Damian Brant, our newly appointed Quality Manager, has began to get involved with the promotion of our ILT services and has included WBLWAY in this. Internally, Damian will ensure that Curriculum Area Leaders, and their Advanced Practitioners responsible for employer engagement, are aware of WBLWAY. Damian is aware of the selected participants (tutors to employers) who we have enlisted for the trial.
I'm beginning to think about how I'm going to introduce WBLWAY (particularly to employers) - and awaiting the leaflets.
On a wider ILT front, I await the roll-out of Hive. Hopefully, all of our ILT efforts will begin to converge....to ensure that end-users avoid confusion.
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Thursday, 26 July 2007
New Employer for trial added.
Details of Burton's three employers who will participate in the WBLWAY trial have been put onto the WBL-WAY Google groups.
The final addition is The Burton Brewhouse. This Arts Centre, fairly recently opened by the Queen, has began to work with the college on a range of initiatives. Amanda Skevington (Curriculum Area Leader for Performing Arts) has recently launched the Foundation Degree in Dance and Theatre Arts (DATA). Amanda works closely with Rachel Walker (Brewhouse Principal Arts Manager) who has agreed to help us with the WBL-WAY pilot phase. http://www.brewhouse.co.uk/brewhouse/index.htm
Rachel joins Sue Cormes (East Midlands Children's Centre) and Ruth Gill (Burton College Nursery) as our "trialists".
With the devolvement of WBL responsibility down to Curriculum Area Leader level at Burton College, we have a range of new FD initiatives (including Hair and Beauty).
When choosing "trialists" I have found it difficult to tap into long term employer contacts (ie. Engineering, Construction) as staff a worried about harming relations (with some employers still looking back to HND's etc). Our chosen "trialists" include a new initiative and two options with students at all levels.
The final addition is The Burton Brewhouse. This Arts Centre, fairly recently opened by the Queen, has began to work with the college on a range of initiatives. Amanda Skevington (Curriculum Area Leader for Performing Arts) has recently launched the Foundation Degree in Dance and Theatre Arts (DATA). Amanda works closely with Rachel Walker (Brewhouse Principal Arts Manager) who has agreed to help us with the WBL-WAY pilot phase. http://www.brewhouse.co.uk/brewhouse/index.htm
Rachel joins Sue Cormes (East Midlands Children's Centre) and Ruth Gill (Burton College Nursery) as our "trialists".
With the devolvement of WBL responsibility down to Curriculum Area Leader level at Burton College, we have a range of new FD initiatives (including Hair and Beauty).
When choosing "trialists" I have found it difficult to tap into long term employer contacts (ie. Engineering, Construction) as staff a worried about harming relations (with some employers still looking back to HND's etc). Our chosen "trialists" include a new initiative and two options with students at all levels.
Checking on Data held
After meeting with Ian Ross (Assistant Principal MIS and IT Services), Muhalb Alsaffar (Network Manager), and Tim Davies (IT Database Support), our statement on information held electronically has been updated and added to Google groups.
Ian and Garry Phillips (Assistant Principal Standards and Development) have concerns about allowing access to information. Having said that, based on discussions with Howard Brierley (Assistant Principal Collaboration and Learner Services), it is apparent that information of use to the project is limited at the moment. The new college structure (with key posts only recently appointed and roles and responsibilities still "bedding in") has devolved responsibility for employer engagement down to Curriculum Area Leader level, with each Faculty having an Advanced Practitioner with some responsibility for Employer Engagement. Devolvement results in local expertise being used but also a little confused administration - particularly on the systems front.
Ian and Garry Phillips (Assistant Principal Standards and Development) have concerns about allowing access to information. Having said that, based on discussions with Howard Brierley (Assistant Principal Collaboration and Learner Services), it is apparent that information of use to the project is limited at the moment. The new college structure (with key posts only recently appointed and roles and responsibilities still "bedding in") has devolved responsibility for employer engagement down to Curriculum Area Leader level, with each Faculty having an Advanced Practitioner with some responsibility for Employer Engagement. Devolvement results in local expertise being used but also a little confused administration - particularly on the systems front.
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Involvement in pilot phase
The new mangement structure at Burton College (Faculties/Curriculum Areas/with supporting cross college roles for 4 Assistant Principals/Dircctors) has now been embedded with all key pot-holders in place. Employer engagement at HE level, and particularly FD's, is achieved at Curriculum Area level . My blog already discusses the need for cross college data (which is not easily obtainable) and data collection developments underway to address this.
Taking this into account, I intend to trial WBL-WAY with the Curriculum Area of Early Years and Care. Reasons: they have good administrative support, they have a strong FD programme, staff and students have experience of SURF Information Services support. The trial can be controlled because we can offer Burton College Nursery and East Staffordshire Childrens Centre as users who will trial WBL-WAY in a proactive way, without being over-critical. Caroline Burnham (Administrative support for Early years and Care) will assist with the monitoring of the trial.
Taking this into account, I intend to trial WBL-WAY with the Curriculum Area of Early Years and Care. Reasons: they have good administrative support, they have a strong FD programme, staff and students have experience of SURF Information Services support. The trial can be controlled because we can offer Burton College Nursery and East Staffordshire Childrens Centre as users who will trial WBL-WAY in a proactive way, without being over-critical. Caroline Burnham (Administrative support for Early years and Care) will assist with the monitoring of the trial.
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Involving College Managers
I'm looking forward to the next WBL-WAY meeting where we are going to involve college managers and brief them on the project progress.
Having explored Burton College's organisation and IT infrastructure, in respect of the marketing of Foundation Degrees, I have found problems that will impact on the project. Restructuring activities and plans to rapidly develop the IT/MIS infrastructure have not yet provided adequate data sources to support WBL-WAY.
On the bright side, the next WBL-WAY meeting should provide thoughts on how to involve key college staff in the promotion and use of WBL-WAY. There is a sense that it exists in isolation at the moment.
Having explored Burton College's organisation and IT infrastructure, in respect of the marketing of Foundation Degrees, I have found problems that will impact on the project. Restructuring activities and plans to rapidly develop the IT/MIS infrastructure have not yet provided adequate data sources to support WBL-WAY.
On the bright side, the next WBL-WAY meeting should provide thoughts on how to involve key college staff in the promotion and use of WBL-WAY. There is a sense that it exists in isolation at the moment.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Information into college etc
I have posted two new documents to WBL-WAY Group. One gives details on usable FD data the other suggests different focus for the portal.
On the data front, our development of "useful databases" is not really sophisticated yet to provide the portal with anywhere near the depth of data requested. Cross college collation of FD info is sparse unless it is paper based. As the report shows, this being tackled but not quickly enough to impact on the project.
On the course development front, the Dance section has provided "food for thought". The WBL materials should be made available and marketing towards placement providors who are not students/learners existing employers needs looking at.
On the data front, our development of "useful databases" is not really sophisticated yet to provide the portal with anywhere near the depth of data requested. Cross college collation of FD info is sparse unless it is paper based. As the report shows, this being tackled but not quickly enough to impact on the project.
On the course development front, the Dance section has provided "food for thought". The WBL materials should be made available and marketing towards placement providors who are not students/learners existing employers needs looking at.
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
Restructure continues
The development of Foundation Degrees at Burton college continues against a backdrop of restructuring and ecpd developments. These will impact on project aims.
Having moved to a faculty structure with Assistant Principals providing cross faculty senior management development impetus, there is now a Standards and Development Unit. Comprising of an Assistant Principal, a Quality Manager, a Curriculum Area Leader for ILT and E-Learning, and admin support. The whole topic of quality assurance, particularly in HE, is now under closer control.
Ecpd developments and ILT developments now have far more "management Clout" which should begin to impact on elearning and online information services development. Moodle developments are particularly being pressed.
The WBL-Way project has led to marketing seeking to improve links with employers, initially by developing a college news publication for employers. Of course, WBL-Way will feature in the first issue to be launched in June 2007.
Having moved to a faculty structure with Assistant Principals providing cross faculty senior management development impetus, there is now a Standards and Development Unit. Comprising of an Assistant Principal, a Quality Manager, a Curriculum Area Leader for ILT and E-Learning, and admin support. The whole topic of quality assurance, particularly in HE, is now under closer control.
Ecpd developments and ILT developments now have far more "management Clout" which should begin to impact on elearning and online information services development. Moodle developments are particularly being pressed.
The WBL-Way project has led to marketing seeking to improve links with employers, initially by developing a college news publication for employers. Of course, WBL-Way will feature in the first issue to be launched in June 2007.
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