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Moulton College

Year 3: IT is in Teaching at Moulton College 2009/2010

 

 

Project Description

The project is based upon a drive to incorporate the Mobile Learning ITQ2009 Qualification into the Teacher Education programmes across the partnership of the three FE Colleges. Embedding the ITQ2009 will enable educators to gain this nationally recognised IT qualification whilst also teaching them how to exploit mobile technologies to benefit the teaching and learning process. The project will explore the use of a wide range of mobile technologies with a specific focus of how to embed them into the educators own lessons whilst providing in class support to ensure this is achieved successfully.

Aims

• To increase student IT skills by first improving the skills of teachers and then supporting them to embed mobile learning solutions into their lessons.

• To build on the successes and lessons learnt in MoLeNET2 project, where early adopters/enthusiasts highlighted what was possible, by showcasing mobile learning in every area; engaging everybody.
• Build and share knowledge, accumulated in MoLeNET2 project across the partnership, in pod/vodcasting and incorporate this into the deliver of the ITQ2009.
• To embed the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into the curriculum.
• Production of whole course package transferrable to any college to enable delivery of ITQ2009.

Objective

The opportunity to influence tomorrow's teachers, today with the benefits of embedding e-learning and mobile technologies is one not to be missed. Experience has indicated that when teachers possess good IT skills their students IT skills will increase proportionally. The project, as outlined below, will generate an holistic institutional culture change by influencing a wider reaching audience than just the "new entrant" educators through a peer cascade process, helping to reach teachers who want to embrace the technology but lack the confidence and skills.

The primary objective is to incorporate the ITQ2009 Level2 (New QCF based NVQ in IT) syllabus into the DTTLS at each of the partner colleges, enabling educators to achieve a nationally recognisable IT qualification that will provide them with the skills that will be necessary to develop their teaching materials whilst also making the journey to professional formation easier. It is planned that the mobile learning model for the ITQ be followed so that the maximum benefit will be achieved in providing educators with the skills to embed mobile device activities into their own subjects and curriculums. DTTLS courses will be the target for the project.

As an output of this objective, a complete “Pack” including a detailed Scheme of Work (SoW) and individual Lesson Plans will be made available on MoLeSHARE and the project MOODLE area. The idea of an “off the shelf” type pack will help other colleges implement the project should they choose to do so. Included in the pack will be exercises and activities that train staff how to use the mobile devices along with any materials and tasks developed to capture the necessary assessment evidence.

Plans for the main units include:-

The “IT Communication Fundamental” unit provides excellent opportunities to highlight how mobile devices can be utilised to break down the boundaries of the classroom and broaden the learning experience. Evidence will be drawn from tasks utilising forum contributions and online submission of assignments. Educators will also need to demonstrate how to access facilities such as the gradebook all from a mobile device.

Under the “Specialist Software” Unit, another of the project objectives is to utilise the Wild Knowledge application, in conjunction with GIS/GPS mobile devices. ITQ evidence will be derived from a task focused around providing an induction / orientation activity based on GPS enabled mobile devices.

The mandatory unit “Improving productivity using IT” gives an opportunity for educators to plan and deliver a lesson in their own curriculum area that utilises mobile technology, such as gaming devices, to achieve the pedagogic aims of the session.

The “Audio & Video Software” unit will develop the skills learnt in MoLeNET2, enabling staff to experiment with Pod/Vodcasting to bring differentiation and “any time” learning to their classes. Evidence for this unit will be the syndication of a pod/vodcast on MoLeTV.
The running of this project will enable educators to be made aware of the potential that mobile learning can offer their curriculums.

Target audience:

Primary audience are students studying on DTTLS meaning they will all be 19+ students with approximately 75% being "in-house" college candidates who are studying to enable them to achieve Qualified Teacher Status, including professional formation. However, the second level of this projects exposure will be to the students in the classes that the 75% of the “in-house” candidates teach, these students range over LLDD, FE & HE. To ensure this is managed in a suitable way "team" tasks will see the candidates use Mobile Devices in their own subjects and form part of the assessment evidence.

 

Year 2: Open Access Key Skills at Moulton College 2008/2009

 

 

 

The project is formed from a partnership of the three Northamptonshire colleges and is based upon the "mobile" delivery of Key/Functional skills. We wish to identify the correct formula of materials and devices that when combined with the advanced communication potential of modern technology impacts positively, and measurably, on learner achievement within this subject. With the help of substantial learner and practitioner consultation we will develop a range of resources that can be delivered to mobile devices via VLE. A key element of the project will be the sharing these materials with the sector.

Project Aims

• Using action research, identify learner preferences with regards to electronic materials delivered via mobile devices thus informing practitioners of learner expectation and preference.
• Explore how the enhanced communication opportunities presented by mobile technologies can improve retention and achievement across the range of learning contexts within the 3 Northamptonshire colleges.
• Assess the effectiveness of using mobile devices to enhance learner access to Key/Functional Skills materials including e-assessment. Materials will be developed, and later shared via MoleShare, that specifically support the mobile delivery of this curriculum.
• Dissemination to the sector and e-learning community, via MoleNet Conference RSC.

Project Objectives

The primary objective is to evaluate the efficiency and usability of particular mobile devices within an education environment and the impact of these devices on the learner experience. We are looking to prove that there is a direct link between the embedding of mobile technology into the curriculum and an improvement in an attendance and subsequent retention. Alongside this evaluation we will investigate the relationship between the learning materials presentation type and how the learner engages with each. Through online survey and face to face interview we will capture the learner voice and opinion on the developed materials. For example the formats of the materials may include HTML pages, PowerPoint, Flash, streamed video, podcast and audio variances. Expectation is that the surveys will return a very high rate of submissions giving us a wealth of quantitative data from which to inform the cross sectioned face to face interviews. Once complete we will validate the findings with a sample of the learners, this will be published on MoleShare.

Another of the project aims is to explore the often discussed enhanced benefit to communication between learners and between learner and teacher. We are keen to harness all the advantages that mobile communication devices offer learners both in the classroom and outside. We will do this through prompt electronic communication, with at risk learners and their carers.

It also is intended that some of the advanced functions of the widely available smart-phones will enable us to explore the benefits of video blogging, etc, as a means of evidence gathering with some of the more challenged learners participating in this bid. As the bid is focused around the multi curriculum delivery of Key/Functional skills, we will focus the benefits and appeal that mobile technology brings to the “digital native” learner to improve the learners communication skills. We will do this by utilising the flexibility and adaptability of these mobile devices, when linked with the correct materials, to enhance learner personalisation. The learner’s perception of a tailored curriculum will promote a feeling of worth and self esteem leading to greater success rates.

The bid will utilise Wi-Fi and GSM/3G network technologies, one of the consortia already has an extensive open wireless network to integrate with, the others will use this bid to finance the installation of the same structure by Christmas. The range of devices will be chosen to reflect the individual curriculum areas.

Moulton has a specialised “in-house” materials development team that produces a wide range of learning materials, this team will be an integral part of the materials development.

Northampton College has an experienced Project Researcher who will be tasked to lead the action research elements of the project.
Tresham Institute has an experienced software engineer that will help with any specialist integration required.