Trafford College

Year 2: Move Ahead Mobile 2008/2009

This project aims to consolidate the existing use of mobile technology at Trafford College, and expand provision of excellence with three new objectives: Skills for Life delivery, Train to Gain initiatives, and Teacher Training provision. Building on areas of good practice developed in MoLenet 1, this project investigates methods of engaging learners on Key Skills Level 1 programmes, develops a model of excellence for Train to Gain programmes using mobile technology, and creates a bank of mobile materials for use in Teacher Education delivery.

Project Aim

The Trafford College / Stockport College Learning on the Go project which was undertaken in 0708 was an exciting and successful project with over 300 learners and staff from Trafford College benefitting from the opportunities that mobile technology and new approaches to teaching and learning brought. We now wish to consolidate and expand this innovation, targeting three specific new areas of provision, which we are confident will bring immense benefit to learners, enrich the provision at Trafford College, meet local and national priorities, provide contribution to the national MoLeNet initiative.

Project Objectives

There are a number of primary and secondary objectives which can be identified through this project, however the following could be described as the main three:

1. To work with the Skills for Life Department to identify key elements of achievement and success in Level 1 Key Skills students, and to address areas of weakness through the use of mobile technology. Such factors may include:

• The ability to access support materials outside the traditional classroom based model of learning
• The ability to access research and support materials in the home / outside College through the use of mobile technology
• The perceived belief that Key Skills are secondary to the achievement of their main qualification, and methods of re-aligning values and perceptions
• Methods of support and communication between students and their Key Skill teachers
• Opportunities for submission of assessment materials using digital technology

One of the key research findings from MoleNet 1 was that learners reported that they felt ‘more valued’ as a student by participating in the project, and we are keen to further investigate and utilise this finding in MoLenet 2

2. To create a range of mobile video materials for use by the Teacher Education students and staff, and develop a model of embedded practice for this and future students on these programmes. This will include research into current practice, national priorities and other initiatives (including HE progression) in line with syllabus requirements, structured evaluation of mobile materials and their impact on pedagogic practice.

It is anticipated that there will be dual benefits in this aspect of the project: making significant improvement to the skills base of the staff and students, and allowing students to develop ideas for future delivery in their teaching practice, through increased confidence and exploration of potential.

3. To work with the Director of Adult learning at the College and target a specific Train to Gain student cohort in the Care. Train to Gain engagement has increased significantly in recent years, with some excellent examples of provision meeting employer demand. However we need to encourage this participation further through innovation and by exceeding employer and employee expectations. This aspect of the project therefore will focus on creating a model of excellence for one cohort of our Train to Gain programme, with the intention of providing sustainable participation.