Digital Leaders Digital Learners presentation at the NIACE Digital Learning Conference on 14/11/14 with Deborah Millar, Blackburn College https://prezi.com/jksloabf_06e/student-engagement-deb-millar/

1. Digital Leaders and Digital Leaners
NIACE Digital
Learning
Conference
14/11/14
#digitalstudent http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

2. Jisc Digital Student Project
» http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org
» Phase 1 study reviewed students’ expectations and experiences
of the digital environment at university
» A review of practice by DaveWhite in schools to identify likely
incoming expectations
» Phase 2 we are now focusing on FE with plans to extend the
project to wider skills sector led by Oxford Brookes University
» Literature review| review of institutional data | stakeholder
interviews | learner focus groups | consultation events

3. FE Digital Student project
» What do learnersWANT (expectations) in relation to the digital?
» What do learners NEED to succeed (experiences)?
» Guidance for colleges on how to gather learners’ views, how to
engage learners in an ongoing dialogue about the digital and how
to better support learners digital experience
» Identify top challenges in relation to the digital learner experience
and begin to develop a set of learner entitlements and
enhancements to support colleges address these challenges
» Support for the project from NUS, NIACE, AoC and 157 Group
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4. FELTAG
» “FELTAG’s research and conversations consistently referred to the
under-exploitation of learners’ skills, devices and technical
knowledge when it came to the use of learning technology.
» The greatest resource available to FE and Skills providers in this
domain is their learners.
» More effort needs to be made to engage and empower learners’
use of digital technology - and the use of their own devices – in the
learning process.”
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5. What the learners say?
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› Free, ubiquitous, robust access to wifi and services
› VLE – organisation, time/task, content – consistency
› Support for BYO but continued access to institutional
hardware/software
› Core info about my studies available on my device
› Support for developing skills relevant to the workplace
› Vague about use of technology for learning

6. Experiences...
› Highly variable in respect of: previous experience, chosen
subject, personal preferences and aspirations
› Value perceived in retrospect: unexpected is developmental
› Study habits with technology are hybrid:
informal, peer supported + academic, formally acquired
› Critical moments with technology often formally taught:
e-journals, data analysis, design, ref/project management...
› Teaching staff confidence still important
› Digital identity a key motivation and outcome

7. Literature Review: What we looked for
Research questions:
» what technology learners own and have access
to when they enter FE
» what technology learners expect to be provided
with by their college
» how learners make use of the technology and
digital environments they are provided with
» how learners’ expectations of technology use
are formed and change during time spent in FE
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8. How do learners experience the digital environment in FE?
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Vocational
Higher education
A levels
Basic skills
Apprenticeships
Background
Prior
educational/work
experience
Achievement
14-90 years old
Full/part-time
Day release

9. Chris Davies, the Learner and their Context, Becta
Unconnected
and vulnerable
Mainstream
pragmatist
Intensive and
specialist
enthusiast
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10. Overview
unconnected
and vulnerable
Access-led
Access
conceived of
broadly
Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk 10
mainstream
pragmatist
Tutor-led
Pedagogy –led
Institution-led
Staff experiment
with activities
and tools
intensive and
specialist
enthusiast
Learner-led
Social digital
literacy practices
are valued
Learners
who are:
Experience
the digital
environment as:
Best where

11. Learner Focus Groups
Date College
14 Oct Eastbourne-Sussex Downs College +Learner
voices video clips
(1st and 2nd years)
30 Oct Borders College (Health and Social Care)
5 Nov Bristol – City of BristolCollege
(two vocational groups, 1st and 2nd years)
6 Nov Myerscough College
(New starts and final years, Animal Academy)
24 Nov, 11
Dec
Activate Learning + Learner voices video clips
L3 Heath and Care learners
3 Dec Coleg Gwent
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Desk
research
Focus
groups
Consultation
events

12. Join us for the consultation Events
Date Location &Venue
15 Jan 2015 Birmingham
The Studio Birmingham
20 Jan 2015 Manchester
The Studio Manchester
25 Feb 2015 Bristol
The Mercure Holland House Hotel
04 Mar 2015 Edinburgh Training Centre, Scotland
25 March 2015 London
The Hatton, 51-53 Hatton Garden
23 April 2015 Wales
TheVillage Hotel, Swansea
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Desk
research
Focus groups
Consultation
events
http://bit.ly/FEDigitalstudentevents

13. Group discussion:
What are your challenges in providing a better
digital experience for your learners?
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Feedback using:
http://padlet.com/sarahknight/barriers

14. Transforming practice through technology at
Blackburn College
Deborah Millar, Head of e-Learning
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15. Supporting a better digital learner experience
» Prepare learners to study in digitally-enhanced settings, and
explain clearly how digital technologies can support their learning
» Engage learners in conversations about their digital practice, and
involve them in projects to enhance provision
» Enable staff to innovate their own practices with technology and
to confidently support learners
» Create a physical/virtual environment that supports the use of
personal devices, applications, networks and services
» Integrate digital issues into long-term planning, considering the
complete learner journey and the need to respond to emerging
challenges
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16. What one thing should colleges/providers do
to enhance learners’ digital experience?
Feedback using:
http://padlet.com/sarahknight/onething
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17. Follow the progress of the project:
http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org
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#digitalstudent

18. Find out more…
10/06/2014 Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk
Sarah Knight
S.knight@jisc.ac.uk
Twitter: sarahknight
Deborah Millar
D.Millar@blackburn.ac.uk
http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org
Join Jisc Change Agents Network
Can@jiscmail.ac.uk
Except where otherwise noted, this
work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND
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