Job Match

During a very interactive staff training session tutors gave feedback on resources we have tried. 

JOB MATCH
Used by learners during A level Applied Business.  Students liked the site, finding it easy to input information and were provided with relevant local job opportunities.  They thought people their age may be more likely to access this information than search in job centres or local papers.  Resource also drew them to GOV. UK where they were able to access relevant research information about employers/employees rights and responsibilities which they have been able to incorporate into their course work. 
Tutors delivering Workskills and Employment & Personal Development courses indicated that they would built this resource into their scheme of work when supporting students needing support into employment.  Tutors supporting NEETs would also access the site. 
Positive feedback for a resource that the centre will use in the future.

Open Door's Admin input

Recruiting – Go!animate, can be very useful for this to advertise in class if we have short courses, new courses or even annual events

Inductions- Animoto ,Go!animate, are both very useful tools for inductions.

Teaching & Learning- Blogger could be very useful for day to day records of achievement as well as how they got on and how they feel that day. Job match also as a lot of students are normally actively seeking work. – Angela (admin) 19 March 2013

Animoto - first "test drive"

My feelings about Animoto are that although it is an impressive show that requires little design, its use will be limited within our Centre.  I feel that it would be useful as a marketing tool to attract new students and that a link from our website to a prepared Animoto presentation would be ideal.  It could be used as part of the induction process with photos of fire exits, hazards, specialised equipment and teaching rooms.  As a teaching and learning tool I can think of little use.  The only way in which I would possibly use it is for the students who have done or are doing Digital Imaging as they would find it easy to use and fun – I would suggest that they use the free version or download to their own computers.  I'll speak to the team regarding which particular aspect of the learner journey I feel it would/could be of most interest.  19 March 2013  -  Bev (Tutor)

ICT Needs Consultation Uncovered During Talent Management Workshop

Community Learning Partnership (a.k.a. CLP family fun), is concurrently working on the LSIS Talent Management project. We are interpreting this mindset, so that we can further enhance a culture,  work environment & procedures that will optimize the learner journey experience.

During the staff workshop (15/03/13) and without duress, staff themselves raised the needs to address the following:

• Access & Contribute to teaching resources
• Share best practice
• P2P exchanges: in an exclusive  tutor space.
• Share your interests - cross pollinate ideas, inspire, foster collaboration
  
  

As staff are sessional, and distributed across Hertfordshire, they don't get a chance to meet that regularly, and they may not all be able to attend meetings / gatherings.  The pragmatic realities and constraints pointed to combined approach of face-to-face & and online space.

The findings are nothing new,  but our approach will be to meet these very needs with social media tools that are open to all and free.

We will phase our approach with quick wins.  

For example,  the admin team members - unlike tutors,  saw need to coordinate calendars - beyond paper based.  This will required staff to register a gmail account. This process has started.

Our undertaking of these two LSIS projects is to ensure that we sustain and further develop our commitment to a fun and creative work culture. Therefore ICT & Talent Management workshops are tools that make life easier and happier for all.

During informal conversations,  lunch & appreciative inquiry (Thx Linda ;-) ) activity, we were able to share things related to what is meaningful in our lives: our values, interests & hobbies. We were seen holistically, not just as professionals. We all discovered how CLP’s values in actions - dealing with us, reflects what we value.

As they say,  anyone can build the competencies to teach, but having your heart truly focused on doing social good, inspiring people & communities,  well,  that's another ball game.  As a member of the senior management team, I was awed and humbled to see the smiles, appreciation and inspiration that our workers have gained with us. Our ethos & values are inspiring our staff! Wow,  what can you say about that?

Hi all, We have a group of tutors all in their second year of DTLLS training and keen to use online and digital resources so the Third Sector toolbox seems very apt.
I got the group to explore some of the tools. Their initial feedback - it looks like
Go animate
animoto
quizlet
Poll everywhere
Khan Academy

are the most useful after a first and  quick look through.

The trainees will be feeding back their comments to me and their course leaders , I'll be keepings tabs on lesson learnt and where we can share any good practice internally as well as on the blog

we have some IT issues ( or so I am told ) with using tools like Box but we're keen to soldier on.
with the ones mentioned above

CN4C’s blog...

I've been using Google Drive for a number of years for storage purposes - principally backing up teaching documents. 2 years ago I switched to DropBox which, for storage, is far more user friendly/practical, I love DropBox & have clocked up about 34Gb of free space some of which came with my phone contract. Both systems are usefully cross-platform & multi-device friendly. However, I continue to use Google Drive to upload ITQ courses for Internal & External Verification. We have a dedicated Google account for this. I can compile & upload the courses at my convenience from any location & the verifiers can immediately access them from where ever they are. There's no paper, so the sustainability-in-education people like it.

I've been using Google Docs, recently, as a learning tool for new ICT users who don't own computers, they can be digitally included without the expense of buying a computer. They've set up a Google account which gives them an email address, storage space & access to free software (particularly word processing). Google Docs is good visually, easy to navigate, has editing tools that are similar to gmail text editing tools & a good stepping stone for progression to Microsoft Word with which it is compatible. My learners have been creating CVs which they can then update & email off, from any computer. My only concern is that now they've discovered the templates they may not find Microsoft Word (more formal) as fun!

My Level 2s started blogging last week - they each created a post but were less interested in writing content & more interested in the design facilities, this is the 1st time they've experienced blogging or being able to affect the 'look' of software. So it was interesting to see them exploring & being unafraid to be adventurous - good for learning!. 

My youngster learner is setting up a Raspberry Pi so I uploaded a picture of it to Picasa & discovered the others had found it when it appeared in their blogs.

A learner's perpective on the toolbox.

Access to the website, and first look at the Toolbox.

Negatives

·         Arrows in the boxes are a big distraction, and take up space

·         Brighter background colours on the “steps” would help

·         Recruiting Learners, Teaching and learning, Reviewing learners' progress, Boxes — be better if all search results were on one page

Neutral points

·         Boxes and writing is pretty small  through my IPhone, however you can make it bigger if you know how.

·         *Second time had a bit of a problem loading page and buttons however this could just be my internet

Positives

·         Easy to see with white writing on coloured background

·         All information together

·         Easy to navigate and find information needed

·         All information needed but in individual points so not overloaded with info

·         All boxes load quickly

·         Looks neat

Overall I like the website, I think it's easy for people who are not as Internet savvy as me (like my mum) to be able to look around without getting lost or over faced by information.

I’ll review the “tools” later. - Jodie