JISC

UKOLN has provided information that has enabled Coleg Llandrillo to integrate Web 2.0 tools and services to enhance and enrich the learning experience of their learners.

It’s a Web 2.0 world

UKOLN has helped with the integration of Web 2.0 technologies Coleg Llandrillo has used UKOLN extensively in the recent past to help with the integration of Web 2.0 technologies into the college’s teaching and learning infrastructure.

Advice and support from UKOLN was instrumental in addressing initial concerns about the use of Web 2.0 in a college environment, and then in assisting with implementation and the development and take up of resources.

About UKOLN

UKOLN is a research organisation that aims to inform practice and influence policy in the areas of:

• digital libraries
• information systems
• bibliographic management
• web technologies

It provides network information services, including the Ariadne magazine, and runs workshops and conferences.

Challenge

Coleg Llandrillo is a general FE college catering for nearly 18,000 students and offering over 4,000 full and part-time courses at a variety of levels.

The college is highly innovative in its use of ILT and is constantly reviewing developments to assess the potential of new applications. One of their most recent initiatives has been the integration of Web 2.0 technologies into the college’s teaching and learning infrastructure. The decision to adopt Web 2.0 technologies was driven by pressure from several directions:

• the library service, which constantly monitors and reviews applications of ILT
• the college’s Learning Technologist
• demand from students
• requests from teaching staff

All these people recognised the potential benefits of using Web 2.0 technologies and it was then natural that the library service should take the lead in investigating the implications and constructing a case for use. This included drawing up a specification of what technologies were to be adopted and how they would be used to support teaching and learning.

As with any new technology there are always barriers to implementation, particularly where there are concerns about security of information (and of services and infrastructure), and implications for technical support and acceptable use policies.
Ownership of the technology, responsibility for its many facets, branding of anything which can be seen as representing the college, marketing, and staff development also had to be taken into account and UKOLN was very helpful here with the provision of information and descriptions of how other institutions are addressing these challenges.

Solution

UKOLN provided information in a non-technical manner. This made it easy to understand and apply, and for non-technical staff to improve their knowledge and understanding of Web 2.0 technologies, how they can be used, and the implications for using as a teaching and learning resource. Developing this level of understanding was important in enabling library staff and others to respond to concerns and questions from ICT colleagues.

The initial applications were blogs and wikis. Now that these are in fairly widespread use attention is turning to video tutorials and the use of Second Life. YouTube is used with increasing frequency and is set to become a major resource, saving staff the time of creating similar resources of their own.

The Head of ICT Services was a key decision maker because he controls resources and influences policy. He is proactive about educational uses of ICT and is keen to keep the college at the forefront. Once convinced of the value, and that no serious problems were likely to arise, he was very supportive.

It was also essential to ensure that senior management understood the potential benefits of Web 2.0 technologies and became committed to their implementation.

Impact on the learning provider

Staff at Coleg Llandrillo are now documenting how to address institutional objections to the use of Web 2.0 technologies in order to help other colleges that want to adopt these applications. This information will be disseminated via UKOLN and will include acceptable use policies, monitoring of use, managing resources, etc. In particular, staff training is a continuous requirement and must be planned to support new initiatives as they are implemented.

Andrew’ Eynon, Library Resource Manager, advises anyone who is contemplating going down this route to get in touch with UKOLN as soon as possible and to understand the concerns of managers and ICT specialists so that these can be addressed at an early stage.

It takes very little time to review and absorb the UKOLN guidance but there is a large saving in the time required to dispel concerns about perceived risks and threats. These concerns are likely to include:

• technical issues
• ensuring adequate staff and student awareness of the existence of the resources, what they can offer and how they can be accessed
• providing curriculum and technical support for staff and students
• management of the technology and the teaching resources
• the level of technical expertise needed by users.

Coleg Llandrillo is now working with UKOLN to increase the amount of information available to FE colleges and to revise existing information to give it an FE focus and make it more applicable to FE.

Impact on the learner

Communications between everyone involved in learning delivery, and between students, has been improved noticeably as a result of the simplicity of use of these technologies and the immediacy of response they support.

A major feature in this is the ease and speed with which applications can be developed and released. In Andrew’s opinion Web 2.0 technologies provide flexibility of learning delivery and an ability to respond quickly to requests for resources; high quality material can be produced and released in short timescales.

There has also been a noticeable saving in the time taken by teaching staff to find and share resources, particularly material they might otherwise have to produce themselves.

Key messages

It was essential to ensure that senior management understood the potential benefits of Web 2.0 technologies and became committed to their implementation. Advice and support from UKOLN was essential in addressing initial concerns about the use of Web 2.0 in a college environment, and then in assisting with implementation and the development and take up of resources.

The college has configured its firewall to allow use of Web 2.0 technologies across the college network and both students and staff now have 24/7 access. Consequently there has been a significant increase in the demand for teaching and learning approaches and resources which can be delivered using Web 2.0 technologies.

There has also been a noticeable saving in the time taken by teaching staff to find and share resources, particularly material they might otherwise have to produce themselves.

Further information

UKOLN 

Coleg Llandrillo