The SLN eLearning project aimed to promote lifelong learning in Sussex, England using online resources. The Open University participated by providing eLearning experts to help develop online content and training events. They used OpenLearn, the OU's open educational resource platform, to create learning materials, host discussions, and share project resources. Through workshops and online spaces on OpenLearn and other sites, the team explored how digital tools could support the SLN's educational outreach and collaboration between partner institutions. While questions remained, OpenLearn proved a successful platform for this type of multi-institutional eLearning partnership.

1. SLN eLearning – eWP? Nigel Gibson

2. Objectives To give an overview of the SLN project How the OU participated How the eLearning team worked How and why we used OpenLearn To show you where we are and invite you to come and see what we’ve done

3. Overview of the SLN Project Sussex Learning Network Set up in 2005 The first lifelong learning network (LLN) A partnership of all HEIs and FECs in Sussex

4. Partners Universities Chichester Sussex Brighton University College Hastings The Open University Colleges of FE Northbrook College City College Central Sussex College Sussex Downs Hastings College of Art and Technology Plumpton College

5. About 70 miles by 30 miles

6. Structure of the SLN Focus on curriculum areas “ Specialist” topics IAG eLearning

7. OU Involvement Members of the partnership Contributed members to the IAG group The eLearning project team

8. eLearning team Director – Robert Catt (also FELS Staff Tutor) Researcher – Jenny Lynden (Social Sciences) eLearning consultants – Liz Thackray and Nigel Gibson (both Technology ALs) Details of the team are at http://conclave.open.ac.uk/sln-wiki/index.php/About_the_team

9. Our practice We all have different experiences of using technologies to support learning and we used those perspectives to inform the team’s work Our main engagement with other partners was through an Advisory Group – we worked with educators more than learners Members of the Advisory Group were invited to attend regular meetings, workshops and conferences

10. Online presence Wiki Blog (which didn’t take off at all) OpenLearn spaces Flickr, Slideshare, YouTube

11. Our online footprint Wiki Flickr YouTube OpenLearn SLN Zone Forums Slideshare Blog Crowdstatus Twitter

12. Wiki The wiki documents the progress of the project Used for planning and promoting events Distributing notes from meetings Signposting interesting technologies Linking to other wikis used in education

13. Why OpenLearn? A practical example of eLearning Flexibile Extendible Support

14. How we used it To create a space To collaborate To share resources To distribute resources created by the project

15. SLN Zone Forums Area where we linked to other things Hosts videos and presentations http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3027

17. Chunking resources Identifying OpenLearn resources of interest to specific groups http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=212975

18. Creating resources Workshops supported by the OL team Created a number of units Also remixed some units to “localize” them

19. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ainamorato/sets/72157603384352139/ OpenLearn Workshop 4th Dec 2007

20. http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3193 Working online

21. http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3230 Writing skills

22. http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3329 Number skills

23. Action Research Jenny Lynden led an online action research set using FlashMeeting From this a unit was written explaining how to use the tools

24. Why OpenLearn? It gave us a platform not available in any other way It’s something which has practical application immediately - works “out of the box” It’s got the OU logo – we mustn’t forget what that means to people Credible Quality assured “ Trusted”

25. Events In order to reach a wider audience we organised “show and tell” events

26. Conferences A wide range of practitioners were invited to speak at conferences

27. Events were “hands on” Informal with speakers and chatting and active participation And we wrote on the walls!

28. Please note This is just a quick peek – there is a lot more online This presentation will be online by the time you see it

29. Summary We’ve learnt a lot from this project We’ve probably finished up with more questions than answers Of the technologies we’ve looked at OpenLearn was certainly a winner

30. For further details Wiki http://conclave.open.ac.uk/sln-wiki/index.php/Main_Page OpenLearn SLN Zone http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3027 Nigel Gibson [email_address]