MCOMMUNITY PROJECT 21 st November 2013 Caroline Griffiths – Pembrokeshire College, Project Manager Jason Booth – Pembrokeshire College, Project Tutor

mCommunity Project Overview Part funded by ERDF through Ireland Wales Cross Border Programme (Interreg 4A) Collaboration between: Target audiences: NEETs & SMEs 105 participants have used the app, 49% have secured employment or gone into further education 85 participants have enrolled onto short course qualifications. The project has also worked with 44 SMEs across Wales and Ireland.

Uses Mobile Technology Android OS Integrates Moodle The mCommunity App

The App

This is the first screen you will see when opening the app, clicking on the Targets bar will take you to your Targets (eILP) screen. Targets Courses IM Status Net Overview

eILP Targets are listed as above according to the deadline date set by the Tutor. Targets

A Target may have a number of Goals, as each is completed the progress is displayed. Targets shaded yellow have recently been added. Clicking on a Target will bring up all the associated Goals. Targets

Each Goal can be viewed in detail and commented on or marked as completed Goals

Once a Goal has been completed and verified by the Tutor it will be listed in the completed section of the Targets screen. Progress

The Course icon refers to all the courses the learner is enrolled on. When a Course is selected it will show the topic heading or the timeframe of a particular course. Courses

Within a particular topic of a course it is possible to add the qualification criteria, an overview, files for download and links to websites, including YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Resources

The first screen in the IM facility shows all your contacts, these could be tutor(s), mentors or employers. Status availability can also be changed. Instant Messaging

The Notification bar will alert the user of any new messages. Notification

StatusNet is an open source chat area, similar to Twitter, all conversations can viewed by mCommunity participants. StatusNet

Use of mCommunity Features

Challenges Recruitment & engagement of NEETs “ The NEETs dropped out for a variety of reasons including because it interfered with their social life and apathy, some had been forced into it by job centres and were not used to committing”. (Project staff) Technical issues accessing wireless networks Limited face-to-face sessions Device size too small Technology learning curve for participants and project staff “Initially the technology was all totally new – we used the devices ourselves to gain confidence”. (Project staff)

Benefits Supporting job search activity Skills development “It raised digital proficiency of staff and me”. (SME) Personal development “I am going on a course now…this is a major step – it was through the mCommunity course that I learnt about technology and developed confidence to do something different”. (NEET) Progression Achieving a qualification “The main benefit for me, being able to achieve a qualification and fit it round the other aspects of my life”. (SME) Business performance and activity

Benefits of the mCommunity Project

Future Developments App and portal integration into Pembrokeshire College Moodle to support FE learners via: Learner Coaches Work Based Learning Tutors The mTransition project Two year Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation Project. Transferring the mCommunity app to address problems in Vocational Education & Training (VET) Institutions across EU.

Q&A

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