free Wi-Fi in all its 1,200 UK outlets (http://www.itpro.co.uk/news/127238/mcdonalds-to-offer-free-mcinternet.html), whereas it previously offered paid-for BT Openzone hotspots in a handful of city-centre locations. We look forward to seeing whether McInternet and Fries will catch on.

 

The Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) has published its report of a policy seminar held on 5 September 2007 to explore the potential benefits of close working between the further education system and local government for the achievement of public service outcomes. The significance of place and the complexities of decision-making at the local community level had previously been highlighted in a series of seminars that looked at the implications of the Leitch review of skills for the FE system and for its leadership.

CEL's report, "Further education, communities and local government – exploiting the potential", is available to download at http://www.centreforexcellence.org.uk/UsersDoc/FECLGreport.pdf

 

...are to have their own government minister and a national forum to influence university policy. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7049500.stm .

When it comes to ICT, colleges may have the kit, but they don't always make the best use of it.

Read more at http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,,2196872,00.html . 

According to the latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) the UK has slipped from 3rd place to 10th in terms of the proportion of young people completing a university education.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7007121.stm . 

Headstar's eAccess Bulletin tells us that...

Over 34,000 accessible format audio books have been made available to international subscribers for the first time by Bookshare.org, a non-profit US-based organisation. The collection, in English, also includes 1,000 Spanish titles. Subscription costs US$75, less than £40 for the first year, payable by credit card: http://www.bookshare.org/web/AboutBookshareOrgUK.html .

Meanwhile, more than a thousand downloadable audiobook titles in MP3 format have been made available by US based online retailer eMusic on a subscription basis, costing US$9.99 or around £5.00:http://www.emusic.com/about/pr/pr2007917.html .

Sixth form students are being warned not to cheat on their university application forms by copying material from the internet. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service has written to every UK school saying doing so could affect students' chances of winning a place.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7023616.stm . 

 

The government is taking another look at the effect that wireless networks have on health.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced it will carry out "systematic" research into how wireless networks are being used.

Fid Bleasdale, Aquinas College, says...

"I don't know if this is the right forum but I am interested in how colleges support specific departments with their day-to-day use of IT, (e.g. students use of software for course production as opposed to technical support - specialist drop-in spaces such as Media edit suites). Obvious specialist need departments being Media, Film, Performing Arts ...etc

I would appreciate any information on the following:

• numbers of staff considered to be primarily focusing on technical infrastrucutre
• numbers/nature of staff more subject or specialist focused (e.g dedicated Performing Arts Technician)
• other colleagues supporting IT cross-college (drop-in) and the nature/extent of the support."

Replies directly to Fid Bleasdale at fid@aquinas.ac.uk .

 

• Digizen
• IET Faraday
• Investigating music journalism
• Involving Asian Families in Learning
• Key Skills: Item Bank
  
• Languages
• Maths Resource for Parents
• Mobile blogging
• Murder in the Park
• New Look: Go-Geo
• Professional Knowledge: English
• Science Video Search Engine
• Wallace and Gromit comeback
• WW1:Experiences of an English Soldier
  

...isn’t just about recognising and dealing with online hazards. It’s about building safe spaces and communities, understanding how to manage personal information, and about being internet savvy - using your online presence to grow and shape your world in a safe, creative way, and inspiring others to do the same." (Quote from their website)

Find out more at http://www.digizen.org/. 

ET Faraday 2008 – Technology for Life

The place where science in the classroom comes to life.

The IET Faraday is an exciting year long programme of interactive challenges, activities and live events that explore science in action for "secondary school students". I feel that this resource has a much wider audience!

Read/see more at http://faraday.theiet.org/ .

Note: IET - Institution of Engineering and Technology

 

Sourced from the pages of the music and mainstream press, Rock's Backpages (http://www.rocksbackpages.com/ ) is a library of articles (reviews, interviews, features and more) from the early 1960s right up to the present day. There are currently twelve thousand articles on the site. These feature over two thousand artists and range from 500-word album (or concert) reviews to 10,000-word interviews and features.

Either go to http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/rockpages , or directly to http://www.rocksbackpages.com/ . 

Case studies from Croydon, Derby and Rochdale demonstrate the importance of developing responsive, culturally sensitive learning opportunities in consultation with the local community.

The role of parents and carers in developing children's literacy, numeracy and language skills is well established. However, there are some specific barriers which can impact upon the involvement of Asian families in their children's learning, putting the children at a disadvantage.

More Information and downloads available at http://www.teachers.tv/video/22192 . 

ItemBank allows the learner to recreate past papers to help with revision and recreating exam conditions. It also allows learners to create their own papers on particular curriculum topics (or groups of topics) if they have specific areas they want to test. Learners can choose the number of questions and the time limit you have.

Once the test is created, the learner has the choice of how it is delivered. The test can either be taken online on-screen there and then or it can be printed out on paper. 

To find out more and/or recreate past papers go to http://www.itembank.org.uk/index.htm .

"The social way to learn a language."

Community. Livemocha is the first-of-its-kind online language-learning community.

Lessons. Fun and interactive lessons that move at the right pace for you.

Motivation. Track your progress and reach your goals with Livemocha tools.

Find out more at http://www.livemocha.com/

"The first Free enterprise language learning course available on the Internet. Eleven of our courses are now available in our beta release. Each course has 100 lessons available."

Find out more at http://www.trymango.com/

Myngle is ……..

……..FREE for students and teachers to sign-up and will provide live one-on-one classes for basically any language and level from any type of teacher. You can choose your own teacher or student depending on your specific needs, availability and price! If you are a student you can try out a demo lesson with your selected teacher before you have to pay anything. Go to http://www.myngle.com/ to find out more.

A useful resource for Family Learning, Initial Teacher Training, Key Skills perhaps?

• Get advice on all kinds of homework issues, from helping children to manage homework, to common problems parents and kids face;
• Find out about the key words used in problems, discover how to break down a problem into steps and see some examples done to help both parents and children;
• There is no need to know how to type or be a computer expert to get around homework rules. All they'll use are the numbers on their keyboard and their left mouse button

Go to http://www.mallni.com/homeworkrules/ to find out more.

A group of lucky teenagers have been sent to Canada by the Imperial War museum. They're tasked with mobile blogging from war memorial sites around the world and reporting on local stories with audio and video.

Find out more at http://www.radiowaves.co.uk/network.aspx?lngNetworkID=755 . 

Topic: C4 Chemical patterns
Fireworks stimulate the senses and fire our imagination. They have done for centuries. Behind the bright colours lies electron hopping. This subatomic dance has matched colours to compounds since the first interstellar gases formed. From ancient China's firecrackers to Las Vegas light displays, the colours tell us which elements are present.

Students do a CSI investigation to find the murderer in the park on Guy Fawkes Night, and they meet a lot of science on the way - from rocket science to electron energy levels. They learn how those colour-giving electrons that make fireworks so much fun, fit into the atoms that make up everything - all year round.

For more information and resources go to http://www.upd8.org.uk/activity.php?actid=252 . 

Go-Geo, the online resource discovery tool from the JISC which allows for the identification and retrieval of records describing the content, quality, condition and other characteristics of geospatial data that exist within UK tertiary education and beyond has just had a makeover. Visitors to the site will find a new map-driven quick data search, new colour schemes to make navigating across the site easier, reorganised resource channels and descriptive icons serving as visual aids to quickly assess resources.

Find out more at http://www.gogeo.ac.uk/geoPortal12/index.html . 

This programme seeks to explore how they can help and encourage learning in the classroom - particularly in an English lesson.

Teenagers discuss their experiences of blogging, MySpace, YouTube, podcasting and more, whilst a panel of experts offer their opinions on these fascinating modern phenomenons.

Can blogging, podcasting and mobile phones truly enrich English lessons?

Find out more at http://www.teachers.tv/video/12117 . 

What is ScienceHack?

ScienceHack is a unique video search engine for science videos.

What makes ScienceHack unique?

Every video is screened and approved based on accuracy and quality by our scientists.

What fields of science are you focusing on?

So far we indexed: Physics, Chemistry, and Space.
Coming soon: Geology, Psychology, Robotics and Computer.
Use the feedback form to suggest new topics.

How big is your database?

Our database is relatively small, however, our scientists are working very hard to index every science video on the internet.

Interested?

Find out more at http://sciencehack.com/ . 

 

Wallace and Gromit fans can rejoice - the loveable plasticine duo are making a comeback. Yes, inventor Wallace and his ever faithful (and long suffering) sidekick Gromit are to star in a half-hour television adventure called Trouble At' Mill, Aardman Animations has revealed.

Find out more at the new-look Wallace and Gromit official website, you can watch Nick Park, the creator of Wallace and Gromit, talking about the new film in a video blog.

Either go to http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/watch to see this and other video clips;

Or go to http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/download/ to download Activity Packs, ideal for Family Learning, and other goodies... 

This blog is made up of transcripts of Harry Lamin's letters from the first World War. The letters will be posted exactly 90 years after they were written. To find out Harry's fate, follow the blog!

Read more at http://www.wwar1.blogspot.com/ . 

• Exploratree
• Facebook Wiki Whiteboard
• Lecturer taps into the text generation
• Notely
• ReviewBasics
• Sketchcast
• Vocal Joystick
• ZAMZAR
  

Exploratree is a free web resource where you can download, use and make your own interactive thinking guides.

Thinking guides can support independent and group research projects with frameworks for...

• thinking,
  
• planning and
  
• enquiry.

Futurelab have provided a set of ready-made guides which you can print out or use online. All of the guides are completely customizable or you can start from scratch and make your own! You can share them and work on them in groups too.

Find out more at http://www.exploratree.org.uk/ . 

Wiki Whiteboard makes it possible for Facebook users to instantly collaborate, wiki-style, with their friends within Facebook on their most passionate interests or even assignments or projects.

Read more at http://www.wetpaintcentral.com/page/10%2F02%2F07+-+release . 

"Kevin Linch does not raise an eyebrow when his students get out their mobile phones and start texting in the middle of a lecture - it is usually because he has asked them to..."

Read more at http://www.thes.co.uk/current_edition/story.aspx?story_id=2038097 . 

Notely is a collection of online tools designed to help busy Learners to organise their hectic lives.

Whether learners are attending an ACL or WBL course, or in University, FE/Sixth-Form/Specialist College or School Notely has the tools to help them get organised and achieve better grades.

Go to http://www.notely.net/ to find out more.

ReviewBasics...

• is a powerful feedback gathering platform which allows learners, practitioners and administrators within an organisation to exchange ideas, gather thoughts, and review various types of creative, interactive, video, and written content.
  
• can process
  
  • rich text (RTF),
    
  • Microsoft Word (DOC),
    
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT),
    
  • Adobe Acrobat (PDF),
    
  • Flash Video (FLV), and
    
  • images (JPG, GIF, PNG).

New content types are being added all the time.

Find out more at http://www.reviewbasics.com/ .

Record a sketch with or without voice. Explain something, have fun, or create art.

Then embed the sketch player in your blog or point people to your sketch channel.

Go to http://sketchcast.com/ for more details...

 

 

Most college students/adult learners today, would be lost without the Internet and the unprecedented amount of information, communication and entertainment it puts at their fingertips.

For individuals with motor impairments, however, using a mouse to browse the Web is often impossible. Considering that these individuals might benefit doubly from Internet access, University of Washington researchers are inventing a solution.

• Read more at http://thedaily.washington.edu/article/2007/10/25/vocalJoystickBringsAccessibilityToANewLevel .
• Or go to http://ssli.ee.washington.edu/vj/ to find out more.
• The video is also well worth looking at, go to http://ssli.ee.washington.edu/vj/videos/2007-06-VoiceBot-Linx6.wmv .

Have you ever wanted to convert files without the need to download software?

Well ZAMZAR supports conversion between a wide variety of different file formats including...

• document formats
• image formats
• music formats
• video formats
• compressed formats.

 Ideal if you get attachments in a format you can't open e.g. Office 2007 files

Take a look at http://zamzar.com/ . 

Provider/Practitioner Survey

 

Dear Colleague

We are writing to request your participation in an online survey looking at ICT and e-learning across the FE sector. The survey is part of some research into e-maturity across the FE that is currently being carried out by Learning and Skills Network on behalf of Becta. Findings will help inform strategic and funding decisions surrounding development and implementation of ICT and e-learning in the FE sector.

The questionnaire can be accessed via the first link below. The information requested relates to ICT and e-learning strategy, ICT capacity and use at your college and we imagine that you – as ICT Champion or equivalent – will be familiar with the large majority of it. But some sections may require minimal input from other Senior Management staff.

We would be very grateful if you could take the time to complete the questionnaire. It is important for us to collect as many responses as possible in order to ensure results are as robust and informative as possible. Your feedback will also be crucial in conveying key messages and priorities relating to e-maturity to Becta and other strategic bodies.

http://www.lsneducation.org.uk/survey/e-maturityProvider\index.htm

As part of the same research, we are running a parallel survey collecting information on use of and attitudes to ICT and e-learning amongst teaching  staff and learning  support staff at FE colleges. This questionnaire should already have been distributed to relevant individuals at your college, but we are also including a link below and would be very grateful if you could encourage colleagues to complete and return it. This staff survey should not take more than 10 minutes to complete and all completed returns will be entered into a prize draw to win £150 cash.

http://www.lsneducation.org.uk/survey/e-maturityPractitioner\index.htm

Paper based copies of both questionnaires, and freepost envelopes for their return, can be ordered by phoning Natasha Calvert, at Learning and Skills Network on 020 7297 9112. We will also be happy to answer any queries you have.

Thank you so much for considering this request.

Best wishes

Natasha Calvert

 

• Free Magazines: Online
• Mediashift
• Moderately Confused
  
• Swedish Radio: can you think of any constructive use?
  
• University of Salford: Online Game
• Zombies in Plain English (humour)
  

If you've not seen a digital magazine before, apart from this eMagazine, check out the free samples at Zinio.com.

Go to http://www.zinio.com/category?cat=1005&rf=zFree&ns=zno . 

Have you ever heard "Make the logo bigger" or "there's too much white space" or perhaps "can you make it pop a little more" from your line-manager? Well, this video is for you. I don't want to ruin it for you. You just have to watch it at http://www.makemylogobiggercream.com/ .

MediaShift is a weblog that will track how digital media technologies and techniques such as weblogs, RSS, podcasting, citizen journalism, wikis, news aggregators and video repositories are changing our world. It will tell stories of how the shifting media landscape is changing the way we get our news and information, while also providing a place for public participation and feedback.

If you are prepared to 'give it a read' go to...http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/ .

Or look at previous weblog entries such as...

• Blogging http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/05/digging_deeperyour_guide_to_bl.html
• Citizen Journalism http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/09/digging_deeperyour_guide_to_ci.html
• Social Networking http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/08/digging_deeperyour_guide_to_so_1.html
• Virtual Worlds http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/10/digging_deeperyour_guide_to_vi.html
• Widgets http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/07/digging_deeperyour_guide_to_wi_1.html

I think it will put a different perspective on "digital Media Technologies"

Amanda Riley, eLearning Adviser RSC-South East, brought this to my attention; take a look at http://www.nobodyhere.com/justme/me.here .

Kevin, eLearning Adviser (FE), has to take the blame for this; apparently it was on something called Radio 1...

• RSC-Northwest has sent you a song, click on http://www.sr.se/P1/src/sing/index.htm?key=M0D6W4F0 to listen.

If you have any ideas as to how it may be of use in teaching and learning do let us know using the feedback section of this eMagazine.

Note: Once you have listened to the 'song' you can edit/change the lyrics, listen to your changes/new text and send it to colleagues/learners etc.

Enjoy! 

... it involves guiding the central character through a series of landscapes which contain puzzles and challenges to overcome before they advance to the next level.

According to the University,

"the game has been designed with the aim of getting more young people to find out more about the benefits of higher education as it draws in elements of problem solving which will be needed by anyone wishing to get on in higher education and their career after university."

The game can be played at http://curious.salford.ac.uk/ . 

To help, Common Craft made this 3 minute video that will make sure you survive, brain intact.
If you're worried about your loved-ones, help spread the word.

 

 

• Add a Calculator to Excel 2007
• Copy or Move Worksheets...
  

Although every care has been taken in the preparation of this eMagazine, no warranty is given by the author or the Regional Support Centre-Northwest as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained within it and neither the authors nor the RSC-Northwest shall be responsible or liable for any errors or omissions.

Note:- you will find a separate menu of tips-n-tricks on the left, under the tips-n-tricks Main menu.

and we will attempt to answer them in future tips-n-tricks.

"I often run into situations that I need to use the Windows Calculator while working in Excel 2007. This is mainly due to needing to run some figures while not wanting to modify the existing spreadsheet. Is their any quick way to access the calculator short of having a shortcut on the desktop or going through the Start menu?"

I find that it is very handy to add the Calculator to the Excel 2007 Quick Access Toolbar so that it is a simple click away instead of using the normal method of opening the program.

To add Calculator to the Quick Access Toolbar, simply follow these steps:

• Open Excel 2007 and go to the Quick Access Toolbar at the top of the window.
  
• Click the downward pointing arrow to the right of this toolbar and select More Commands.
• From the dropdown menu, select Commands Not in the Ribbon.
• Select Calculator from the list and click the Add button.
  You will see it appear in the list on the right side.
  
• Click OK.
  The Calculator icon will now appear in your Quick Access Toolbar. Now you can easily open it when you need it.

I hope this helps; This could be very useful for...

• "online assessments" using a 'self Marking' Excel questionnaire.
• Accounting/Business/Science/Mathematics/Engineerin/etc learners.
  

"I use Microsoft Excel, as a learning provider administrator, I often run into the situation where the information in a worksheet is needed in another workbook. I currently go through and copy and paste the cells from one worksheet to another, but when I'm working with a large spreadsheet, I feel "There must be an easier way!"."

"Is there an easier way?"

There is indeed! Excel makes it easy to copy (and even easier to move) worksheets from one workbook to another...

1: Copying a worksheet to another workbook:

• Open the workbook that has the worksheet you wish to move;
  
• Open the workbook that you want the worksheet copied to; (in my example, we will use Book1 and Book2).
• Go to the workbook with the desired worksheet.
• Right-click on the tab of the target worksheet (in this case, Staff sheet).
• Select Move or Copy from the menu that appears;
• When the Move or Copy dialog box appears...
  ....use the To book dropdown to select the workbook that you want to copy the worksheet to. Then...
  ...Select the existing sheet that you want the copy to be placed in front of;
  ...Finally, check the Create a copy checkbox;
• Click OK.
  

You will now have the same worksheet in both workbooks.

UK Viewers during October 2007

Good news, the number of viewers of RSC-NW TV is increasing. In the UK we have viewers from...

London,
Manchester,
Lancaster,
Bolton,
Bury,
Crewe,
Huyton-with-Roby,
Belfast,
Widnes,
Chester,
Leeds,
Bootle,
Kendal,
St Helens,
Derby,
Liverpool,
Loughborough,
Salford,
Sailsbury,
Billingham,
Burtonwood and Stockport.

We also have viewers in Taiwan (San-Ch'Ung), the USA (Virginia), Netherlands (Panningen) and Sudan (Khartoum). Why not take a look yourself and go to http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk/acl/RSC_TV/index.html and watch the RSC-Northwest's TV channel

We currently have, running on Auto-pilot, the November 'storyboard' of 5 video clips (Looping approximately every 24:06 min) The clips are...

1. Mobile Learning (05:49 min)
2. Wetpaint Wikis in Plain English (02:34 min)
3. Designing spaces for effective learning (05:32 min)
4. Zombies in Plain English (Humour) (02:60 min)
5. Using Video for Teaching & Learning (05:16 min)
6. eGuide Conference (03:15)
   

RSC-NW TV Channel, will aim...

...to provide news of...

funding,
current projects,
initiatives and examples of good practice in eLearning

...to offer ideas and support for the Higher Education, Further Education, Personal and Community Development Learning (ACL), 6th Form College, Work Based Learning and Specialist College Managers & Practitioners etc., that are supported by the RSC here in the Northwest.

...to produce videos of events and/or training and to show them...

...so that those who are unable to attend face-to-face events, will be able to experience martini learning (any time, any place...)
When you visit the TV Chanel, "Give it a little time to 'Fine Tune'"...

Manager...

Rachel Fligelstone

Administration...

Christine Hulme, Jackie Ainsworth and Rachel Wood
Tel: 0152 459 3797
Fax:0152 459 3798
admin@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

eLearning Advisers...

Benita Wiseman (Further Education/6^th Form Colleges)
Tel: 0152 459 3801
bw@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Chrissie Turkington (Learning Resources/Higher Education Colleges)
Tel: 0152 459 3801
ct@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

John Dalziel (Adult & Community Learning/Personal & Community Development Learning/Work Based Learning)
Tel: 0152 459 3801
jd@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Keith Wilson (Technical)
Tel: 0152 459 3799
kwil@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Kevin Hickey (Further Education/6^th Form Colleges)
Tel: 0152 459 3799
kh@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Lisa Valentine (Specialist Colleges & Accessibility)
Tel: 0152 459 3799
lv@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Events Coordinator...

To be appointed (watch this space!)
support@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Support Desk...

Duty Adviser
Tel: 0152 459 3797
support@rsc-northwest.ac.uk

Address & Telephone/Fax Numbers...

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
Regional Support Centre - Northwest
Lancaster University
Bailrigg House
Lancaster University Campus
Lancaster LA1 4YE

Tel: 01524 593 797
Fax: 01524 593 798

Web Address (URL)...

http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk