1. Background WoLF is a collaborative research project between Leicester College and the University of Leicester. The project started in March 2007 and is expected to be completed in December 2008. WoLF is a Higher Education (HE) in Further Education (FE) project and seeks to investigate how Pocket PCs support portfolio development by teaching assistants (TAs) on foundation degree courses. WoLF will develop a model for integrating institutional VLEs and personal mobile devices, for the purpose of learning in work-based settings. Research Objectives  Produce a comprehensive literature review on use of PDAs in the work based learning context  Develop a pedagogical model and proof of concept which is transferable to different work based learning context  Develop resources for practitioners for designing reflective learning activities based on work-based learning scenarios  Develop guidelines for integrating the use of pocket PCs into work-based learning setting into institutional VLEs Research Design Approach: Ethnographic based action research Population:30 TAs are expected to participate. Key Findings Usability:Screen size, keyboard, battery life, navigations Access: Physical Access to PCs & Psychological access linked to Competence and Confidence factors Pedagogy: Learning design, Learning style, reflective learning spaces, Self Efficacy Support:: Institutional, cohort, peer-to-peer, housebound Security:Ownership, Insurance, Theft, Virus, Losing, Ethical:Parental Consent, Use of Public Spaces http://moodle.lec.ac.uk/wolf Stage 1: Data Gathering Tools One-to-one Interviews Class Observation Focus Group Discussion Auditing Moodle activities Stage 2: Exploration Background Experience Situations Motivation Stage 3 - Elaboration Concepts Themes Issues Stage 3 - Explanation Model Building Development of conceptual framework Dissemination  WoLF Project Website  Colleges-Univ. of Leicester Network ( CULN )  Skills for Sustainable Communities Life Long Network ( SSC LLN )  Association for Learning Technology ( ALT – C)  Online Educa Conference

2. Background: WoLF is a collaborative research and development project between Leicester College and the University of Leicester. The project started in March 2007 and is expected to be completed in December 2008. WoLF is a Higher Education (HE) in Further Education (FE) project and seeks to investigate how Pocket PCs support portfolio development by teaching assistants (TAs) on foundation degree courses. WoLF will develop a model for integrating institutional VLEs and personal mobile devices, for the purpose of learning in work- based settings. Research Objectives  Produce a comprehensive literature review on use of PDAs in the work based learning context  Develop a pedagogical model and proof of concept which is transferable to different work based learning context  Develop resources for practitioners for designing reflective learning activities based on work-based learning scenarios  Develop guidelines for integrating the use of pocket PCs into work-based learning setting into institutional VLEs Key Findings Usability:Screen size, keyboard, battery life, navigations Access: Physical – PCs & Psychological – skills, competence & confidence Pedagogical: Learning design, Learning style, reflective learning spaces Support:: Institutional, cohort, peer-to-peer, housebound Security: Institutional, cohort, peer-to-peer, housebound Ethics:Parental Consent, use of public spaces Research Design Approach: Ethnographic based action research Population: Up to 30 TAs to be involved in the project. Stage 2 - Elaboration Concepts Themes Issues Stage 3 - Explanation Model Building Stage 1 - Exploration Background Experience Situations Motivation http://moodle.lec.ac.uk/wolf/ Dissemination WoLF Project Moodle Colleges-Univ. of Leicester Network (CULN) Skills for Sustainable Communities Life Long Network (SSC LLN) Association for Learning Technology (ALT – C) Online Educa Conference Stage 1 – Data Tools Background Experience Situations Motivation Project Sponsor: JISC Capital Programme