Success Factors
What are the key outcomes of the initiative?
WoLF has had impact in four main areas:
The institutions
The project VLE became a platform for knowledge sharing and management around learning objects developed by tutors and learners
A model of delivery learning with PDAs has emerged from empirical research where tasks and assignments provide a structure for learners to gather evidence in a flexible manner using the classroom as a base
Use of the PDA has led to context generated learning design where learning activities in one context are mapped onto learning in other contexts
A new method of formative assessment has been developed through the use of e-Tutorials, a chat service developed by the tutor.
Learning
Learner generated audio and video clips based on classroom activities driven by course assignments are now embedded into portfolios
Learner generated online reflective journal distilling learning from practice and tracking learning processes and experiences in use
The potential for collaborative learning is emerging along the lines of cohort-based communities of practice
Research Community
The use of cognitive mapping methodology has proved valuable for detailed modeling of the views, experiences and feelings of the Teaching Assistants
Employers
Use of the device can be adjusted to any learning or working environment
Most students produced resources for assessment/feedback from the tutor; however, some students commenced production of resources during the project. It is likely that their awareness was raised overall for using personally owned devices in the future.
Learners have acquired transferable ICT and e-communication skills that are potentially of added value to employers. Some students recognised importance of ICT skills to future learning and employment.
Other outcomes include:
A course site has been developed offering tools including a reflective journal, online tutorial chat room, discussion forums, and online formative and summative feedback.
A pedagogical framework for work-based mobile learning which will continue to influence the institution and the sector and is already in use in a new project (Duckling)
A number of developments on Moodle that can be shared across the HE provision at Leicester College (HELLO) Project and the wider community, including an e-Tutorial Chat Room and Reflective Journal.
Learner generated online reflective, multimedia evidence-based journals for personalised learning. Using the technology to capture visual and auditory evidence enabled students to put into context their written work, adding to existing lesson observations in the workplace. Work place evidence and moments captured on the mobile devices, allowed students to reflect back on their practice and to embed the evidence within their portfolio.
Teacher-driven e-tutorial service as part of formative feedback. An understanding from practitioners for a need to identify uses of the technology in their classroom and work-based learning settings and to 'guide' students
Increased communication tools to assist the tutor in communicating with cohorts or whole course
Increased communication tools to assist with students collaborating on joint assignments and presentations
Opportunities to try out the mobile devices in other work-based settings
Bringing early years' classrooms into the FE classroom enabling students to carry out discussions with real-life examples which were shared via a student VLE site as well as in the classroom.
What follow-up activity will be/has been carried out as a result of the project?
Outcomes from WoLF are already being deployed in a new Curriculum Delivery project at the University of Leicester, Duckling and have featured in another JISC bid (Swallows - awaiting outcome).
Leicester College received confirmation of funding for a new project - HELLO (Higher Education Lifelong Learning Opportunities). The HELLO project will focus on two aspects:
- The replication of the reflective tools developed during the WoLF project
- The development of a social networking site that allows the HE students to develop their own communities but also acts as a portal for business and industry experts and other HE institutions to participate in, advise on and advertise possible work placement opportunities
Through dissemination of the WoLF project, the Project Manager has been asked to re-develop the Student Services Moodle site in order to offer more interactive and collaborative features including a Reflecting Journal, a discussion forum for Disabled students, self assessments of needs, and evaluation of careers advice and guidance services.
Similar developments are to be made to a Project, Partners and Innovators Moodle - allowing 1300 students who study outside Leicester College and throughout the UK access to support and self assessment tools appropriate to students who are studying in the workplace and at other partnerships.
A number of summer courses are to be developed for staff, using examples from the WoLF project - to focus on encouraging staff to engage students in using their own mobile devices to record and share evidence, incidences and experiences.
