Case Study: Belfast Institute
Award winning Staff Development Scheme benefits from Netskills materials
Materials User: Centre for Organisational Improvement & Staff Development
This Centre has assisted 450 academic and support staff to improve their IT skills by working towards an Open College Network Certificate in Supporting Learning using a VLE. Belfast Institute currently subscribes to the Netskills Gold Scheme.
Intended audience?
600 academic and support staff in a large further education institute with a range of diverse IT skills.
For what course/subject?
As part of the general IT staff development scheme individuals are encouraged to acquire appropriate skills in the use of the Blackboard virtual learning environment. Blackboard is used widely throughout the college for student and course support. Belfast Institute has over 43,000 learners every year so ensuring that all academic staff can effectively use Blackboard as a communication and teaching platform is a high priority for the organisation. Specifically, Belfast has developed their Blackboard staff development curriculum utilising Netskills materials.
Number of students using the materials. Which modules were used?
All academic and support staff are eligible to take part in the Blackboard staff development training. Specific training modules used include:
- Introducing Blackboard: Creating Course Content
- Blackboard Course Support Tools
- Blackboard: Assessment Tools
- Blackboard: Student Management, Grading and Other Issues
How are they delivered & used?
Part of the staff development scheme involves delivery of classroom based teaching sessions. A range of the practical tasks within the Blackboard training modules have been incorporated in to these classroom sessions to help staff get to grips with the use of Blackboard as quickly as possible. Staff also have access to the training modules on a self study basis to back up formal classroom delivery.
What benefits were identified from using the materials - for the tutor, for the student?
The Centre has won a number of awards, including a National Training Award, several Regional Awards and a FERL Practitioners' Award, for its staff development scheme. Staff members have also won Becta Beacon Awards, National Training Awards and the BT ILT Award for their use of Blackboard to support their students.
Since the introduction of the Blackboard training nearly 1000 courses now employ the VLE to assist in course delivery. Incorporating Netskills materials in to Belfast Institute's ILT staff development programme has been a cost effective approach to producing quality resources that are adaptable for a wide range of staff.