The document discusses the City of Bristol College's approach to enhancing learning through flexible environments and eLearning. It highlights the establishment of the South Bristol Skills Academy with a focus on engaging students and providing the right resources and technologies for effective learning. Key recommendations from a workshop include training staff, improving IT support, and fostering compatibility between equipment and software to meet student expectations.

1. Slideshow Title
LRCs and flexible learning
environments: meeting the
challenges
Sue Caporn and Vicki Bowd
City of Bristol College

2. Overview of the workshop
• City of Bristol College
• South Bristol Skills Academy
• eLearning – the benefits and the pitfalls
• Where did it go eRight?
• Ideas to take away

3. City of Bristol College
• Result of several mergers
• One of the largest colleges in
the country
• 26,000 students. About
10,000 full-time students
• Hundreds of courses & 1,000
teaching staff

4. City of Bristol College LRCs
• Six LRCs one at each of the
main College centres
Ashley Down
• Each LRC tailored to LRC
support the curriculum at
that centre
College Green
• 30 LRC staff, flat structure Orpen Park

5. South Bristol Skills Academy
• Opened in September 2010
• Part of a regeneration
project
• To equip local community
with skills for employment
South Bristol Skills Academy
• Architect-designed, purpose
built, technology rich

6. Why eLearning at SBSA?
• Engages students – active
learners
• Flexible delivery & students can
reinforce own learning
• Current resources & information
• Can use own mobile devices
• Blended learning – eLearning in a
classroom setting

7. But it can go so eWrong….

8. Now over to you…
• Design your ideal
environment for
eLearning / blended
learning
SBSA floor Plans
• How will the Learning
Resource Centre
promote and support
eLearning and the use
of digital resources?

9. Now how does it work at SBSA?
South Bristol Skills Academy (SBSA)

10. The right eEnvironment
• Open learning
space with the LRC
at the heart of
teaching and
learning

11. The right eStructure
• Three eL&I teams:
– LRC
– eLearning Systems & Factory
– eLearning Training Team
• eL&I integrated with ICT

12. The right eTechnologies
• LRC laptops
• Laptop trollies
• Digital cameras
• Voice recorders
• iPod touches
• eBook readers
• Peripherals
(remotes, clickers, trip
ods, Laptop adaptors
etc)

13. The right eSkills
• eLearning Training
team:
• Teaching staff trained
• LRC staff able to
support teachers
• Key role of EPICT

14. The right eSupport
• LRC staff
• IT Helpdesk
• IT engineer on site
• Enough equipment
for back-up

15. Now over to you…
• Which one idea can
you take back to your
college or university
to implement?
?

16. Slideshow Title
Vicki Bowd
vicki.bowd@cityofbristol.ac.uk
Sue Caporn
sue.caporn@cityofbristol.ac.uk
City of Bristol College

17. ARLG Conference 2012
Slideshow Title
LRCs and flexible learning environments : meeting the
challenges
Outcome of workshop
The top suggestions to ensure students expectations are met
in the LRCs and flexible learning environments
Training
Take up of EPICT – LRC staff up skilled in using IT in teaching and learning
Managing IT Kit
Substitute (subs) laptop to ensure no gaps in laptop provision
A range of IT kit appropriate to eLearning
Clear and less restrictive IT policies regarding use of IT equipment
IT support for students’ own IT equipment/Devices
Good LRC equipment booking system
IT Support
Network support
Connectivity
Fast access to internet
students able to plug in their own IT devices
Compatibility of equipment with other devices
Compatibility of software so students can work together
Implementing single user login
eLearning Environment
Creating an LRC ‘without walls’