Peterborough Adult Learning Service

A Blended Learning Approach

Peterborough Adult Learning Service (PALS) decided that the ITQ would be beneficial to their organisation as many of the staff use a computer for everyday tasks and were keen to have those skills recognised via a worthwhile qualification. The flexibility of the course meant that many employers did not require any additional training, but their existing skills were recognised by the national standards. The pilot ran alongside their own internal E-tutor qualification (ETQ) and e-learning awareness has gained respect and integrity as a result of these two programmes.

Co-ordinator Tanya Bedford invited twelve learners to a briefing session where the e-Skills passport could be undertaken. This was difficult to organise therefore briefing sessions and the e-Skills passport initial assessments took place on an individual basis. The ‘assess-train-assess’ model of delivery was adopted. After the e-skills passport, learners went away with an initial assessment plan to collect evidence for a unit that fitted in with their work role. All learners loved the interactive approach and the immediate feedback of results. Learners commented that e-Skills passport is “very fun and engaging … great advantage of being able to dip in and out of the passport to update skill level ... great to walk away with a printout recognising existing skills”. The negative feedback was that learners were unable to gauge whether they were above or below average in their work role skills.

PALS have been impressed with this qualification with plans to promote this qualification as part of their portfolio. The blended learning approach has worked extremely well and this has led to partnership work with local employers to deliver ITQ in- house. Overall PALS report that it has been a fantastic experience for their service.



For more information please visit:

http://www.aclearn.net/content_files/acl/resources/ITQ/october%20report%20Peterborough.doc   

Contact:

Tanya Bedford – Programme Manager FE/ICT- admin@pcae.ac.uk  

Last modified: 16 Jun 2007