Molenet - Epping Forest College

Year 3: m-Inclusion Heroes 2009/2010

Project Description

EFC has a 38% BME student population; however EFD is governed by the BNP. We will be developing a project around anti-discrimination in partnership with 2 local secondary schools with plans to disseminate to all schools with in/out our locality.
Learners will devise inclusion strategies using a range of mobile devices which will facilitate production/collection of materials in various formats, enhancing the learning experience and streamlining communication.
Learners will be drivers of change, creating new ways of working and learning through their roles as e&d/m-Champions by supporting staff in embedding new technologies as a pedagogical tool, whilst encouraging long-term sustainability.

Our aims are:

• To raise anti-discrimination awareness and to promote greater social engagement in EFD.
• To enhance working relationships and collaboration between EFC and local schools.
• To stretch horizons of learning and communication through the use of mobile technologies.
• To develop both collaborative and personalised learning styles.
• To develop learning materials and provide a source of best practice in vocational courses for wider dissemination.
• To empower young learners to take the lead in embedding mobile technologies in the curriculum as a pedagogical tool for teaching and learning.
• To build a sustainable model to drive holistic change and embrace 21stCentury education.

Objectives:

The project will:
• Engage young learners by using technology which is usually aimed at entertainment and personal communication for young people. The barriers to education will be reduced and the potential of mobile devices as learning, collaborative, creative and communication tools will be explored (Twitter or gps)
• The broader project on anti-discrimination is aimed at developing race relations within the local community with the objective of reducing the number of discrimination incidents that occur (Plotting gps)

• Produce resources around anti-discrimination that will be shared with other organisations thanks to MoleShare, web, etc...
• Engaging young people with the topic of anti –discrimination using technologies that they are familiar with and providing them with the skills necessary to be E&D advocates and mentors to other young people within EFC and other organisations
• Develop materials through the use of mobile technology that can be used by young people throughout the borough to enhance understanding of rights and responsibilities around discrimination.
• The project will tie into the college's strategic aims and help address findings in our last Ofsted inspection which highlighted inadequate promotion of equality and diversity.
• The project will foster links cross curricula and between EFD’s secondary schools and EFC and collaboration will be facilitated and strengthened thanks to the use of mobile technology to tackle a serious local issue.
• The use of mobile technology will enable groups of young people to communicate, exchange, plan, script, record, locate and shoot their own images on-site and outside the classroom at times that are not tied to curriculum-based timetables.'
• Individual handheld devices will support the compilation of personal projects, diaries, e-portfolios and other activities that develop a personalised approach to learning.
• Staff development of teachers and support staff will help long-term Cross curriculum development for institutions, including the development of new types of learning and support materials, ways of approaching curriculum design and developing autonomous and personalised learning. The whole programme will facilitate an end of year showcasing event including performances and screenings. The mobile project and broader collaborative programme aim to act as regional and national models and will be developing a dissemination programme to address the roots of discrimination and promote an inclusive and widening culture.
• To explore how devices can be used in conjunction with learners and teachers networking profiles so media they have created can be automatically uploaded onto personal networking sites i.e. Bebo, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, EFC’s VLE/e-Portfolio, Twitter, Flicker, Project website, Sharepoint and MoLeSHARE. This approach will allow other users of such sites to see the work learners have done and influence new ways of thinking.
• To empower young people by giving them a voice on how to identify discriminative behaviour/ culture and giving them an opportunity to address and review it to make a difference. The project will also be student led and supported by students M/E-champions to avoid generational barrier to new technology.
• To promote a 21st century education that is student-led.

Target audience:

• Main target:
14-19 learners, Business/Marketing, Health & Care and Creative Industries students will produce planning, research, analysis, evidence capturing and developments. Other curriculum will be involved through consultation, testimonies and feedback.
The project will be supported by a programme of seminars, workshops, visits and speakers.A student-led project.
• Secondary target: teachers
Changing the way they perceive their role, no longer as sole educationalist through teacher-led activities and focus, but more as an orchestrator and facilitator in generating stimulating learning situations and guiding students to perform at their best through personalised learning.

Partners

Davenant Foundation School, West Hatch High School and Mixed Comprehensive Secondary & Sixth form College