Presenter: Ciara Duffy Organisation: South West College Description: South West College have introduced a new student enhancement initiative called the “SWC Virtual Academy” which is student-centered, interactive, engaging and available 24/7. The Academy, which is hosted on Blackboard Learn, provides a series of online programmes designed to prepare students for future employment by building their expertise in core skills using today’s most popular technologies. Students can choose from a wide variety of fully online or blended programmes including: Employability, Entrepreneurship, Business Start-up, Digital Skills and Study Skills. Over 10,000 digital badges have been awarded to students for the successful completion of individual courses/programs since September 2015. This session will encourage educators to reflect on how the student delivery models are evolving.

1. SWC Virtual
Academy

2. 2
Staff
Students
Industry
Community
Innovation &
Development
Centres
Virtual
College
Centre
For People
& Workforce
Development
Physical
College
The Future
Framework
Aug 15
• High quality approved Teaching & Learning
• Innovation as an ethos in curriculum development
• Strong Student centred philosophy
• Unit Based Industry Researched Curriculum
• Embedded Entrepreneurship
• National/International Staff – Student & Knowledge
Exchange
• An International Physical Learning Centre
SWC Development Plan
• Strong/embedded leadership philosophy & practice
• A “Highly Skilled” flexible workforce
• Staff adopting a “business focused” philosophy
• Strong “Change Management” culture
• Transnational workforce philosophy
• Delegated managerial decision making at all levels.
• International standard Innovation Centres
• Industry standard demonstration models
• Some contribution to academic research
• Technology transfer Initiatives
• Product Development Initiatives
• National & International commercial activities and
partnerships.
• Innovation as an ethos in curriculum development
• Unit Based Industry Researched Curriculum
• National & International E-Learning Projects
• An International Virtual Learning Centre

3. Rationale
3
SWC Virtual Academy is a new initiative that promotes individual
learning and improves student employability

4. Strategy for Implementation of Virtual Academy
4

5. 5
Virtual Academy Overview
Employability Entrepreneurship
Personal
Development
Digital Skills
Study Skills
Health &
Wellbeing

6. Virtual Academy Design & Development
6
Organisation
Digital Badge
Achievements
All Students
HE & FE
SCORM

7. Digital Badges
7

8. Digital Badges
8

9. Virtual Academy Statistics
9
2645
988 1007
166
2929
792 768
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
NumberofBadges
Module Title
Virtual Academy Module Statistics 15/16
Total:
9295
Achievement
Badges
Awarded

10. Embedding innovative teaching e-pedagogies into Curricular
Design
10
Flipped
Classroom
Game Based
Learning
Creative
Tinkering
MOOC

11. Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs)
Podcasts/Vodcasts/Blogs
Audio &Video recordings of the lecturer to support
curriculum delivery
Refer BackTo
Students can go back over content to refresh their
understanding of it. Ideal for revision purposes
Accessible outside of Lecture Hours
Students can learn on their own time and do not have to wait
for class to begin to find information

12. Online/Blended Course Developments
Screen Cast
Demonstrate processes and use of software
Web Cast
Lecturer can record themselves speaking
Student Interaction
Posting comments or uploading work
Breakout Rooms
For group activities

13. Virtual Tour
360° Display
A visualisation of the physical working environment
Adaptable
The technology can be used at any location/site
Preparation for Work
Valuable insight into the world where students will be working

14. Virtual Classroom
Engagement
A visually stimulating platform
Simulation
Of the classroom and practical activities in a 3D World
Enhanced Learning
Supporting existing curriculum and improving the student
experience

15. Live Streaming
Guest Speakers
Students can watch talks from importantindustry experts
Live Events
Stream key events in the year
– BIM Conference
Student Interaction
Students can leave comments on eStream or messages via Txt Tools

16. Game Based Learning
Assessment
Performance in games can be measured and recorded for
grading
Engagement
Hands on learning activities
NewTechnologies
UAV (Drone) Technology training

17. Mobile Apps
Engagement
Students download and interact with the app
on their mobile/tablet
Real World Simulation
Students use Aurasma to view a 3D model
demonstration of a system or product within a
real world space
Mobile App
Socrative Mobile App allows the creation of
interactive quizzes and assessments
Quality
Maintaining quality through the assessment of
students and the retrieval of student feedback
Assessment & Grading
The results from quizzes and assessments
can be fed into grade books

18. Benefits to SWC of developing a student enhancement initiative
18
T-shaped
Learners
Meets needs
of employers
Students
more
digitally
aware
Increased
confidence
in new
technologies
Flexibility Scalability
Greater
Reach

19. Impact of SWC Virtual Academy on student learning experience
19
Additionality Value Added Niche Content
Extracurricular
Dimension
Professional
Development
Support for
Work Based
Learning

20. Reporting Attendance & Progress
20
Track
Attendance
through
Blackboard
Step
1
Mark
Register
with a “V”
for Virtual
Activity
Step
2
Attendance
monitored
in
PATHWAY
Step
3