Work-Based Access to Learning through e-Services
The project has now completed. The final report is available from the bottom of the page.
The Wales project will implement and pilot the use of social software and mobile technologies in the support of work-based online learners. Specifically it will explore how such tools and services can be used to deliver a personalised learning experience to employees of SMEs across Wales undertaking an on-line foundation degreee. The project will be based on the work of the Wales e-Training Network (WETN), which is a collaboration between all the HE and FE institutions in Wales delivering e-training solutions for SMEs. The project will implement and evaluate the use of social networking and collaboration software in facilitating and enriching the learner-tutor and learner-learner relationships as part of the online HE delivery process.
Aims and objectives
The broad aim of the project is to implement and evaluate the use of social software and mobile technologies in the delivery of a personalised learning experience for work-based learners following an HE e-learning programme supported by FE institutions.
The project objectives will be to:
- Design, implement and evaluate a tutor support system that includes the use of social software such as Blogs, Wikis, instant messaging and discussion forums
- Include in the support system the use of social on-line resource providers such as Google, MySpace, YouTube and del.icio.us
- Include also, the use of mobile technologies; mobile phones, PDAs, iPods, WiFi and Bluetooth devices
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies in the context of HE on-line courses being delivered by FE staff to work-based learners
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies in support of the administration of collaborative teaching and learning and access to support services
Project methodology
The mix of social software tools and mobile technologies to be employed will be finalised in consultation with learning technologists, the SMEs and the learners to be involved in the project.
The procurement, installation and testing of the technologies will be carried in the next phase, in liaison with the SMEs, learners and FE tutors, all of whom will be provided with training and practical instruction on their use where necessary.
There will then be a pre-pilot phase where on-line learners following three modules on the Foundation Degree and their tutors will trial the use of the technologies and the evaluation instruments will be tested. Both the use of the technologies and the effectiveness of the evaluation in providing reliable data will be assessed and adjustments made where appropriate. Tutors at all contributing FE colleges will be involved, together with one from the University for comparison purposes.
The main pilot period will then commence with three study periods of the on-line Foundation Degree being completed over a full year of the programme. The use of the technologies will be systematically evaluated and the outcomes analysed and documented. The final project report will include case studies and scenarios to illustrate the messages received and lessons learned.
Anticipated outputs and outcomes
The main deliverable of the WALES project will be a major report that will include a detailed description of the e-learning technologies used to support the learners on the WETN on-line Foundation Degree in e-Commerce. This will include a summary of the functionality of the technology and the use to which it was put, both as a formal support service and informally by the learner and by the tutor. The description will include an assessment of usability of the technologies in an on-line educational support role, their availability, accessibility, reliability and issues to do with on-line security and privacy.
An overall summary of the messages arising from the use of social software and mobile technology in the support of on-line learners will be presented. Conclusions will be drawn about the current potential of the technologies and recommendations will be made for consideration by practitioners. An assessment of the direction technology is moving, together with current views on effective e-learning practice, will be used to suggest areas worthy of further investigation and development.
Technology / standards used
The key focus of the project will be on the use of open source solutions and the exploitation, by education, of resources made available by the global community of practice.
Lead institution
Project partners
Project Staff
Project manager
- Professor Tony Toole, Information Systems and e-Learning Services, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd. CF37 1DL Tel: 01443 654092 ttoole@glam.ac.uk
Core team
- Fatma Elsayed Meawad, Educational Technologist (mobile technology), University of Glamorgan
- James Durkan, Educational Technologist (social software), University of Glamorgan
Project team
- Paul Peachey, Programme Leader, University of Glamorgan
- Kevin Lawrence, ILT Developer, Coleg Ystrad-Mynach
- Chris Bissex, Head of Business and Enterprise, Merthyr College
- Matt Smith, Business Studies Course Tutor, Bridgend College
- Owen Phillips, ILT Development Manager, Swansea College
- Maura Capone, Computing Lecturer, Coleg Glan Hafren
- Ray Kingdon, Computing Lecturer, University of Glamorgan
- Riah Jones, Customer Support Officer, Coleg Sir Gar