Today I have tried to catch up with things after the holiday. I sent my contribution to the ezine for Modern Languages and ESOL. I was asked to send a letter of endorsement to SQA for their new PDA in ESOL Tutoring so I have spent a bit of time looking at the details of the course and then writing a letter. I think the award will be a positive development as there are a great many unqualified tutors delivering ESOL, many on a voluntary basis. It will also allow centres delivering informal tutor training to offer accreditation.
In connection with the SCHOLAR project I have designed questionnaires for learners and tutors to evaluate the materials as I am conscious of the fact that learners will be disappearing shortly in the run-up the exams.
Murray has put some updates on PP for me.
Next week will be a busy week with the first meeting of the ESOL Curriculum Working Party on Monday and the launch of the new FSVUs in Modern Languages on Thursday with a pre-launch meeting for presenters on the Wednesday evening.
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Current activities
I had an email from Dundee College asking about getting involved in SCHOLAR. This was in response to a visit I made there in January when I took the opportunity to talk about the project and a follow-up email. I have given them the information and contact details to get the students registered. It is probably a bit late in the session but if they are able to use the materials as part of their exam prep and then take part in the evaluation that would be good.
I did a session with the FVC staff, who are in my PDA group, on SFEU in general and the Subject Networks specifically. I demonstrated access to PP and showed a couple of the Networks as examples. I also encouraged them towards the discussion forum and asked them to think about sharing best practice. Most had never visited the site but were most interested and promised to register. I will visit the other PDA groups after the holidays and do the same. I will also ask for a slot at the next round of Lecturer Forums which will reach all lecturing staff.
I did a session with the FVC staff, who are in my PDA group, on SFEU in general and the Subject Networks specifically. I demonstrated access to PP and showed a couple of the Networks as examples. I also encouraged them towards the discussion forum and asked them to think about sharing best practice. Most had never visited the site but were most interested and promised to register. I will visit the other PDA groups after the holidays and do the same. I will also ask for a slot at the next round of Lecturer Forums which will reach all lecturing staff.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Update on activity in Modern Languages and ESOL
The first meeting of the ESOL Curriculum Working Party is on 28th April at Scottish CILT at Stirling University. This should be an interesting meeting and I will report back.
I have been trying to push along the SCHOLAR partners but this is moving slowly at present probably a combination of staggered Easter holidays and candidates being prepared for oral exams and completing NABs. March is a busy month in that respect.
I had an email from Telford asking for help in the selection of Language units for different groups of students which I replied to. They said the information was really helpful - evidence for evaluation, Colin.
I'm doing some staff development next week in my own college (part of PDA) and will give a demo of PP and make sure the staff know about all of the subject networks.
Murray has added a few updates to PP including a link to Learning in 2 plus languages for ESOL.
I have been trying to push along the SCHOLAR partners but this is moving slowly at present probably a combination of staggered Easter holidays and candidates being prepared for oral exams and completing NABs. March is a busy month in that respect.
I had an email from Telford asking for help in the selection of Language units for different groups of students which I replied to. They said the information was really helpful - evidence for evaluation, Colin.
I'm doing some staff development next week in my own college (part of PDA) and will give a demo of PP and make sure the staff know about all of the subject networks.
Murray has added a few updates to PP including a link to Learning in 2 plus languages for ESOL.
Thursday, 20 March 2008
ESOL event in Inverness
I attended one of the SQA National Training Events for the new NQs in ESOL on Friday 14th in Inverness. The event was very well attended with around 65 delegates from schools and colleges in the Highlands and Islands. I was struck by the enthusiasm of these practitioners but also by the problems of isolation which many have - a large number work in departments of one. This was exemplified by the problems they have in complying with internal verification procedures. SQA have agreed to develop links between centres to mutually carry out I.V.
I was given a slot at the event to talk about SFEU and the Subject Network - some of the delagates were relatively new to lecturing and were not aware of SFEU. I was also able to speak to a number of people individually who were interested in the Swap Shop idea. I left a pile of business cards on the table with the ESOL materials and all were taken. It was very useful to have time to familiarise myself with the NQs (modelled on the Mod Lang ones but more flexible)and with some of the issues teachers and learners face. Higher ESOL has now been accepted for entrance by universities and colleges as an alternative to Higher English and Int 2 has been accepted by colleges for entry to NC and Highers Programmes. This is extremely significant for ESOL learners in terms of progression and articulation and is a positive response to these new qualifications. The entries for this year so far are three times the entries for last year (the first year of delivery). This is an indication of the rapidly growing demand for ESOL.
The event also gave me an opportunity to spend time with the Qualifications Manager, the Qualifications Development Manager, Qualifications Officer and the Senior Verifier from SQA. They are very keen to work with SFEU and for any support we can provide. I think we have established a good working relationship. Margaret Allan is also keen to set up a meeting between ourselves and LTS to discuss sector specific support. She has also agreed to read Colin's paper to the Scottish Government and to give her comments.
I was given a slot at the event to talk about SFEU and the Subject Network - some of the delagates were relatively new to lecturing and were not aware of SFEU. I was also able to speak to a number of people individually who were interested in the Swap Shop idea. I left a pile of business cards on the table with the ESOL materials and all were taken. It was very useful to have time to familiarise myself with the NQs (modelled on the Mod Lang ones but more flexible)and with some of the issues teachers and learners face. Higher ESOL has now been accepted for entrance by universities and colleges as an alternative to Higher English and Int 2 has been accepted by colleges for entry to NC and Highers Programmes. This is extremely significant for ESOL learners in terms of progression and articulation and is a positive response to these new qualifications. The entries for this year so far are three times the entries for last year (the first year of delivery). This is an indication of the rapidly growing demand for ESOL.
The event also gave me an opportunity to spend time with the Qualifications Manager, the Qualifications Development Manager, Qualifications Officer and the Senior Verifier from SQA. They are very keen to work with SFEU and for any support we can provide. I think we have established a good working relationship. Margaret Allan is also keen to set up a meeting between ourselves and LTS to discuss sector specific support. She has also agreed to read Colin's paper to the Scottish Government and to give her comments.
Modern Languages Update
I attended the Modern Languages Assessment Panel last Thursday. SQA are holding two Launch Events for the new Chinese National Qualifications (half day event for Access 3 on 25th April and whole day event on 8th May for other levels) and one for the new Free Standing Vocational Units in Modern Languages on 1st May. I have been asked to run one of the workshops at the Mod. Langs event, which will give me an opportunity to promote the Subject network and PP. Murray has put all of these events onto PP.
There was an interesting session on the Curriculum for Excellence proposals for Modern Languages. These are linked to the European Framework and would broaden out the language learning experience to engage learners and give a greater understanding of other cultures. The proposals also state the benefits of language learning e.g. the development of problem solving skills, the effective use of ICT, an enhanced understanding of the mother tongue, collaborative and independent thinking and learning. These benefits could be powerful when we are trying to persuade Course Teams to incorporate a language in their frameworks!
There was an interesting session on the Curriculum for Excellence proposals for Modern Languages. These are linked to the European Framework and would broaden out the language learning experience to engage learners and give a greater understanding of other cultures. The proposals also state the benefits of language learning e.g. the development of problem solving skills, the effective use of ICT, an enhanced understanding of the mother tongue, collaborative and independent thinking and learning. These benefits could be powerful when we are trying to persuade Course Teams to incorporate a language in their frameworks!
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Free Standing Vocational Units: Mod Langs
Last Wednesday evening I attended a Qualifications Design Team meeting to dicuss the above units. Last year Access 3 and Int 1 levels were developed and validated and will be available for delivery from August 2008. Int 2 and Higher are in now draft form. I have been involved on a consultancy basis from the beginning and it has been an uphill struggle to represent the interests of our learners in FE. The dominant client group will be schools but there is a potential market in FE to replace the old NC Modules, to fill a gap in leisure/community/evening classes which NQs do not fill and also for use in some of the College/School links programmes for S3/S4 learners. I felt that the content of the drafts did not meet FE needs and after lengthy discussion along with the support of other team members we agreed on a re-draft with greater flexibility to suit different client needs.
There is to be a Lauch Event of the first two units with exemplar materials in May and I have agreed to run one of the workshops.
There is to be a Lauch Event of the first two units with exemplar materials in May and I have agreed to run one of the workshops.
Update on activity in Modern Languages and ESOL
In light of the additional funding to be given for ESOL Colin, Jennie, Genevieve and I had a short meeting after the main meeting last week. We would like to apply for some of the money to enable SFEU to support ESOL in as effective way as possible. There are a number of issues: a shortage of provision which is not meeting the growing demand, a large number of small departments often with part-time staff and some in remote areas, a reliance on community provision often staffed by unqualified (or qualified at a basic level) volunteers, companies employing migrant workers with poor English skills. We have discussed the use of online learning or web conferencing to augment provision, online resources to support the new PDA aimed at upskilling staff particularly in the voluntary sector. We are conscious of not spreading ourselves too thinly (this is potentially a huge area) and we decided to focus on the issue of employees. Companies are not willing to spend money on ESOL training but there are serious issues of Health and Safety which we feel could be used as a lever. We are currently concentrating on the vocational areas of Construction and Tourism/Hospitality but there is also demand in the Food Processing industry. Jennie already has excellent online resources which could be used very effectively. Colin has written a very good paper to present to the Scottish Government, which will be developed in light of our discussion but is going to register interest with Peter Beaumont as a starting point. We will probably have to move fairly fast as the impression is that the previous additional funding was divided up very quickly and had to be used within a fairly tight time scale.
Next week I am going to Inverness to attend a national training event for ESOL NQs. This will be a good opportunity to gain an overview of practitioners' difficulties in delivering the new courses and possible support required. In the Highlands and Islands there are particular problems with small, remote departments which don't have the support networks of the Central Belt. I will do my best to promote the Subject Network and encourage people to get involved with Practitioners Plus.
I have agreed with Colin to postpone the ESOL event at SFEU until August/September.
Next week I am going to Inverness to attend a national training event for ESOL NQs. This will be a good opportunity to gain an overview of practitioners' difficulties in delivering the new courses and possible support required. In the Highlands and Islands there are particular problems with small, remote departments which don't have the support networks of the Central Belt. I will do my best to promote the Subject Network and encourage people to get involved with Practitioners Plus.
I have agreed with Colin to postpone the ESOL event at SFEU until August/September.
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