JISC

The SPLICE project focuses on the challenge of instilling technological skills for lifelong learning. This will be done within the context of a study of the progression of multimedia students from Coleg Harlech to the University of Bolton. SPLICE will involve the design and implementation of a new web service called TrackMe which will record online social actions, and in doing so will allow for changes to assessment strategies that will encourage learner engagement with online tools and services, whilst also encouraging them to get involved in professional communities and cross-institutional peer teaching/mentoring. With regard to professional communities, SPLICE also seeks to engage local employers within the Creative Industries in social networking activities, so as afford opportunities for learners to engage with these businesses and authentic professional practice.

The outcomes of the SPLICE project will address broader issues within the JISC community, particularly issues relating to the ways in which institutions can adapt to embrace social networking practices. These will be explored through engagement with GMSA partners who will develop technological and pedagogical outcomes as part of the project dissemination and evaluation strategy.

The SPLICE project seeks to uncover the pedagogical, technological and organisational challenges in encouraging learners to be self-regulating. It is a Cross-Institutional Lifelong learning project funded by JISC. The project is led by the University of Bolton with partners including Coleg Harlech, the Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance, City College Manchester, Cheadle and Marple 6th form college, Oldham University Centre.

The main objectives of the project are to: 

• Equip learners with a Personal Learning Environment and empower them coordinate their own studies
• Develop a service/tool within this environment to allow learners/users to track and share patterns of online social action
• Embed technological action and transform pedagogical approach to encourage learner-driven engagement
• Engage with and make connections between industrial practitioners in the creative industries fostering increased technological action including mentoring
• Drive the project with an iterative action research methodology using GMSA partners for evaluation and dissemination

The project is an action research, iterative project coordinated by a steering group formed out of the project partners (the GMSA partners, University of Boltonand the GMSA).

In its methodology, SPLICE will identify new pedagogic and technological strategies from its core focus group at Coleg Harlech. These findings will then be evaluated and disseminated in the other partner institutions. Using a rapid, iterative and reflective methodology, we will be able to adapt to changing technological circumstances over the life of the project, and to adapt outcomes to local circumstances.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

Outputs:

• A Service/tool to project voluntary tracking of learner online social action called ‘TrackMe’
• A social network encompassing learners, teachers and practitioners in the creative industries
• A report documenting transitions in pedagogical practice, technology and inquiry-based learning
• Documentation of techniques and technologies relating to the use of action research in lifelong learning

Outcomes:

• Identification of the leverage points to change pedagogical practice within established assessment frameworks
• Identification of affective issues in learner relationships with social software
• Evaluation of Inquiry-based, learner-driven teaching and learning strategy in an online environment.