Molenet - Foxes Academy

Year 3 Micro Project-Foxes on the Move 2009/2010

Learners undertake a 3 year residential course based in a working Hotel. Our extended curriculum covers Hotel & Catering (NVQ Level 1), Skills for Life (English, Maths, ICT), Independent Living in the Community & Moving On (preparation for work). Currently graded ‘Outstanding' by Ofsted (2006) plus ‘Beacon College' status (2007).

The project will involve us expanding and complementing our current IT based teaching and learning with a range of personalised portable electronic device. It will help to develop our existing Intranet as an m-learning portal for learners with special needs to access in-house resources or web-based materials and where they can socialise, surf the web and play within a safe and supervised environment. Offer more accessible options, greater flexibility and wider choices that are personalised and transferable into independent living and working. M-learning tools will expand and extend our existing specialist personalised curriculum for learners giving them enhanced control of their learning experience.

Aims:

To expand and complement our current IT based teaching and learning with a range of personalised portable electronic devices:
• All learners utilising personalised mobile learning devices suited to their special needs
• Staff fully trained and competent in the use and application of mobile learning devices and resources.
• Holistic and accessible mobile teaching and learning resources for all staff.
• A personalised, flexible and accessible m-learning experience for all learners through the holistic application of mobile technology.
• Rolling programme of purchase/disposal of mobile devices to maintain IT currency while continuing to support learners into independent living.

Objectives:

• Research into the optimum specialist applications for our learners with special needs to enable us effectively to embed transformational change in the application of mobile technology.
• Introduce mobile learning within our unique specialist service delivery programme using holistic and inclusive methodology throughout the extended curriculum.
• Add value to the development of transferable skills while enabling learners to access and control their preferred personal learning tools wherever and as often as they choose.
• Develop and adopt new teaching and learning techniques utilising mobile technology to provide multi-media aids and personalised task-related guidance for learners in the home, the workplace and within the community.
• Involve staff and learners in creating mobile e-learning modules and specialist in-house applications through shared access to Intranet based m-learning teaching and learning resources.
• Enhance the teaching and learning experience by offering innovative alternatives to the written word, mobile accessibility to support and encourage independence together with flexible mobile devices and on-demand applications that suit individual purpose and need.
• Provide a wider range of choices and personalised accessibility options for learners with special needs that are not only customised but also sustainable and transferable once individuals have completed their college course.
• Expand accessibility throughout the extended curriculum and extra-mural activities with the application of mobile technology utilising our learner Intranet and wireless connectivity in learner residences. Techniques to be explored include: learner podcasts; blogs; timetable and session downloads; Wii and/or PSP (to improve co-ordination skills within a gaming context); e-mail access; personal organisation; SMS; speech and language software; tutor interaction; multi-media aids (including Bluetooth technology) and ‘FoxTube’ uploads.
• Inform, train and engage our local work experience providers and sector employers in all aspects of the vocational application of mobile technology for employees with special needs. Providing this learner support mechanism will further assist learners in their preparation for employment and in meeting the challenges of the workplace.
• Long term aim to expand this vocational application of mobile learning to the wider employment market to better inform prospective employers of the abilities of those with special needs by demonstrating their employability skills and promoting opportunities for greater equality and inclusion in the workplace.
• Achieve outstanding teaching and learning outcomes, achievement levels, learner satisfaction and sustainable employment placements (reflected in existing final destination data and tracking of ex-learners).
• Extend m-learning benefits and transferable skills beyond the campus by allowing learners to retain their personalised devices at the end of their course. As our learners with special needs thrive on reinforced and familiar learning techniques, this practical solution would offer an alternative to the potential discouragement to learning caused by unwelcome change. Not only would this support the learner transition into independent living and working but also maintain IT currency, budget management and IT integrity by introducing a rolling annual procurement programme for each new learner cohort.
(Subject to terms of any LSN funding agreement/possible discounted sale to learner?)

Contribution to Local and Regional priorities

This initiative will enable us to expand our commitment to:

• Harnessing Technology (Becta)
• Teacher Training (staff qualifications and CPD)
• Inclusion and Diversity (for hard to reach learners with special needs)
• Valuing People Now (choice and flexibility for learners with special needs)
• Personalisation of the learning journey
• Skills for Life (specialist transferable skills)
• Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) as part of the Foundation Learning Tier
(14-19 years old)
• Framework for Excellence (specialist service delivery)
• Ofsted Inspection Framework (applied use of technology)