Notes of the South West Technology Enhanced Learning Forum
held at South West House, Taunton on 27 January 2015
Present:
Tricia Ellis (Chair), Nick Jupp (Notes), Amanda Gunning, Carly Knill,
Clive Gage, Hazel Lear, Jo Bishop, Ken Stafford, Nichola Pallett, Paul
Tilley, Pip Bedingfield, Rachel McConnell, Will Bladon, Will Tempest.
Apologies:
Ed Iles, Julie Fisher, Karen Stringer, Nick Napper, Nicki Healey, Paul
Grimes, Paul Norrish, Paula Spokes, Rebecca Holden, Ryan Swallow,
Steve Downs, Tenzin Wangdi, Yvonne Glenn.
1.
Welcome and Apologies
1.1
Tricia Ellis welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1.2
Apologies were noted.
2.
National eLearning Update
2.1
The development and launch of the Health Education England (HEE) national
TEL hub (http://hee.nhs.uk/work-programmes/tel/tel-faqs/) is ongoing with a
plan to launch it in June 0215. The hub will be an online portal and repository
for TEL information and resources – initially in the areas of simulation, eLearning and m-Learning (mobile learning).
2.2
HEE is hosting a ‘hack’ weekend to test the developments to date and to
identify and involve key stakeholders - designers, technologists and users –
who can support the implementation and enhancement of the hub. More
details can be found at: http://hee.nhs.uk/work-programmes/tel/tel-hack-day2015/
2.3
Work will start shortly with the updating of the eLearning commissioning
guidelines to included mobile learning. These should be circulated in draft
format in February 2015 for sign-off at the next meeting in March.
2.4
eLearning for Healthcare are procuring a new learning management system
which will be live from April 2015. The LMS will be able to host all ESR
eLearning content as well as the existing e-LfH courses. The IT spec will be
matched to ESR. 7% of users have IE7 so will be dropped as over ten years
old and usage decreasing. New content from 2015 may not work on IE7.
2.5
Repository was hacked recently twice and now been restored. additional
funding has been provided to support the enhancement to the Drupal platform
to prevent repeats of the downtime.
2.6
In 2013, Skills for Health was awarded a Section 64 Grant by the Department
of Health, through which Skills for Health were commissioned to make a
range of products available to the NHS, including Skills for Health’s elearning products. Through this grant, Skills for Health continued to provide
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access to core skills e-learning training programmes to NHS users free of
charge. The Section 64 Grant is not being renewed and will end on 31st
March this year and the implication of this is that, as of 1st April, 2015, Skills
for Health will charge users for its e-learning products using its standard elearning pricing structure. Skills for Health have discussed potential actions,
which could be taken to mitigate the impact on this for NHS providers and
have decided to offer discounted provision to high volume users. The Skills for
Health team are now in the process of contacting all users, to discuss how
they can best manage the transition to these new arrangements.
However, in the interim we are investigating the use of alternative courses
that will be able to provide a free national solution for the NHS workforce to
access.
The forum expressed their concern with the short timescale of the contract
termination.
The affected courses are:

Being Open

BOC Medical Gases - Nurses

BOC Medical Gases - Porters

Cancer Information Prescriptions

Conflict Resolution

Dysphagia: Nutrition and Hydration

Equality and Diversity - General Awareness

Equality and Diversity - Pre-Assessment

Equality and Diversity - Promoting Understanding

Fire Safety

Food, Nutrition & Hydration

Health, Safety and Welfare

Immunisations and Vaccinations

Infection Control: Infection Prevention and You

Infection Control: Principles of Infection Prevention

Infection Control: Vascular Access Devices

Information Prescriptions

Infusion Devices

Mixed Messages

Moving and Handling

Patient Moving and Handling

Personalised Care Planning

Public Health Awareness
2.7
Health Education South West (HESW) has a contract with Capita Consulting
for Learning4Health, the e-learning platform that supports continuing
professional development (CPD) in our area. The initial term of the contract
runs until 31 March 2016 and HESW is required to notify Capita no later than
28 February 2015 if we intend to extend the contract.
In order to arrive at a considered and appropriate decision, all organisations in
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the South West and those within the Salisbury and Dorset footprint which
currently have access to the platform were invited to participate in one of
three focus groups. The purpose was to discuss and consider their
experiences of using Learning4Health and their recommendations for the
future of the provision.
The summary of the focus groups discussions and their recommendations
were taken to the two Membership Council meetings which took place on 2nd
December 2014 in Exeter and 4th December 2014 in Bristol. The
recommendation from both Membership Councils was that the contract should
not be extended after 31 March 2016.
HESW Governing Body met 13 January 2015 and supported the Membership
Councils’ recommendation.
Please be reassured that HESW and Capita will continue to work jointly to
ensure that the full contractual arrangements will continue until 31 March
2016 and that all e-learning content, diploma places and organisation support
will remain available free at the point of use until then.
HESW requests that you maximise your use of the Learning4Health platform
during the final year of the contract to ensure best value for money for the
NHS.
HESW is working closely with Health Education England (HEE) colleagues to
ensure that from April 2016 there will continue to be free access to the most
heavily used e-learning courses via HEE’s own e-learning platform known as
“e-Learning for Healthcare” and can be found at www.e-lfh.org.uk . Course
topics that are available now or during the 2015/16 financial year include
Dementia, Diversity, End of Life Care, Safeguarding, Safe Use of Insulin as
well as a forthcoming suite of modules to support the Care Certificate.
The forum members expressed the preference to develop elearning content
regionally rather that purchase licences to externally supplied courses.
3.
OLM eLearning Update
3.1
Paula was unable to attend, an update was given on her behalf. eLearning
completions have increased nationally across all LETB regions from 109,777
in September to 121,840 in October. The South West has increased
eLearning compared to face to face enrolments by 1.25% since September.
3.2
NHS South Devon & Torbay CCG rising to 1st place in the South West Top
10 Distinct Completions with 79% of staff using eLearning (up from 38.61%)
also 2nd place in the national table!
3.3
NHS Kernow CCG now appearing in the South West Top 10 Distinct
Completions with 25.94% of staff using eLearning.
3.4
Royal Devon & Exeter and Plymouth Hospitals both appearing on the National
Top 20 table of Completions.
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3.5
The transition of the ESR service and solution to IBM during 2015 includes a
comprehensive programme of development based on requirements identified
with ESR user forums. The delivery of solutions to these requirements will be
grouped into a number of work packages. These include a new user interface
for all elements of Learning Management and the delivery of ESR capability to
the internet, mobiles and tablets.
3.6
The solution must have the ability for employees to access self service and eLearning (as a minimum) from a secure internet connection without the need
for a separate login/password and instance and also support the different
vehicles for access (user name and password/smartcard). The solution must
also support access through mobile technologies (e.g. iPhone/iPad).
3.7
The solution must have the ability for off-line interaction with specific
functions. This should allow users to complete specific activity without the
need to retain a login to ESR and allow the results/outcomes back into ESR
on their next login. Examples include playing e-Learning Content.
3.8
The solution must allow ‘external learners’ to access and play on-line content
and have a Learning Record in the same way as an employee.
3.9
The solution must support the deployment of e-Learning content (from within
the solution catalogue) to mobile technologies and through applications
associated with the platforms (e.g. Apple, Android). Any e-Learning
undertaken on these platforms must allow for full integration back into the
ESR solution.
4.
eLearning Open Forum
4.1
The e-QUAL course feedback was excellent, the delegates enjoyed the
design element and practical work including hints & tips, useful tools and the
high level of interactivity. The delegates agreed that they now had the
confidence to create courses to a standard process that will satisfy all users.
The course built on their existing experience and skills.
The key was to retain the network and to investigate joint ways of working and
of sharing content. It was suggested that the e-QUAL network could meet in
the afternoon following each TEL Forum meeting.
A discussion took place on how the NHS Wales team had incorporated eQUAL, how they share and review elearning and whether they used any web
sites or tools. Action: TE to invite Helen Thomas to attend the next meeting
or request that Helen sends some information.
The e-QUAL registration fee was discussed. NJ stated that HESW do not
expect individuals or their employer to pay for any re-registration fee in
following years, that’s entirely your choice. HESW is unable to pay for any reregistration fee. The learning will remain valid and will continue to support a
south west quality assurance process.
TE asked if those that attended the e-QUAL course could identify how the
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south west group can be operationalised and to send TE some
recommendations in terms of resources required or additional training. Action
ALL: to submit expressions of interest in TAP courses and/or the amount of
funding required to operationalise the south west e-QUAL group.
4.2
Sharing of content and/or the joint development of content was discussed as
was the creation of a list of south west top 10 priorities for course
developments. Action: NJ to add agenda item on course development and
planning and to circulate the south west course spreadsheet for update.
4.3
Jo Bishop asked if it was possible to provide a regional solution for delivering
eLearning to non-NHS people such as contractors, private sector, GPs etc.
Action: Jo Bishop to submit a costed proposal to TE.
5.
IT Skills Pathway
5.1
Paul Tilley demonstrated the IT Skills Pathway learning platform
(http://www.itskills.nhs.uk/default.aspx?tab=welcome) which includes a
tracking system for organisations to administer their employees and the online
learning packages for both basic IT skills as well as 3 levels of Microsoft
Office elearning. The tracking system includes learner registration, reporting
and course enrolments.
5.2
The Knowledge Bank is a recent offering that provides on-demand learning
for specific requirements such as how to create a pivot table. Employees can
be setup on the system by their organisation or through self-registration. The
Knowledge Bank does not have to be used with the IT Skills learning and can
be used as a standalone offering to support IT helpdesks.
5.3
The learning is available at no cost to NHS organisations, with funding
committed for at least 3 years.
5.4
Elearning is not available for Microsoft Access due to a lack of demand and
due to concerns around data protection.
5.5
The elearning uses Shockwave software and plans are in place to convert the
learning material to HTML5 to allow use on Android and Apple devices.
6.
Any Other Business
6.1
There was no other business.
7.
Workshop - e-QUAL Group Meeting Notes
7.1
Group to meet following each TEL Forum Meeting + on one occasion between
these meetings. This would allow a meeting approx. every 6 weeks
7.2
The format favoured was for 2 members to review one piece of content which
would mean, if we could all attend, we would be able to review at least 4
programmes each meeting. Obviously shorter courses could be reviewed
more quickly so we may be able to review many more than 4. On the alternate
meetings we could plan to have a whole day so this should double
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productivity!
This would become clearer once process started. Content for review would be
decided at the prior meeting
7.3
We will also update Nick’s master spread sheet of content developed, content
in development and content required at each TEL Forum meeting to avoid
duplication of work and have a clearer view of the overall picture.
7.4
Meetings to also be used to share tips and problems.
7.5
Jo suggested, and all agreed, it would be useful to have a mission statement
to explain our role and raise profile
7.6
Collaboration in content creation
All agreed would be useful to have time for working together to create content
- A mix of face to face time, with use of some sort of collaboration tool for
creating/reviewing content online. Clive suggested PODIO – all to look at this
and feedback (or come up with better solution!)
Tricia was going to investigate how Wales have overcome this issue
7.7
Standardising good practice
If we are sharing approved content across Trusts, each Trust that decides to
use a package, has to sign off on the content. Ken and Amanda have a SME
sign off sheet which they have agreed to share.
7.8
Resources desired to help progress development
The resources on our most wanted list were:

Hardware - Video and still cameras for images and video creation
(some Trust have these and others have none)

Software

Photo editing software like Photoshop discussed but need to
look into free software like Pixlr first as recommended by Ken
and Carly.

Video editing software eg Premier Elements as recommended
by Will Bladon.

Adobe Flash for creating animations

Discussion around possibility of standardising authoring tool but
many thought this was too restrictive and each had its place.
Most using Storyline (1 and 2) and some Captivate.

Training

Video creating and editing

PHP coding

Creating good questions
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

Adobe Flash for creating animations
TAP courses in Visual Impact and Diploma in e-Learning have
been raised so far (Amanda and Pip)
8.
Dates of Next Meeting
8.1
Tuesday 7 April 2015, Meeting Room 1, South West House.
8.2
Wednesday 8 July 2015, Meeting Room 1, South West House.
8.3
Thursday 8 October 2015, Meeting Room 1, South West House.
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