Stoke on Trent College

Stoke On Trent College logo

Experience:

Stoke on Trent College ran a successful Round 2 MoLeNET project. This built on some capital funding from the College’s ILT budget in 2007/8 which was used to trial a range of mobile learning devices and approaches. We ran 25 successful ‘micro’ projects across the College via our MoLeNET Round 2 project funding.

These projects:

• Produced an m-learning CPD programme, supported by m-learning champions and educational technologists to enable all staff to use m-learning.
• Used e-portfolios in conjunction with workplace based multimedia evidence collection.
• Supported learners to collect e-portfolio evidence using their own mobile devices
• Produced video content for playback on mobile phones and PDAs to support caring services. Content was distributed via Bluetooth servers located in the College’s Learning Resource Centres.
• Creation of lesson podcasts.
• Engaged with ESOL learners via PDAs, smartphones and handheld gaming devices.
• Used SMS messaging to communicate with students.
• Disseminated lessons learned form MoLeNET College-wide via a Teaching and Learning Conference that promoted the use of m-learning and featured contributions from our MoLeNET mentor, Jane Williams form Becta and our Becta Technology Exemplar Network Supporting Provider. This conference also featured an m-learning ‘road show’ which enabled staff from across the College to see the range of mobile devices available to them within the practical context of the MoLeNET micro projects.

We are currently partnering South Staffordshire College for their MoLeNET Round 3 project. This project builds on the success of our Round 2 project and will support them to enable a step change in the use of m-learning. For example, we will support them to repurpose and deploy the CPD programme developed through our Round 2 projects, and similarly repurpose materials and approaches developed for our project so that they can use them (e.g. in logistics provision).

Areas of Success:

Areas of significant as a result of MoLeNET Round 2 include:

• 25 projects successfully delivered across a wide range of curriculum areas (NEETs, employer and learner responsive provision) using a wide range of mobile devices
• m-learning CPD programme developed
• State-of-the-art mobile TV/video production facility implemented
• Open wireless access implemented for members of the local community
• Use e-portfolios in conjunction with workplace based multimedia evidence collection.
• Provided support to learners to collect e-portfolio evidence using their own mobile devices
• Production of video content for playback on mobile phones and PDAs. Content was distributed via Bluetooth servers located in the College’s Learning Resource Centres.
• Creation of lesson podcasts.
• Engaged with learners via PDAs, smartphones and handheld gaming devices.
• Used SMS messaging to communicate with students.
• Delivered a highly successful internal Teaching and Learning Conference which promoted the benefits of m-learning.
• Learnt how to author, re-purpose locate and evaluate m-learning resources

Milestone, Impact and Success:

Milestones are:
• December 2009 Project start - Establish Academy steering group
• December 2009: Hold Academy launch conference and introduce micro projects to mentors
• January 2010: Complete capital expenditure and fit out Academy training room
• January 2010: Repurpose Stoke on Trent College m-learning programme
• February 2010: Roll out m-learning programme across micro projects
• February 2010: Commence delivery of m-learning training programmes, peer review, dissemination events and road shows across micro project network
• July 2001: mid-point Academy evaluation
• July 2010: Hold interim Academy Teaching and Learning Conference
• December 2010 Hold final Academy Teaching and Learning Conference and Dissemination Event
Indicators of impact and success will include:
• Successful completion of partners’ micro projects
• Increase in success rates as a result of m-learning delivery
• An increased proportion of College and partner staff are using m-learning in the curriculum
• CPD programme in place and being used across micro projects
• Increased confidence of College and partner staff in using m-learning
• M-learning used across the College curriculum

Added value to other sectors:

• Stoke on Trent College has a proven track record of working in partnership and of supporting partner organisations to improve and develop the quality of their provision. For example, supporting a partner provider to introduce m-learning was at the heart of our approach to South Staffordshire College to support their successful application for MoLeNET Round 3 funding and we will show a similar high level of commitment as a MoLeNET academy. We believe that we can achieve more by working in partnership than we can by ourselves and that places collaborative working with other colleges and stakeholders such as LSN at the heart of what we do.

• The College has a long standing commitment to e-maturity and of embracing new technologies and approaches to widen participation, increase success rates and to increase flexibility and cost-effectiveness of provision. Our commitment to m-learning preceded MoLeNET and will continue after it as we see embracing these new technologies as essential if we are to maintain meet the needs of our learners. Our wealth of experience as well as our passion and commitment to m-learning will ensure that the MoLeNET Academy is a success, thereby driving the sustainability of the wider MoLeNET initiative.

• The significant number of m-learning experts at our disposal will furthermore significantly assist LSN to promote and roll out m-learning across both the West Midlands and North West regions. Stoke on Trent is ideally located on both the West Coast Main line, M6 and A50 and as a result the College easily accessible from across the country.

• Existing College equipment would be used for content development and these will not be needed to be purchased via the Academy funding which enables more mobile devices to be purchased, therefore adding value to the project.