Aylesbury College

Experience:

Aylesbury College has been successfully involved in MoLeNET phase 1 and phase 2 projects with a focus on Learners with learning difficulties or disability (LLDD) and accessibility. This involved working with specialist LLDD Colleges where a wide range of product testing was undertaken and resulted in significant outcomes to promote accessibility and autonomy in using mobile technology. Aylesbury College has presented findings and good practice from this work through the M-Learn Conference in 2008 and hope to be part of the next MoLeNET Conference in December 2009.

Having completed 2 Molenet projects already and submitting a successful bid for Molenet phase 3 Aylesbury College has gained a lot of knowledge about mobile learning devices, applications, peripherals and resources. These projects produced bespoke learning materials developed in house with some support from commercial software providers and involved mobile devices ranging from gaming devices to smart phones and UMPC's.

At Aylesbury College, Staff Development has been an important part of both MoLeNET completed projects and will continue to be critical in Molenet phase 3. As a College, we have already invested lots of time at all levels within the institution, from students through to the Governing Body, on the roll out of the significant investment in Mobile technology. This has resulted in a series of training events and annual whole College Technology Days and new for 2009-10 the introduction of an additional Technology Day during the Autumn term to really ratchet up the College focus on mobile technology, all supported by the Senior Management Team.

Areas of Success:

• Research and development of LLDD specific solutions
• Leading and working with a diverse range of partners
• Training and development of staff that had 'barely touched a mobile phone', who are now supporting other staff to develop mobile learning practice.
• The rollout of the hardware procured to enable a whole College benefit
• Leading a consortium research project
• Dissemination activities including magazine articles, regional, national and international conferences.
• Implementation of annual College Technology Days, facilitated through kit procured form the LSN capital projects.

Milestone, Impact and Success:

• Procurement of kit for the identified MoLeNET Academy room
• Technical set up of the MoLeNET Academy room
• Setting up VLE area and indicative training offer
• Delivering internal training
• Delivering external training
• Agreeing schedule of support for assigned Microprojects
• Official launch of MoLeNET Academy
• Hosting M-learning 'Technology Fest'
Indicators of impact and success:
• 10% of internal teaching staff achieve Mobile ITQ qualification
• Assigned Microprojects achieve successful and sustainable outcomes
• Effective MoLeNET regional network set up to support sustainability of the MoLeNET Academy
• Significant contribution to MoLeSHARE and MoLeTV

Added value to other sectors

• We are prepared to be involved in all types of dissemination activity
• We can demonstrate that even a small FE College can make an important contribution to the development of mobile learning
• We can share our experience of working with disengaged staff who are now starting to embrace mobile technology
• We can share our experience and ideas from all 3 MoLeNET projects
• We can support LSN in the continued development and roll out of mobile learning