Langdon College

Year 3 Micro Project- Taking learning out my way - personalised MLT for lifelong learning

The project will involve moving the college on from strongly embedded ILT to innovative use of MLT to support personalisation and independence. It will also help develop work skills and lifelong learning through the application of mobile technology in college, and its corresponding application in the community, at work and in the home. Fostering students’ ownership of their In-folio and supporting their increased independence. It will also encourage students to use MLT in their own way, to meet their specific personal needs and interests.

Aims:

• We aim to introduce and extend use of mobile technology to support lifelong learning and independence skills within the college, in the community and in the home.
• We will establish collaboration in MLT between two specialist colleges – Bridge and Langdon - exchanging championship of M-learning, expertise in independent learning remote from the college environment, and In-folio a digital personal portfolio system specifically developed for independent specialist colleges, launched in July 2009.

Objectives:

• To create a mindset of any time, any where learning in students and staff. To provide resources for just in time learning to capitalise on motivation, and encourage longer periods of focus and motivation.
• To work jointly to exchange expertise and establish an ongoing collaboration in MLT in a wider group of specialist colleges in the North West.
• Develop our infrastructures through managed wireless networks to facilitate easy use of ILT anywhere within the college, and to support increased demand following the introduction of the In-folio software (digital portfolio).
• Introduce (and extend at Langdon) mobile learning: buy a range of mobile devices particularly geared to student use for use in learning and independence, and for students to generate content to populate their In-folio at college or at home, either to evidence or support their further learning; familiarise families and carers in use of mobile devices
• Use Langdon staff to champion use of mobile technology
• Use Bridge staff to champion the use of In-folio
• Facilitate joint development activity between staff from the two colleges.
• Our students all have LLDD, some profound with complex medical needs and/or sensory impairment, others with autistic spectrum conditions. Their key aim is greater independence: through improved communication skills, improved community access and improved cognition.
• We are committed to personalisation and student ownership of their learning. Lifelong learning is their continued application of skills developed on programme in their home environment and in their next placement - work, further education or social services provision.

Contribution to Local and Regional priorities

• Development of independence and work skills to increase transition into employment.
• Extending the reach of the North West Independent Specialist Colleges Peer Review and Development group into the area of ILT in support of the aim of the network to move towards outstanding – in college strategic plans.
• Embedding In-folio – in Quality Improvement Plan.
• Following through the work we have already done in moving to a person centred planning approach in the development of Individual Learning Plans and target setting into the curriculum, to allow students greater ownership and direction of their own learning – in Quality Improvement Plan.