Cornwall Adult Education Service

Using a Moodle Platform to deliver ITQ

Cornwall Adult Education Service (CAES) applied to join the ITQ pilot project to understand how ITQ might be used for tutor development. The service’s e-learning strategy had identified the need for professional e-learning development and the strategy includes the E-Guides cascade action plan with the need for post-cascade professional development. CAES decided to use the learning materials produced by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) and a learning platform was established using the popular Open Source software, Moodle.

The service made a decision to construct its own initial assessment (web-based) software to facilitate compatibility with any future Moodle development. The service was in the process of developing its own ITQ delivery infrastructure and it was decided that an on-line e-skills passport (the online skills management service) look alike would be developed using the NVQ competence statements and this has been used by the pilot group. All candidates also completed their e-skills passport assessment. Feedback from candidates indicates that the services’ own product gives a better feel for the scope of the ITQ unit and gives an instant feedback on a candidate’s current abilities.

Evidence suggests that the most effective means of delivery would be blended learning with the emphasis on virtual learning environment (VLE) activity supported by face-to-face sessions. The service has developed narrative in the created ITQ portals on its learning platform. The service plans to break down large files into learning ‘chunks’ to make them more user- friendly for those with few ICT skills needing the materials “in plain English”. This blended approach of using resources on Moodle and having CD-ROMs as off line back up enabled the group to stay on track.

CAES concludes that “with the right packaging and support mechanisms ITQ for ACL tutors has the ability to be a comprehensive, professional product with which to meet the e-learning aspirations of the Learning and Skills council (LSC) … it could and should be able to seamlessly address both ICT and e-learning needs”. CAES plan to continue the service by approaching 50 tutors in the coming academic year to meet the e-learning and ICT skill needs of the tutors.

For more information please visit:

http://www.aclearn.net/content_files/acl/resources/ITQ/October%20report%20Cornwall.doc  

Contact Martin Thomson at CAES m.thomson@cornwall.ac.uk
(E-business/ E-Learning Development Manager)

Last modified: 16 Jun 2007