Developing Work-Based Delivery for IT User Skills Steve Astington LSC Cheshire & Warrington

1. Developing Work-Based Delivery for IT User Skills Steve Astington LSC Cheshire & Warrington Elaine Smith West Cheshire College 2nd November 2005

2. Some Key Drivers Supporting improvements in the responsiveness and flexibility of the supply side. Development of flexible provision and delivery mechanisms which meet employer needs. The LSC is considering the potential of alternative assessment models making use of electronic / online methods.

3. Some Key Drivers LLSC key objective – increasing engagement of employers in workforce developmentThe Skills Strategy requires actions to make qualifications more flexible, and establish credit frameworks to help learners and employers package the training programmes they want - - - - -

4. Some Key Drivers Nationwide network of colleges and other providers which are focussed on the needs of employers and their workforce………..Network will be quality marked by business so that employers can recognise the specialist support and range of training services they provide………………..The real test of the quality mark however will be employers’ willingness to invest more including in full cost provision……………

5. Some Key Drivers “LSC wholly or partly funds over 600 IT qualifications - most of which are IT user - and around 764,000 IT user qualification ‘starts’ a year. Only 54% of these courses are successfully completed, with around 350,000 ‘starts’ lost with no record of achievement………difficult for employers to understand skills acquired (too many qualifications, lack of currency with job needs, and no record of skills for those that do not complete a full course)”Sector Skills Agreement for IT

6. New suite of qualifications replacing previous Using IT NVQ with new occupational standards compiled by e-skills UK Level 1, 2 & 3 knowledge and competence of IT in the workplace Highly flexible allowing credit accumulation Exemption for existing knowledge and skills – links to qualifications e.g. ECDL & CLAiT Targeted on employer skill needs – relies on employer engagement in planning and delivery

7. Delivery Model ASSESS – training needs analysis, what are the real IT skill needs in a business? TRAIN – short courses, 1:1 training, online courses, fit to existing course programme, accredit company based training ASSESS– light touch, reduce bureacracy but maintain rigour of showing competence – new approaches to assessment

8. Why is the LSC interested in ITQ? Paper based overload of existing NVQ’s - the classic lever arch portfolio – electronic portfolio benefits Lack of fit of NVQ standards to real employer training needs NVQ and other IT course completion rates are often poor Time taken to achieve awards IT qualifications are often not directly related to work based skills Existing IT qualifications do not meet LSC Level 2 targets

9. Why is the College interested in ITQ? Core business is meeting employer needs Flexible - Relevant Benefits employer:- Visibility of progress and achievement Evidence is job specific and real Less time from work place Speedier completion Longer term should increase business productivity and bridge skills gap.

10. The ITQ Journey • 2003 - ITQ phase 1 pilot – West Cheshire College and Siemens • 2003 / 04 – ITQ national pilot (phase 2) – (linked with • Merseyside & Manchester LSCs) e-portfolio provider event at LSC Greater Merseyside to showcase products - 8 learning providers used eNVQ through ITQ Pilot – 600+ candidates • E-Portfolio awareness raising event – Feb 04 • 2004/05 school support programme – interest in ITQ • 2005 online training needs analysis tool developed and trialled

11. E-Portfolios

12. E-Portfolios

13. Electronic Evidence

14. Electronic Evidence

15. Electronic Evidence

16. Ailsa 35 • No formal IT Qualifications • PA to Director • Working towards ITQ level 3 • Clare 19 • Trainee chef • Working towards NVQ Catering • June 30 • Management trainee • Working to NVQ Management One Platform – 3 different learners

17. E-Portfolios E-Portfolios have helped inform future strategy at the college Contribute to the FE responsive to business agenda Development of more tailored delivery Informing future HR strategy: Managing case loads/staff deployment Improving flexible working practices Beginning to impact on role of assessor/trainer efficiency and effectiveness Positive recruitment – benefits to assessor/trainer

18. E-Portfolios So what are the advantages and disadvantages of e-portfolios?

19. E-Portfolios - Advantages Increased management data - visible progress monitoring Reduced travel costs Less risk of broken appointments and disruption Frequent candidate contact - faster progress and awareness More user friendly than paper based systems Improve retention and achievement Cuts down on paperwork More appropriate way of recording NVQ skills and building use of IT

20. E-Portfolios - Disadvantages Assessor and IV staff need time and training on how to adopt the new system Technology helps – tablet PC, digital pens, digital cameras, voice recorders for evidence collection Need to have a clear strategy on why e-portfolios are being used and senior management involvement – cost/benefit analysis Range of provider solutions – no interoperability standards – what is the best choice????? Costs – additional registration costs (balanced against less travel, speedier achievement and effective monitoring)

21. Feedback Staff from Siemens Congleton receiving ITQ certificates following the West Cheshire College ITQ pilot programme“Everyone worked together with their individual managers and fitted the sessions around working hours……. There was a diverse mix of manufacturing and office based employees……. We had minimal disruption……… Everyone was very positive on their return from each session and completed the course in record time”

22. Feedback “ Average time to assess the health and safety unit reduced from about 3 hours to 45 minutes, using audio to record candidate question and answer sessions, rather than paper based evidence collection ” “We have not yet had a negative comment about the process from the candidates ” “ Now spreading the use of paperless portfolios to the 14 -16 age group, trial in Hospitality and Catering ” “Basically we don't want to go back to paper portfolios! ” West Cheshire College Staff

23. Feedback I undertook ITQ with some apprehension…….previous experience of NVQs was a colleague doing an NVQ in Customer Services…….very monotonous and paper based. ITQ course was simple once the explanation from book was put into "laymans" terms ……doing the course on line with a few visits for both video and audio interview (again easy) was easy to control.  No paper, just working on files (things I already do) and adapting them to suit the requirements of the units. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it a challenge and stimulus PA to MD of Bibby Distribution Ltd

24. http://docs.ali.gov.uk/surveys/e-learning_mar05/report/5/sub4/7.htmhttp://docs.ali.gov.uk/surveys/e-learning_mar05/report/5/sub4/7.htm West Cheshire College - what does e-learning add? The college carries out observations to record the use of ILT during teaching, and completes a summary report on what is seen. It is piloting e-NVQs in 2005 and will compare performance on these qualifications with the performance of learners on NVQs delivered in a traditional way. The college has already delivered and assessed one NVQ as an e-NVQ, and saw high rates of achievement and retention as well as significant time savings for assessors.

25. Moving Forward Significant targets for ITQ delivery – 5000 for North WestPublic sector IT training needsITQ sharing good practice event plannedBuilding demand and delivery capacityRegional approach on ITQ delivery, linked to sector skills agreement and regional ICT strategyInvolving employers and sector lead bodies

26. Training Needs Analysis Tool Training needs analysis was one of the major requirements from the ITQ pilotsDeveloped through regional LSC funding by Rare ITFocussed on getting a clear picture of individual IT competence against the IT occupational standards

27. Thanks for listening Steve.Astington@lsc.gov.uk 01606 320079 E.Smith@west-cheshire.ac.uk01244 670645