Virtualisation of South West College Curriculum Offer
Background Information
Winner 2012 - Further Education Innovation and Learning Support
Winner 2012 - Further Education Innovation in Technical Infrastructure
Six campuses
South West College covers the largest geographical catchment area in Northern Ireland and
includes counties Tyrone and Fermanagh
The South West College has 18,500 student enrolments, is involved in a number of European
projects, has a staffing complement of some 500 full-time staff and a similar number of parttime staff and a budget of £32M.
LOCATION
Cookstown Campus
Omagh Campus
INTEC Centre
Lough
Neagh
Skills Centre
Enniskillen Campus
Dungannon Campus
Why Go Virtual?
• Changing needs of diverse learning groups
• Growth of blended learning to widen access
and participation
• South West College services a dispersed rural
population supported by limited
infrastructure.
• The recent disruption caused by inclement
weather during the winters of 2009 and 2010
Main Objectives
To Virtualise the Curriculum
• The provision of an on-line learning experience for South West
College students, where students can access a rich variety of
resources relating to their course.
• The development of e-learning modules across a variety of
curriculum areas which can be delivered via the College Virtual
Learning Environment.
• Develop links with a third world country to support students
educational development and technical requirements.
• Introduce a virtual element to each College Service.
Virtualisation of College Services
• Develop and implement on-line enrolments.
• Develop and implement a service for on-line purchasing of
courses/services.
• Develop and implement remote access for staff and students to
a variety of College services.
Virtual
Day
2009
2010
2011
Virtual
Week
2012
Virtual Servers &
Thin Clients
Blended
Learning
Pilots
2010-2011
Additional
Resource
To Support
Content
Development
2013
SWC – Virtualisation Team
Virtualisation Project Manager – Ciara Duffy
Learning Technologist
Tracy Sharkey
Learning Technologist
Louise Mullan
Learning Technologist – Placement Student
Stephen Power
Learning Technologist
Darren O’Neill
Learning Technologist – Placement Student
Therese Evans
Professional
Services
Department
Social Sciences
Department
Technology
Department
Corporate
Services
Department
Client Services
Department
Training
Department
Curriculum Areas
Curriculum Areas Groupings
Health and Social Care
Business
Media/Music
ICT
Performing Arts
CCLD
Art & Design
Training
Engineering
Hairdressing
Science & Agriculture
Beauty Therapy
Hospitality, Travel & Tourism
Construction & Built Environ.
Sport
ESOL
Lifeskills
Essential Skills
What did Virtualisation Involve?
•
Virtualisation involved the provision of an on-line
learning experience for 5,655 students for one
week, where students were able to interact with
tutors and access a rich variety of resources
relating to their course.
•
This formed a seamless component of their
programme of study, which was of equal standing
in terms of quality and academic rigour to the
‘traditional’ and more recognisable components.
•
The resources available to students varied
depending on tutor choice but included vodcasts,
podcasts, on-line tutorials, etc.
Staff Development Involved
Staff Development
Advanced features of Blackboard
• Wikis
• Mash-ups
• Journals
Blackboard Collaborate Features
• Audio and Video
• Instant Messaging
• Web Tour
• Upload Presentation
• Breakout Rooms
Creating and structuring learning objects using
• Xerte
• Blackboard Learning Module
Teaching And Learning Online
• The pedagogy of teaching and learning online presented by Marie
Martin, SWC e-Pedagogy Advisor
Stud-E Day - 19th October 2011
• Full Time & Part Time courses delivered online.
• 3885 students logged in from outside the
college.
• 210 students attended the college to use
computer services.
• All college support services logged in from
outside the college via Remote Access.
• Helpline available for staff/students to deal
with technical issues.
Stud-E Day - 19th October 2011
(Results of Staff Survey)
Where did Lecturer’s Login from?
Stud-E Day - 19th October 2011
What applications did staff use to deliver their
curriculum on Stud-E Day?
Virtual Week – 21st to 25th Nov 2011
• 5,655 students participated in online
curriculum activities during Virtual week.
• 186 students from all levels of curriculum
logging into team teach activity.
• Up to five team teach activities took place
simultaneously.
• Students logging in remotely from home
peaked at 3,885 students on day one of
the Virtual week.
Virtual Week – Lecturers feedback
What applications were used by staff to deliver their
curriculum online during Virtual Week?
Virtual Week – Student feedback
Student login locations
Virtual Week – Student feedback
Did your tutor use Blackboard Collaborate to deliver
their curriculum online?
Virtual Week – Student feedback
What the students said…
•
“I enjoyed staying at home while still learning.”
Daniel Carberry – EDEXCEL BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
in IT (QCF) – Enniskillen Campus
•
“Being at home and not having to drive up to Omagh as I
live in Armagh.”
Jonathan McCusker - QUB Foundation Degree In Energy
Environmental And Sustainability – Omagh Campus
•
“No travel costs and a more comfortable working
environment at home.”
Cornelius Boylan - EDEXCEL BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
in Art and Design (QCF) – Enniskillen Campus
Virtualisation Week
The Team Teach
November 2011
Omagh
Cookstown
Lough
Neagh
Dungannon
Enniskillen
Skills Centre
Team Teach Example - Video
Evidence of Blackboard VLE being used to deliver Curriculum
Content - Video
Remote Access to all services
• Access to college network from anywhere.
• Access files stored on your college network drive.
• Enable Access to different departments Quality,
Examinations, MIS, Student Services, Human
Resources, Finance, Marketing.
• Enable use of specialist software that is available
in the college on your own computer.
 Autocad, Solidworks, Adobe Suite, Sage,
Microsoft 2010, IWB Software, Solidedge,
Jaws, Cato to name just a few.
Virtual Week Winners
Daniel Doran - Best Video Diary (Kodak Playful)
Please click this link to view Daniel's Video Diary
Jamie Pantry – Best Virtual Student (iPad 2)
Please click on the link to access Jamie's Video Diary
Owen McKee – Best Virtual Picture (Canon Camera)
<- See Picture to the left
Shane McDaid – Best Virtual Diary (Kodak Playful)
Dawn Lawther – Best Staff Virtual Diary (iPad 2)
Benefits to the Organisation
• Development of curriculum content so that it can be
delivered using a range of learning objects and
delivery styles.
• Support learning outside of College timetabled hours
which will contribute to improved retention and
achievement.
• Common standard for Blended Learning delivery
across all curriculum areas of the College.
• Reduce duplication in the preparation of learning
activities/materials in the same vocational subject
which will cut down on delivery costs.
• Staff will have access to a wider range of learning
resources.
Benefits to the Organisation
• Students will be able to access their learner profile
including exam results remotely from the College.
• Students will have access to on-line services 24 hours
a day / 7 days a week.
• Staff developed to a high level in using technology as
a tool to enhance teaching and learning
• College can operate in the event of adverse weather
conditions.
• Reduction in carbon footprint with the delivery of online services and curriculum.
• International reach for Curriculum Project Delivery.
• Flexible working which promotes greater staff morale.
• Widening Access and Increased Participation for
Students.
Moving
Forward
ALL proved possible through Virtualisation Project
Current International Curriculum
Projects and Collaborations
Europe
N. America
Asia
Africa
S. America
Australia
South West College Virtualisation Project
Joint Project with DAFA - Zambia