The development and use of an effective virtual learning environment.
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Information about the school
Educ8 Training Group, is an independent training provider. Educ8 works with four sub-contractors to deliver apprenticeship programmes to approximately 2500 learners and employs nearly 200 staff. Educ8 and its partners deliver apprenticeship programmes at levels 1 to 5 across the health & social care, childcare, equine & animal care, hair, management and digital Skills learning areas.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
In April of 2018, Educ8 recruited a digital curriculum lead member of staff. This role was designed to develop and implement new, innovative technologies that enrich apprenticeship teaching and learning, particularly online delivery. This early investment proved crucial when the pandemic arrived in 2020. Educ8 were able to quickly move to online teaching and learning with staff already familiar with e-portfolios and virtual learning environments.
Description of nature of strategy or activity
Since 2020, Educ8 have further developed their virtual learning environment (VLE) Moodle to include all learning areas. The curriculum strategy commits to creating an innovative, engaging and challenging offer. The broad curriculum helps develop learners personal, social and vocational skills. The curriculum content and how it is presented to, and interacts with, learners is developed entirely in partnership with key stakeholders.
As well as vocationally specific content, each Moodle course contains a variety of teaching tools and interactive content designed with the learner in mind. For example, Hair learners have access to a range of practical video tutorials, whilst Management learners are guided to further reading and subject expert podcasts. Delivery staff use Moodle content at face-to-face or online visits to aid their teaching strategy, and they can set extra activities or guided self study as a forward plan. Moodle also hosts a wide range of literacy, numeracy and digital literacy resources, which supports learners to develop these skills throughout the programme and provides learning towards essential skills qualifications. Cross cutting themes, learner wellbeing topics and personal skills development are also housed within the Moodle.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
The Moodle VLE proved invaluable during the pandemic period. Engagement on the platform reached over 80% of learners during lockdown periods and learners were able to continue with their teaching and learning, even if formal assessment could not take place. Post pandemic, engagement continues at similar rates and learners report that Moodle effectively supports their vocational and personal development and encourages them to take ownership of their learning, work independently and motivates them to develop higher level skills.
Whilst learning plans are individual, delivery staff, learners and employers are able to see a recommended scheme of work for each unit and prepare for future modules. Improved formative assessment functions on Moodle have provided both delivery staff, and learners, the ability to check and confirm learning progress to effectively inform assessment planning. Moodle has also allowed for personal and professional skills and cross cutting themes to be made available to learners from the beginning of their programme. Delivery staff can direct learners to relevant topics for research and discussion and this is available throughout the duration of their learning. Learners report they find it easy to access topics they find interesting and importantly, can access a range of wellbeing resources that may be too personal to discuss with their assessor.
How have you shared your good practice?
Internally, the learner Moodle has been converted to a ‘staff Moodle’. This platform holds new staff inductions, learning and development and vocational professional learning sessions. The Moodle platform is cloned for use across sub-contractors, giving them the ability to tweak their own resources and organisation branding.