These case studies were written in the summer of 2015 and are indicative of the good work that is being done in many FE colleges around the country. They are part of the recently updated Jisc guide, ‘Enhancing the student digital experience: a strategic approach‘ which aims to support institutions to develop digital environments which meet students’ expectations and help them to progress to higher study and employment.
They are grouped around the following themes based on the challenges identified in our investigations on students’ expectations of the digital environment: Deliver a relevant digital curriculum; Deliver an inclusive digital experience; Deliver a robust, flexible digital environment; Engage in dialogue with students about their digital experience and empower them to develop their digital environment; BYO (Bring your own); Support students and staff to work successfully with digital technologies; Take a strategic approach to developing the student digital experience.
HE based case studies are available on the Exemplars page. They can be accessed via the seven challenges for institutions, or you can browse the whole set on the page.
Deliver a relevant digital curriculum
- Video learning for engineering apprentices – PETA Training and Consultancy Services – Level 2 and 3 engineering apprentices.
- Digital life: e-safety and safeguarding – Shrewsbury College has redeveloped their induction training for staff and students to enhance safeguarding and e-safety.
- Digital approaches to English and mathematics – ACER (six partner organisations in the eastern region and how they have supported learners on apprenticeship and traineeship programmes.)
- Improving success by flipping the learning – Hull College; how they have maximised student enjoyment and success in construction, engineering and motor vehicle programmes to a further four vocational areas.
- Raising awareness of how assistive technologies can support learners – Leeds City College; how they are using Texthelp Read&Write to support learners at all levels and abilities in their written work.
- Engaging and supporting learners by improving curriculum accessibility – Runshaw College; how teachers, trainers and assessors are being trained to use digital accessibility software to enhance the student experience.
- Creating a culture shift at Blackburn College – Three projects at Blackburn College are helping students and staff to engage with digital technologies and enhance learning and teaching and the broader student digital experience.
- Developing digital learning at Prospects College for Advanced Technology – a digital learning fellow at Prospects College for Advanced Technology has developed a digital learning strategy that focuses on vocational training and work-based learning.
- A holistic approach to embedding technology in curriculum design and planning processes – Heart of Worcestershire College and how they are meeting the FELTAG recommendation of achieving a 10% wholly online component of all programmes from September 2015
- Developing screen casting as a tool for formative and summative feedback – Oldham College and Edge Hill University working in partnership on a project to use screencasts as a way of providing feedback to learners.
Deliver an incIusive digital experience
- mCommunity improving the experience of at risk learners – Pembrokeshire College is improving the experience of at risk learners
- Changing the learner experience by using everyday technologies – a student at East Durham College was awarded a TechDis ambassador award in 2014 for progressing to level 3 of the animal care diploma using tools and resources in the Moodle VLE.
- Opening up opportunities for learning with digital technologies – Lewisham Southwark College are encouraging students and staff to engage with a wide range of technologies to develop their digital confidence and capability.
Deliver a robust, flexible digital environment
- Creating a culture shift at Blackburn College – Three projects at Blackburn College are helping students and staff to engage with digital technologies and enhance learning and teaching and the broader student digital experience.
- Opening up opportunities for learning with digital technologies – Lewisham Southwark College are encouraging students and staff to engage with a wide range of technologies to develop their digital confidence and capability.
- Encouraging the use of mobile devices at East Berkshire College – East Berkshire College are encouraging the use of mobile devices to empower student learning and prepare students for the workplace.
- Encouraging use of mobile and interactive technologies in the iZone at Redbridge College – Learners at Redbridge College are using interactive technologies in the iZone to enhance -their digital experience.
- Digital learning assets for engineering – Furness College are collaborating with BAE Systems to co-develop an interactive learning package to support the delivery of the performing engineering operations qualification.
- Transforming the digital environment – resilient and robust systems and services – City of Liverpool College is taking radical steps to transform their digital environment, their services and business processes to bridge the digital skills gap between college leavers and the expectations of employers.
- Using social media to engage students with learning difficulties – Calderdale College using the social learning network Edmodo to support students with learning difficulties or disabilities to engage with social media.
- Using audio feedback to improve engagement and performance – Kingston College are using a free screencasting app called Jing to provide responsive audio feedback to students on their progress and performance.
- Using iPads to deliver a personalised IT and learning strategy – 16 – 18 year old students at Portsmouth College have access to an iPad mini to support independent and personalised learning.
- Developing digital learning at Prospects College for Advanced Technology – a digital learning fellow at Prospects College for Advanced Technology has developed a digital learning strategy that focuses on vocational training and work-based learning.
- Unified communication system enhances opportunities to develop employability skills – East Berkshire College rolled out Microsoft Lync 2013 Unified Communication™ system to enhance opportunities to develop employability skills.
Engage in dialogue with students about their digital experience and empower them to develop their digital environment
- Transforming the student voice process – Pembrokeshire College is using a digital tool and methodology called VocalEyes to support democratic decision-making and improve learner involvement and satisfaction.
- DigiDesk a helpdesk run by students for students and staff – DigiDesk helpdesk service at Barnet and Southgate College helps meet FELTAG recommendations for greater participation in digital leadership activities and schemes.
- Creating a culture shift at Blackburn College – Three projects at Blackburn College are helping students and staff to engage with digital technologies and enhance learning and teaching and the broader student digital experience.
- Building a powerful partnership empowering the student community – two initiatives at Leeds City College to enhance the student digital experience and develop leadership skills, competencies and experience that will prepare student for future study and employment.
BYO (Bring your own)
- Developing digital learning at Prospects College for Advanced Technology – a digital learning fellow at Prospects College for Advanced Technology has developed a digital learning strategy that focuses on vocational training and work-based learning.
- DigiDesk a helpdesk run by students for students and staff – DigiDesk helpdesk service at Barnet and Southgate College helps meet FELTAG recommendations for greater participation in digital leadership activities and schemes.
- Reaping the benefits of reliable systems and flexible support – Chichester College is taking a strategic approach to improving the student experience through effective use of technology.
- Encouraging the use of mobile devices at East Berkshire College – East Berkshire College are encouraging the use of mobile devices to empower student learning and prepare students for the workplace.
Support students and staff to work successfully with digital technologies
- Making it happen, embedding digital technologies in curriculum activities – South Eastern Regional College are taking a strategic approach to managing and developing digital technologies to enhance the student experience.
- Opening up opportunities for learning with digital technologies – Lewisham Southwark College are encouraging students and staff to engage with a wide range of technologies to develop their digital confidence and capability.
- NTSSPass north east tutor and student passport – Gateshead Council is working with a number of adult learning and skills providers to develop and recognise digital literacy through continuous professional development (CPD), online resources and online badges that acknowledge staff achievement.
- Engaging students and staff in online activities – East Berkshire College is engaging student and staff in online activities to develop digital literacy skills.
Take a strategic approach to developing the student digital experience
- Supporting informed implementation and use of technology in learning – Plumpton College and FE Sussex and 13 other partners are leading a programme to facilitate the management and introduction of learning technology in those colleges. The project has two strands which address aspects of technology in leadership, governance and teaching practice.
- Mastering the governance of technology – The Heart of Worcestershire College is leading a project with four other colleges to support college governors in making confident, effective and well-informed decisions on the investment, innovation and development of technology use to support learning.
- Developing digital learning at Prospects College for Advanced Technology – a digital learning fellow at Prospects College for Advanced Technology has developed a digital learning strategy that focuses on vocational training and work-based learning.
- Technology – a fundamental aspect of teaching, learning and assessment – Reading College is taking a holistic approach to developing their digital strategy, focusing on good practice in teaching and learning and extending learning beyond the classroom walls.
- Creating a culture shift at Blackburn College – Three projects at Blackburn College are helping students and staff to engage with digital technologies and enhance learning and teaching and the broader student digital experience.
- Opening up opportunities for learning with digital technologies – Lewisham Southwark College are encouraging students and staff to engage with a wide range of technologies to develop their digital confidence and capability.
- Making it happen, embedding digital technologies in curriculum activities – South Eastern Regional College are taking a strategic approach to managing and developing digital technologies to enhance the student experience.
- Reaping the benefits of reliable systems and flexible support – Chichester College is taking a strategic approach to improving the student experience through effective use of technology.