JISC

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Event Symposium: Effective strategies for using technology to enhance lifelong learning
Date Wednesday, 4 March 2009 (10am - 15.45pm)
Venue Conference Aston, Lakeside Centre, Birmingham

General Information

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The use of technology in helping people benefit from education throughout their lives is growing apace. Properly deployed, technology can make a real difference to the quality of the learning experience, and contribute to the efficient operation of providers. Evidence also suggests that it can improve engagement and retention of learners.  But it is also raising issues that need to be learned from and tackled if technology is to achieve its full potential in the education picture.

A ‘typical’ university student is often depicted as someone in their late teens to early twenties, campus-based, with a school education and little or no work experience. Yet, increasingly, students are enrolling into higher education (HE) with a diversity of previous experiences and skills and more complex educational needs.

Education professionals are tackling a myriad of challenges to support lifelong learners: finding ways to recognise and accredit prior learning and experience; sharing learner achievement records securely; supporting remote learners; assessing performance and professional development; and sharing information in a timely and appropriate way, to name just a few.

This one-day symposium will explore how further and higher education institutions and their partners (via JISC-funded projects) have been using technology to support different aspects of lifelong learning. It will focus on key lessons learned and the issues encountered, and will encourage debate on how future projects might learn and benefit from these findings. It will also provide an opportunity for delegates to share their own experiences and discuss ways in which technology can effectively support the learning process.

Three themes will be discussed:

• Admissions and progression (FULL)
• Work-based learning (FULL)
• Personal development planning (PDP) and continuing professional development (CPD) (FULL)

The symposium will be chaired by Alun Hughes, Chair of the JISC Learning and Teaching Committee and Director of Learning and Information Services at UHI Millennium Institute.  Simon Mauger, Development Officer at the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) will provide the keynote speech and share the findings that relate to the use of technology from the recent independent inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning. 

Discussion papers

Delegates will select one theme to follow throughout the day (see above). The discussion papers are drawing together the key issues for each of our themes.  We will expect delegates to have read the paper that relates to their chosen theme before attending the event. The final plenary session will allow us to explore the common issues between the themes. The discussion papers are now available:

• Introduction to discussion papers
• Discussion Paper Admissions and Progression
• Discussion Paper Work-based Learning
• Discussion Paper Personal Development Planning (PDP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Who should attend?

We would like to see a wide range of views represented at the Symposium so invite delegates who are involved with the provision of higher education and services for lifelong learners. You are not required to have been involved in a JISC-funded project to participate.  We particularly welcome delegates with a strategic interest in the relationship between lifelong learning and technological change. This includes staff in higher and further education institutions, senior managers, employers and other professionals with human and organisational perspectives rather than solely technological ones. 

Registration

The registration has now closed.

The event is free of charge to attend, but you will be expected to cover your own transport costs.  All cancellations must be received in writing 1 week before the event. JISC reserves the right to charge £75 to delegates who do not show on the day of the conference and have not notified JISC in writing.

You will be sent immediate confirmation of your registration, followed by joining instructions and delegate packs / discussion papers in February.  JISC reserves the right to cancel or move any registrations to a waiting list until further notice.  We encourage you to select the most appropriate member(s) of staff to represent your institution or organisation.

Programme

Delegates will select one theme to follow throughout the day. We are pleased to welcome the following facilitators to lead workshops in each theme:

• Admissions and progression: Janet Graham, Director, Supporting Professionalism in Admissions 
• Work-based learning: Iain Nixon, Managing Director, The KSA Partnership
• Personal development planning and continuing professional development: Rob Ward, Director, Centre for Recording Achievement

Contact

If you have any questions about the event, contact JISC Conference Office on jisc@soundscommercial.co.uk or call 0117 958 0282.