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FE13: Widening participation by overcoming barriers to ICT: a case study of Further Education and nursery collaboration
Author: Claire Jones, Bishop Auckland College, County Durham
Date: 2005

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A course entitled "technology for the terrified" was provided for parents, carers and grandparents of children in a community ICT room at a nursery school. The course aimed to boost ICT skill levels in the community and enhance adult students' capacity to help the children with their ICT work.

Outcomes

Collaboration between the college and the nursery school enabled symbiotic benefit. Adult students benefited from learning in the familiar environment of the nursery, while being taught by tutors from the college who were skilled in teaching adults. A soft play area in the nursery ICT room provided for the childcare needs of the adults. Children were supervised by childcare students from the college gaining work experience. Children were able to see the adults learn and develop a positive image of life-long learning.

ICT skills in internet access and word processing were gained. A significant boost in confidence in ICT was notable, the grandparents in particular were "over the moon" at their achievements, and the majority of the students progressed on to a basic ICT course at the college.

Critical success factors

The tutor spoke initially to each student to assess skill levels and negotiate a learning strategy for each. This type of personalised support enabled effective teaching and learning. Camaraderie in the group was valuable: "if a particular student made a mistake their peers stepped in and offered moral support and many laughs were shared."

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