Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 1 SFC Transformation Programme Joint Information Systems CommitteeSupporting education and research

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 2 Programme Overview The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) e-Learning Transformation Programme supports six major projects involving consortia of Scottish further and higher institutions The Programme commenced formally in March 2005 and is scheduled to run until summer/autumn 2007 The Programme is co-ordinated on behalf of SFC by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) and is overseen at a strategic level by the Advisory Board of the JISC Distributed e-Learning (DEL) Programme The Programme includes three broad areas of transformational activity: –FE/HE transition –support for students and promotion of effective learning –collaborative development and delivery of content

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 3 Concept of Transformation SFC definition: –“Transformational change will require a conscious and deliberate decision made by (one or more) institutions to do something differently, in a systematic way, across the whole institution, on a defined timescale of two or more years” This concept is based on a number of key principles: –the process of change will mean that certain aspects of learning and teaching are conducted in a new way –the process of change is consistent with, and embedded in, institutional strategies, and is not a peripheral process driven solely by the possibility of external funding –the intended outcome is sustainable, and is expected to result in long-term change in activities beyond the period of external funding –the process will yield measurable benefits to the institution and its learners

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 4 The Projects - 1 BlendEd – Reid Kerr College –The project seeks to adopt a holistic approach to the introduction of blended delivery in specific curricular areas and in so doing explore the associated issues challenges and benefits –Partners: Cardonald College, Coatbridge College, Colleges Open Learning Exchange Group (COLEG), Dundee College, Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, JISC RSC, Scotland (South and West), Langside College Collaborative e-Learning in the Life Sciences (CeLLS) – University of Dundee –This project will design and develop a set of coherent and rational curricula for degree and Higher National programmes in Life Sciences, and establish a sustainable learning community for the Life Sciences within Higher Education in Scotland –Partners: Napier University, Scottish Colleges Biotechnology Consortium, Scottish Qualifications Authority, Interactive University

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 5 The Projects - 2 e-Construction Transformation (eCT) – Moray College/Glasgow Metropolitan College –The aim of the project is to transform the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of the Scotland-wide college delivery of work-based/related qualifications and learning in the construction sector in order to meet skills shortages and gaps mainly at general craft levels, initially in Brickwork, Stonework, Carpentry and Joinery and Painting and Decorating –Partners: North Highland College, Edinburgh’s Telford College, Inverness College, Aberdeen College, Lauder College Re-engineering Assessment Practices (REAP) – University of Strathclyde –The aims of this project are to re-engineer the processes and practices of assessment within three Scottish Higher Education Institutions and to disseminate improved models of assessment supported by e-learning technologies across the Scottish HE sector –Partners: University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 6 The Projects - 3 ISLE – University of Paisley –The project seeks to considerably reduce current problems in widening access such as retention and progression by moving the concept of PDP forward through the integration of various blended learning tools and by developing an individualised, self-reflective learning environment for students –Partners: University of Abertay, Dundee, Queen Margaret University College, The Adam Smith College, Angus College, Ayr College, Bell College, Dumfries & Galloway College, James Watt College, Motherwell College Transforming and Enhancing the Student Experience through Pedagogy (TESEP) – Napier University –The vision for the project is to transform learning and teaching practice, and substitute new practice for old by working collaboratively to create innovative and high quality learning environments, programmes and learning experiences for students –Partners: Lauder College, Edinburgh’s Telford College

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 7 Programme Evaluation Glenaffric Ltd was commissioned in March 2005 to undertake the evaluation of the Programme. The aims of the evaluation are: –to assess the extent to which the projects met their aims and objectives and implemented new models of delivery in FE and HE institutions –to provide constructive feedback to the Council’s executive and to project teams on the progress of the projects –to assess the extent to which the Programme as a whole (including the arrangements for monitoring and co-ordination) met its objectives –to inform future Council policy on e-learning Formative Evaluation Framework –outlines the background to the programme and the wider perspective of transformational change –details the purpose and context of the formative evaluation, and the key informants and other stakeholders who inform the evaluation process –includes an evaluation plan based on the evaluation objectives with key indicators and means of verification

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 8 Strategic Issues - 1 Bidding process and project initiation –extent to which the lengthy bid negotiation processes facilitated a smooth project start-up has varied across the programme –structure and content of the bid documents completed for the SFC did not readily translate into the strategic and operational project planning documents required by the JISC project management guidelines –number and degree of project staff changes and adaptation of roles that have had to be made in a relatively short time The nature of transformation –growing sense of shared understanding of the nature of transformation across the programme –early indications that the scope of transformational change being explored and effected through these projects is focused less on efficiency savings and more on the transformation of learning and teaching processes to enhance the quality of the learning experience and teaching practice

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 9 Strategic Issues - 2 Impact and sustainability –several projects have noted from the outset that transformational change is a longer-term process than can realistically be achieved in the programme timeframe of less than two years –most of the projects are engaged with the wider development community in Scotland and across the UK, in particular the QAA Effective Learning Framework and the JISC e-Learning Programme –opportunities for wider dissemination of the work of this programme in exploring the nature of transformation and its meaning in the context of UK further and higher education at two key conferences in Edinburgh this year: May - Scottish RSCs: The Learner Driver September - ALT-C 2006: the next generation

Joint Information Systems Committee 17/03/06 | CETIS EC SIG Meeting | Slide 10 Contact Details Lou McGill Programme Manager: JISC e-Learning Programme JISC Development Group 2nd Floor, Beacon House Queen's Road Bristol BS8 1QU m: e: