Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College

Year 3 Micro Project- Mobile Learning and Assessment in the Work-place (m-LAW)

This project will investigate the use of mobile technology to support work-based learners, in deprived rural areas, by providing learning materials to develop underpinning knowledge and the gathering of evidence to present for assessment supported by on line resources. It is proposed to investigate and evaluate the use of PDAs and flip video cameras by work-based learners and their assessors to facilitate teaching, learning and assessment.

To maximise the overall efficiency of the project Assessors will be supplied with internet dongles for their laptops to access the internet and consequently improve the effectiveness of the whole process.

Aims:

Improve teaching, learning and assessment processes by engaging and inspiring learners, staff and employers to adopt mobile technologies.

Improve communication by providing hardware resources for learners to improve access to assessment opportunities.

The general project aim is to introduce mobile technology to work based learners across the mainly rural area of West Lancashire served by Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College. The project will embrace several vocational areas including health and social care, childcare, hairdressing and business administration. The project will enable staff and learner access to college systems and importantly our VLE and facilitate innovative methods of capturing evidence of competence.

Objectives:

• Development of skills in the implementation of mobile technology for teaching, learning and assessment - this will be achieved by issuing work-based learners with personal digital assistants (PDAs) and flip video cameras; training them in the use of the same to enable them to collect evidence towards their individual qualifications, communicate with their assessor and deal with issues related to their learning when they arise.
• Using mobile technology to generate evidence of competence - the use of PDAs and video flip cameras will enable work-based learners to capture evidence of competence "in the field" to present to their assessor via the VLE. Assessors will be able to further support learners by making personalised learning resources available to them through the VLE.
• Enabling work-based assessors access to the internet and consequently 24 hour communication with their learners by providing internet dongles for their laptop computers.
• Attract learners who would not normally access learning due to poor literacy skills by enabling them to use mobile technologies to improve their basic skills and present evidence of competence in a non traditional format.
• Evaluate the use of staff and learners’ existing technologies - an IT Skills Audit will provide baseline data against which the project can be measured.
• Produce guidelines for staff in the use of mobile technologies in the teaching and learning process.
• Implement a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for staff.
• Deliver training for learners in the use of the newly introduced mobile technologies to ensure maximum effectiveness.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and benefits resulting from the introduction of the technologies adopted - this small project will enable the college to evaluate the mobile technologies with a small cohort of learners and this will inform the sustainability strategy for future expansion as the college new build, which will include a high technical specification, is ready for operation from September 2011.
• Identify and share best practice in driving forward mobile technologies for assessment of work based learners - by working with a small number of learners in the first instance this key objective will enable the project team to thoroughly evaluate and subsequently develop the best practice that is identified. The infrastructure for assimilating the work of the project into future college strategies will be shared internally with college employees and externally with neighbouring colleges and training providers in the North West via various networks including the Lancashire Work-Based Learning Forum thus ensuring affordability and sustainability.

Contribution to Local and Regional priorities:

• This project will enable the college to pilot and develop strategies to meet the needs of workbased learners using mobile technologies.
• LSC North West Statement of Skills Priorities 2009-10 refers to the best use of technology to support learners and deliver skills alongside increasing participation of 16-19 year olds and increasing the skills of adults.
• DCSF 14-19 curriculum reforms include apprenticeships and employment with training as pathways for young people at 16 and 18 years.
• BECTA - Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning Strategy 2008-2011
• LLUK, Implementing the Workforce Strategy for Further Education, 2007-2012 emphasises the Importance of IT skills