Molenet - Hartlepool College of FE

Year 3 Micro Project- Hospitality and Catering mobile technology

This project is to enable hospitality and catering students the opportunity to experience new and exciting mobile devices. They will learn how to use handheld wireless ‘Waiterpads’ in a realistic working environment. The data produced will be used to analyse trends and forecast future needs. This data will also be used to improve the student’s key skills. We intend to embed key skills into the hospitality and catering curriculum primarily via collaborative learning either remotely or in a community.

Aims:

• To embrace innovation in developing pedagogy which exploits technological opportunities for collaborative learning and support.
• To improve basic numeracy, literacy and ICT skills and offer differentiation opportunities to level 1 students through the use of wireless handheld catering units and Ultra Mobile Personal Computing (UMPC) devices.
• To utilise mobile technologies to engage, excite and enable our learners and set above average targets for attendance, retention, achievement and employment.
• To build learner confidence by making learning accessible and available to them at any time, any place and anywhere they require it.
• To support tutors to use/utilise UMPC and handheld devices.

Objectives:

• To equip catering students with skills in the use of mobile technology when working in the hospitality industry, to facilitate collaborative learning and to make available the data from customers to develop their key skills.
• To engage level 1 learners and improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills through the use of UMPC and handheld devices. The curriculum is strengthened by practical activities and students will be motivated by data produced in a vocational context.
• Integrate a mobile learning model which extends learning beyond the classroom through the provision of pedagogically sound content which can be accessed at a learners' convenience. This learning can take place remotely or in a community.
• Create a community of practitioners to share good practice, work collaboratively and provide appropriate training and support to staff; which may count towards their CPD requirement.
• Learners across a range of abilities within the level 1 context (differentiation) will use mobile technologies to gain confidence and increase motivation.
• The ability to access support materials outside the traditional classroom based model of learning in employment.
• Employability skills are improved as the wireless ordering devices are ‘leading edge’ in the hospitality industry.
• Set above average targets for retention, achievement and attendance by a holistic change to teaching and learning

Contribution to Local and Regional priorities

The tourism and hospitality sectors are key to the economic success of the North East. Skills North East reports that hospitality is a robust sector, even in light of the current economic malaise. Similarly, hospitality is seen a key driver of Hartlepool’s economy with the Tall Ships Race in 2010 providing an economic stimuli. Hartlepool College of FE is well placed to exploit these developments. Strategic priorities for 2009/10 include the effective use of digital practice, innovation and skills and being responsive to employer demand. Additionally investment in bistro facilities over the last few years supports this intent.