Shaping the future

Dawn BuzzardLearning Technology Adviser

Dawn BuzzardLearning Technology Adviser

The Education and Training Foundation

About Us Founded by

Association of Colleges (AoC), Association of Employment an

d Learning Providers (AELP),

Association of Adult Education and Training Organisations (AAETO), operating through the Holex and LEAFEA networks.

The Education and Training Foundation

Strategies to realise transformation

About Learning Futures• £ 1.1 Million sector led

programme• Supporting governing bodies

and boards, leadership teams and managers

• Enhancing teachers’, trainers’ and assessors’ confidence and expertise

Programme Design• Address lessons from past

technology project • Respond to sector think

tank challenges• Outwardly facing

Lesson Learnt• Champions need to challenge &

support• Mentors innovate & bring change• The sector is not used to looking

outwards• Communities take at least 3 months to

build• Expert help led to improved quality• Future programmes should include

instructional design

• Finding innovative effective practice is challenging

• Competition brings ownership• Support for tendering is essential in

attracting new organisations• Action research requires a flexible

approach and acceptance of risk• Employers think differently, be

prepared for this

Core CPD Modules

• Jenny Craig – Assistant Principal, Abingdon and Witney College

• James Lott – Working Knowledge

Dawn BuzzardLearning Technology Adviserdawn.buzzard@etfoundation.co.ukt: 020 3740 8280

Link Into Your Professional FutureJenny CraigJames Lott

Link Into Your Professional Future

A collaborative project between Abingdon Witney College, Aylesbury College, Working Knowledge and External Employers

Jenny Craig James Lott

Did you know?

60% of all job roles are never advertised formally?

What was the project aim?• Project aimed to upskill the teachers and students to develop strong

professional networks using LinkedIn• Ultimate aim is to improve the students’ line of sight to work and

their chances of securing meaningful careers

Who’s whoAbingdon and Witney

College – staff and students

Aylesbury College – staff and students

Working Knowledge

Employers (Salesforce UK, JSA Landscape

Group, Caprese Ltd, Edmund Hart)

High Level Project PlanMarch - April

Identify staff and studentsSelf assess student / staff starting points‘Onboarding’ sessions to excite and engage

April - June

Trialling 4 stages of LinkedIn coaching with staff and students• Profile• Grow• Research• BehaveVirtual and physical delivery

July - September

Developing blended learning resources in supportReview and evaluation of impact and scalability

Action Research – 2 slightly different approaches

Abingdon and Witney College

Working Knowledge working with tutors to develop their skills and confidence in using

LinkedIn with their students – training sessions supplemented by coaching

Tutors teaching their students in tutorial sessions to use LinkedIn with the help of e-book

resources

Working Knowledge facilitating ‘off-boarding’ event with students and business experts

Aylesbury College

Working Knowledge working with tutors to develop their skills and confidence in using

LinkedIn with their students – training sessions supplemented by coaching

Working Knowledge facilitating virtual sessions with students to develop their LinkedIn skills –

supported by tutors and business experts

Kicking it all off….

Employer Stats

27 Businesses involved

37 Business Volunteers involved

113 total number of hours volunteered

Employer feedback…

View from staff and students

Approach• Upskilling teaching staff one

week ahead of delivery to students

• Virtual learning environment for staff supported by checklists

• Blended learning for students supported by e-book

Emerging Outcomes• Wider employer networks

established by staff resulting in guest speakers invited into classes

• Connections made with alumni to link in with current students

• Students already offered work experience and/or employment as a result of connections established within the project

Learning Points•On boarding days key with compulsory attendance for both staff and students – sufficient time allocated

•Allocate sufficient time for staff and students as part of study programmes

•Staff and students need to be supported to follow programme at own pace

•Induction/ beginning of programme more appropriate time of year.

Longer term ImpactTeachers•Adept at using social media to engage effectively with employers•Broader and more meaningful network of relevant employers•More relevant and responsive curriculum shaped by employers and responding to their needs

Students•Increased line of sight to work•Broader and more meaningful network of relevant employers•Increased access to relevant work experience and longer term job opportunities

Employers•Sustainable relationship with education and training providers•Stronger and wider recruitment pool•Ability to shape curriculum design and content to ensure longer term relevance and responsiveness