1. FROM LITTLE ACORNS Penny Palmer Abbitt Hadlow College

2. Introduction to Hadlow College Located in Hadlow, Mottingham, Canterbury FE and HE College, specialising in Land based subjects. Student Numbers FTPT FE5301050 HE23090 Other0320

3. Development of the VLE Agreed VLE platform was Moodle. Software installed but not configured. Personal experience of using VLE’s Aim is to go “live” from September 2006 for a range of courses in FE and HE sectors

4. Pilot Scheme Needed to pilot the VLE within the college All National Diploma students have a compulsory unit on business. Ideal area to use for the pilot. –Not assessed this academic year. –Subject not favoured with the students. –Wide range of student groups to select from.

5. Student Selection 5 groups of students from different curriculum areas selected to be part of the trial. Remaining students continued with existing course delivery. 75 students involved in the trial All age ranges, mixed ability, primarily mixed sex groups.

6. Student Engagement Initial reaction varied with the groups. Generally the learners were willing to try the new approach. Interest and enthusiasm in the subject increased. Many of the traditional approach learners still demonstrated a negative attitude.

7. Exploring the functionality of the VLE Resource storage –Schemes of work –Assignment briefs –Course notes –PowerPoint presentation –Handouts Printed copies no longer supplied. –Mixed reaction

8. Reaction to Paperless Lessons Student GroupReinstate Handouts Keep paperless Fisheries76 Animal Care38 Horticulture102 Countryside97 Equine58

9. Activities Trialled Quick Quiz –Excellent for reinforcement of learning Discussion forums and chat rooms –Enables all students to voice their opinion Messaging Service –Probably will be disabled again as students distracted. Choices –Very successful activity Online Assessment –Grades and feedback available online.

12. Research and Preparation Time A VLE is not the “easy” option Considerable development time is required to establish a course and prepare materials in a suitable format. Image and file size considerations Ongoing support time reduced as students can access all documents at anytime.

13. College Strategy The VLE development has resulted in the complete redevelopment and rethinking of the whole IT/ILT strategy. Confusion over positioning of the elements IT/ICT/ILT/VLE/MIS/e-learning Radical decision taken to remove the terminology ILT from all documentation and only refer to e-learning

14. The Future for Hadlow College VLE All students having access to all courses from September 2006.

15. From little acorns ……. Select few courses from September 2006 Continual staff training and support to develop increasing numbers of courses for September 2007 By 2009 the majority of all courses offered within the Hadlow curriculum utilising the VLE. …….To mighty oaks