Slideshow Title

Sue Caporn and Vicki BowdCity of Bristol College

LRCs and flexible learning environments:  meeting the

challenges

Overview of the workshop

• City of Bristol College• South Bristol Skills Academy• eLearning – the benefits and the pitfalls• Where did it go eRight?• Ideas to take away

City of Bristol College

• Result of several mergers

• One of the largest colleges in the country

• 26,000 students. About 10,000 full-time students

• Hundreds of courses & 1,000 teaching staff

City of Bristol College LRCs

• Six LRCs one at each of the main College centres

• Each LRC tailored to support the curriculum at that centre

• 30 LRC staff, flat structure

Ashley Down LRC

College Green

Orpen Park

South Bristol Skills Academy

• Opened in September 2010• Part of a regeneration project• To equip local community

with skills for employment• Architect-designed, purpose

built, technology rich South Bristol Skills Academy

Why eLearning at SBSA?

• Engages students – active learners• Flexible delivery & students can

reinforce own learning• Current resources & information• Can use own mobile devices• Blended learning – eLearning in a

classroom setting

But it can go so eWrong….

Now over to you…

• Design your ideal environment for eLearning / blended learning

• How will the Learning Resource Centre promote and support eLearning and the use of digital resources?

SBSA floor Plans

Now how does it work at SBSA?

South Bristol Skills Academy (SBSA)

The right eEnvironment

• Open learning space with the LRC at the heart of teaching and learning

The right eStructure

• Three eL&I teams:– LRC– eLearning Systems & Factory– eLearning Training Team

• eL&I integrated with ICT

The right eTechnologies

• LRC laptops• Laptop trollies• Digital cameras• Voice recorders• iPod touches• eBook readers• Peripherals (remotes,

clickers, tripods, Laptop adaptors etc)

The right eSkills

• eLearning Training team:

• Teaching staff trained• LRC staff able to

support teachers• Key role of EPICT

The right eSupport

• LRC staff • IT Helpdesk• IT engineer on site• Enough equipment

for back-up

Now over to you…

• Which one idea can you take back to your college or university to implement?

?

Slideshow Title

Vicki Bowdvicki.bowd@cityofbristol.ac.uk

Sue Capornsue.caporn@cityofbristol.ac.uk

City of Bristol College

Slideshow Title

TrainingTake up of EPICT – LRC staff up skilled in using IT in teaching and learning

Managing IT KitSubstitute (subs) laptop to ensure no gaps in laptop provisionA range of IT kit appropriate to eLearningClear and less restrictive IT policies regarding use of IT equipmentIT support for students’ own IT equipment/DevicesGood LRC equipment booking system

IT SupportNetwork supportConnectivity Fast access to internetstudents able to plug in their own IT devices Compatibility of equipment with other devices Compatibility of software so students can work togetherImplementing single user logineLearning EnvironmentCreating an LRC ‘without walls’

ARLG Conference 2012

LRCs and flexible learning environments : meeting the challenges

Outcome of workshopThe top suggestions to ensure students expectations are met

in the LRCs and flexible learning environments