An Approach to Employer Engagement

Employer Engagement at WKC WKC is currently delivering to a variety of employers who require flexible delivery Learners want to learn at a time and place that suits them rather than the College.

The Challenge of Flexible Delivery How can we maintain a rich interactive experience between teachers and learners …?

The Interactive Web Blogs Wikis Video/ Image Sharing Video/voice conferencing Second Generation web tools have the potential to deliver high quality interaction between teachers and learners. Second generation web tools enable asynchronous two way communication. These include

Case Study - The Army A group of Army catering personnel join the Foundation Degree in Hospitality

The Army challenge The learners are highly dispersed often in different countries. Learners had limited IT skills Teaching team had little experience of interactive web tools. Learners returning to learning needing close tutorial support.

Wikis as “Ice Breakers” As a first assignment all students introduce themselves via the class Wiki

Blogs for PDP I feel I’m lagging behind with my assignment... need to pull my weight a bit Wife and kids coming over... excited about seeing them again

MSN Messenger for Tutorial Support Tutorials will be held via MSN Messenger or Blackboard Chat

YouTube “How to” Tutorials Students find out about Blogs and Wikis using YouTube video.

Delivering Content As well as PowerPoint and other office docs … On-line videos of sessions with full time students delivered through our VLE Home grown YouTube clips that have achieved success far beyond WKC.

Assignment Setting and Grading Electronic Assignments issued through the VLE and require the use of Blogs and Wikis Grades/Feedback reported through the VLE

The Student Experience “Well, I'm over the moon - I've passed my first assessment!!!!” “some issues with IT at work... hardware would not be out of place in a museum” “I have enjoyed sharing my experiences and knowledge with the rest of the course.” Over the past year I have received help and encouragement from many of the team, our little band the brothers.

The IQER Integrated Quality and Enhancement Review (IQER) is a review method specially devised for higher education in further education colleges “ The use made of the virtual learning environment to enable students to develop, review and update their personal development plans, and to enable staff to deliver, support, monitor and assess students' progress with their plans is a feature of good practice”

The IQER (cont.) “The use of the virtual learning environment for assessment was recognised as an area of good practice" “Students use web-based tools to undertake appraisal of their academic, career and personal skills, and set long and short-term tagets”

YouTube: Free for 10 minute clips. What Price the Interactive Web? Wikis and Blogs: Commonly used VLEs such as Moodle and Blackboard include these tools at no extra cost. Web conferencing: Free web based services are from DimDim. Pro Version $20 a month. Screen Sharing: Many free screen sharing applications e.g. CrossLoop. For $9.95 a month Screencast.

Lessons Learnt Take time to induct students into how it all works You are not always in control of the technology – when it lets you down have a back-up plan. Keep nagging them (the learners) to access the VLE and communicate - constant monitoring is required. Teaching teams really need to get to grips with the technology so it becomes easy and natural.

Questions?