Past Projects

Below is a list of projects we have undertaken in the past. More recent project information is also available.

Development of an Online Phonetics Tutorial
The teaching of phonetics (the science of speech sounds) at Newcastle University uses a set of video recordings from the 1980s. We have been funded by an internal innovative teaching and learning grant to assist with the recording of new materials and development of an online tutorial.
Jun 08 - Oct 08
Plagiarism Awareness Programme for Teachers and Support Staff
We are running a series of three awareness raising workshops to equip secondary school teachers and librarians, them with the required knowledge and skills to provide guidance to pupils on avoiding plagiarism. The materials from the workshops will be put together into a package designed for use in cascade training within schools.
Sep 08 - Oct 08
More info
Virtual Open Day for Newcastle University
An online open day is being developed for the School of Geography, Politics & Sociology featuring video interviews with staff and students.
Jun 08 - Nov 08
Teaching Information Skills in Secondary Schools
We are designing and developing a package of materials for use in cascade training sessions to equip school librarians and teaching staff with the knowledge and skills to develop their pupils' information literacy. The materials will be tested and disseminated via a one day workshops.
Sep 08 - Nov 08
More info
NorMAN web site redevelopment
The North East regional network operator asked us to update the content and design of their web site to meet the requirements of a new contract.
Aug 08 - Sep 08
Scenario Planning to support JISC's Users & Innovation programme
This was a joint project with JISC infoNet. A Scenario Planning infoKit was written and used it to run several workshops to support projects within the Users & Innovation programme.
Nov 07 - Aug 08
Assessment for Learning: Harnessing Technologies

As part of the Higher Education Academy/JISC Collaboration Initiative and its assessment campaign, Netskills is providing two workshops for the higher education community entitled Assessment for Learning: Harnessing Technologies.

Google Maps Project for School of Geography, Politics and Sociology

Netskills developed an interactive map to show the range of countries where research is carried out within the School of GPS at Newcastle University. The approach taken was to use the Google maps API to create a custom map overlaid with appropriate markers and user controls.

Collaboration Tools Study

As part of JISC work on Business and Community Engagement (BCE), Netskills conducted a study of the experiences of staff in using tools to support collaboration. A survey and interviews led to a set of "user reflections" documented against a compilation of available tools for collaboration.

Final report (PDF)
E-Administration Think Tank

JISC recently coordinated a national Think Tank on e-Administration, facilitated by Netskills staff, with 40 invited experts. The event aimed to discuss and contribute to the JISC e-administration agenda, supporting institutions in their use of ICT for administrative activities and organisational processes.

Web Site Evaluation for JISC Services

This short project is to evaluate six JISC Services web sites. A presentation of initial findings was delivered at the JISC Services Skills Day plus an overview of the evaluation criteria. The findings of the evaluations will be written up as a short report for each service who volunteered for evaluation.

Podcasting Training for JISC Users and Innovation Programme

Netskills was commissioned to develop a practical training session on the use of podcasting. The event was piloted at Netskills in September 2007 and received excellent feedback. This event is now running as part of our national workshop programme and is also available for onsite delivery.

Using Technology for Project Communications

This custom event demonstrates how web technology can enhance project communication and dissemination. The event considers how innovative uses of technologies such as blogs, wikis, podcasts and social networks provide new and effective ways for projects to engage with their communities.

Higher Education Awareness for IT Suppliers

Netskills, with the UCISA procurement group, has developed a workshop to raise awareness with suppliers of IT systems and services on the nature of higher education, and the purchasing processes within institutions.

UCISA CPD Framework and Toolkit

This project provides a framework and toolkit to help support the ICT education community understand the CPD landscape. A "skills matrix" has been developed, in conjunction with tools and guidance on practical ways to link skills, qualifications, CPD activity and job descriptions.

Enterprise Simulation for Precast Concrete Operations (ESPCO)

Collaboration with University of Teesside's Centre for Construction Innovation and Research (CCIR), in a Java developer supporting role. The project makes use of simulation software to model and simulate precast concrete processes, using Java for development of the processes and interfaces.

Devolving Diasporas Research Database Project

Netskills is supporting an AHRC-funded research project based in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University, designing and developing a web-based database for their research output.

Eduserv Information Literacy Projects

Funded by: The Eduserv Foundation Autumn 2006

The Eduserv Foundation awarded Netskills two grants to fund pilot workshop programmes related to information literacy in the schools sector. The projects, funded as part of the Eduserv Information Literacy Initiatives, investigated the information skills of teachers and raise awareness of plagiarism.

JISC e-Assessment Glossary Web Site Testing

Funded by: JISC Autumn 2006

An evaluation of the JISC online e-Assessment Glossary involving a survey of identified user groups and an event with representatives of these groups to evaluate the design and usability of the site.

UCISA CPD and Accreditation Study

Funded by: JISC Spring-Summer 2006

A feasibility study in collaboration with the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA), investigating CPD and accreditation activities for IT staff in HE/FE. The study involved a review of current provision of CPD and accreditation within the sector and explored the viability and sustainability of an accredited CPD scheme. Activities covered in the feasibility study included surveying the community (through consultation and interviews), liaising with stakeholder bodies and writing case studies.

Web Site Evaluation for JISC Digitisation Projects
Funded by: JISC Digitisation Project Spring 2006
An evaluation of six project web sites from the JISC Digitisation programme, considering aspects of design, usability, technical correctness and content, with an evaluation report compiled and presented to the project teams at a workshop session.
i-Skills for University Administration
Funded by: JISC Summer 2005 - Summer 2006
An ambitious programme to disseminate previous work from the JISC Staff Information Skills Set (SISS) programme, conducting research including an analysis and evaluation of administrators' information skills in collaboration with the Association of University Administrators (AUA).
Online Learning for ACL Practitioners Extension Programme
NLN & NIACE funded: Spring 2005 to January 2006
More targeted to the e-Guides audience, and working closely with the NIACE ICT and Learning team, this extension programme included additional elements such as online pre/post workshop activity, and evaluation of both the pilot and follow-on programme. Delivered around a series of practical face-to-face workshops across the nine RSC regions, the programme aimed to contribute to e-Guides development in areas such as the use of online communication tools, and creating, hosting and using online learning resources.
e-Assessment Awareness Programme
JISC Funded (X4L programme): Spring 2005 - Autumn 2006
A programme of workshops aimed at increasing the awareness of the potential of online assessment, knowledge of standards, interoperability and re-use. Practical skills in using a range of common assessment tools was provided through workshops across the UK. The JISC X4L assessment tool TOIA was featured in the programme.
Mapping to the Scottish Qualifications Framework
SQA funded: Spring-Autumn 2005
An exercise exploring the learning outcomes of Netskills workshops in relation to the SQA e-qualifications framework, in order that Scottish educators could demonstrate how learning contributes towards the Scottish qualifications.
ACL Managers Training Programme in e-Learning
LSC & NLN Funded: Winter 2004 to Spring 2006
A series of four distinct workshops was designed, working closely with a steering group and development team of sector stakeholders and specialists. The workshops covered a balanced mix of strategic management topics and practical skills, including key priorities for the sector, such as learning platforms and quality and inspection.
Online Learning for ACL Practitioners Pilot Programme
JISC funded: Autumn 2004 to Spring 2005
Nine one-day workshops in all the JISC English regions were delivered, training 120 participants in total. Topics included key concepts and issues in online learning; overview of online learning resources and where to find them; online communication tools and their potential uses in ACL; simple methods of creating and hosting web-based learning resources.
Case Studies for Effective e-Learning Practice
Spring - Summer 2004
The research and development of ten case studies on effective e-Learning practice, from a range of educational organisations. The case studies were developed through site visits and interviews of practitioners and learners and formed the main part of a highly successful JISC publication, widely distributed throughout the UK.
Specialist Colleges Programme
LSC & JISC Funded: 2004 - 2006
A multi-agency collaboration including LSC, JISC, NIACE, Becta and TechDis, providing a programme of development activities to improve the e-Learning skills of staff in Specialist Colleges. Netskills delivered a series of workshops "An Introduction to Online Learning for Specialist Colleges", followed by a voucher scheme to enable staff to attend regular Netskills workshops, and a licence granted to all Specialist Colleges to provide access to training materials in key topics.