Case Studies

JISC RSC Scotland now has a new website

www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/scotland

Visit out new site for the most up-to-date information. Please get in touch by emailing support@rsc-scotland.ac.uk if you can't find something you're looking for.

The old website will be removed in Summer 2013.

Follow this link to the iTech Case Studies page on the new website.

All our new Case Studies can be accessed from the Jisc RSC Scotland Showcase and the archive below is gradually being transferred across the the Showcase website where you can search the case studies on a huge range of topics and a wealth of other resources too.

iTech Case Studies 2012

Below are some of the fantastic Case Study contributors for this year. Winning and highly commended case studies are marked with a (W) or (HC).

iTech Case Studies 2011

Loved for Longer
Below are the much loved case studies from 2009 to 2011 and awarded at last year’s conference. They are still very much alive and current and are often referenced and highlighted as examples of innovative use of technology in learning and teaching.

Access and Inclusion

Free Resources to Support Inclusion - at Coatbridge College
Using Livescribe Smartpen - The Learner's Experience
Using AccessApps - The Learners' Experience
Supporting Dyslexic Students on the Journey to Excellence - at Reid Kerr College
Creating Accessible Learning Materials with CALM @ Glasgow Metropolitan College
Creating an Accessiblility Policy - Coatbridge College
Adapting PowerPoint presentations for Deaf learners - at James Watt College
Transformational: Opening new doors - at North Glasgow College College
Creating a Healthy Working Environment
My iPhone & the accessibility features: A student perspective - at Central College
Using EduApps resource to support the delivery of learning and teaching - at Dumfries & Galloway College
Using the JISC TechDis Toolbar to Make Your Website More Accessible - at the University of the West of Scotland
University of St Andrews Alt Format Suite
The Implementation of MyStudyBar for all staff and students - at South Lanarkshire College
Student Self-Evaluation and Use of Mahara in Supported Learning Programmes at Barony College
Using Logitech Camera with students on supported learning programmes at Cumbernauld College

Staff Development

Implementing e-Skills for e-Learning - at Ayr College
Implementing e-Skills for e-Learning - at Reid Kerr College
Online Survey of Staff ICT Skills - at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Staff Development - at Clydebank College
Workshop Wednesdays and e-CPD - at Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
Encouraging shared practice and CPD in Technology Enhanced Learning through support groups - University of the West of Scotland

Managing the Curriculum

Focus Groups - at Motherwell College
GOAL Project - at Anniesland College
InfosmART - at Glasgow School of Art
A new PDA in Resilience Management - at Coatbridge College
Social Studies Research Lab - at Cumbernauld College
Equalities Data Tool - at Cumbernauld College

Technology for the Curriculum

Sign in - Once Only - at Stow College
Charged up for 2009 - at Cardonald College
The BUFVC Box of Broadcasts - Glasgow Metropolitan College
Working with the JISC Digital Media Service - at Barony College
Using Moodle easyVoter Student Response System - at Cumbernauld College
DG MySpace - embedding the use of ePortfolio - at Dumfries and Galloway College
Video for Beauty Treatments - at Cumbernauld College
Turnitin anti-plagiarism software - at University of the West of Scotland
Using Technology to Reflect on Work Experience Placements - at Cardonald College
Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Develop Skills - at Cardonald College
Eco Learning using e-Learning - at Kilmarnock College
Benefits of having a Learning Technologist - at Clydebank College
Taking an Integrated Approach to the Curriculum - at John Wheatley College
Nintendo Wii - at Cumbernauld College
The use of tablet PCs for e-assessment - at South Lanarkshire College
The use of an electronic attendance system - at South Lanarkshire College
Using WIKIs with Travel & Tourism students - at Cardonald College
An Information Literacy and Plagiarism Pilot Project - at The City of Glasgow College
Comic Life: Induction Resources - at Glasgow School of Art Library
Using Assessment21's ABC and Electronic Voting Systems for formative and summative assessments - at the University of the West of Scotland
Using Turnitin as a teaching tool and for summative assessment - at the University of the West of Scotland
Using an ePortfolio system (Mahara) with Beauty Therapy Students - at Clydebank College
Access to Science - at Langside College
Using Web 2.0 Tools to Develop and Support a Multi-Campus Class - at the University of the West of Scotland
National Online Trade Union courses at Stow College
Digital Convergence Programme at Cardonald College
Xbox 360 with Kinect at Cumbernauld College
Music Matters WIKI at the RSAMD
Immersive Use of Mahara for Creative Industry Courses at Cumbernauld College
Embedding e-Assessment in module delivery using Assessment21's ABC at UWS

Technology and Infrastructure

Migrating to Virtual Servers - Cardonald College
Migrating to Virtual Servers - Barony College

Education in a Virtual World - Cardonald College

Cardonald College are undertaking an international project with five partners to use Second Life (a Virtual World) as an educational tool. The aim of the project is to determine if they can improve students marketing and enterprise skills and engage them more productively using a Virtual World, which they can develop.
The environment is very like that of a game and can be demanding technically for the students to work in. They need some programming skills in order to create some products and to configure the environment in new and exciting ways. The students are taking part in an 'Online Fair', where the five partner countries will get their students to display their creations.
The groups from each country will be judged and a winner form each country will travel to turkey for the 'real world fair'. In the real world fair the students will be judged by a large company and a winner chosen.

Facilitating Merger Communication using Open Source Tools - City of Glasgow College

Communication is a vital element of any successful merger. Although email is an ideal form of communication the vast amounts of documents and information made the logistics of using email quite unmanageable. We needed a robust, secure easily accessible and managed system that could be tailored to our needs. We choose to develop an intranet solution based on Drupal, an open source content management system which was chosen as the platform of choice for our college website. Building on previous experience we had a workable solution in place in less than 2 months from inception to delivery.

Digital, Anonymous Voting for Student Elections - City of Glasgow College

The City of Glasgow College developed a robust, easy-to-use, accessible and anonymous voting system to be used for student executive elections. The system is built on the Single Transferrable Vote principle. Each election can have multiple 'positions' on offer (e.g. the student can vote for a Student President and two Student Vice-Presidents), and each eligible student can only vote once per election. It is also unfeasibly difficult to trace which votes belonged to which student, so votes are anonymous. The system also integrates with our Moodle VLE, MyCity.

The Learning Technologies Team Supporting Staff in a Newly Merged College - City of Glasgow College

The Learning Technologies team provides dedicated support to staff and students to help them use technology to enhance their learning and teaching. Merger and the resultant restructuring in 2010 provided an opportunity to reflect on how best to provide this support. A carefully designed structure and improved communication methods has ensured that the Learning Technologies team continue to successfully engage with increased numbers staff and students across 11 campuses and provide high quality support for all users.

ExamView: Integrating key student systems with the VLE - City of Glasgow College

The Exam View application was a rapid development project which had a single purpose - to make better use of the data gathered in the Student Records system by 'pulling in' student results to the VLE. The application has been used by staff and students and has received positive feedback. In particular this project focused on the development of the following block:
View exam results: developing a 'window' onto the UNITe Student Records system to allow students to view their exam results once logged into Moodle.
It was anticipated that the block could be used by any institution using the same systems (Moodle, UNITe) and that the community could use the underlying code to develop blocks relevant to their own systems. This has been made available to the sector.

Using Mahara for effective presentation and assessment of digital media coursework - Forth Valley College

This case study looks at the use of Mahara (e-portfolio) 1.4 for the assessment of a group of learners on the 1st Year HND Sound Production Course at Forth Valley College.
While undertaking the Digital Audio Workstations 1 unit, Mahara was used as the primary method for presenting finished work, gathering assessment evidence, marking and providing feedback and encouraging self reflection and review.

The Kinect Magic Wall at Cumbernauld College.

The "Magic Wall" uses a Microsoft Kinect motion sensor and a projector to create an engaging and immersive virtual environment where learners can explore different themes relating to life at college. It is designed to be portable and consists of a kinect sensor and a laptop, connected to any classroom projector or screen. In the current prototype version the sensor detects motions and gestures allowing the user to explore content in PowerPoint and Prezi presentations using body movement. The output is projected on onto a wall or screen using a projector, with the user making decisions on what they want to explore next..

Using Video in Learning and Teaching: Supporting Early and Late Adopters at Cumbernauld College.

Cumbernauld College has been promoting the use of video in learning and teaching to aid understanding and reflection and to make the learning experience more enjoyable and accessible. This case study demonstrates that by targeting training and support differently for early and late adopters, a college can continue to move forward by both increasing video coverage and encouraging innovative pilots.

i-Student Scheme at Coatbridge College.

Coatbridge College has implemented the i-Student Scheme - an innovative purchase scheme that allows students from all backgrounds to purchase mobile computing devices (Apple iPads and MacBooks) for use within their studies. Although students themselves purchase the equipment, the College underwrites the credit agreement. Read this Case Study to discover the impact this scheme has had on learning and teaching in Coatbridge College.

A Journey in Three Parts: Adult Literacy and Core Skills Screening over Decade. A Needs Led Model - at City of Glasgow College.

This case study offers a longitudinal account of the Adult Literacy and Numeracy (ALN) profiling process, which was developed over a 10-year span in a FE college that has undergone two mergers. It illustrates how staff developed and delivered this ALN profiling process during this period and documents the changes made as the service has evolved and been amended to meet the changing needs of both the institution and the students.

Use of Microsites to promote learner success, engagement and effective communication - at Coatbridge College.

This case study looks at the impact that Coatbridge College's high quality microsites have created an effective platform for communication of the work and life of the various areas of the College. They bring learners and staff closer together in a spirit of shared responsibility for and ownership of the processes and outcomes of learning.

The use of ePortfolio for assessment and feedback in SQA graded unit investigations at the Scottish Agricultural College.

This case study reflects on the use of ePortfolio at SAC for both formative summative assessment and how feedback has become a joint process where the student is enabled to comment back to the tutor on the feedback given, enrich their learning experience.

Let's Get Virtual: Embedding inclusive learning and teaching in a student-generated experiential learning event - at UHI.

This case study documents how a student-generated virtual conference for a range of international, distance and local students has embedded the UHI's Inclusive Learning and Teaching approach in an experiential learning event.

An analytic approach to improve e-Learning with Moodle at Kilmarnock College

The Learning Resources team at Kilmarnock College wanted identify the areas and resources that needed enhancement on their VLE. This case study looks at how they used Piwik Analytics to enhance the reporting facilities available within Moodle.

Creating Ebooks for iPad at Cumbernauld College

Cumbernauld College is experimenting with mobile technology in the form of iPods and iPads. A pilot project has been conducted with ebooks for iPad using the Book Creator app. Beauty care students have made a reflective record of their work placement in Malta and an instructive book for hair design. The Book Creator app is inexpensive, intuitive and can be used repeatedly by multiple users. The ebooks produced by the app can be generated in ePub format and as PDFs.

Using Second Life with distance learning students on the Masters in Equine Science Course at the University of Edinburgh

Jo-Anne Murray is programme director for the online Masters in Equine Science. The course is delivered totally online and students are located in various countries throughout the world, including Germany, Canada and the USA. The course is delivered part-time over three years and around 25 students each year. To successfully deliver, engage and support students through this course, truly innovative and new models of teaching and support was required. A wide range of online communication and learning tools and platforms are used. This case study focuses particularly on the use of the virtual world software, Second life.

Video Tutorials to support Computer Architecture Module at Reid Kerr College

Lecturer John Welsh found that students studying computer architecture had difficulty understanding some of the concepts, such as binary numbers. To illustrate the concept and present it in a more visual way, he developed a series of videos that they could access 24/7 and as often as they wished. Feedback from students was very positive and really improved their understanding of the theory and overall achievement.

Embracing ebooks in the Hairdressing and Beauty Department at Dundee College

Staff from the Hair and Beauty Department at Dundee College were traditionally not keen to adopt ebooks and online resources of their own volition. Through JISC’s ebooks for FE project, an opportunity arose to supply key online resources for these departments, making it the ideal time to work with staff to train them in their use.

The staff in this department were not confident in their abilities to utilise this technology, so a series of group training sessions were held with Learning Hub staff delivering the sessions. Since these sessions, the uptake among department staff has been remarkably high and there has been a subsequent considerable drop in hard copy resources purchased for this area.

Handwriting vs Typing Essay Examinations: Giving the students the choice at the University of Edinburgh

Why should students, who have grown up with computers around them, be able to perform to their best in examinations where they are forced to write longhand on paper? This case study offers a solution: students can, if they choose, use their own laptops, onto which they install special exam software, which ensures the security of the work. This study presents the technical solution, and raises some unexpected issues about why students are, in practice, still tending to choose to handwrite!

Core Skills Diagnostic Screening Tool at Cumbernauld College

Cumbernauld College’s Core Skills Diagnostic Screening Tool is a collection of Moodle quizzes which test three of the Core Skills taught in Scotland’s colleges: Communication, Numeracy and Using ICT. The aim of the screening tool is to quickly gauge an appropriate level of Core Skill for each student on a full-time non-advanced course. The screening tool has been developed by a team of college lecturers and the Learning and Teaching Technologist, with feedback and suggestions from students and lecturing staff.

Going Mobile at Glasgow University Library

What began as an investigation into the procurement for a mobile interface to the library catalogue, rapidly developed into a comprehensive and strategic review of how the library would deliver services for a mobile environment. A Mobile Technologies Group comprising a small number of library staff was formed to look at the full spectrum of opportunities and issues related to delivering services via mobile devices. With the full backing of the library senior management, the group began an investigation into the development of a mobile strategy and implementation plan.

An evaluation of the Introduction of an online high stake examination in campus and distance learning nursing cohorts at UWS

All Nursing and Midwifery approved programmes must have a summative assessment as a compulsory element of the programme but where learning was shared across two distinct cohorts (one campus based, face to face taught students and the other distance learning taught) the staff at the University of the West of Scotland needed to find a system that could facilitate sitting invigilated online high stake examinations from diverse geographical locations. This case study explains how the Assess By Computer (ABC) system was identified as uniquely suitable for this purpose.

IT Twilight classes at The Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow School of Art carried out a Student IT Skills survey in 2009 to find out if there was a need for basic IT training. From the Survey results it was clear that GSA could not assume students had a baseline level of IT skill and furthermore, the survey highlighted a clear demand for software training in more specialised software. GSA offered voluntary Twilight sessions to staff and students, outwith normal teaching times. These sessions are proving to be so popular that it is generally two people sharing one computer. Now in their second year of Twilight sessions, find out why these classes are attracting so much interest.

The use of a multiparty video conferencing service for international learning and collaboration

Find out why staff at the School of Health and Nursing at The University of the West of Scotland chose Nefsis, a multiparty video conferencing and collaboration software, for teaching their distance learning module in Advanced Vascular Access Module.

xGames: Using educational computer games for group learning - at Reid Kerr College

Uisng 4 wireless XBox controllers in combination with a wireless receiver connected to a windows PC and David devised an educational quiz game played in teams. The games enabled him to create a range of quizzes on topics to encourage group learning and a template for others in the sector to use.

A collaborative approach to carrying out DSA needs assessment remotely via video conference - at the UHI

This case study highlights the collaborative journey that the University of the Highlands and Islands has undertaken as a verified assessment centre for Disabled Students Allowance to set up and to assess students via video conference, and to ensure that students located throughout the University's network of 13 Academic Partners have equal access to this user friendly service in the student's own locality.

Technology to Support Learners - at Edinburgh's Telford College

"Learner first, learner focused" is the mantra at Telford College. The IT Team were looking to create a secure mobile application that was personal to each learner and give them real time access to all the key applications that they use regularly, such as timetabling, Moodle and Unit-e. This case study explains how learners at Telford College now have personalized information about their bursary and timetable at their fingertips, while the college has made considerable savings on the printing of handbooks year on year.

Implementing e-Assessment and Building an e-Assessment Centre at Edinburgh's Telford College

This case study details how Edinburgh’s Telford College have embedded the use of e-Assessment across the college through the development of a dedicated e-Assessment Centre, staff development and use of e-Assessment authoring tools and delivery platforms. Discover how the e-Assessment team addressed security concerns from staff, approached the building of the centre and the views of staff and students on using e-Assessment at the college.

Using VoiceThread for formative and summative assessment - at University of the West of Scotland

VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia platform that holds images, documents and videos and allows tutors and peers to navigate slides and leave feedback in a variety of forms - written text, audio files by mic or telephone, or by video on a webcam. This case study looks at the use of VoiceThread on the Master of Education Artist Teacher programme at the University of the West of Scotland to engage students in critical debate around arts practice and pedagogy.

Video based course material production with Camtasia Studio - at University of the West of Scotland

John McQuillan, lecturer in the School of Computing, and programme leader for the BSc/BSc (hons) Computer Animation degrees at UWS was looking for ways of overcoming issues regarding multi-campus delivery of lectures. This case study is a personal reflection on how the use of Camtasia Studio screen recording and video tutorial software came about and why it is now was used to create recordings of lectures and introductory tutorials and why it is now being used to produce the bulk of the teaching material for a range of modules in the Computer Animation degree programmes.

Delivering a full HNC Engineering Course internationally on Moodle - at Anniesland College

Engineering Staff and students from Anniesland College are now actively using their VLE (Moodle) for delivering HND and HNC Engineering courses that run within the college as well as online to students from as far away as North Sea oil rigs to the Middle East! This case study is a snapshot of how the Engineering Department moved their courses online and the experience of finding suitable interactive SCORM packages.

Technical & Production Arts Interactive Induction Pack - at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

The main aim of this project was to expand and enhance induction support on the Technical Production Arts course and provide an elevated emphasis on preliminary learning to all technical students through a Digital Induction Resource and associated introduction tutoring. Enriching the induction experience for new students is of paramount importance to engage and further develop initial understanding of practical skills and abilities needed to work safely within a live theatre environment.

Documenting Technical Skills with PAPERCLIP - at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Paperclip - Production and Performance e-Resource Collaborative Library of Interactive Publications - is an open source wiki developed as a solution to documenting the challenges and technical solutions that arose as part of the process of production throughput. Paperclip is now used to record many staging solutions, projects and a host of student generated handbooks. Students are supported by staff, industry professionals and peers in the continual development of this online resource.

Amazing Apps - at Clydebank College

In October 2011 Clydebank College piloted using an Apple IPad2 to use in a number of curricular areas including Beauty Therapy, Sports and Health Care. Apps relevant to each curricular area were purchased and included anatomy and human biology. Staff were trained in the use of the IPad and apps by the Learning Technologist via informal training sessions.

Making Sharing Easy in an Education Institution - at the UHI

This case study covers the creation and introduction of an online service to facilitate the sharing of resources by staff across the University of the Highlands and Islands. The requirement for sharing resources has become more prominent as the University moves towards greater networked and blended delivery of learning and teaching.

The use of 3-D Technology to Deliver the Science Curriculum - at Dumfries and Galloway College

3-D technology can be used to add innovative and dynamically interesting dimensions to the teaching and learning process. The use of 3-d technology in a range of subjects can be used to emphasise, highlight and trigger attention processes to key learning concepts in the classroom.

This case study highlights the process that Dumfries and Galloway College engaged in to research, analyse and implement the use of 3-D technology in various subject areas across the college.

Problem-based Learning in the Engineering Subject Network - at the UHI

This case study covers a six month European-funded project which aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of engineering students by increasing the use of problem-based learning (PBL) in the curriculum, in particular at the HNC and HND level. Technology is used to enhance the problems and to provide immediate feedback to students and staff.

Supporting learning with Facebook, Google & Wordpress - at Carnegie College

The Digital Media and Photography teams at Carnegie College started using Facebook as a hub for blended learning delivery in December 2010, when Scotland was hit by severe snowstorms. Travel was precarious over a number of weeks and students started using Facebook as a means of communicating with each other and then with lecturers, in order to keep up with their college workload.

Putting learning at the heart of the social experience, combined with a development and delivery platform based on Google Apps, (through the domain Carnegiedigital.com) proved to be extremely effective in improving student participation in coursework and student support social through networking sites.
read more...

Using QR codes & mobile technology with hairdressing students - at Perth College

This case study focuses on the use of using QR codes to provide access to interactive resources that can be used with mobile smartphones. Resources for hairdressing students included case studies, quizzes and formative assessments that included multimedia and interactivity.
read more...

Using Social Networking software with learners who have additional support needs - at Perth College

This case study describes how NING (social networking software) was used and how many other web based tools were integrated into it to provide a user generated community website for a group of learners with additional support needs.
read more...

Knowledge Pods: just in time learning chunks - at Perth College

This case study describes work done by David Paterson from Perth College who created Knowledge Pods. These are 1 to 2 minute videos that focus on theoretical aspects of sound production that can be accessed online, on the move, on mobile devices.
read more...

Using a Social Networking Site to Build an Academic Learning Community - at Napier University

In 2009, Colin Gray, Academic Development Advisor & Associate Lecturer created a social networking site based on the ELGG open source system and started to use it to build a learning community of academics within Edinburgh Napier University. Last year the site was trialled with a group of professional MSc students and an evaluation was completed on the site functionality. Since then many improvements have been made and a repeat evaluation is planned.
read more...

Using e-Portfolios to create a learning community and to support assessment and reflective practice - at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly the RSAMD)

Creating a learning community and supporting assessment and reflective practice are key aims for those working in FE and HE. It is something staff at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly the RSAMD) have been focusing on and using the ePortfolio tool, Mahara, to support. Staff and students have been making use of the opportunities to incorporate rich multi-media, to blog, upload videos of performances and more to enable reflection on practice, assess in more effective ways and foster inter-disciplinary engagement across the institution.

Implementing e-Skills for e-Learning - at Ayr College

Ayr College implemented the eSkills Training Transfer Model devised by the RSC team and have successfully rolled out the eSkills programme within the college. They participated in the original training delivered by RSC staff. Staff from the College attended the half-day induction workshop held at the RSC offices. The college were provided with a mentor from the RSC team who acted as the main point of contact for all issues and support relating to the eSkills Training Transfer.

Implementing e-Skills for e-Learning - at Reid Kerr College

Over the last academic year Reid Kerr College have adapted and implemented the eskills for elearning course developed by staff at the RSC Scotland south & west. In this audio recording lecturers Anne Usher, David Farquhar and Derek Smilie who have completed the 8 modules describe the benefits of working through the course and the impact on learning & teaching. Joan Archibald who is responsible for supporting the course outlines different strategies she has used and the institutional benefits gained. listen to the interview.....

Sign in - Once Only - at Stow College

David McDade - Section Leader, Computer Networking at Stow College has integrated two complementary open source learning systems providing a single sign on process to minimize barriers for learners and reduce administrative overheads. After the RSC demonstrated Mahara - the open source e-Portfolio system - David resolved to try to integrate it with the Moodle VLE that he had piloted with some of his students last year.
read more......
listen to the interview.....

Charged up for 2009 - at Cardonald College

This case study is based on an interview with Steve Bishop, IT Helpdesk Manager at Cardonald College. At Cardonald they've been using a very clever remote mouse/media control (the MX Air from Logitech) which can be charged for up to a week at a time and has a range which should work in large classrooms. They are in the process of rolling this technology out to departments across the college.
read more......
listen to the interview.....

Free Resources to Support Inclusion - at Coatbridge College

The Regional Support Centre has been working with a number of supported institutions exploring the growing range of free and open source assistive technologies to support inclusion in FE and HE in Scotland. Over the last few years, the increase in free enabling technologies has allowed for a greater exploration of technology based solutions for a wide range staff and students, not only those who have identified barriers to participation, but also for people who have different learning styles, language support needs or who would benefit from different approaches to supporting the learning process or adapting their working environment to suit their needs.

Free enabling technologies can also be of great help for those who are in the process of applying for Disabled Students Allowance and, whilst waiting for commercially available resources to arrive, have the opportunity to take advantage of a short term solution until they receive the assistive technology solution identified for them. In March 2009, Coatbridge College students investigated a range of free enabling technologies available via the AccessApps initiative and demonstrated resources that would help them in their studies.
read more......

Supporting Dyslexic Students on the Journey to Excellence - at Reid Kerr College

View the work carried out by Reid Kerr College in supporting dyslexic learners. The case study highlights how the college identifies learning difficulties when students enrol for courses and how barriers to learning are addressed. There are several contributions from students with learning difficulties. College staff talk about study skills programmes that have proved to be effective and JISC RSC SW Scotland talk about technologies to support inclusion.
watch this video.....

Creating Accessible Learning Materials with CALM @ Glasgow Met

In response to the public duties set out by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, Glasgow Metropolitan College embarked on a one year cross-College initiative to train key staff on how to create accessible, electronic documents in the College house style. The project ran under the tagline CALM: Creating Accessible Learning Materials. find out more.....

Creating an Accessiblility Policy - Coatbridge College

In this video case study Margaret McKay of the RSC Scotland South & West talks to Errol Luders of Coatbridge College about how they approached the accessibility policy on their website. Craig Mill of the RSC Scotland North & East region demonstrates various accessibility technologies. watch the video .....

Migrating to Virtual Servers - Cardonald College

In this audio case study, Mark Clark talks to Martin Forte of Cardonald College on his experiences of migrating the college's critical systems onto virtual servers. This audio recording contains some images that will be displayed by your player.
Read more .....
listen to the interview .....
listen to the presentation

Using AccessApps - The Learners' Experience

The RSCs and JISC TechDis are jointly disseminating AccessApps - a suite of portable applications that are suitable for enhancing the learning experiance of students with accessibility issues. In this video case study Margaret McKay of the RSC Scotland South & West talks to several students who have embarked on exploring some of these applications. watch the interviews .....

Creating a Healthy Working Environment

In this audio case study features discussion between Margaret McKay from RSC SW Scotland, Andy Russell Regional Manager of Posturite Scotland and Katherine Metters Physiotherapist and Ergonomist at Posturite. This interview discusses the importance of creating healthy working environments by reducing the risk of work acquired repetitive strain or acquired ergonomic problems. This audio podcast contains some images that will be displayed by your player. listen to the interview.....

The BUFVC Box of Broadcasts - Glasgow Metropolitan College

Glasgow Metropolitan College has recently adopted the BUFVC Box of Broadcasts facility. Tony Donnelly and Nicola Buddo of the college library services talk to Mark Clark and Joan Walker of the JISC RSC Scotland S & W. Tony and Nicola discuss the impact that the BUFVC service has had on their learners and academic staff.- This audio podcast contains some images that will be displayed by your player. listen to the interview .....

Using Livescribe Smartpen - The Learner's Experience

In this video case study Josh Duffy a fourth year engineering student at the University of Glasgow (who happens to be dyslexic) discusses his experiences using the Livescribe smartpen to record lectures and take notes. The Smartpen will take audio recordings of lectures or meetings and ties the audio to handwritten notes on special paper making it easier to recall what was said at the time you drew a diagram or wrote a particular note. For further information contact the RSC or Livescribe.

Watch the video case study.....

Watch our demonstrations, where Jonathan Park from Iansyst introduces Livescribe and explains how it works and shows how to synch the Livescribe to your computer.

DGMySpace - Using ePortfolios at Dumfries & Galloway College

After the completion of the ISLE project in 2008, Dumfries and Galloway College have embedded the use of ePortfolios and now have over 1200 learners actively using an ePortfolio ......read more

Using Moodle easyVoter Student Response System at Cumbernauld College

Colleen Hurren from Cumbernauld College has been a member of the Scottish Moodle User Group Forum (SMUG) since its inception in 2005 and has been actively promoting the use of Moodle within the college for several years. Moodle easyVoter was mentioned by a presenter at the SMUG meeting in December '09. Colleen immediately saw the potential in having this student response system and set about introducing it to staff at Cumbernauld College.
read more......

Working with the JISC Digital Media Service

In response to a college-wide drive to embed blended learning across the curriculum, the college's Learning Materials Development Unit has produced a variety of visually rich learning and training materials with guidance from JISC Digital Media. read more......

Adapting PowerPoint presentations for Deaf learners

The JISC RSC Scotland south & West and a lecturer in design from James Watt College of Further & Higher Education decided to transform a traditional PowerPoint presentation to make it more accessible for her Deaf learners. Find out more ..........

Transformational: Opening new doors

Featured in the 'JISC TechDis Go Mobile: Maximising the potential of mobile technologies for learners with disabilities' publication, teaching staff at North Glasgow College who work with students with mild and moderate learning difficulties have been involved in initiatives that use multi-media tools and mobile technologies to transform their learning and teaching. Throughout this initiative, teaching staff have acknowledged the impact students play in leading the way in this field. The staff at North Glasgow have created exciting experiences for student and opened new doors to create innovative learning opportunities.

'We found that the learners were highly skilled in using games consoles and could wirelessly network with one another to compete during breaks - something we didn't know how to do'.
' No matter what you come up with, the learners will open your eyes to something else. Don't assume you know better!'

Jim Brady, Extended Curriculum Manager, North Glasgow College

Download a copy of 'Go Mobile' in pdf.

Focus Groups - at Motherwell College

The RSC was invited to follow up the results of a staff survey carried out at Motherwell College during February 2009. Focus groups was the methodology chosen as they provide an opportunity to gain in-depth insights into particular issues and are a valuable means by which to collect detailed qualitative data. As well as delving more deeply into certain areas, the aim was also to obtain an overall picture of the perceptions and views of staff and students about the current use of technology to deliver elements of courses.
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Video for Beauty Treatments - at Cumbernauld College

In order to help students with their revision in practical skills for Beauty and Hairdressing, Cumbernauld College Learning Technologist Colleen Hurren set up a pilot using video to record beauty therapy classes. The videos were embedded into the VLE, allowing students to access them from both College and home. Students could re-play the videos to practice their timing, hand positioning and technique in real time, while watching the video. The videos proved very popular with both students and staff and became rapidly adopted in other subject areas in the College including Catering and Hospitality, Motor Vehicle and Sports Performance students.
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Turnitin anti-plagiarism software - at University of the West of Scotland

With UWS stating an institutional commitment to make Turnitin available on all modules where text-based plagiarism is a potential issue, Neil McPherson, Lecturer in Sociology at the UWS has written a paper reflecting on student perception of using anti-plagiarism software and the potential of Turnitin as a technical and pedagogical tool.
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GOAL Project - at Anniesland College

The GOAL Project was a collaborative project which aimed to improve access to Lifelong Learning by training key personnel in e-skills, developing on-line learning materials and thereby provide opportunities for individuals to access new learning methodologies and other activities. The project Manager at Anniesland College sought information and advice on a number of ICT issues. Discussion about project communications, how best to organise, test and share project outputs, copyright issues and possible qualifications were all areas that the Regional Support Centre could advise on and provide links to other appropriate JISC services and advice.
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Staff Development - at Clydebank College

In liaison with the college's Professional Development Coordinator the JISC RSC Scotland S&W have contributed to a planned programme of training courses onsite as part of a college wide approach to up-skill staff, linked to the development of e-learning capacity and move to a new build. Moving to a new build was a good opportunity for a college-wide staff development initiative to encourage new ways of delivering the curriculum using technology where appropriate, whilst using the new building to its full potential.
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Online Survey of Staff ICT Skills - at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

As part of their on-going aim for excellence in teaching, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) needed to take a snapshot of the current position of staff ICT skills on the learning curve and to identify preferred methods of learning. This would give a starting level from which The Academy could then measure improvement as a result of proposed staff development and training.

Facilitated by the RSC Scotland South & West, RSAMD conducted an online survey of staff in February 2009 using the RSCs Training Needs Analysis (TNA) tool. An institution-wide exercise of this magnitude required dedicated and informed staff to execute it, along with strong support from senior management. RSAMD faced a particular challenge regarding staff numbers. In addition to 190 full time teaching staff, RSAMD also employ in the region of 700-900 part-time peripatetic specialist staff. The TNA would provide a useful overview of staff training needs and impact on the use of e-Learning.
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Using Technology to Reflect on Work Experience Placements - at Cardonald College

This podcast features a discussion with Ian Jenkins Senior Lecturer at Cardonald College. Ian talks about how he incorporates both publishing software (Microsoft Publisher) and presentation software (Microsoft PowerPoint) into his Learning for Work course. Second year students are asked to accumulate a range of material whilst on work experience placements and, ultimately, combine them purposefully to create presentations which will be delivered to first year students on the work placements they have undertaken.
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Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Develop Literacy, Communication and Research Skills - at Cardonald College

John Archibald, Support for Learning Tutor at Cardonald College has been working with the students to create a Blog as an alternative to more traditional newsletters. This is a Web 2.0 tool which can be used to create written information that can immediately be viewed as a web page. The online editing feature on Blogs allows text to be added, formatted and web pages to be created very easily without the author having any experience of developing web content.
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InfosmART: Research Skills for Art and Design Students - at Glasgow School of Art Library

For many art and design students, information skills do not come as second nature. GSA students operate within visual worlds, and find text-heavy resources alien and intimidating - many find academic writing problematic. There was a real need for information skills training within the student body and GSA Library staff rose to the challenge. InfosmART is a portfolio of easy-to-use and engaging interactive courses, readers learn how to develop and improve their individual research and information handling skills.
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Eco Learning using e-Learning

This case study is based on the pilot delivery of an HNC unit, delivered using no paper for either delivery or assessment. The HN unit - Network Technology and Data Communication is delivered as a traditional taught unit over one academic year of one hour per week. Kenny Girvan the eLearning Manager developed all the teaching materials and assessments suitable for delivery through their learning platform and provided supporting communications and tutoring using the college VLE (Moodle)
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listen to the podcast......

Benefits of having a Learning Technologist - at Clydebank College

The appointment of a dedicated learning technologist in October 2008 has contributed significantly to the increased use of technology by both staff and students, evident in the widespread use of the college VLE. The benefits of having a learning technologist in place working alongside two dedicated learning and teaching advisors has had a tremendous positive impact on the development of e-learning capacity.
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My iPhone & the accessibility features: A student perspective - at Central College

This video podcast highlights the benefits of the iPhone and presents an overview of the accessibility features that come packaged with this hand held device. Gary Copland is a NC in Digital Media Computing student at Central College Glasgow and as a visually impaired student he finds the iPhone a particularly useful resource.
In this podcast Gary demonstrates some of the main accessibility features and provides advice for other students thinking of buying a similar device.
watch the video.....
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Using EduApps resource to support the delivery of learning and teaching - at Dumfries & Galloway College

Stephen Shellard Lecturer for Supported Learning Programmes at Dumfries and Galloway College has been using some of the free and portable technologies that feature on the EduApps suite of free enabling technology tools. Stephen introduces some of the applications, discussing and demonstrating how he uses them in practice with his students.
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Watch the video.....
Read a transcript of the interview....

Taking an Integrated Approach to the Curriculum - at John Wheatley College

John Wheatley College was keen to better integrate core skills into the curriculum. Jacqueline Henry used WIKI software to better engage students and provide a platform for elements of the core skills curriculum to be delivered in a more vocational context.
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Workshop Wednesdays and e-CPD - at Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

Since December 2009 the college has piloted an innovative approach to staff development. Each Wednesday the college opens at 10am to allow a dedicated hour of CPD for all college staff. Fulton Dunn and George Howie have been the driving force behind this development, which has been enthusiastically received by staff. The organisation and administration of the system has been managed via the bookings module within Moodle. Staff have also access to an online CPD system to record all activity they undertake.
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Nintendo Wii - at Cumbernauld College

In 2008, Cumbernauld College bought the Nintendo Wii with the Wii Fit balance board and Wii Sports as part of the Healthy Working Lives programme for staff. The intention was to site the Wii Fit permanently in the college staff gym so that staff could use it as part of their exercise programme. For logistical reasons, this wasn't possible so new uses were found for this equipment.
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The use of tablet PCs for e-assessment - at South Lanarkshire College

Tablet PCs are used widely across the college. This study focuses primarily on the use of tablet PCs for e-assessment and wider learning and teaching activities across the faculty of construction, with some examples of how they are used in Hairdressing and Business also covered.
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The use of an electronic attendance system - at South Lanarkshire College

The attendance system at South Lanarkshire College (SLC) is a combination of the following:
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Using the JISC TechDis Toolbar to Make Your Website More Accessible - at the University of the West of Scotland

The University of the West of Scotland Enabling Support Team have been piloting the use of the JISC TechDis toolbar on their departmental website.
Watch the video....
Read the transcript....
Download the Toolbar.....

Using WIKIs with Travel & Tourism students

Kenny Park has been using WIKIs with travel & tourism students for both learning about travel geography and planning study visits. In this podcast Grainne Hamilton RSC eAssessment Advisor talks to Kenny about how he has been using WIKI software to engage his students. WIKIs are being used by students for research, planning, collaborative work and assessment.
Listen to the interview .......
Read a transcript of the interview .......

An Information Literacy and Plagiarism Pilot Project at the City of Glasgow College

This case study gives an overview of a pilot project which addresses the need for information literacy skills training for students in conjunction with the use of the Blackboard Safe Assign plagiarism detection tool.
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University of St Andrews Alt Format Suite

The Alt Format Suite at the University of St Andrews plays a crucial role in ensuring that students with barriers to learning and print difficulties have parity of access to academic textbooks and written course work.
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Comic Life: Induction Resources - at Glasgow School of Art Library

This case study highlights the work carried out by the Library and Learning Resources Service at the Glasgow School of Art. The podcast features Jude Boyd, IT librarian at the Glasgow School of Art who explains how the library team worked together to create a 'comic book' style induction resources for students and staff. The goal was to create an alternative and a more visual style of presenting information for library users which would make the information more accessible to a wider range of users. For example students with dyslexia, those learners with more visual learning styles and also for overseas students who may not have English as their first language.
Listen to the interview .......
Read a transcript of the interview .......

Visit the Glasgow School of Art library website.

Using Assessment21 and Electronic Voting Systems for formative and summative assessments - University of the West of Scotland

Dr Neil McPherson, Lecturer in Sociology at The University of the West of Scotland gives a brief overview of his recent experiences of using a variety of e-Assessment tools for formative and summative assessment. In January this year, Neil ran a summative exam for over 80 students in 6 different invigilated labs at the Hamilton campus of UWS. Within 2 hours the exam had been invigilated, moderated, marked and the marks had been entered in the student information system. Watch this podcast to find out how he did it!
Watch the video....
Read the transcript....

Using Turnitin as a teaching tool and for summative assessment - University of the West of Scotland

Jo Oliver, lecturer in nursing at The University of the West of Scotland talks about her experience of using Turnitin, a plagiarism detector used by lecturers and students to avoid plagiarism and ensure academic integrity. Jo and her students are using Turnitin as a tool for summative assessment, and as a teaching tool. Find out how Jo has become “quick off the mark” by using Turnitin as a marking tool, giving greater consistency in marking papers and faster feedback to students.
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Read the transcript....

Encouraging shared practice and CPD in Technology Enhanced Learning through support groups - University of the West of Scotland

Bill Steele, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Academic and Professional Development at The University of the West of Scotland talks about two groups he has set up to encourage staff to engage in the use of technology across the University. The first group is known as LATTE which stands for Learning and Teaching Technology Enhancement. This group is the early adopters of technology who were fairly comfortable with exploring different IT tools for teaching and learning. The second group is an action group focusing on basic elements of technology, for those with a growing need to embrace technology but who perhaps have a steeper learning curve This is the aptly named HINT group which stands for “Help I’m No Techie”.
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Using an ePortfolio system (Mahara) with Beauty Therapy Students

Under the auspices of a Leonardo funded European project, VTCT Beauty Therapy Level 3 learners undertook a two week placement period in June 2010 within various beauty therapy establishments in Rimini, Italy. As well as acquiring valuable experience within various beauty therapy establishments in terms of techniques, practices and resources in a different European country, students would document their experience using an ePortfolio system which could be shared for other groups and contribute to their future studies.
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A new PDA in Resilience Management

This case study highlights the 'mission critical' role that online Learning Technology and Business Systems have played in the development and delivery of an e-learning course from Coatbridge College. The new level 9 Professional Development Award in Resilience Management encompasses teaching, learning and research techniques and is delivered off-campus via Blackboard to students throughout Scotland. The students are currently working in a wide variety of industries and agencies, including Police Force, Fire and Rescue, Local Authorities, NHS and the Private and Voluntary sector.
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Access to Science

This innovative Project created online, multimedia rich resources which can be uploaded to institutional learning platforms based on the concept of the popular US television series CSI -Crime Scene Investigation and ER - Emergency Room. The Project aims to use these themes as a 'hook' for young learners to inspire their interest in further study of the physical sciences.
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The Implementation of MyStudyBar for all staff and students - at South Lanarkshire College

This case study highlights how South Lanarkshire College have undertaken a cross college approach in order to provide free enabling technologies to all staff and students across the college. This has enabled cross college access (and free) support to many students with identified barriers to learning and has also been an initiative that has encouraged the use of a range of study support, organizational and literacy support tools to support all learners and to assist staff in the way they support all their students.
This was initiated and undertaken by Lorraine Cochrane who is a lecturer at the college and supported by Elaine Rodgers the Support for Learning Manager and Ann Hefferman Head of Faculty.
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Listen to students talking about how they use MyStudyBar to support their learning.
Read the transcript of the podcast with students.

Listen to teaching staff talking about how they use MyStudyBar to support their students.
Read the transcript of the podcast with teaching staff.

Listen to Support for Learning staff and College managers talking about how they implemented a strategic approach to provide free enabling technologies to support all staff and students.
Read the transcript of the podcast with Support for Learning staff and College managers.

Using Web 2.0 Tools to Develop and Support a Multi-Campus Class

This case study highlights how web 2.0 tools have been used to engage learners studying a Computing Systems course taught at three campuses. The module content was also redeveloped in a very short time scale by making use of Open Educational Resources and Creative Commons licensed materials.
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National Online Trade Union courses at Stow College

This case study gives an overview of a successful national online suite of Trade Union (TU) courses which Stow College have been developing and delivering since 1999. It highlights what factors have influenced decisions in designing successful online learning courses aimed at learners with a range of IT skills; and which have successfully increased student retention on the courses (over 200 students have completed the 13 introductory courses in the last 12 months). It highlights the successful implementation of an introductory e-Learning course which has a positive impact on student retention and achievement rates.
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Social Studies Research Lab at Cumbernauld College

The Social Studies Research Lab is a new resource for Social Studies learners to use to support their own individual learning and carry out a range of activities, group work and research. Courses that utilise the room include NQ Highers, NQ Combined Studies, Access to Social Science and HNC Social Science.
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Xbox 360with Kinect at Cumbernauld College

Cumbernauld College has successfully used games consoles for learner engagement, health and fitness, teamwork and curricular activities in both campuses over the past few years and the Nintendo Wii with the Wii Fit and Just Dance having been particularly popular. When the Xbox Kinect became available in December 2010, it seemed a natural progression to purchase this console. Whereas the Wii tracks the player's movement through a handset, the Kinect tracks the movement of the whole body.
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Watch the video - X Box Kinect Adventures
Watch the video - X Box Kinect Wizard of OZ

Digital Convergence Programme at Cardonald College

The Digital Convergence Programme (DCP), is run by Cardonald College, Glasgow, in partnership with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). It is a training initiative for journalists, photographers, PRs and others involved or interested in the media. The case study has a complimentary audio interview made by the JISC Regional Support Centre Scotland in discussion with Kathleen Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Dario Sinforiani, Senior Lecturer in Television within the School of Digital Media.
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Listen to the interview .....
Read a transcript of the interview......

Server Virtualisation at Barony College

Ian Linwood - IT Services Manager at Barony College near Dumfries has managed a server convergence project that not only made significant savings but also enhanced IT service delivery.

Equalities Data Tool at Cumbernauld College

All FE and HE institutions are now required to analyse learner retention and attainment performance at course level in relation to gender, age, ethnicity, and disability. To assist this analysis at Cumbernauld College, a tool was designed and developed using the FES (Further Education Statistics) return. The college's Quality Manager in partnership with the Head of Information Systems and Technology have created a tool which is efficient, accessible and simple to use and produces reports that can be used by both management and staff alike to analyse equality data and thereby feed into the college's quality improvement process.

Music Matters WIKI at RSAMD

In the context of studying for the PG Cert, Mary Troup introduced the use of WIKI software with 2nd year students taking the community music elective. WIKI software was used to support the Community Music programme with the aim of engaging students in knowledge sharing, team reflection, collaborative working and to develop their insight into the capacity for e-Learning to enhance their learning experience. Read more.....

Listen to the first podcast to complement the written case study
Read the transcript

Listen to the second podcast to complement the written case study
Read the transcript

Immersive Use of Mahara for Creative Industry Courses at Cumbernauld College

Cumbernauld College have taken an immersive approach to the use of the e-Portfolio system Mahara, for all Creative Industry courses at Cumbernauld College. Mahara serves as a learning and teaching hub, as well as a platform for both formative and summative assessment. The use of the e-Portfolio system allows students to showcase the media rich work they produce throughout their studies and to pull together feeds, external content, to reflect on influences and link theory with practice, all in the context of their personal portfolio. For assessment, students also submit 'views' of their work via Mahara, which depending on context, may be shared with peers and a range of teaching staff, to enable a 'feedback conversation' about their work.

Student Self-Evaluation and Use of Mahara in Supported Learning Programmes at Barony College

The e-Portfolio system Mahara has been introduced to the Supported Learning Programmes at Barony College to enable student self-evaluation and reflection. The JISC RSC Scotland S&W talk to the Learning Technologist at Barony College and the Supported Learning Programme tutor to discuss how they worked together to roll out the e-Portfolio for this programme.

Embedding e-Assessment in module delivery using Assessment21's ABC at UWS

This case study examines the experience of embedding Assessment21's Assess By Computer dedicated online assessment system in module delivery on the CertHE Social Studies programme at the University of the West of Scotland. It outlines some of the central pedagogical and logistical benefits of employing ABC within a framework that focuses on the potential of the system to enhance the student experience of learning and assessment. It considers the potential of ABC to deliver and stimulate feedback through the mechanisms of formative assessment in a way that encourages self-regulated learning. It also identifies the benefits that ABC can offer students and teaching staff in the delivery and marking of high-stakes summative assessments.
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Using Logitech Camera with students on supported learning programmes at Cumbernauld College

Cumbernauld College have been using Logitech Webcams in their supported learning courses. Linda Aitcheson who is a supported Learning Lecturer and Colleen Hurren who is the Learning and Teaching Technologist discuss how they have been used and benefits for different student groups.

Kilmarnock College Staff Journey to the Cloud

Following the success of using Microsoft hosted services for Kilmarnock College students, it was time to revisit the staff provision. The college took the decision to move all staff email to the 'Office365' cloud environment, taking advantage of the recently enhanced resources being made freely available online by Microsoft.

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