Access keys Search Skip navigation

Accrington & Rossendale College

Year 2: Innovating and embedding mobile learning technology to create a sustainable, whole college approach to m learning with positive impact on retention and success 2008/2009

 

 

 

Phase 2 focuses on the expansion and embedding of innovative mobile learning technologies to develop a sustainable, whole college approach to engage and retain learners. Also, to develop training for teaching staff, including the next generation of teachers by embedding mobile learning into teacher education. Sharing best practice across the college using the existing Superuser framework which will underpin the roll out, maximised by using the cutting edge functionality of it’s learning as both a desktop and a mobile platform.

Strands:

• Work based learning
• Teacher education
• Whole college staff development
• Embedding inclusive personalised learning from entry level to undergraduate.

Project Aims

To build on the findings, and successes, of the previous project to move forward, embed, extend and make sustainable mobile learning as part of a whole college strategy for teaching and learning.

• To take the concept of mobile learning to another 480 students and 300 staff
• To secure the appropriate infrastructure to embed mobile learning across college
• To continue to reduce the NEETS population in our travel to learn area, and achieve success rates in the top 10% of colleges nationally across the curriculum.
• A 5% increase and improvement on retention and achievement among participating groups.

Project Objectives

• To expand the achievements with challenging client groups, and extend the success across a range of curriculum areas, and continue to explore the impact of this further development
• To identify areas of good practice, and success using mobile learning technologies and roll out to the wider college staff, both on site and in work based learning using the CPD structure in college linking into requirements for IFL
• To continue to disseminate the findings relating to good practice across the sector
• To further embed the use of the college VLE, It’s Learning, to support the development and embedding of mobile learning in a fully integrated way
• Should the project demonstrate an increase in retention and achievement ensure that the structure is embedded into the whole college budgeting process to secure sustainability.

Year 1: Using mobile learning technologies to improve retention and achievement with challenging client groups 2007/2008

 

 

 

The focus of the phase 1 project was to explore the impact of mobile learning technologies on retention and achievement, student enjoyment and engagement with learning. 

The project also hoped to engender a sense of belonging to the wider college community, by enabling access to the college virtual learning environment (VLE), and to have a positive impact on staff and student competence and confidence with mobile learning technology. 

Staff and students trialled a range of mobile learning devices and by collating qualitative and quantitative evidence, identified the most effective devices in different situations.

College and Project Background

The College is particularly strong at delivering construction programmes for which it is a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE). It also has an excellent reputation for work-based and workplace delivery, which is offered throughout the regions.  The College recruits a much higher level of minority ethnic learners than the local community profile.

The aim of the project was to introduce mobile learning technologies with a strong focus on teaching and learning. The technologies were to be used to help meet needs identified in the college strategic plan:

• to reduce the number of those not in education, employment or training (NEETs) in the travel to learn area
• to increase targets for full Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications
• to increase employer engagement
• to achieve success rates in the top 10% of colleges nationally for every area of the curriculum.

The students involved in the project were work-based learning (WBL) students, Entry and foundation-level learners, Level 2 learners and learners with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Research was initially carried out with staff to ascertain the best type of mobile learning equipment to address the issues in each area. Initially a trial kit was purchased, consisted of differing kinds of phones, and staff were invited to try them. Training was delivered in-house by the IT support team, the IT Superusers, and the tutors confident in using the equipment.

Project aims

• Evaluate the impact on teaching and learning of adopting mobile learning technologies
• Improve the retention and achievement rates of students representing a wide range of challenging and diverse groups across the FE sector
• Ensure that investment in the new technologies delivers both a positive impact on learning and good value for money.

Key objectives

• Introduce concept of mobile learning technologies to staff and students working with challenging client groups
• Explore effectiveness and impact of mobile learning technologies
• Identify and disseminate elements of good practice developed by the project
• Develop the College’s e-learning platform to support mobile learning technologies.

Benefits for participants

Benefits for learners, across all learner groups

Learners have gained:

• increased confidence in m-learning and technology in general and the ability to evaluate its use in terms of their learning needs. (Many of these learners have been ‘pioneers’ of m-learning both in the College and nationally)
• increased competence in the use of IT and m-technology in personalising their own learning and owning their learning experience
• increased access to and awareness of the internet and m-technology in their own ‘life skills’
• motivation and enthusiasm for their course, their learning and progress
• confidence in their own learning potential and passion for further learning.

Benefits for staff

Staff have gained:

• access to learning technologies to use with their learners
• development of their own skills and understanding of learning technologies, and relating them to developing personalised learning
• continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and support to underpin MoLeNet and wider IT development/championing
• the ability to ‘experiment’ with different technologies and adopt/adapt/decline their use based on individual and client group learning needsa building sense of ‘community’ in identifying themselves as volunteers/advocates for e- and m- learning (those involved in project and others hearing of them on grapevine and through dissemination events).

Benefits for the lead college

The lead college has gained:

• increased organisation awareness of the potential of m-learning
• increased organisation awareness of the challenges of supporting m-learning
• improved and improving IT infrastructure supporting e- and m- learning
• intelligence and research informing College’s e-learning strategy.

Lessons learned

Differentiated learning materials were produced.

Blended learning opportunities were synthesised to meet personalised learning for students.

Tutor IT skills were enhanced as they developed innovative and effective learning opportunities and materials.

Where m- and e-learning were observed as part of college quality assurance tutors received Grade 1 and comments on ‘exemplary use of e-learning’.

Group management and communication were enhanced by the any time, any where aspects of m-technology including diary and attendance, relay of materials to absent students, and so on.

IT and communication skills were embedded into the main programme through use of technology.

Tutors were empowered to adapt learning materials in line with client groups’ needs and equality and diversity.

The work informed curriculum-planning and delivery.

M-learning is a useful quality assurance and impact measure as part of the lesson observation process – tutors were often delighted to demonstrate its effective use.

It is worth encouraging and rewarding learners in use of technology in personalising learning. Several College learners received awards at the end of the year celebrating their use of IT in learning. Some students also attended the JISC regional event as ambassadors for m-technology and learning discussing their experiences and demonstrating their work.