One size doesn’t fit all Centre for Open Learning of Mathematics, Science, Computing and Technology (COLMSCT) Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC ), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC ). Val Hancock COLMSCT Associate Teaching Fellow Adapting courses for offender learners

What do ALs say? One of the first shocks was to discover that the prisoner had no internet access which made things rather challenging on a course that was using the eTMA system, issued TMAs via a website and required students to take part in FirstClass discussions for TMAs! I'm not clear on who provides the student with TMA questions when they are only available online (I sent a hardcopy of TMA01 just in case) There is no alternative to electronic submission of the ECA and if it can't be submitted electronically he will fail the course I think it is too much to expect either the prison Education Officer or myself to provide hard copies of everything they need He cannot do any of the iCMA's Just wonder what colleagues do in this situation?I hopefully can and will see the students F2F but what about all the online stuff? I don’t think he is allowed CD/DVDs

What can’t offender learners do? Access the course website Web searches Access the OU library Use the eTMA system Read CDs and/or DVDs Use USB memory sticks Have laptops in their cells Listen to podcasts iCMAs (eCMAs, OpenMark) Contact a tutor Take part in forum discussions Update a wiki Write a blog

What can offender learners do? Access the course website Web searches Access the OU library Use the eTMA system Read CDs and/or DVDs Use USB memory sticks Have laptops in their cells Listen to podcasts iCMAs (eCMAs, OpenMark) Contact a tutor

What are ALs doing? ing or printing course materials published via the course website and sending them to the student. Summarising and anonymising forum contributions ing or printing web pages Carrying out mediated searches Re-inventing the wheel!

What are prisons doing? Providing internet access for staff in some prisons HMP Whitemoor – course website & OpenLearn on generic Moodle Virtual Campus – limited, supervised internet access for offender learners

What’s the OU doing? Offender learning coordinator Offender learning working groups –matrix to replace ‘traffic lights –degree & diploma pathways –making the library accessible –improvements/alternatives to eTMAs, eCMAs, iCMAs –improving AL support Involvement in Virtual Campus Raising the profile of offender learning within the OU

What can course teams do? Centralise support for ALs –Tutor packs –Identify an AL or course team member to give guidance Provide alternatives for students with very limited or no internet access Issue CDs with static online versions of web pages Integrate internet accessibility into course design procedures

What else can course teams do? Categorise activities requiring internet access (EDO Framework) –E ssential  students will fail the course if the activity cannot be carried out –D esirable  students can pass the course if the activity cannot be carried out but their overall grade is likely to be affected –O ptional  many students outside prison will not engage with the activity

One size doesn’t fit all What works in one prison will not work in another prison What helps one AL won’t help every AL Pick & mix to provide appropriate support for each offender learner

Useful links Alternative approaches to online activities for prisoners and others without access to the Internet (COLMSCT project)Alternative approaches to online activities for prisoners and others without access to the Internet Prison Tutor Support wiki (Alternative approaches)Prison Tutor Support wiki Supporting students in prison booklet (AL Development)Supporting students in prison booklet OU Prison Scheme (old site)OU Prison Scheme Student Services Offender Learning (new site)Student Services Offender Learning Val Hancock: