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An Excellence Gateway case study
This case study was produced by JISC RSC (Regional Support Centres) Yorkshire & Humber on behalf of the Excellence Gateway.
Sector relevance: Work-based learning
Keywords: Improving responsiveness to learners, improving institutional effectiveness, entry to employment (E2E), disaffected learners, 14-19, learner support
Summary
Morthyng Ltd introduced a custom-built database and video induction in a bid to provide a service tailored to the special needs of learners on the Entry to Employment scheme.
The result was that they were able to better support their learners and improve management of the organisation.
About Morthyng Ltd
Morthyng Ltd is a work-based learning provider, established in 1988 and has centres in Doncaster, Rotherham and Birkenhead. The organisation provides training opportunities for unemployed learners of all ages.
The challenge
Learners on the Entry to Employment (E2E) programme are 16-18 year-olds not in employment, education or training and are often unsure of what, if anything, they want to learn. Often they have been referred via support agencies such as Connexions. The key challenge for Morthyng is to engage learners right from the start in order to maximise the chances of learner retention. Morthyng also needs to fully understand the circumstances of each learner in order to create the right learning conditions and also to help the learner make the next decision of what path to follow after induction.
The activity
As a result of a Learning Innovation Grant (LIG) 1 award of £15,000 from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Morthyng invested in video recording and editing equipment to create a video to accompany the induction process. The video involves learners from the previous year and features demonstrations of what learners can do on the course, advice from prospective employers and an introduction to the Morthyng team.
Morthyng also invested in a custom-built database that allows them to record information about their learners, such as number of referrals, total attendances on courses, sources of referrals and equal opportunities data.
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.
The outcomes
Database
1. The database allows Morthyng to build a profile of each learner, including best methods of contact, progression between induction and course, non-attendance, etc. This allows non-attendance to be followed up, helps track the learner experience of the course and enables Morthyng to fully support the learner.
2. Organisational advantages include the ability to compare statistics across sites, set internal targets and highlight good practice. The database also helps budgeting as funding is affected by non-attendance. Making these figures easier to access allows for better budgeting.
3. The database allows recording of learner feedback, which improves the service Morthyng provides.
Video
1. The visual aspect of the video means the induction is more engaging, increasing the chances of learner retention. The videos are short and snappy but informative.
2. Learners that have problems reading are given visual aids to activities such as filling in forms. It is a non-patronising method of ensuring all learners understand the induction.
3. For learners unsure of the new surroundings, the video can introduce members of the Morthyng team that they are likely to meet on the course. This makes it less intimidating to attend the course and gives a friendly impression of the company.
4. The video is motivational and inspirational. The film is created with the help of the learners and is of young people who have been or are currently still on the course. Young people are showing other young people about the course in their own words, rather than it being a video of adults instructing young people what to do. The film also outlines possible areas that learners could go into, such as hairdressing, the construction industry, childcare, engineering, etc, providing ideas and examples of what each sector would be like to work in. This is particularly useful to learners who may not have made up their mind about what they want to study.
5. Part of the video interviews prospective employers who outline what is expected in the workplace i.e. timekeeping, dress code, behaviour. This helps manage learner expectations and helps them prepare for courses.
6. Organisationally, the video helps Morthyng promote itself to prospective learners. It is an attractive way of highlighting what learners can achieve with Morthyng and demonstrates them to be a forward-thinking company that can offer many opportunities for learners.
The impact
The database and video induction has enabled Morthyng to adapt its practices more fully around the learner, which has increased importance when the learner may be unsure what to study, if at all. The process removes some barriers to learning that some on the Entry to Employment scheme can face.
Feedback from the new induction process highlights how it is more accommodating to learners and increases motivation to complete the course:
- “I didn’t feel left out because I could not read”
- “Really like the visual and sound effects”
- “Having a young person voice over was good”
- “A good way of learning”
- “Kept my attention throughout with the funny sound effects”
Useful links
- For more information about this case study, email the JISC Regional Support Centre for Yorkshire & Humber.
DisclaimerThe 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.