Improving access to HE – Innovative pedagogies and practices

Ruth Helyer

Kerstin McClenaghan

University of Teesside

Engaging employed learners

• Accredited in-house training• Work-based Studies Degree• Project Activities• Summer University• VLE Development

Work-Based Studies Degree

• UoT Work-based learning degree course• Uses the APL process• Builds university level learning around

jobs and careers, focussing on areas directly related to employment

• Work-based projects• Flexible delivery: core modules on

evenings and increasingly online• Students access the 6 academic schools• Up to 8 years of part-time study

Project aims

• To engage with at least 79 local Small & Medium Enterprises (SME’s)

• To offer HE level training to new employed learners

• To enrol 282 of these new learners• To show evidence of CPD• To train 20 trainers

• Funded by the LSC

How?

• Accredit appropriate existing in-company training

• Write new programmes of learning• Use existing modules

• Or some combination of these

• Meet identified staff-development needs: higher level skills for managers

• Develop potential to deliver UK wide

• Utilise in-house trainers• Build relationship with company for

future activities

Accredited in-house training: e.g. Bells at Sainsbury’s

• 3 x 20 credit modules– Personal Development – People Management – Business Appreciation

• Learning / Contact time: 600 hours

UCAPD: Resource Management in the Retail Sector

Sainsbury’s at Bells Stores

“The learning exceeded company expectations with the programme benefiting the candidates on both a professional and personal level. The organisation benefits from having a group of more confident and competent managers”.

Project Evaluations

• Open & Distance learning• Subsequent cohorts• VLE interaction• Learning through Work platform

E-learning & Blended Learning

• Repository for ‘traditional’ materials 24/7• Additional online resources and learning

materials• Lecture presentations, also as podcasts

for distance learners

• Social interaction– Wikis / Blogs / Online journals

– Discussion forums

VLE (Blackboard) for WBL

• peer collaboration• peer support

• rate posts / grade forum -> can be marked

Comments

Journal entries

Flexibility Access / time of day (April 2007)

Contact details

Ruth Helyer

r.helyer@tees.ac.uk

Kerstin McClenaghan

k.mcclenaghan@tees.ac.uk

Centre for Lifelong Learning

University of Teesside, UK