JISC

Summary

The main aim will be to create a digitally literate, skilled and confident workforce and student body across all the FE institutions in North Wales (Coleg Harlech, Coleg Menai, Coleg Llandrillo, Deeside College and Yale College Wrexham). The colleges involved encompass over 70,000 learners and 4,000 staff, across six counties. This will be achieved by tackling digital exclusion amongst staff and learners and enhancing the skills of those who are already digitally literate. In the case of staff, although they may not be excluded from accessing the technologies associated with Digital Literacy, they may be excluded due to lack of awareness, skills and encouragement in relation to their adoption of such skills. Moreover, learners entering FE include those most likely to be digitally excluded owing to educational, social and economic factors, in comparison to those learners entering HE .

The project will seek to identify transformational leaders, within each stakeholder group, who will be responsible for spreading good practice within and between institutions within a common framework. Furthermore, the project will engage with other professional bodies and agencies concerned with teaching and learning in FE. The project has the full support of each college, with backing from appropriate senior managers.

Objectives

Colleges across North Wales developing digital capacity within and between institutions through developing cross institutional strategies for embedding digital literacy skills in learning and continuing professional practice. This will encompass effective change management techniques.
Ensure widespread uptake of digital literacy development opportunities across all staff and student groupings by enlisting the active engagement of senior managers and governors in the use and promotion of digital literacy skills.

Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes

• Develop framework for Digital Literacy within and across institutions, with the support of relevant professional bodies, and embedded in organisational strategic priorities 
• Strategies to support the development of digital literacies tailored to specific groups of staff and learners
• Exemplary staff development and learning materials in the form of a Digital Literacy toolkit
• Embed digital literacy skills delivery in the curriculum
• Develop and expand digital literacy skills amongst teaching and learning staff 
• Embed the use of digital literacy in scholarly activity
• Enhance employability skills of learners
• Enhance technical and professional competencies of all staff
• Apply transformational and instructional leadership models to effect cultural change