First Regional E-Learning Forum – What you Might Have Missed...

Last month we held our first ever joint e-learning forum in this region which successfully bought together staff from adult and community and work based learning organisations from right across the region.

With a pretty packed first agenda, delegates were able to learn what others were doing with e-learning, hear about the latest developments, share good practice (and still have time for lunch!)

This first forum had a hands on demonstration of e-learning technology, which seemed to prove equally useful to those getting started with e-learning and more established providers. We also had an update on E-Guides activity, updates on funding for e-learning, an overview of regional projects and initiatives, a summary of upcoming events and more.

As is typical of RSC events, after the session we compiled a wiki page with details and links to many of the information sources that we mentioned on the day so if you missed the event you could check there to see some of what you might’ve missed.

We are hoping to run the next Joint forum sometime in October and will post more details here and on our events page. If you have ideas of items you would like on the Agenda (or would like to host the next forum at your organisation!) then please do get in touch.

We look forward to seeing you at the next one!

To read more of Wobble click here.

Information Sheets on Technology for E-Learning

Following a number of requests for information from providers, Jason Curtis, our Learning Technologist has very kindly put together a series of information sheets that focus on e-learning tools and learning technologies. Each information sheet (in pdf format) provides a brief description of a particular device that might be used for teaching, its approximate price, specification and in some cases, suggestions for how it could be used in an educational context.

The list is continually evolving but so far includes information on:

· MiniProjectors
· Netbooks
· Busbi Video Cameras
· iPods (Nano and Touch)
· Digital cameras
· MP3 Recorders and
· Digital Notepads

The sheets are all available to download from our RSC wiki.

With many of our regional providers frantically rushing around trying to spend capital grants at the moment I suspect one or two of these might come in quite useful!

It’s also worth noting that for regional work based learning providers; Jason is available to provide free general advice and guidance on the selection and implementation of tools for e-learning. Should you have any queries about technology that you’d like to purchase or questions about potential use, you can contact Jason by e-mail or by phone.

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Related Wobble links:

More than 7 Things You Should Know About...


To read more of Wobble click here.

Trying out Training in a Virtual World

Virtual worlds are increasingly being looked at within training and education because they offer the potential to support larger numbers of learners remotely (as well as offering a list of other benefits for the training provider or business). There is also a growing number of projects that are springing up and demonstrating how virtual worlds can be used for supporting training and delivering NVQs.

· For example, this Excellence Gateway case study shows how the College of North West London has been using Second Life to delivering part of its Gas and Plumbing NVQ to students.

· The image below also shows how the TAFE NSW Hairdressing program, have used Second Life to establish a virtual hairdressing salon - Jack's Hair Creations, which is being used to create detailed photo scenarios which will then be used as part of a media-rich learning resource.

To support our regional learning providers in their understanding and development of Virtual Worlds, my colleague Jane Edwards has recently set up an RSC West Midlands virtual island, which can be used for regional learning providers to experiment on. This experimentation could involve building virtual objects and rooms (such as salons, workshops), delivering staff development and even trailing activities with small groups of learners.

If you would like one of these plots on our new virtual island, or would like to know more about how using virtual worlds could benefit your organisation, get in touch with Jane or contact us.

To read more of Wobble click here.

More Funding for your E-Learning Projects

Good news for anyone with a project idea for e-learning, this summer there looks set to be a couple of options for securing funding to support your e-learning project ideas.

Molenet

The first option, Molenet Funding, is aimed primarily at the Further Education sector but offers opportunities for WBL providers to work with colleges on projects. In previous Molenet rounds we’ve had a large number of successful projects in this area, many of which offer a potentially positive impact on the work based learning sector. (I’ve published a quick list of who was successful and a summary of their projects here).

In this current round of funding, the LSC is making £2.5 million of capital funding available. Contributions will be between £50,000 and £250,000 per project, but funding will also be available for a small number of micro projects, between £10,000 and £20,000.

The deadline for submissions is 11th September 2009. Learn more or find potential project partners here.

ALP Learner Innovation Grants

An additional option for funding will shortly be announced by the Association of Learning Providers (ALP) who recently confirmed that they will be awarding an additional £3m of capital funding to support a further phase of the very successful Learning Innovation Grant (LIG5) programme. Learn more about previous rounds of funding here.

Further details of this new Round 5 will be posted over the summer via ALP’s e-learning website - I’ll also post more information about that when the details are released.

In the meantime, now might be a good time to be getting those project ideas in place! Get in touch if you would like us to help or advice on any aspects of those.

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Related Wobble links:

Mobile Learning in the Work Based Learning Sector
Kineo's mobile learning guide (pdf)
Last Round of Learner Innovation Grants


To read more of Wobble click here.