An Excellence Gateway case study

An Excellence Gateway case study


This case study was produced by JISC RSC (Regional Support Centres) Northern on behalf of the Excellence Gateway.


Sector relevance: Further education colleges, Sixth Form colleges/schools

Keywords: Improving teaching and learning, improving responsiveness to learners, 14-19, Arts, Media and Publishing, creating e-learning materials, adapting e-learning materials, using e-learning materials, learning resources, personalisation of learning

Summary

City of Sunderland CollegeAndrea Errington teaches art and design, i-media and graphic design at City of Sunderland College. She uses a wide range of technologies in her lesson plans, such as mobile phone technology, podcasts, Dreamweaver and Flash, and also creates her own games and quizzes to add fun to learning. Students not only benefit from learning resources created by her with the latest technologies, but also learn how to use these technologies themselves. This provides them with a good grounding in digital work and prepares them for future employment.

She also supports her colleagues by sharing all her learning materials on the College's virtual learning environment (VLE), as well as organising workshops on how they can create their own learning materials. Andrea recently won the RSC Northern Award for ‘Support Person of the Year'.

About City of Sunderland College

City of Sunderland College is one of the largest further education and Sixth Form colleges in the UK based in Sunderland. The College is a multi-centre establishment with sites throughout the North East of England. Shiney Row Campus is a specialist centre for most of the visual and performing arts courses. The Campus is equipped with language and science labs, hair and beauty salons, large-scale computer sites and an art and design wing.

The challenge

The art and design courses could benefit from the use of more and new technologies to keep up with employers' demands. Andrea also wanted to introduce more fun into learning to keep her students interested and motivated, as well as enhancing their learning experience.

The activity

She introduced many technologies to her 16-19 year-old students and also uses topics that appeal to them.

Examples:

  • Nintendo Wii Guitarhero - Andrea uses this game on the Wii console to teach her students how to create buttons on a website.


  • Digital ‘Graphic Drawing Tablets' in classrooms for the art and design students. They can use this like a sketch pad and their drawings appear straight on the screen. This can be very useful and uses the computer as a giant sketchpad.


  • South Park - this TV programme is used to interest students in animation and how to create it.


  • Mobile phone technology - students created a mobile phone advertising campaign.


  • Podcasts - Andrea is planning to use podcasts to explain difficult terminology, so students can listen to it again at home


  • Flash and Dreamweaver - students are taught how to create their own interactive CV after reading job advertisements.


  • Assignments are topical - for example, learners created an interactive animation about alcoholism, drugs and sexual health. They also produced an advert for the College's website.


  • Quizzes and games (based on films or TV programmes) - Andrea creates these in Flash to test their knowledge in a more fun way.

The outcomes

All materials created by Andrea are available on the College's VLE. As a result, other lecturers within the Art and Design Department are increasingly enthusiastic about using different technologies in their teaching as well. Students can take their digital graphic skills into other areas of the course to extend and develop their work, which helps applying their skills in a work-related and professional way.

The impact

Students are motivated and interested, and feel prepared for future employment, while staff are confident using technology in their own design areas.

The following are some of Andrea's favourite websites:

  • Flashkit website - useful for students to obtain sound effects, sound tracks, etc. It is copyright-free and can be downloaded in the MP3 format, suitable for use in PowerPoint, Flash animations and Photo Story Publications, as well as for use with Audacity (podcasting) software.


  • Artnatomia website - this is an exceptionally useful interactive website that demonstrates to art and graphic design students the movement of facial muscles and the structure of the human form. Students have the option of altering various features of the face to create new expressions that are suitable for their animation projects. Click the ‘Artonomy' link when the site loads and go into the ‘Application' option. There are levels one and two for the student to practise their understanding of the facial structure. This site would also be very beneficial for medical/science and drama students. (Creative Commons licensed.)


  • BenettonPlay website - an online ‘flick book', students have the opportunity to create animations without the need for animation software. Good for art, graphic design, science and English/communication students.


  • Class Tools website - this very useful website allows you to create games for the students from the questions and answers you devise previously. As a teacher, you have full control over the questions you ask, and the students (of any age!) can have a bit of fun whilst learning the answers.

Supporting files


Useful links



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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.

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