Wider Horizons: a regional portal for lifelong learning

1
Wider Horizons a regional portal for lifelong
learning

• EUNIS 2008 AARHUS - Denmark

www.widerhorizons.org.uk
2
Background

• Viv Bell is Learning Technology Co-ordinator for
  the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Lifelong
  Learning Network. (HWLLN)
• Andrew Rothery is Head of Innovation in
  E-Learning at the University of Worcester
• Both are jointly leading the project to develop
  the new portal and online environment, called
  Wider Horizons.
• The project started in March 2007 and the initial
  prototype was launched in May 2008.

3
About the LLN

• The overall objective for Lifelong Learning
  Networks (LLNs) is to improve the coherence,
  clarity and certainty of progression
  opportunities for vocational learners into and
  through higher education (HE).
• The Lifelong Learning Networks are funded by the
  Higher Educational Funding Council for England
  (HEFCE).

4
Background

• The aim of Wider Horizons is to provide an online
  environment for information and interaction.
• A number of stakeholders will provide
  information the university, the Further
  Education colleges in the surrounding region,
  educational and public organizations locally, and
  employers.

5
System Design

• The system needed to include access for authors
  to information areas on the portal where
  content could be edited and uploaded.
• A simple approach was adopted whereby a main
  website is linked to a collection of interactive
  information areas set up using Moodle.
• These Moodle areas can be owned by the
  stakeholders and can contain any information they
  wish to provide for the users.

6
(No Transcript)
7
Implementation

• The decision to link Moodle to a main website
  solved the challenging problem of designing a
  regional virtual learning environment that is
  also a web based information portal.
• The team have begun user testing with small
  groups of users and this will be rolled out on a
  larger scale during Autumn 2008, leading to full
  implementation by January 2009.

8
Target Users

• The main target users for Wider Horizons will be
  students or prospective students from
  Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The purpose of
  the portal is to provide information on
  progression towards higher education in the
  region.

9
(No Transcript)
10
The Main website

• The main web site provides information through
  tabs to
• Local courses. There is a search facility for
  users looking for local HE courses in the region
  and links to a variety course finding tools.
  There are also links to the taster courses held
  in the Moodle information areas.
• Where to study. There is a map of all the
  educational institutions in the region with
  information about each one. This section will be
  expanded in the future to include any other
  information the institutions feel might help the
  user decide on the most suitable place of study.
• Help and advice. This section has information and
  advice for users on a range of topics, including
  mature student support, disability advice,
  financial help, careers advice, student services,
  discussion forums and more. Future developments
  will include a progression tool for users so they
  can plan the next stage of their education and
  career.
• Careers and jobs. The careers and jobs section
  includes examples of career paths, local employer
  information, example CVs, and in the future will
  include forums involving employers.

11
What do the information areas contain?

• Though the main website is open, users may need
  to register and log in to access the some of the
  Information Areas.
• A number of very different types of area are
  planned some will be rather like mini-courses,
  but many will be interactive information
  services. Demo of these

12
Personal Space Portfolio

• In addition to the Moodle personal tools, we have
  introduced an extra block called My Info which
  is based on an e-portfolio add-on.
• My Info gives users a text editor and a file
  upload facility. It is arranged so users can
  create a profile, a curriculum vitae (CV) and
  information about their educational background
  and aspirations.
• In addition there is an area which is rather like
  a blog but less structured users can upload a
  series of written items, which can include
  uploaded files. - Demo of this

13
Communication

• We wish to encourage communications between
  students and between tutors, students and
  institutions so we have provided forum areas for
  the exchange of information and places to meet.
• This way we will build an educational community
  in the region

14
A model for Other regions

• The concept and design of the portal works well
  for our region - which is a large rural area with
  one university and ten colleges of further
  education.
• Our model was to design a system with a central
  core, with information areas that are owned and
  managed by the stakeholders, that is seamless to
  the user.
• Our model could work well in other similar
  situations, especially where there is a
  consortium of partners who work together to
  support students

15
The Future

• User testing and trial by students in October
  2008 with full launch spring 2009
• Further content development over the next two
  years (2008 to 2010)
• Sustainability for the future