Regional development work
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Developing a learner involvement strategy at Strode's College
Strode’s College is currently developing a learner involvement strategy in partnership with Coulsdon College. This work is a response to the requirements set down in the recent FE white paper, Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances, for all FE providers to have a learner involvement strategy in place by September 2007.
Student and staff development sessions on ‘Learner Voice’ examined the attitudes towards learner involvement in all areas of college activity. The sessions were designed to engage the learner voice in college planning of learning, not just facilities or social events and to enable staff and students to suggest ways of moving forward with learner involvement.
Initially a teaching staff INSET gave staff the opportunity to debate learner involvement. A copy of the presentation and activities used for the INSET is available here. Staff were tasked with an activity that encouraged them to consider attitudes to and issues around learner involvement. Staff then went on to discuss ways of increasing learner involvement throughout the college.
Tutor representatives were then elected for the first time – two from each tutor group then attended a meeting on future planning for the college and were asked to return to their tutor groups to discuss a variety of questions. They then attended a further meeting at which their views were collected using an interactive voting system, using handsets and with instant results displayed on screen. Fun, interactive activities engaged the students and small group work ensured that they worked with a range of people. The results were discussed at a Senior Management Meeting and will be presented to Governors. The newly elected Student Council will evaluate, discuss and use the information to set the agenda for their year in office. A new Executive has been elected whose responsibility it will be to create and take the policy forward along with Senior Staff.
Personalised learning and the use of electronic Individual Learning Plans are some of the key issues coming out of this work which continue to be the focus of learners working with staff to move these areas forward.
Much student involvement focuses on social events, charity work and campaigns rather than issues to do with learning and the shaping of college policy. The learner involvement strategy is an important – and useful - way of redressing that balance. From a college point of view it has enabled us to try new ways of engaging with students and start to facilitate their voice to be heard. We are changing our structures, processes and attitudes as a result. A learner involvement strategy should be dynamic and not complacent, adapting as the needs and attitudes of learners change.
A copy of the final learner involvement strategy will be made available on this page when it is ready.
For more information contact Tracy Oko on 01784 471116 or email toko@strodes.ac.uk.