This two day conference included Key note presentations on the main policy agendas in Wales and  incorporated a number of parallel strands covering e-learning issues relating to post-14 education and training in Wales.

• Programme  

Presentations and handouts from the day

Key Notes 

• Welcome and Introduction by Dr Sonia Reynolds including initial findings of a Dysg research project in ICT in Teaching and Learning
• Estyn overview of ILT/ICT in Post-14 Education and Training presented by Simon Brown, Estyn
• E-learning in Wales presented by Peter McAllister, WAG
• On line Community for the Welsh Baccalaureate by Magi Buck and Kim Morgan, WBQ Team
• Vocational Education - the role of technology by Peter McGowan, Vocational Skills Champion, WAG
• E-assessment to support learning in and for the workplace by Paul Oliver, Vocational Qualifications Adviser, DELLS
• Distance Travelled by Rob Englebright, Becta.
• Rob Englebright gave a plenary session on distance travelled.  The presentation showed a timeline of the history of computing; a quandary with options of possible solutions; and a link to the Becta Matrix that allows individuals and institutions to review their current position against a set of levelled statements.  He illustrated this by means of a moodle course which can be accessed at http://www.plumptononline.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2.  You can access as a guest.

A number of interactive questions were asked throughout the conference.  Read the responses from delegates.

Key Skills strand

• Achieving excellence in key skills: on-line assessment by Cheryl Morgan, Senior Development Advisor, Dysg
• Developing WWO, PS, ICT and Comms through online Learning Circles by Mary Gowers, ICT Wales Consortium, and Ian Connell and pupils, st Christopher's School, Wrexham
• Impact of the discontinuation of key skills tests in Wales by Patrick McNeil
• Update on ICT Consortium - progression to level 3 ICT key skills by Mary Gowers
  

ICT Strategy in Wales strand

• This strand involved brief inputs from staff at WAG and ADEW, followed by discussion.  The inputs included:
  
• ICT in the Future by Edwyn Williams, WAG
• ICT Future in Wales by Mark Austin, ADEW
• ICT in Schools by Kerry Darke, WAG
  

Curriculum enrichment strand

• Global Warming and using digital material to support text books by Cathie Brooks
• In this seminar participants had hands on experience of this recently developed website to explore the many cross-curricular environmental and eco-issues associated with climate change.  The site is interactive, with many activities which involve a variety of skills.  It promotes awareness of, and participation in, a variety of Personal & Social Education scenarios.
  
• Single sign on using Shibboleth to gain universal access to resources by Rob Newton, Swansea College
• This presentation gave an overview of the challenges faced during the implementation of a single sign-on portal solution for the City and County of Swansea.  Particular attention was given to the implementation of Shibboleth and the associated difficulties that had to be overcome.  There was also a brief walkthrough of the steps that a typical learner will follow in order to access the constituent parts of the portal.
• The Internet Mentor Programme - training for savvy and safe Internet use employing Moodle by Sangeet Bhullar, Wise Kids (no presentation available)
• The aim of this workshop was to introduce a pilot innovative programme that WISE KIDS is creating to train youth (16-25) face-to-face and online to become accredited "Internet Peer Mentors" on relevant, cool, savvy and safe Internet use, using Moodle to deliver the online support.
  
• Blogs and Blogging by Jeremy Gluck, South Wales Voluntary Council
• This presentation and discussion focussed on how blogging can be used for formal and informal learning, and how the Swansea CVS used blogging as the basis for formal and informal learning outcomes for its Community Development Trainees.
• Collaboration between providers using Moodle by Hannah Dovey, Pete Scott, RSC Wales (no presentation available)
  
• Moodle is an Open Source Learning Platform, which is becoming prevalent throughout the education sector in the UK.  This seminar focussed on some of the interactive features of Moodle, including Wikis, Blogs and Discussion Forums, for the use of collaboration between, and within, sector organisations.  The seminar offered hands-on opportunities to partake in virtual communities, and learn about protocols and best practice for successful collaborative ventures via Moodle.
• LEARN TRAIN, Karen Ford, WAG (no presentation available)
• This was a seminar to raise awareness of Learntrain to access NLN materials. Work Based Learning Providers and Adult Community Learning in Wales are now able to access the NLN (National Learning Network) materials, www.nln.ac.uk/materials - delegates had a chance to learn how the materials can support learning. The session informed, enthused and enlightened delegates about e-Learning and at the centre of the presentation were the NLN materials. For further information please contact  Karen Ford at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• ICT to enrich the Welsh Medium curriculum
• Dafydd Williams NGfL Cymru gave a practical session discussion resources for enriching teaching and learning through the medium of Welsh.
  

Structure in institutions strand

• ePD Programme - CPD/initital training for e-learning by Michelle Jennings, Learning and Skills Network

A view from the Home Nations

• Inclusive technology by Phil Vigus, Star College, Cheltenham (no presentation available)
• This presentation looked at inclusive technology and how it can be used to help give learners independent access to computers.  There is a wide range of technology available to help, and for our learners it is important that they use the best solution that is available.  This presentation gave a brief overview of what is out there, looking at the way we assess and work with learners who use assistive technology at the National Star College to ensure their needs are met.

Good teaching and learning using ILT

• Developing good teaching using ILT by Dafydd Williams, NGfL Cymru (no presentation available)
  
• This seminar put forward suggestions as to the effective use of an interactive whiteboard in the classroom, including examples of lessons and techniques that can be implemented with the minimum of preparation.
• NLN materials - generic input by Dave Trevena, NLN Mentor, Cornwall College
• Re-craft/repurpose to suit learners in YOUR class by DavidSugden
• This was an overview of a variety of tools - somepart of the MS campus licence and some commercially available which allow tutors to re-purpose and re-craft other freely available resources.  This seminar involved a demonstration and a discussion.
  

Sponsor's strand

• learndirect activity to widen access and strenghten engagement by Paul Edwards, Coleg Menai and Lesley Courtney, Ufi Cymru
• Driving success for the e-learning generation by Maria Hoather, Edexcel
  

Collaboration through ILT

• Developing a learning options menu and Learning Grid on Careers Wales on-line to support 14-19 developments by Ken Dicks, Careers Wales
• Teaching through video conferencing - good practice by Alison Walker, WVN Teaching and Learning Advisor (no presentation available)
• This was an outline of how videoconferencing can be used effectively for teaching and learning and an overview of the logistical and communication issues associated with the technology.  What are the pitfalls and how can you avoid them?
  

Differentiation using ILT

• Keet it light, keep it entertaining, keep it - inclusive learning TechDis/SimDis by David Sugden
• This session took a pragmatic view of accessibility.
  
• Moderate Learning Difficulties and Disabilities Case Study by Chris Evans, Yale College (no presentation available)
• Based upon the recent Ferl article of the same name, this presentation focussed on a single group of supported learning students, concentrating primarily on the respective roles of ILT, inclusivity and differentiation within teaching and learning environment.