A view from Kingston

1. A view from Kingston Some thoughts on collaborative ePortfolio project work in Nottingham Sandra Kingston, Project Manager Centre for International ePortfolio Development, University of Nottingham sandra.kingston@nottingham.ac.uk

2. Why am I here? • Share experience from a different region • Show we don’t have all the answers • But here are a few things about how we’ve worked and some lessons we’ve learned • Explain what we’ve done so far • A bit about how we did it • What worked for us • What we haven’t done VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

3. Take one Project Manager…. With a portfolio career… VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

4. Location, location, location… VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

5. A regional context VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

6. A short history lesson…. • PDP at University of Nottingham: ePARs • Internet PARs with University of Newcastle (included work with City schools from 2000, looking at pre-HE and employment) VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

7. Enter MLEs for Lifelong Learning programme: • Phase 1: HEI as hub (SHELL and NIIMLE) • Phase 2: ‘introducing the alien’ VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

8. VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

9. JISC meets Nottingham: ‘Specifying an ePortfolio’ • Focus on UCAS process and structured HE admissions • Work with City LEA (rather than specific schools) and a 6th form college • ‘International’ project VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

10. RIPPLL: focus on the region • Study-study/study-work pathways • Local partners and others… VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

11. What we wanted to do • Extend existing relationships • Raise awareness • Explore ePortfolio for continuity across transition between partners • Join up systems in the region – modelling LLL • Focus on wider range of learners and pathways • Support WP agenda VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

12. What we actually did (some of the technical stuff) • Technical consortium agreed minimum common data set • Demonstrated single learner journey across 5 transitions • Prototyped electronic FE application process • Influenced design of partner systems • Used UK LeaP standard (BS 8788) • Please don’t ask me about Shibboleth! VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

13. Some more of what we did (less technical stuff) • Explored needs and possibilities for learners, tutors and administrators • Looked at pathways across transition points • Realised that the technical work is often more straightforward! • Showed need for further work (and funding…) VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

14. What we’re pleased with • Established cross-sector communication • Built bridges between Nottingham HEIs • Brought employers into the picture • Shared vision/experience across sectors • Enhanced reputation: ‘the Nottingham work’ VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

15. What worked for us… People • An overall champion NOT from HE • Key mole in the City LEA • Champions within each institution • Keeping technical and pedagogic people apart! • Techies like to get out… • But pedagogic staff are bound by timetables: better to go to them VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

16. Some more of what worked for us • Building capacity: sharing resources and expertise • Peer training • Sharing the vision… • Focus on ‘intended practice’ rather than blue skies • But being realistic about what is possible now, taking small steps VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

17. Things we’ve realised are important • Recognising that it takes time to find the right people • Finding the right forum for sharing expertise: meetings, workshops, training sessions • Listening to the people with experience… and going the extra mile to formulate and format what they say • Maximising use of people’s time, remembering they have day jobs • Understanding that we all do things differently, and why VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

18. Vision • Need shared vision (even if it comes from one place initially) • Need realistic vision: small steps towards a bigger goal VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

19. Working with partners • Recognise differences: cultural and local • Exemplified by differences in practice, pedagogic and technical • And in experience • And in expectations! VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

20. Does this sound familiar? • ‘It doesn’t fit with Institutional policy…’ • ‘It won’t work here…’ • ‘Our vendor won’t let us…’ • ‘We want to but our technical people can’t..’ • ‘We can but our pedagogic people don’t seem to want..’ • ‘But you need an internet connection…’ • ‘We can’t let our students do that!’ • ‘Our students want it but the staff won’t do it…’ • ‘The staff want it but the students won’t do it…’ • ‘We haven’t got the time/staff/money…’ • Our internal systems don’t talk to each other, so how can we hope to…’ • We’re putting in a new system next year so there’s no point at the moment Any answers? VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

21. We still have a long way to go… (some ‘bigger picture’ stuff) We’ve moved data between systems (‘pass the parcel’) But the JISC e-Framework advocates a web services approach… Or there’s the Microsoft approach to interoperability… Tension between the monolithic ‘put it all in’ and smaller, agile approaches VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

22. And there are still the elephants... VLE/MLE workshop, University of Hull

23. Thanks for listening. Any questions? www.nottingham.ac.uk/eportfolio sandra.kingston@nottingham.ac.uk