Blending learning with employment support programmes using writeon.ie

1. Blending learning with employment support programmes using www.writeon.ie John Stewart National Adult Literacy Co-ordinator, NALAjstewart@nala.ie Tel: 01 4127913 086 826 0011

2. Background • Devastating impact of crises on employment of under 25 year olds and people with basic skill needs. Hard to get a job with little/no experience or low qualifications. • NALA and Southside LES collaborated on a Momentum project Personal Pathways to Employment for 60 under-25s. • Blends distance and online learning and 1:1 job supports. - web-based learning www.writeon.ie - level 2 & 3 certification- personalised supports to find work (jobs coach, guidance counsellor, work placements, employment supports).

3. Summary Profile of group • Work experience - 1/3 had none, 1/3 had less than a year. • Average participant was 3.7 years unemployed. • Education standard- 50% had Level 3 or less, 17% level 4. • 25%reported specific learning needs or difficulties.

4. Aim: to support 60 participants towards employment or further education / training Outcomes:Of the 60 participants, • 58 achieved at least one Momentum project outcome. • 12 achieved awards, completed placements and progressed to FET or a job. • Over half progressed into training or employment.

5. Personal Pathways to Employment Lessons • Profile of group – not well served before. • Momentum - difficult to apply to cohort. • Southside LES / NALA collaboration worked!! • Cost effective way to provide learning, qualifications and confidence. • Southside LES now blends www.writeon.ie with other programmes (Women returners) • May be of interest to other LES’s and partnerships (e.g. TÚS)

6. What is www.writeon.ie ? • It is a web-based distance learning resource. • Purpose of writeon.ie • To allow learners to improve their reading, writing, numbers, ICT and personal development skills and pursue accreditation if desired. • Developed for independent distance learning • Now used it as a blended learning resource by 180 centres to support their programmes. • Also a system for recognition of prior learning. • Supports available – tutoring / materials.

7. QQI Awards available on www.writeon.ie Progression to Level 4 No awards through writeon.ie Learning resources inCommunications Mathematics Digital Media

8. NALA’s Over 35,000 learning accounts on www.writeon.ie • www.writeon.ie • Provides for self directed learning plans • A blended learning resource for providers • Provides certification at NFQ levels 2 & 3 • Acts as stepping stone to further learning • Cost effective, quality assured.

9. Recognition of Prior Learning - RPL • Integral part of www.writeon.ie. • Initial, formative and summative assessment against national standards. • Provides RPL at NFQ levels 2 and 3. • Only RPL system at these levels in Ireland. • Example: Project with Southside LES used RPL to support aims and qualifications.

10. How to use writeon.ie as blended learning resource • Register and agree terms- Become a member of NALA (€50 – €150 p.a.) • Plan blended learning to enhance your programmes Or support learners to learn independently or with NALA telephone tutors. • Attend free training • Support people to achieve and provide national qualifications. NALA will support you to plan and blend www.writeon.ie into your programmes.

11. Terms and Conditions • Become a member of NALA. • All passwords will be recorded and maintained securely by the Centre Contact Person named on page 1 • No learner’s password will be revealed to another learner • Only one learner will access www.writeon.ie using any given password • The centre will try, as far as is practical, to ensure that submissions are the work of a single learner • The centre will ensure that all work submitted meets the required standard • The centre will ensure that all information supplied by learners is accurate • Centre-based tutors will make themselves aware of NALA’s interpretation of FETAC Specific Learning Outcomes and support learners accordingly • Centres will ensure that learners do not use insulting on inappropriate language while using the forum and chat functions while in the centre • No fee shall be charged for any learner using writeon for accreditation

12. 14 Steps to Accreditation • Step 1: Learners log on to writeon.ie • Step 2: Learners select an area of study • Step 3: They complete an Initial Assessment for each award they wish to work towards. (Initial Assessment identifies learners who have demonstrated all standards for a particular award, and learners proceed directly to Step 6. Such learners are treated as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) learners) • Step 4: An individual Learning plan is shown based on the outcome of the Initial Assessment • Step 5: Learners complete learning if they need to. • Step 6: Learners complete a Summative Assessment online • Step 7: Additional assessment activities are completed in an online portfolio for those outcomes that cannot be assessed by elearning alone. These activities involve real-world tasks with evidence uploaded into the portfolio

13. 14 Steps to Accreditation • Step 8: NALA verifies work, contacts learner to let them know they can apply for award. • Step 9: Learners fill in an online form, verify they have completed the work on their own and then submit for the award • Step 10: NALA completed an 'Internal Verification' process where we check learners' work and verify it meets agreed standards and followed assessment processes • Step 11: NALA complete an 'External Authentication' process where an External Authenticator reviews evidence • Step 12: Learners whose submissions have been deferred have access to a Results Appeal process • Step 13: NALA approves results and requests awards from QQI • Step 14: Awards received by NALA, checked and posted out to learner or centre

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27. Thank you John Stewart National Adult Literacy Co-ordinator, NALAjstewart@nala.ie Tel: 01 4127913 086 826 0011

28. Supplementary information

29. Try It Out – L2 • www.writeon.ie • Request a password – note it down • Give yourself a unique username (test_johnLES) • Add in (real or fake) information • Select Level 2 • Pick any award • Start working • Check out portfolio

30. Strategies for Improving Participation in and Awareness of Adult Learning European Commission, 2012 NALA listed as one of top 16 case studies for “Written Off” -TV series and distance learning

31. OECD Adult Skills Survey 2013 42% of Irish adults score at or below Level 1 on the problem solving scale – 825,000 people. 25% of Irish adults are at or below level 1 of numeracy– 754,000 people. CSO Figures 18% of labour force have qualifications at level 3 or less. Almost 18% of Irish adults are at or below level 1 of literacy – 525,000 people.

33. Blended Learning Benefits NALA experience suggests benefits: • For learners: • Facilitates independent learning and learning in different ways and styles. • Learners may require more support than you can traditionally provide. • Integrates literacy and numeracy into other content learning. • For providers: • Expands learning time and optimises learning and tutoring resources • Supports learning to meet the needs of a particular learner. • Shares content rather than reinvents the wheel every time. • Provides for certification and RPL • For policy makers • Can provide greater outcomes and achievement • Optimises resources