Case studies

• The new Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) has re-branded itself, and now houses a host of case studies created by RSC information officers: http://kev-brace.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-new-websites-10-case-studies.html

• A Staffordshire University case study on JISC InfoNET, which has links to many others as well : http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/Resources/external-resources/Staffordshire_University_A_Case_Study/view

• JISCiPAS the national JISC support academic conduct and plagiarism service, creates and hosts a wealth of case studies : http://www.jiscpas.ac.uk/casestudies.php and this one http://www.jiscpas.ac.uk/documents/HE%20in%20FE%20Case%20Studiesreport.pdf

• The National work based learning blog has created a set of shared bookmarks which highlights case studies http://del.icio.us/WBeL

• Colchester Institute utilise a content management system to help manage QA data efficiently: http://he.rscwmsystems.org.uk/wordpress/?p=201

• South Birmingmahm College use Trilby TV to stream video clips: http://he.rscwmsystems.org.uk/wordpress/?p=207

• Transforming Staff Development using an unconference: http://kev-brace.blogspot.com/2008/05/unconference.html or http://he.rscwmsystems.org.uk/wordpress/?p=184

• Sally Mcconville a lecturer in nursing at Wolverhampton University has written a short paper entitled " Widening Participation: A Virtual Approach to F.E. Collaboration". I met up Sally & discussed this logical approach of using a VLE with her. It turns out that using the VLE in an attempt to bridge the gap between FE & HE trainee nurses helped both staff & students understand what to expect and how to adjust. Sally has also previously used video clips in her teaching on a VLE to good effect. Sally has really utilised a VLE to it's full and realised the untapped potential of using a VLE to enhance learning and engage across the FE/HE divide.

• University of Birmingham win award for use of ILT to enhance learning: http://he.rscwmsystems.org.uk/wordpress/?p=91 or http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2007/11/award.aspx

• Recognising the difficulties faced by many HE students, Belfast Metropolitan College initiated an innovative project in January 2007 called Think Clever - Work Smart HE Mentoring Project, aimed not just at those experiencing difficulties but at improving the learning experience of all HE students in the FE College. The project is delivered using both e-learning and F2f activities. The students have e-mentoring support in the form of learning mentors who communicate with the students using a blended learning approach including using e-mail, f2f seminars, VOIP (Skype) support sessions on a Sunday evening and SMS which is used in a variety of novel ways.
  The centre for recording achievement has a set of HE case studies here: http://www.recordingachievement.org/he/case_studies.asp . Look at their website to find lots more.

• HE in FE case studies and best practice:
  http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/vhi/cerd/HE%20in%20FE%20report.pdf

• North Warwickshire & Hinkley College, Burton upon Trent and Bishops Burton Colleges, have all recently opened new HE centres promoting HE ethos in FE.

• Worcester Technical College have delivered a AS level psychology course using a VLE in a blended setting. Watch the video here : http://www.esnips.com//doc/47f93992-4ddc-4c04-91bf-d125fc95be48/worcester-edited-may07.flv

• Warwickshire Colleges have developed a strategy to reduce f2f teaching time by 15 minutes per session in return for utilising the college wide VLE. Contact Richard Trigg for further information in this blended strategy. See more blended learning practice by following my bookmarks: http://del.icio.us/deliboy/blendedlearning and my wiki covering blended learning theory http://rsc-elearn.pbwiki.com/blended+learning

• There are a number of JISC case studies covering eportfolios and e-assessment, for example there’s an interview with a local college using an eportfolio tool here:
  http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/programme_edistributed/regionalstories/epistle.aspx
  or further case studies here:
  http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearning_pedagogy/elp_casestudies.aspx
  or here : http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/themes/elearning/programme_elearning.aspx