New Age Training Ltd
New Age Training Ltd has been undertaking the Project Learn TV Live, working in collaboration with a number of organisations to deliver the project. These were:
- Emmaus in Carlton
- Ramgaharia Sikh Temple in Bedford
- Goldington Family Centre in Bedford
- Bedford Housing Link
- Women's Institute
- Mind in Bedford
- Bedford Library
This pilot project was aimed at engaging members of the rural community in learning, by enabling large numbers of remote learners to access training from their own PCs. The project provided a series of e-learning sessions which are broadcasted on the internet through the new e-learning section of NAT's website. Sessions were delivered in a number of locations, using our mobile suite of laptops. The project was promoted at locations with internet facilities, such as libraries, internet cafes, and other learning providers. The project incorporated live e-sessions delivered by specialist tutors, facilitating tutor-learner interaction, with step-by-step instructional video broadcasts.
The project aim was to provide a pilot remote-access e-learning service via the internet to members of communities, or people with disabilities, who would otherwise be disadvantaged in attending traditional courses.
In terms of objectives, the project was to:
- Produce e-learning materials from a module of the Start IT course for broadcast;
- Establish a mobile community reception unit, consisting of laptops (wireless access facility will be available);
- Deliver 30 community broadcast sessions in community locations to 40 learners, using the mobile unit;
- Broadcast 30 e-learning sessions, supported by interactive tutor sessions;
- Engage 40 learners in e-learning sessions (measured by the number of log-ins to the system).
Learn TV Live provided an innovative and new means of engaging learners who might otherwise have been denied access to training. The e-learning sessions contain many of the features of a tutor-led session, delivered by tutors; the project demonstrated that learning does not necessarily mean having to attend a class. It allowed us to be creative and flexible enough to meet the meet the needs of those people within the community most in need of education and training.
By taking learning out to Family/Community Groups engaged 56 adults of all ages in the learning process. By making the learning user-friendly and by complementing it with the tutor-led sessions provided a human face to learning and by far exceeded our targets. The IAG sessions were built within the sessions aiming to engage people to formal learning (who would otherwise have not been engaged). Evaluation of learner feedback on the various sessions in the programme shows that 82% of students rated session materials as 'Very Good' or better, with 77% giving the same grade for enjoyment of the session and 98% found the session contents to be very useful.
Without NLDC funding, both Family/Community Groups and NAT would not have been able to purchase the relevant software, equipment and develop the materials. The project provided a range of resources for the future that will enable additional learners (beyond the limitations of this project) to access learning. It is also hoped that this project will provide a stimulus for other Family/Community Groups to engage in learning. We will be more than happy to promote this learning with other groups and identify opportunities for wider sharing of the e-learning training.
Click here to view information document Learn TV
Project Manager: Mike Slough
Tel: 01234 327511/342746
email: mikes@newagetraining.co.uk
