…no, not the humped variety, but the ‘Collaborative Approach to the Management of E-learning’ model put forward by JISC Infonet in 2006 (in conjunction with JISC, ALT, HEFCE, HEA). The Celtic RSCs have recently been using this model to help organise some exchange visits between providers in their regions, and we feel that there is much to gain from seeing ILT applied in new ways and new places.

A recent visit of Learning Resource Centre Managers from two Welsh FE colleges to a college in Northern Ireland was certainly deemed to be beneficial. The rationale of the visit was based on the Transformation Agenda in FE in Wales: the two colleges involved – Swansea and Gorseinon - are embarking on merger, and it was hoped that lessons could be learnt from the experience of Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC), a very large and successful college formed from two successive merger processes.
The organisational aspects of BMC’s Learning Resources Service (LRS) proved interesting. It is located within the Directorate of Student and Learning Services, which gives a clear learner focus. This is further enhanced by the use of ‘e-mentors’ who facilitate independent learning and advise on the use of associated technologies. The LRS also works in synergy with The Technology Enhanced Learning unit and IT Services, which aids a  flexible and creative approach to the use of new technologies. The teamwork shown by these groups was of critical importance in the success of the LRS on the different BMC sites.
Some good examples of effective ILT practice were seen at BMC during the visit. The student VLE – called ‘Mybelfastmet’ – was very popular with students, partly because of its highly graphical content with an icon-based page for LRS resources and datasets. E-books were prominent in the LRS provision, and there were also interesting initiatives such as the use of Skype and Google Earth for international students.

Overall, the Learning Resource Centre Managers of Swansea and Gorseinon Colleges found their visit to be enjoyable and stimulating, and came away with definite ideas to help them move forward in a seamless way in their own merger situation. They also have advice for those who might be contemplating their own CAMEL trail: have a clear plan of action, and prepare well beforehand, having set up key contacts in advance who know the information you need.
If you are working within the FE, ACL or WBL sectors and are interested in learning more about the use of technology from learning providers in Scotland or Northern Ireland, please get in touch with us. More information is available on the RSC Wales web-site.

Tags: CAMEL

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 2:00 pm and is filed under elearning, Learning Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.