Beyond the classroom: enhancing the learner experience

Delegates at AoC break-out session

“Excellent stuff”
“Very impressive work done on systems integration”
“Brilliant stuff-lots of ideas”
“Both systems are absolutely fantastic”
“JISC RSC Healthcheck in 2009 helped us focus e-learning developments” -Barnsley College
“The JISC RSC’s support has given us the knowledge to develop the systems we have at the moment” (Haringey, Enfield and North East London College)

This year RSC London, as part of JISC Advance Services, showcased how two colleges (Barnsley College in South Yorkshire and The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London) have developed technology-based systems to support and enhance the learner experience beyond the classroom. This breakout session was presented to an audience of Principals, Vice Principals, Senior Management and Governors at the AOC conference on the 16th November at the ICC in Birmingham.

Link to key points and the resources.

RSC London and AoC London Region introduced a showcasing seminar to an audience of Principals, Senior Managers and Governors at the 2009 AoC Conference in Birmingham in November.

Four colleges from the London region presented their innovative practice: City of Westminster, Havering Sixth Form, Lewisham and Westminster Kingsway.

Kate Anderson (Regional Director of AoC London) and Andrew Williams (Director of ILT Support and Development, Kingston College and Chair of RSC London’s Advisory Group) welcomed delegates to the seminar.

Read the event report for the seminar here:

London Colleges Showcase Innovation and Good Practice at AoC

The JISC RSCs will be attending the AOC conference 17-19^th November. Join us at the following:

• the JISC Advance exhibition stand – find out how the newly created JISC Advance can support you. Representatives from the JISC RSCs and JISC services will be available at stand 40/43, as you enter the main exhibition hall, throughout the conference. Meet staff from RSC London on stand 40/43 Wednesday morning.

• the launch of a new publication:  Working in Partnership: Demonstrating JISC services’ support for the FE communities on Tuesday 17^th November 3.15 pm. Come and enjoy a bucks fizz and enter the competition to win a netbook.

• a JISC RSC hosted principals’ dinner on Tuesday 17^th November

• a breakout seminar: Transforming delivery to meet new realities on Weds 18^th November at 13.45, where London colleges, Havering Sixth Form, City of Westminster, Westminster Kingsway and Lewisham will be showcasing examples of innovative practice in curriculum delivery and imaginative use of physical and virtual environments for principals and senior managers. Following the conference the presentations will be made available on http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk/

The JISC RSCs will be attending the AOC conference 17-19th November, and offering the following opportunities:

• the JISC Advance exhibition stand – to find out how the newly created JISC Advance <http://www.jiscadvance.ac.uk/> can support you. Representatives from the JISC RSCs and JISC services will be available at stand 40/43, as you enter the main exhibition hall, throughout the conference. Details of regional representation timeslots will follow shortly.

• Tuesday 17th November 3.15 pm to celebrate the launch of a new publication, Working in Partnership: Demonstrating JISC services’ support for the FE communities. Come and enjoy a bucks fizz and enter the competition to win a netbook.

• A JISC RSC hosted principals’ dinner on Tuesday 17th November

• A breakout seminar: Transforming delivery to meet new realities on Weds 18th November at 13.45, where London colleges, Havering Sixth Form, City of Westminster, Westminster Kingsway and Lewisham will be showcasing examples of innovative practice in curriculum delivery and imaginative use of physical and virtual environments for principals and senior managers. Following the conference the presentations will be made available on our website  http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk/

Just launched, ‘Hiding the wiring – a best practice guide for communicating with employers’ has been produced by the Association of Colleges to help business development and communications professionals in Colleges strengthen ties with business through more effective communication.

The guide focuses on relevant marketing and public relations research and covers topics as diverse as branding, reputation, internal communications, social marketing, market research and support software.

Link to AoC webpage and PDFs of the Guide for downlaod

AoC Conference 2008

Will Pickford and Kavaljit Dev from the RSC and AoC London Region presented one of the master class seminars at the AoC Conference in Birmingham on the 19th November 2008.
Three colleges from the London region – Stanmore, South Thames and Lewisham, showcased examples of some of their innovative curriculum delivery which simulated a lively discussion on the use of technology, the importance of promoting creativity in teaching and the support needed to harness innovation.

Read the full event report here 

A detailed event report covering the main presentations and discussions at the recent AoC London/RSC London seminar for London’s FE leaders, is available here:

http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk/1278/

Leaders of London’s FE sector escaped their desks to spend a morning with colleagues scanning the educational horizon at the ‘Future of Education’ event held at the British Library last month.

Professor Stephen Heppell managed to both inspire and communicate a degree of threat…at least for those who fail to react and risk drifting further away from a relevant curriculum and pedagogy with his keynote presentation.

Many speakers felt like David Collins, President of the AoC, that the further education system is well placed to be able to adapt to a fast changing, demand-led environment as he advised: ‘don’t panic!’

John Stone, CEO of the LSN, summarised the four lively workshop sessions, adding his observation that currently the funding model works for classes that ‘spend lots of time together’ and the need for a business model that helps support Colleges make change.

“This event should have been made compulsory for all London principals!” concluded Sue Rimmer, Chair of AoC London Region.

Delegates at Future Education Event