Presentation given at RSC London Conference on 28 March 2014

1. Discover
JISC
Project
Bob Read
Training and Development Adviser,
ACER
(Association of Colleges in the
Eastern Region)

2. Background to the project
• Further Education and Skills: Development and
Resources Programme;
• Funding for new learning resources, methods and
expanding opportunities in post-16 learning across the
UK;
• £1.35 m of funding;
• 32 projects with over 90 partners.

3. Discover JISC
• Funded by BIS
• Programme managed by JISC Advance
• Project managed by JISC TechDis
• Partner driven project: The partner providers
were drawn from across the FE & Skills sector

4. Partners
East Riding Council Adult services
Karten Network
UK Online Centres
Derwen College
Weston College
Myerscough College
North East Autism Society Thornbeck
East Durham College
ACER
Essex Adult Community Learning

5. Objective of the project
The objective of the project
was to build a community of
excellence in inclusive
practice based on a greater
understanding of JISC and
its resources and the skills
to optimise their use and
development.

6. Rationale
Lack of awareness of how JISC
resources, services or Free and Open
Source Software (FOSS) can be fully
utilised to support inclusive learning;
Skills sets of practitioners is variable
and may be a limiting factor in the
exploitation of digital resources;
Many resources were not created
with the FE and Skills sector in mind.

7. Three Strands
1 – Accessible Technologies/
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
2 – Staff Training Materials
3 – Curriculum Pathways

8. Discover JISC website

9. How we got involved!
Face to Face: Residential meetings
Online Collaboration: Google group
Virtual: 10 weekly 5-minute missions
Range of Webinar sessions
Phone: Support from key TechDis staff
Individual: Action plans

10. • 30 assessors working nationally
• 1:1 workplace visits
• Equine Studies, Animal Care,
Floristry, Business Admin, Customer Services
• contextualised e learning resources that embed L1 & 2
Functional Skills in authentic and motivating ways
KEITS

11. • To provide workplace assessors with teaching material that they
could use flexibly on a laptop or tablet in workplace settings
• To present small amounts of key information using accessible
language
• To balance the text-based information with colour photos, audio
& video, and up to date, relevant web-based material
• To provide opportunities for assessors to develop candidates'
Functional English and Maths within practical contexts
Purpose of the modules

12. • To introduce candidates to open learning resource that they
could use in preparation for an assessor visit, during a visit if the
assessor is busy with other candidates or for revision afterwards
• To offer interactive tasks that could be completed by candidates
to provide evidence for portfolios
• To conclude with suggested
practical assessment activities
relevant to the topics covered
in the module

13. Create A Safe
Environment
Mucking Out
Bedding
Materials

14. Adult Community Learning Essex
Looked at Accessibility
Technologies and Free and
Open Source Software to
create a bank of exemplars for
entry level Foundation Skills
learners which draws on the
skills, information and
techniques explored within the
various strands of the project.

15. Entry Level 2: Literacy
Created a Scheme of Work for
use in Entry Level 2 Skills for
Life Literacy classes (covering 6
sessions).
Created 6 weekly lesson plans.
Embedded assistive technology
and free software identified as a
result of the project.
Entry Level 3: Literacy

16. • a specialist training provider
based in Norwich, Norfolk
• Foundation Learning programmes covering creative
arts, media and graphics, music and sports and
healthy lifestyle.
• explore use of e learning tools for use in the delivery
of Functional Skills sessions at Level 1 & 2
Broadland Council
Training Services

17. • Techdis Toolbox
• different types of mind mapping tools
• text to speech software
• screen casting
• QR codes
• online sticky boards like Padlet and Lino it
• use of Audacity to record & edit audio
• converting workbooks into digital resources on the web
Other e learning tools
BCTS found useful -