Capel Manor College

Year 2: Molenet for Moles, Bats, Bees and Trees 2008/2009

The project aims to improve the mobility of surveying - allowing for a real-life environmental surveying experience that goes beyond current measuring tape and quadrant exercises. This approach reflects skills in high demand by industry. An additional benefit is the opportunity to build up historic records for the local environment.

Project Aims

• Accelerate IT development to meet the need of IT sophisticate school leavers (20% of our students) increasingly interested in e-learning blended with the excellent practical activity and instruction they expect from us.
• Develop wireless capacity and confidence for staff and student use of laptops, PDAs and mobiles to use IT networking anywhere in the college grounds as a living laboratory.
• Continuously improve the learning experience and student achievement for employability and progression.
• Raise the profile of environmental science, and science generally, amongst young people.

Project Objectives

The college’s current three year plan (2008-2011) for IT is reviewed termly by the IT Coordinating Committee reporting to Academic Board.

Priorities for further development of embedded learning across the organisation include:

• a focus on improvement and extension of capella – the college’s VLE – to provide high quality learning materials and information sharing for staff and students across all college centres and from home;
• full exploitation of Voice over Internet Protocols building on the platform of new networks to support video links and easy access to downloads of recorded demonstrations and lectures. These links will be extended to partner schools in consortia established for delivery of the 14-19 Environment and Landbased Diploma. (The college leads on two Gateway 2 submissions, one for the four north London Boroughs and one for two east London boroughs working together. In addition Gateway 3 submissions are under development in south London and west London.);
• support for customised innovation in curriculum areas;
• arboriculture staff working with the industry on use of new technology for measuring and evaluating tree health and condition;
• countryside team are keen to improve the mobility of surveying - as highlighted above. (This approach reflects skills in high industry demand. A side benefit is the opportunity to build up historic records for the local environment.)
  arboriculture staff working with the industry on use of new technology for measuring and evaluating tree health and condition;
• Step change with access to and use of web-based Individual Learning Plans.
• Acceleration of progress in developing en-enabled (VLE) access to theory and underpinning knowledge support for practical provision.

The profile of Environmental science is increasing amongst adults as the focus on green issues sharpens. The level of interest from younger students is lower. Lifting perceptions of the area from muddy boots and pond clearing to encompass high end technology is one element in addressing this. It also exploits existing expertise with mobile technology amongst young people.