RSC Services
The JISC Regional Support Centre for the Scotland South & West is one of 13 RSCs covering the UK. The JISC Regional Support Centres in the UK, promote and support the use of network learning technologies and resources by supporting staff in developing eLearning capability in their organisations. Our role is to support the 20 Further Education Colleges and 3 Higher Education Institutions in South West Scotland.
The Services we provide:
RSC Scotland South & West offers a range of services to its supported FE Colleges and Higher Education Institutions. More detailed information on services for specific staff groups or on particular topics can be found on the relevant pages of the website, as detailed in the menu boxes on the left.
Help Desk
Enquiries by phone or email are forwarded to the member of staff with the most appropriate expertise to help. These are some of the areas in which we can provide help:
- JISC collection of electronic resources and services
- JISC support services, which include: advisory and research, negotiation, training & awareness and digitisation services.
- ICT networking and infrastructure
- Institutional strategy and ICT
- Accessibility issues relating to eLearning
- eAssessment
The helpdesk will operate from 09.00 - 17.00 Monday to Friday. Outwith these periods, a telephone answering service will record calls, which will be actioned as soon as possible. See our Contact Details page for phone numbers and addresses.
Training
The RSC can offer training tailor-made to your Institutional eLearning needs. Workshops can be delivered either in-house or at the RSC
- RSC facilities - The RSC has two meeting rooms and a training lab equipped with 12 PCs, interactive Whiteboard and other Learning Technologies
- RSC Trainers - The RSC has a team of trainers experienced in FE and HE who can deliver workshops on a range of topics related to eLearning
- Brokered Training - The RSC has a database of external trainers and can broker training in specialist areas
- eSkills for eLearning - In addition to short workshops, the RSC offers this modular course which is also available for Institutions to implement in their own staff development programmes
Strategic Support
- Training Needs Analysis - The RSC will customise an online TNA for your institution, analyse the survey data and produce a short report. See the Staff Development page for further information.
- Training Transfer Strategy - The RSC will assist colleges in planning and implementing their own eLearning staff development programmes. See the Staff Development page for further information.
- Focus Groups - Primarily aimed at college senior and operational managers, the RSC has developed a suite of briefings on the benefits of using new technologies adnd the issues and challenges that they present for learning providers. These briefings are short, thirty minute sessions designed to be delivered either face to face or online. See the Managers page for further information.
- Topic Briefings - The RSC will facilitate focus group sessions to assist institutions establish staff and student perceptions & opinion about the use of technology on courses and the added value they feel has been provided. See the Managers page for further information.
- Online Accessibility Self Evaluation Service (OASES) - The RSC offer an institution specific online survey, based on a model devised by JISC TechDis, to allow them to determine, at a strategic level, where they are in terms of embedding inclusive practice across their organisation. A full report is provided based on the findings of all staff groups involved. See the OASES page for further information.
Research & Development
The RSC carries out research into areas of eLearning and develops resources in response to the needs of the sector:
- National Surveys - The RSC has conducted online surveys on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council e.g. ETNA, eAssessment
- Resources - The RSC has developed user-friendly guides and workshops to promote the use of technology and embed eLearning into teaching e.g. Making the Most of Microsoft, eSkills for eLearning
Dissemination & Sharing
The RSC will disseminate information on new resources, technologies and best practice within eLearning:
- Forums and User-groups - the RSC facilitates Forums and User-groups for discussion, sharing and dissemination of information and experience. See the Forums & User Groups page for further information.
- RSC Website - this website is updated regularly with news, events, funding opportunities and information about resources
- In Contact - The RSC publishes a termly newsletter with eLearning and technology related articles and JISC Ask, a question and answer feature where staff are invited to send in questions. The The Newsletters archive is available online.
- InClusion (formerly eQuality) - The RSC publishes a termly access and inclusion newsletter with information on current assistive technology and learning support issues and the latest services on offer from the RSC. The The Newsletters archive is also available online.
- JISCAsk! - This feature from In Contact and has been extended to Institutions who are offered a regular supply of questions with answers for use in their internal newsletters.
- RSC Newsfeed - a fortnightly e-bulletin sent to your email inbox produced jointly by the two Scottish RSCs, with the latest ICT-related news, events, resources and training. See the News page for further information.
- Mail Lists - information and new resources are emailed or posted to the relevant named contacts within each supported Institution
- RSCtv - a new initiative which is designed to provide short information and training sessions
delivered straight to your desktop. See the RSCtv page for details of scheduled sessions and information on archived sessions.
JANET Video Conferencing over IP
The RSC has a video conferencing system located in the centre's conference suite which is available to any College or HEI in the SW region for short tele-meetings or conferences.
See the JANET Video Conferencing over IP page for further information
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