Joint ACL/WBL Forum, 23rd June 2009
From RSCWMWiki
Inaugural Forum
 ACL WBL colleagues |
 Digi Memo Demo |
 Listening intently |
 Demonstration |
 Forum colleagues |
Demonstration of E-Learning Technology
Jason Curtis – RSC Learning Technologist provided the group with a demonstration of number of emerging technologies including mobile learning devices. This included a look at the new Flip High Definition video camera, Acecad Digital Notepad, Busbi video camera and Asus Eee PC.
Jason is available to provide free advice and guidance on the selection and implementation of emerging technologies, within education. He can be contacted on 01902 518986 or by e-mail at: jason.curtis@wlv.ac.uk
NIACE update by Ian Yarroll
Ian gave an overview of what NIACE is and does and highlighted some of the latest government initiatives that will affect ACL and WBL: Digital Britain and the Learning Revolution white papers. He posed a few questions about e-learning and the impact of the recession on ICT and asked what the current trends were in terms of enrolments. If you need to contact Ian, his details are: Ian.yarroll@niace.org.uk , phone 07799-583124
Ian's Presentation
Funding for E-Learning Projects
Update on ALP Learner Innovation Grants
In summary - £10 million has already been distributed. £6 in first three rounds and approximately £4 million in the last round. Last round encouraged consortia bids – with funding ranging from £50k to £200k for those, and £50k to £100k for single bids. Bid value of nearly £14m and 118 bids submitted. In this region, recent successful applicants were:
- EEF Technology Centre ETCetera Gateway
- Juniper Training Ltd - "On the Move" The mobile and portable e-learning package
- Greenspring Training - 'New Beginnings'
- JHP Training - JHP Academy
- The Black Country Training Group (BCTG) - The BCTG Networked MLE WEBSERVER
- Staffordshire Providers Network - The SPA Online Mahoodle Network*
A full list of Learning Innovation Grant Phase 4 Funding Allocations can be found at: http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=200337
Since the Forum:
The Association of Learning Providers (ALP) has announced that following negotiations with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), they have agreed to award an additional £3m of capital funding to support a further phase of the very successful Learning Innovation Grant (LIG5) programme. More details are on our website: http://info.rsc-wm.ac.uk/news/show_story.asp?nid=312 Further details will also be posted over the summer via Countdown and ALP’s e-learning website: www.elearningproviders.org
Update on Molenet Funding
A list of successful Molenet projects taking place in the West Midlands region can be found in the post: http://wblwestmids.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-funding-for-your-e-learning.html
Since the forum: The LSN is now inviting bids from English FE Colleges (as project leads, WBL providers may form part of a consortium) for Mobile Learning Network projects.
The LSC is making capital funding available to the sum of £2.5 million. Capital funding contributions per project will not be less than £50,000 and not more than £250,000. It is anticipated that approximately 15 projects will be funded. In addition, capital funding will be available for a small number of micro projects, which will be funded to the order of £10,000 to £20,000.
The deadline for on-line submissions is 5pm, Friday 11th September 2009. Full details are at: http://www.molenet.org.uk/involved/colleges/
Regional Projects and Initiatives
Second Life Island
- Jane announced that the RSC has recently bought an island in the virtual world, Second Life ™ for learning providers in the region to use. Learning organisations can experiment on this island and they will then be better informed to decide on whether they feel it would be useful for them to either rent some space in Second Life ™, buy their own space, investigate other virtual worlds or proceed no further. For more information contact Jane p.jane.edwards@wlv.ac.uk
Accessibility
- RSC Scotland recently released Access Apps – a suite containing over 40 free applications that can support writing, reading, planning and learning, as well as visual and mobility difficulties.These can be downloaded for free from the website. http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eduapps/accessapps.php*
- RSC West Midlands is holding an Accessibility Day on 7th July at Wolverhampton Science Park. This informal session will offer people the chance to try out various examples of hardware and software. To be notified of future repeats contact a.wootton@wlv.ac.uk*
Strategic Development
Becta’s Generator tool
- This has now been trialled with RSC teams across the country. Currently going though a minor modification program. There are plans to roll the tool out with training for providers from Autumn. Leaflet about the Generator is in everyone’s packs. More information on the web at: http://www.generatorfeandskills.com/
LSIS Leadership Toolkit
- Phase three of toolkit is now available for the ACL and ISC sector. Providers can register for a two week trial access offer which gives you a chance to sample the toolkit. To find out more, contact toolkit@lsis.org.uk or more details are on web at http://www.lsis.org.uk/toolkitpack Cost is £273 for ten users. Subsidies are available for LSC funded organisations.
Upcoming RSC events
- Finding Free-To-Use Images Online, 30 Jun 2009 (Full day event) - Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands. This Digital Media lead workshop will guide you to all the best places to locate free-to-use, copyright cleared images for use in both teaching and learning. (FE only)
- An Introduction to Second Life - 3 Jul 2009 (Morning event) - Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands. This workshop will cover the basics including; what is Second Life, how to access it and how to get around 'in-world'.
- Virtual Worlds In Education Forum - 16 Jul 2009 (Full day event) - University of Worcester, Worcester, Worcestershire. A forum to share experience, information and good practice of using a virtual world in a teaching context.
All RSC events are posted on our website at: http://www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/westmidlands/ (The RSC West Midlands team is forward planning at the moment so if there are requests for specific types of training do let us know!)
Learning and Skills Improvement Service Events
- ConnecT – one day, 16/07/09 in Manchester or 06/10/09 in Birmingham
- Realise – one day, 29/09/09 in London or 19/01/10 in Manchester
For further information about LSIS staff development programmes telephone 0870 060 3278 or email enquiries@centreforexcellence.org.uk
Other Upcoming events (External)
- Integration - Learning together ... a joint Moodle-Wales and LearnTech Wales event
1 Jul 2009 at Glyndŵr University, Wrexham http://moodle.rsc-wales.ac.uk/ilt2009/ Sessions will cover inclusive teaching and learning,(JISC TechDis), negotiating the legalities of using Web 2.0 (JISC Legal), successful mobile learning, with real world examples (MoLeNET), the new teaching standards from LLUK and a variety of ways Moodle and other technologies can be used to support personalisation.
- Mobile Learning: Telling Tales - 9th July
This Mobile Learning event highlighted innovative use of mobile technologies across the educational landscape, explaining what is happening now and how this can be developed for users of the future. Further details, a full programme and a review of the day are now available at http://www.mimas.ac.uk/news/mob09/review/.
Date of Next Joint Forum
To be advised. See RSC website for details: http://www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/westmidlands
