FE & Digital Skills

Digital Leaders and Digital LearnersNIACE Digital

Learning

14/11/14

#digitalstudent http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

Jisc Digital Student Project» http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

» Phase 1 study reviewed students’ expectations and experiencesof the digital environment at university

» A review of practice by Dave White in schools to identify likely incoming expectations

» Phase 2 we are now focusing on FE with plans to extend the project to wider skills sector led by Oxford Brookes University

» Literature review| review of institutional data | stakeholder interviews | learner focus groups | consultation events

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org/

FE Digital Student project

» What do learners WANT (expectations) in relation to the digital?

» What do learners NEED to succeed (experiences)?

» Guidance for colleges on how to gather learners’ views, how to engage learners in an ongoing dialogue about the digital and how to better support learners digital experience

» Identify top challenges in relation to the digital learner experience and begin to develop a set of learner entitlements and enhancements to support colleges address these challenges

» Support for the project from NUS, NIACE, AoC and 157 Group

21/05/2014 Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk 3

FELTAG

» “FELTAG’s research and conversations consistently referred to the under-exploitation of learners’ skills, devices and technical knowledge when it came to the use of learning technology.

» The greatest resource available to FE and Skills providers in this domain is their learners.

» More effort needs to be made to engage and empower learners’ use of digital technology - and the use of their own devices – in the learning process.”

Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk 4

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk/

What the learners say?


› Free, ubiquitous, robust access to wifi and services

› VLE – organisation, time/task, content – consistency

› Support for BYO but continued access to institutional hardware/software

› Core info about my studies available on my device

› Support for developing skills relevant to the workplace

› Vague about use of technology for learning

Experiences...

› Highly variable in respect of: previous experience, chosen subject, personal preferences and aspirations

› Value perceived in retrospect: unexpected is developmental

› Study habits with technology are hybrid:informal, peer supported + academic, formally acquired

› Critical moments with technology often formally taught:e-journals, data analysis, design, ref/project management...

› Teaching staff confidence still important

› Digital identity a key motivation and outcome

Literature Review: What we looked for

Research questions:» what technology learners own and have access

to when they enter FE

» what technology learners expect to be provided with by their college

» how learners make use of the technology and digital environments they are provided with

» how learners’ expectations of technology use are formed and change during time spent in FE



How do learners experience the digital environment in FE?


Vocational

Higher education

A levels

Basic skills

Apprenticeships

Background

Prior educational/work experience

Achievement

14-90 years old

Full/part-time

Day release


Chris Davies, the Learner and their Context, Becta

Unconnected and vulnerable

Mainstream pragmatist

Intensive and specialist

enthusiast



Overview

unconnected and vulnerable

Access-led

Access conceived of

broadly


mainstream

pragmatist

Tutor-led

Pedagogy –led

Institution-led

Staff experiment with activities

and tools

intensive and specialist

enthusiast

Learner-led

Social digital literacy practices

are valued

Learners who are:

Experience the digital environment as:

Best where


Learner Focus GroupsDate College

14 Oct Eastbourne-Sussex Downs College +Learnervoices video clips(1st and 2nd years)

30 Oct Borders College (Health and Social Care)

26 Nov Bristol – City of Bristol College(two vocational groups, 1st and 2nd years)

6 Nov Myerscough College(New starts and final years, Animal Academy)

24 Nov, 11 Dec

Activate Learning + Learner voices video clipsL3 Heath and Care learners

3 Dec Coleg Gwent


Desk

research

Focus groups

Consultation

events

Join us for the consultation Events

Date Location & Venue

15 Jan 2015 BirminghamThe Studio Birmingham

20 Jan 2015 ManchesterThe Studio Manchester

25 Feb 2015 BristolThe Mercure Holland House Hotel

04 Mar 2015 Edinburgh Training Centre, Scotland

25 March 2015 LondonThe Hatton, 51-53 Hatton Garden

23 April 2015 WalesThe Village Hotel, Swansea


Desk

research

Focus groups

Consultation

events

http://bit.ly/FEDigitalstudentevents

Group discussion:

What are the challenges you experience in using technology in your college?


Feedback using: http://padlet.com/sarahknight/NUSchallenges

http://padlet.com/sarahknight/NUSchallenges



Supporting a better digital learner experience

» Prepare learners to study in digitally-enhanced settings, and explain clearly how digital technologies can support their learning

» Engage learners in conversations about their digital practice, and involve them in projects to enhance provision

» Enable staff to innovate their own practices with technology and to confidently support learners

» Create a physical/virtual environment that supports the use of personal devices, applications, networks and services

» Integrate digital issues into long-term planning, considering the complete learner journey and the need to respond to emerging challenges


What one thing should colleges/providers do to enhance learners’ digital experience?

Feedback using: http://padlet.com/sarahknight/onething


http://padlet.com/sarahknight/onething

Follow the progress of the project:

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org


#digitalstudent



Find out more…

10/06/2014 Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk

Sarah Knight

[email protected]

Twitter: sarahknight

Deborah Millar

[email protected]

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

Join Jisc Change Agents Network [email protected]

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND

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FE & Digital Skills