Staff Development
Identifying the skill level of staff is fundamental to the overall development needs within an ILT/e-learning strategy. Effective use of self assessment and training needs analysis tools can determine the nature and extent of the need.
Trainers and assessors, whether full or part time, office based or peripatetic, must be part of any ILT/e-learning staff development strategy. Staff development should include solutions to ensure that trainers and assessors become competent and confident in skills to facilitate such models as blended learning, on-line learning, mobile learning, e-assessment and how the use of technology can enhance personalisation.
Administrative staff should have the necessary ICT/ILT knowledge and skills to develop and apply quality e-materials and administer on-line processes within their own roles and to provide appropriate support to their colleagues and learners
Self Assessment
LSN has developed two self assessment tools; the ICT skills self-assessment tool which is designed to identify individual present competence levels of ICT user skills and the eCPD skills self-assessment tool which is based on the ePD framework and any areas of development highlighted can be linked to the appropriate ePD unit and outcome.
Further training needs analysis tools will be available shortly.
Skills Development
NIACE Staff Development e-Learning Centre provides free information and activities to develop staff awareness and knowledge to support the integration of e-learning: http://www.sdelc.co.uk/.
NIACE also offers a range of on-line staff development opportunities including Exploring Successful Learning Online and Application of Online Learning. For further information visit NIACE Training Courses
JISC Netskills base their training on analysing and meeting learner needs, they can help you design effective e-learning, regardless of the delivery platform http://www.netskills.ac.uk/content/themes/elearning/index.html
LSN’s E-Learning and Technology programme supports learning and skills providers in the sector through raising the quality of professional practice in the teaching and training of e-learning.
LSN has developed a professional development framework of competencies in the application of e-learning techniques, tools and associated guidance. The professional development framework and the associated topics for e-learning outlined in this document is intended to support the raising of e-learning capability within the teaching and learning environment at all levels
New regulations require all teachers and trainers in colleges and other LSC-funded institutions to register as members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) and demonstrate that they remain in good standing through an annual commitment to continuing professional development (CPD). IfL members will be given a free and flexible online tool, developed by teachers for teachers, to help them manage their CPD. The Reflect tool, developed by Pebble Learning, is a highly flexible learning tool already used in its PebblePad form by learners in a number of further and higher education institutions.
Read more about the Reflect tool and the IFL at NIACE Chips Extra
With funding from the LSC NIACE has produced a series of POST 16 E-LEARNING EXEMPLARS to show managers the types of e-learning activities that have helped other organisations to progress their e-learning developments, with many examples of how organisations (mainly ACL, but still very valid to WBL) have addressed ILT/e-learning staff development issues. The examples have been structured using the same key themes that are found in the Work Based e-Learning Positioning Statement. To find out more visit NIACE Post 16 e-Learning Exemplars