Excellence Gateway
This case study was produced by JISC RSC (Regional Support Centres) West Midlands on behalf of the Excellence Gateway.
Sector relevance: Work-based learning
Keywords: Entry to employment, recruitment of learners, retention strategies, measuring and celebrating achievement, progression guidance
Learners at Trinity Training Services, a West Midlands work-based learning provider, produced a promotional DVD outlining how Trinity helps young people into employment, and to encourage those at risk of being not in education, employment or training (NEET). The project, a result of a Learning Innovation Grant (LIG), gave learners the chance to gain valuable new skills in technologies they had not previously used.
Trinity Training Services helps 16-24 year-olds into employment through Entry 2 Employment (for those unsure of the route they wish to take), pre E2E (for those that need basic skills support), and apprenticeship programmes. Trinity also offers NVQs in areas such as Hospitality, Health and Social Care, Business Administration and Customer Service. The organisation works with around 40 employers in the Wolverhampton area and is committed to providing all young people with a training placement.
About LIG funding
The Learning Innovation Grant (LIG) funding is provided by the Learning and Skills council (LSC) and administered by the Association of Learning Providers (ALP). LIG funding supports the innovative development and application of ICT technologies and e-learning within the Work Based Learning (WBL)/Skills sector. As at June 2008, LIG funding has supported 224 projects across a wide range of geographical and occupational areas. Access LIG exemplars on the ALP website.
Trinity Training's learner cohort is predominantly from deprived areas where access to IT and related technologies is minimal due to low family income, awareness and poor education. The organisation wanted learners to develop IT skills, build their confidence and access multimedia technologies which they were previously unfamiliar with. Trinity also wanted learners to understand their roles as citizens in society and explore the breakdown of stereotypes within, for example, occupations which are typically accessed by females.
Trinity Training applied to the Association of Learning Providers for a phase two Learner Innovation Grant (LIG) to buy multimedia and e-learning equipment. Trinity proposed a project to widen participation, address stereotyping through the use of technology, and increase learners' confidence with, for example, video cameras. This resulted in the learners producing a DVD for local feeder schools and agencies which involved real-life case studies from learners and employers.
The aim of the DVD was to:
Using the LIG funding, Trinity Training purchased:
Trinity employed a local media company to provide four days' training. This gave both staff and learners the chance to develop pre-production techniques such as planning, through to production (camera, lighting and sound) and post production (video editing).
With an emphasis on a case study based approach, learners devised questions and scripts for fellow learners, Trinity staff and employers who appeared on the film. The learners carried out a lot of the filming with support from the media company who were also involved in the final editing.
The final production includes learners sharing vocational journeys and experiences in their work-based settings. Representing Apprenticeships, E2E and the pre E2E programmes, the learners outline how Trinity has helped them into employment and the benefits of learning on the job.
The DVD also fulfils the project aim of breaking down stereotypes by including a case study of a male apprentice entering the child care profession, and features a learner with poor literacy skills who was unable to progress through the college route. It also includes views from employers who outline how the learners have benefitted from work-based training, as well as the professional and caring approach from Trinity.
The DVD has been well received in local feeder schools and Connexions offices. It has also been a useful introduction to Trinity's services for the local community following their recent move to new premises. Trinity Training has also benefitted from a closer working relationship with the employers involved in the film who were all very enthusiastic about the end result.
The learners have gained skills in new technologies which has raised their motivation and although the DVD has only recently been released, it is anticipated that in turn this will lead to higher retention and recruitment. Trinity also hope for increased key skills ICT achievements and hope to measure the impact of the project by comparing retention and achievement figures 6-12 months either side of the project completion date. Trinity will also track recruitment of learners following the use of the DVD in schools.
Future plans for the equipment include the delivery of film production as part of Citizenship studies to support motivation and team building, and the evaluation of training sessions. There are plans to make further films and the handouts provided by the media production company will be used for future training.
The purchase of additional laptops and an interactive whiteboard has also allowed Trinity Training to extend its e-learning opportunities.
The DVD is currently only available on disc but it will be published in the future on Trinity Training's relaunched website.
Janette Clough from Trinity Training Services says, “The DVD has been very well received by a wide range of external bodies and the impact has already been seen in higher recruitment figures. The skills acquired are being passed on by both staff and learners and further filming is already planned.”
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Disclaimer: The Regional Support Centres (RSC) and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) support the development of educational e-learning. We may refer to specific products, processes or services. Such references are examples and are not endorsements or recommendations and should not be used for product endorsement purposes.
You can find this page and download any referenced resources from the Excellence Gateway at http://excellence.org.uk/168045.
