What are skills learners' expectations and experiences of technology?

What are skills learners' expectations and experiences of technology?Giles Pepler, Nick Jeans, Ellen Lessner, Clare Killen and Sarah Knight

1

02/05/2023 2

Presenters

»Giles Pepler, Senior consultant, Sero, project manager and lead consultant

»Nick Jeans, Sero, Senior consultant (Learning technology)

»Ellen Lessner, Consultant»Clare Killen, Consultant and author of

Enhancing the digital experience for skills learner guide

»Sarah Knight, Senior co-design manager,

Student experience, Jisc

What are skills learners' expectations and experiences of technology?

02/05/2023 3

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

»Phase 1 study reviewed students’ expectations and experiences of the digital environment at university and we spoke to 500 staff and students during our consultation (2013-2014)

»We conducted a review of practice in schools to identify likely incoming expectations (2014)

» In phase 2 we focused on FE speaking to 220 learners and 300 staff from colleges across the UK (2014-2015)

»Phase 3 Skills study speaking to adult and community learners, work based learners including apprentices and offender learners (2015-2016)

»Phase 4 Online learners study, speaking to students studying on online or partly online courses (2016)


02/05/2023 4

Digital student online learners study

» What makes a successful online learner?

»Findings of the Digital Student Online learners’ expectations and experiences of the digital environment

»Available from http://ji.sc/onlinesurveyreport

»Webinar 12 January 2016 register here http://bit.ly/2fCMqiz


http://ji.sc/onlinesurveyreport

http://bit.ly/2fCMqiz

http://bit.ly/2fCMqiz

02/05/2023 5

Student digital experience tracker pilot

»Student digital experience tracker offers a short survey for use with learners to gather their expectations and experiences of technology

»Full report is available from: http://bit.ly/student-tracker-report

»Open pilot with over 13o institutions is now underway jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/student-digital-experience-tracker

»New ACL/Skills providers question set»Get involved and join the pilot – sign up

by 30/11 here http://bit.ly/trackerskills What are skills learners' expectations and experiences of technology?

http://bit.ly/student-tracker-report

https://www.jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/student-digital-experience-tracker




http://bit.ly/trackerskills

02/05/2023 6

Skills sector digital student project

»Scope of the ‘Skills Sector’ project covers: adult and community learners, work-based learners, apprentices, offender learners

»What do learners want (expectations) in relation to the digital?»What do learners need to succeed (experiences)?»Literature review | stakeholder interviews | learner focus groups |

consultation events»Guidance for providers on how to gather learners’ views, how

to engage learners in an ongoing dialogue about the digital and how better to support learners’ digital experience

» Identify top challenges in relation to the digital learner experience and identify what support providers need in addressing these challenges


02/05/2023 7

Work based learners – issues and challenges

»Problems: access to good laptops, printers and internet connectivity

»Students want experience with software + hardware that’s used in their work places

» VLEs are NOT redundant - maybe yet to reach their potential»Students’ technology skills vary widely – even amongst same age

groups. We can’t take skill levels for granted»Lack of student voice in the sector»Students can feel isolated in work placements, so

appreciate online forum with peers, Skype with tutors


02/05/2023 8

Adult and community learning – issues and challenges

» Lack of good equipment + wifi» Difficult transporting equipment to venues, blocks on websites at

schools, not getting passwords from venue» Teachers lack training in how to use technologies + no time to

prepare materials / backups

» Shortage of tutors» No uniform skill levels (applies to all sectors)» Very little enthusiasm for MOOCs » Learners value face-to-face interaction in class, use of

technology during intervening week to maintain skills learnt

» Little student voice in the literatureWhat are skills learners' expectations and experiences of technology?

02/05/2023 9

Offender learning – issues and challenges

» Restricted access to devices, internet, information and support (prioritising security above rehabilitation)

» Access to meaningful learning opportunities often decreases as students near release

» No continuity of learning support between prisons or after release. Prisoners released without skills for employment

» Need for dedicated technology-enabled learning spaces and supervised Skype to improve family contact

» Virtual Campus has potential but limitations of access, support and quality content


02/05/2023 10

Focus groups

» Reached 123 learners» Good geographical spread» Learners from a range of skills

sectors and study levels: apprenticeships, adult and community learning and prison learning

» Dropouts (of providers and learners) has been challenging

» Amazon vouchers resolved this issue!

We conducted 12 focus groups:


02/05/2023 11

Focus group process

» Learner profile» Focus group process» Card sort

Tools


02/05/2023 12

The basics: Recording the results

» Card sort process» Technology» Room arrangement» Permissions (organisations

and individuals)


02/05/2023 13

Instructions for the card sort

» Take the cards from one theme (A, B, C or D) out of the envelope and lay them on the table so that all are visible

» Put the ‘theme heading’ at the top and after a group discussion, put the remaining cards in order of importance underneath the theme card

» If you want to add something to the existing cards, use the blank card(s)

» If you don’t understand a card or consider it unimportant, put it back in the envelope


02/05/2023 14

Conclusions (1)

»Learners’ technology skills and their use of technology are far from homogeneous – even amongst the same age groups

»Learners want access to a device they can use, preferably through an open ‘bring your own’ (BYO) device policy

»Learners are highly responsive to being asked how they would like to use digital technology

»Learners are more concerned with good access and relevant experiences rather than the latest gadgets


02/05/2023 15

Conclusions (2)

»The process gave providers a concrete model for eliciting learners’ views oftheir provision

»The process of engaging learners in discussions around technology can prompt positive changes in existing classroom practice

»The cards are an effective way to raise awareness of wider opportunities to use digital technology among both learners and providers

»Managers can (hopefully) use learner quotes from these discussions as powerful ammunition to persuade their superiors to improve or extend digital provision


02/05/2023 16

Enhancing the digital experience for skills learners

5 key themes


Developing your

DIGITAL VISION

Building a ROBUST DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTEMBEDDING technology within INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM practices

Developing STAFF DIGITAL

CAPABILITIES

EMPOWERING and ENGAGING LEARNERS

http://ji.sc/Enhance_Digital_Experience

02/05/2023 17

Enhancing the digital experience for skills learners

5 key themes


Developing your

DIGITAL VISION

Building a ROBUST DIGITALENVIRONMENT

EMBEDDING Technology within INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM practices

Developing STAFF DIGITAL

CAPABILITIES

EMPOWERING and ENGAGING LEARNERS


Please use the chat pane to let us know:» Whether these

themes strike a chord for you

» If there are any challenges you are facing that are not covered here

» Any solutions you have found that address the sort of challenges raised so far

………………………………………………

………

02/05/2023 18

Exploring the guide and resources

»Guidance linked to key findings from the study

»Examples of effective practice from the sector

»Suggested next steps»Links to further resources

for each theme

Each section includes:



02/05/2023 19

Sample case studies


http://bit.ly/2fPM4sy

http://bit.ly/2g8Smno

http://bit.ly/2fQ0NDL

02/05/2023 20

Links and further information

»New online guide Enhancing the digital experience for skills learners with case studies http://ji.sc/Enhance_Digital_Experience

»Briefing for leaders of providers supporting apprenticeships, adult, community and offender learning http://bit.ly/2fVj1lg

»From the blog: Five things skills providers are doing in their quest to embrace technology and enhance learning jisc.ac.uk/blog




http://bit.ly/2fVj1lg

https://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog

02/05/2023 21

From the blog …

»Thinking strategically – taking a holistic view rather than focusing on individual or disjointed initiatives

»Taking action – active monitoring and development of the digital environment. Connectivity is key

»Creating digitally capable staff and learners »Embedding technology in inclusive curriculum

design as well as providing flexible assessment and supportive feedback

»Making students partners – going beyond traditional approaches

5 things skills providers are doing in their quest to embrace technology and enhance learning


Please use the chat pane to let us know:» How you are

using digital technologies to enhance learning

» Any questions, comments or feedback

………………………………………………

………

http://bit.ly/2f6674R

http://bit.ly/2f6674R

02/05/2023 22

The digital apprentice

»What are the issues and problems you have identified in embedding technology in delivery and assessment of apprenticeships?

»What are the opportunities to exploit technology to deliver high quality apprenticeships more effectively?

»How can a data-driven approach lead to improved decision making by apprentices, employers and providers?

»Can we provide a total digital experience for all apprentices to enhance and support their learning and assessment?

»Can a digital approach help provide improved careers advice for apprentices and their parents?

We think it’s time we had fully digital apprenticeships to meet the needs of employers and apprentices in the 21st Century


How to get involved

»Contact James Clay [email protected]

»Tweet using the hashtag #co-design16

»Catch up on the discussion so far at: https://digitalapprenticeships. jiscinvolve.org/wp/

»Theme web page: www.jisc.ac.uk/rd/get-involved/what-would-truly-digital-apprenticeships-look-like

»Complete our short questionnaire https://goo.gl/forms/qcymmawoVMRXFprZ2

17/11/2016

mailto:[email protected]

https://digitalapprenticeships.jiscinvolve.org/wp/





http://www.jisc.ac.uk/rd/get-involved/what-would-truly-digital-apprenticeships-look-like



https://goo.gl/forms/qcymmawoVMRXFprZ2

https://goo.gl/forms/qcymmawoVMRXFprZ2

02/05/2023 24

How can technology support apprenticeships?

»Create an understandable visualisation of the apprenticeship lifecycle/journey

»Use that lifecycle to highlight where technology can improve learning and deliver business efficiencies

»Offer practical guidance on good practice»Deliver an overview of the main

technology options available to providers and practical guidance on how to arrive at the tools that best meet need

» Identify influencing points and create policy guidance

Aims to:Nov 2016 – March 2017

Timeframe


Informing the direction of travelPlease sign up today by emailing [email protected]

Working group


jisc.ac.uk

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND

02/05/2023 25

Find out more…

Digital student project

[email protected]://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org#digitalstudent



http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org/

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org/

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/

What are skills learners' expectations and experiences of technology?

Education

Transcript of What are skills learners' expectations and experiences of technology?