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Rationale: The Virtual College proposes to test
the use of Tablet PCs within the current structure. As a Pupil
Referral Unit aiming to be at the forefront of current
development, we need to ensure that we adapt to new resources and
develop new and innovative ways of teaching and learning. We are
keen to establish how the new type of equipment compares to the
current laptops in a number of different ways.
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Criteria:
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Student motivation – does it have a different appeal to
students, especially those, who are not using their own laptops
to their full extent
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Production of resources – how does it compare to current
laptops, does it change the process, motivation or structure and
type of resources produced
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Communication – do the new features affect communication in
any way (email, intranet use etc)
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Practical use – does the lighter and smaller format have a
real effect portability and mobility (Tutor without car might
test this)
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Technical issues – how well does it integrate into current
technical arrangements and what changes have to be made to the
set-up in order to use them most effectively
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Training implication – development of training model and
time implication. Comparison to current model.
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Evaluation:
One tutor together with the ICT Co-ordinator will carry out the evaluation of the trial. Students
will be asked to participate in the evaluation and will have
chance to debate this online. Both the Tutor and the ICT Co-ordinator will set aside time to evaluate this project. There
will be an option for the tutor to observe the use of tablets in a
different environment (school), but observation will also be built
into the face-to-face teaching session. The Virtual College
Manager has agreed some non-contact time.
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AAL Commitment: The Virtual College is committed
to AAL and is actively searching for ways of sustaining the
current infrastructure. There are two challenges facing us within
the next two years. Firstly current laptops will have to be
replaced and a funding model has to be developed. Secondly,
connectivity has recently established for most students for a
one-year period. This will have to be extended for current
students and new models of connectivity included the way it is
financed, will have to be found for students joining the Virtual
College. We will establish this within the next two years.
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Home use: All tablets will be used by students in
their homes. Students will also have the option of taking the
tablets to a CLC for faster Internet access. The tablets will be
configured with a number of profiles for wireless access in
different locations.
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Curriculum and Teaching Review:
The tutor who
takes on this task will be developing new material for both the
Virtual College curriculum and the E – College course. The
development of online resources is integral part of the way the
Virtual College works. Testing and evaluating new ways of
accessing those resources will focus our efforts and force us to
reassess the way resources are designed for and used by the
students within their learning process. We are in the process of
assessing the possibilities of integrating ASDAN and ECDL.
The Virtual College is using BGFL+ as part of teaching and
learning. Email is a normal mode of communication and new features
offered through the plus environment are already being used.
Tutors are being trained in the use of web space during the next
12 months.
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Professional Development:
The Virtual College is
investigating the use of School Kit as a form of training along
with other training courses. We will be liasing with other
institutions in the city to ascertain whether it should be part of
our professional development programme and how it could be
integrated into the current ICT training programme.
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Structure: One tutor and 5 students would receive
tablets instead of their current laptops. Data will be moved to
the tablets, which will then form a total replacement. Keyboards
would be added and other equipment used (digital cameras etc)
would be installed. The tablets would be tested both on
modem and ADSL connections from homes and through wireless and
Ethernet LAN connections in the office/at CLCs. Both the ICT Co-ordinator and the Support Officer
(ICT) would support students
and the tutor through email, telephone and face-to-face
communication.
