Redbridge College

Year 2: Redbridge College PEP Talk – Personalisation, E-Portfolios and Podcasts 2008/2009

Using a system to identify “At Risk” learners we will either enable their own Wi-Fi device or provide them with one. The learner meets with their Personal Learning Adviser and Student Mentor (SM) to set SMART targets in the on-line PLP.

The learner will be expected to maintain an on-line portfolio of their work in order that the SM will be able to assist them developing it before submission, and help them meet the deadlines. Portfolio evidence (pictures, video or voice podcasts) will be taken with the handheld device. They will all record video progress reviews for their PLPs.

Project Aims

To ensure all learners meet, or exceed, their Minimum Target Grade (MTG);
To introduce mobile access to the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) in the VLE;
To introduce and allow ubiquitous access to an E-Portfolio for all learners;
To support “at-risk” learners through hand-held technologies;
To stretch high performing learners using mobile resources;
To evaluate the impact of MIMAS hairdressing mobile resources;
To pilot the use of video podcasts progress reviews;
To generate video podcasts of practical demonstrations;
To exploit mobile device technologies to provide e-portfolio evidence in a variety of formats (voice, image, video, text);
To enhance staff/student ICT skills.

Project Objectives

To provide a student wireless network that will broaden access to the college VLE to mobile platforms;
To introduce an e-Portfolio for every learner at Redbridge College, accessible through the wireless network and on mobile devices;
To extend the Student Performance and Attendance Monitoring system that outputs a score to the existing PLP, to ensure it can be accessed wirelessly and remotely through the VLE;
To focus on learners "at-risk" of not meeting or exceeding their Minimum Target Grade by providing mobile accessible web support;
Pilot the use of video podcasts for progress review for learners;
Better utilisation of Student Mentors;
To widen the opportunities for Personal Learning Advisers to influence student attitudes and behaviour;
Utilising m-Leaning to Provide extension exercises to stretch the more able learners;
To develop mobile facilitated support networks (synchronous and asynchronous); peer-peer, teacher-learner and mentor-leaner;
To maximise the effectiveness of txttools (Edutxt) to support learners;
Improve 16-18 success rates to above benchmark by September 2009;
Improve Value Added and Distance Travelled scores (LAT) to above national average for similar institutions in Hair, Music and Media;
To provide a sustainable infrastructure to develop and improve current systems in line with demand. To substantially widen wireless capacity and resilience, opening it up to students using a variety of devices;
To bring the VLE in house to enable greater flexibility and adaptability for specific Redbridge College needs, including optimising multi device access;
Develop and host our own e-portfolio system to ensure maximum integration with the VLE and mobile accessibility;
Create a central data integration server to handle the SPAM system, Shibboleth and to service the E-Portfolio, VLE, PLP, Scheme of Work/Lesson Plan and other tools that will be required in the future;
Begin podcasting lessons, practical demonstrations, live performances and events etc. This can also be streamed to the 5 large LCD screens recently installed in the college.