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Library Learning Centres in Cambridgeshire: Learndirect delivery. Cambridgeshire Library Learning Centres. Learning Services Team operates 8 learning centres, which are Accredited Learndirect centres Accredited European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) test centres
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Library Learning Centres in Cambridgeshire:Learndirect delivery
Cambridgeshire Library Learning Centres • Learning Services Team operates 8 learning centres, which are • Accredited Learndirect centres • Accredited European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) test centres • Accredited test centres for OCR qualifications • Accredited test centres for City & Guilds qualifiacations • Staff support 42 community access points
Staff Training • All centre tutors undertake the following • City & Guilds teaching adults qualification • City & Guilds supporting Skills for Life qualification • Learndirect staff training – some 16 modules • All have an ICT qualification to at least NVQ 2 • NVQ = National Vocational Qualification
What is Learndirect? • Established by government in 1999 • Delivery arm of the University of Industry (UfI) • Over 2000 centres across the UK • 24 hour help-line and website www.learndirect.co.uk • Wide range of courses – over 750 • IT and Computers • Business and Management • Skills for Life (literacy and numeracy)
Learndirect Courses • Learndirect ICT Courses • Basis complete beginners’ course • Introductory courses • Intermediate courses • Advanced/ IT professional courses • Learndirect business courses • Aimed at small and medium enterprises • Also individuals • Wide range – Customer care, communication skills, personal development • Learndirect corporate • Solutions for large employers
Learndirect Courses • Skills for Life • Literacy and numeracy courses • Aimed at improving reading and writing skills and increase peoples’ ability to get a job or move to another job • Lots of work aimed at those with young children • Automotive Skills • Environmental Management • Language Courses
Learndirect Accredited Learning • Increasingly linking e-learning to recognised qualifications – National Qualfications Framework • Offering courses that link to • ECDL • CLAIT • Microsoft Office User
Learning Delivery • Courses are mainly delivered via e-learning • Can study in centre or at home • Many courses subsidised or free • Increasingly linked to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) • Supported by tutors in centres or online through national tutor database.
Learner tracking & Monitoring • All learners have an Individualised Student Record (ILR) created when first register • Learner activity is recorded on a log and on Learndirect system • Each learner has a personal tutor assigned to them, whom they meet every 3 weeks for a progress review • Courses have start & end dates by which a learner should have completed their course
Learner Outcomes • All learners have outcomes or learning objectives which are set for them in a Learner Action Plan when start their learning. • These are vital to prove completion and/or achievement for which extra funding is available. • If a learner doesn’t complete then they have to be withdrawn.
Funding • Some Learndirect courses receive funding • Most of the ICT portfolio • Some Business & Management Course • All Skills for Life course • Funding is for learner support • Amounts can range from £30 to over £700 per course • Depends on • number of learner support hours • Level of course – more advanced higher level of funding available
Conclusions: the future of e-learning • 2003 saw start of Government consultation – Towards a unified e-learning strategy • E-learning’s role in achieving Department for Education & Skills (DfES) objectives • Raising standards • Improving quality • Removing barriers to achievement • Preparing for employment skills • Widening participation
Conclusions • Consultation will look at contribution which can be made by e-learning • Personalised support • Online communities • Flexible study • Individualised learning • Collaborative learning • Quality at scale • Learndirect will develop along these lines