Kingston College

Experience:

Kingston College participated in the first two phases of the MoLeNET programme.

Phase 1:
KAMPUS Project (Kingston Access to Mobile Personalisation with Ultramobile Services)
This project involved:
• Embedding of UMPC devices into vocational learning and teaching;
• Focus on hair and beauty, motor vehicle engineering and childcare;
• Installation of wireless networking across College sites
• Introduction of new curriculum models and learner-teacher interactions;
• Widespread transformation of professional practice
• Highly commended for the FENC Beacon Award;
• Widespread transformation of professional practice;
• Highly commended for the FENC Beacon Award.

Phase 2:
KAPTIVATE Project (Kingston Access to Podcast Technology Interactive Virtual Assessment and Teacher Education)
This project involved:
• Roll-out of 700 iPod Touch devices across 15 subject areas;
• Focus on peer learning, demonstration and assessment;
• Professional development in podcast creation and application across the College;
• The basis of successful LSIS-funded project, called KLOUT (Kingston Learning Opportunity for Uplifting Teachers) to promote effective learning and teaching practice in podcasting (which we have called 'podagogy'!);
• Shortlisted for FENC Beacon Award for the Creative Production and Adaptation of Learning Materials;
• Over 250 podcasts created in different curriculum areas.

Areas of Success:

Kingston College has made significant strides in embedding mobile technology into learning and teaching.
• Nearly 2000 students have benefited from the imaginative and innovative adoption of mobile learning and teaching methods.
• The most marked successes have involved transformation of curriculum planning and teaching methods in a number of key subject areas.
• The most effective practice has been evident in ESOL, Sports, Media, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Performing Art and Fashions, Motor Vehicle Engineering and General Education.
• Based on the success of the MoLeNET projects a subsequent LSIS-funded project has focused exclusively on professional development of teachers in m-learning.
• The greatest progress has been in the area of podcasting. This resource format is now widely used across the curriculum.
• The College has successfully rolled-out streaming media and podcast servers, which provide an effective environment for hosting m-learning content.
• Mobile learning is prominent within the College’s ILT Strategy and there is a high level of awareness of its benefits amongst the organisation’s senior management team.
• The College has been successful in our application to Apple for use of their iTunes U portal. Content for this is currently being generated.
• Creation of appetite for training among staff in curriculum areas involved in MoLeNET and those not involved. Even in areas where College devices are not used staffs are experimenting with podcasting.

Milestone, Impact and Success:

• Project start-up (December 2009): detailed project plan and equipment specification completed; Academy manager and associated support staff identified. Indicator of impact and success (IoIS): adoption of detailed project plan by LSN.
• Technical set-up (January 2010): preparation of Academy room; purchase, installation and configuration of mobile equipment. IoIS: room operational with fully-functioning equipment.
• Official opening (12th February 2010): IoIS: opening event.
• Action research projects launched (March 2010): small-scale action research projects, building on the College’s LSIS-funded KLOUT project, to explore potential of podcasting in assessment and feedback. IoIS: 5 action research projects started.
• Internal training workshops (March – June 2010): launch of mobile learning training series as part of the College’s professional development programme to pilot new mobile learning training approaches. Academy operational to support action research projects. Support for micro-projects. IoIS: 10 internal training workshops.
• External training event (June 2010): College hosts regional m-learning event, in conjunction with the RSC, to showcase mobile technologies and share good practice in pedagogic innovation. IoIS: event attendance.
• External training workshops (September – December 2010): training events and ongoing support for LSN micro-projects. IoIS: fulfilment of LSN micro-project requirements.
• Final report (December 2010): summary of activities in the first year of the Academy, highlighting lessons learned and identification of good practice in the implementation of a professional development base. IoIS: project report signed off.

Added value to other sectors:

Kingston College has extensive experience in successfully rolling out and embedding mobile learning across the curriculum. Recent work in this area has included:
• A JISC-funded HE in FE E-Learning project, KASTANET (Kingston Access to Science Teaching Across New and Emerging Technologies), which focused on the roll of podcasting and SMS communication using student-owned technology on a large Access to HE Science course.
• A MoLeNET 1 project, KAMPUS (Kingston Access to Mobile Personalisation with Ultramobile PCs), which involved the introduction of UMPCs hosting video content and targeted assessment materials on the VLE into vocational teaching spaces.
• A MoLeNET 2 project, KAPTIVATE (Kingston Access to Podcast Technology Interactive Virtual Assessment and Teacher Education), which involved the roll-out of 700 iPod Touch devices across 15 curriculum areas involving subscription to podcast series created by staff and students.
• An LSIS-funded project, KLOUT (Kingston Learning Opportunity for Uplifting Teachers), which is currently running and is focusing on the pedagogic principles of using podcasting in learning and teaching (‘podagogy’).
• We believe that the expertise developed in conceiving, managing and executing these projects will be of considerable value to the sector as a whole in providing a professional development service for mobile learning through a MoLeNET Academy.