Excellence Gateway
Published: 8 April 2010
This case study was produced by JISC Regional Support Centre for Yorkshire & Humber on behalf of the Excellence Gateway.
Sector relevance: Further education and Sixth Form colleges
Keywords: Improving teaching and learning, improving institutional effectiveness, management of learning resources, learning resources centre, developing self-confidence, additonal learning support, independent learning, data, management information system, efficiency and effectiveness, radio-frequency identification (RFID)
Installing internet facilities on all of its buses has had a great impact at The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education. The Institute has seen improved retention rates, added to its e-strategy, and improved the learner experience. The results of the project have meant that the Institute can also develop further safeguarding measures in the future.
The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education is a general further education college offering full- and part-time further education, a growing higher education provision, training for business, education in the community and commercial activities at its main Nuns Corner campus in Grimsby. There are around 1,350 staff and over 22,500 students.
Grimsby Institute has a wide catchment area over a rural population, with some students commuting for over three hours each day. The Institute has eight buses that collect 300 learners each week free of charge. The key challenge for Barry Clarkson, Director of ICT, was to raise retention amongst learners who can often be put off by the long commute as well as improve the overall learning experience. His answer was to install wireless internet facilities in each bus.
Barry was able to bring forward his plans thanks to funding from the MoLeNet project. He purchased an Icomera Moovbox M200 at £2,500 for each bus and set up a plan for data charges, similar to taking out a mobile phone plan. The Moovbox works on the same principle as 'dongles' in providing wireless internet coverage via the mobile phone network, similar to the way internet is provided on trains. The system works with any wireless-enabled device.
Learners have to register to use the service, agreeing to the Institute code of conduct, and then they are able to log in to the system and get online. There are links to the Institute website and virtual learning environment (VLE) to encourage use, but learners are allowed to access other websites. There are also links to the Institute's network so that students can access their 'My Documents' area.
The system mainly depends on learners using their own devices. However, the MoLeNet project also included the loan of Nokia N810 internet tablets to targeted students on courses that had the lowest retention and achievement rates in the previous year.
The scheme was rolled out in Spring 2009 and promoted around the Institute using posters and notices.
The scheme meant that all commuters on Institute buses are able to get online. It has formed part of the Institute's overall resources strategy centred on the use of their VLE. The Institute aims for better contact between tutorials for staff and learners through the use of Moodle, creating online individual learning plans, submitting tasks and viewing videos on Moodle. Barry says that learners are using the system to access the VLE, enabling them to work on projects even when not together.
It is a sustainable project, as there is a relatively low cost per student for the ongoing data charges.
An unintended outcome has been GPS tracking of the buses. This helps in locating a bus that has broken down. It can also help EMA claims, should the bus be late.
Barry reports an average of 90 users of the system per week, almost a third of all learners that use the buses. The scheme is also achieving increases in retention:
“The driver was to improve retention and achievement. Our students have lengthy journeys to and from the college so we wanted to give them internet access to do their college work or keep on top of their social networking sites while they're travelling. It gives them something to do and improves the quality of the journey. The stats show that, during this first year of introduction, the rates did go up. It's a simple thing but the impact is huge.” Barry Clarkson, Director of ICT
“The driver was to improve retention and achievement. Our students have lengthy journeys to and from the college so we wanted to give them internet access to do their college work or keep on top of their social networking sites while they're travelling. It gives them something to do and improves the quality of the journey. The stats show that, during this first year of introduction, the rates did go up. It's a simple thing but the impact is huge.”
Barry Clarkson, Director of ICT
The project has led to plans for a 'Parent Portal'. GPS tracking of the buses means that parents would be able to know exactly where their child was and whether the bus was running late, providing important safeguarding information.
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