Applications for the Learning Innovation Grant, Phase 4 are due on 8th September.  Application forms and criteria are available on the Excellence Gateway.  I am visiting the networks over the next couple of weeks to talk about LIG funding and explore ideas for consortia bids and in some cases individual bids.

The JISC RSC YH Work Based Learning Launch Event took place on Wednesday 14th November 2007 at Bedern Hall, York. The event report is available via the RSC YH website events page

What delegates said about the event:

• ‘It was good for sharing practice, looking at and getting ideas and resources for implementing e learning.’
• ‘Very informative in all sessions’
• ‘[Good for] information on new types of technology; explanation of bid requirements (LIG3).’
• ‘The RSC team [were good] and the ideas that you were trying to put over and develop. Very good and positive speakers.’
• ‘Presentations helped to gather further ideas to develop e learning.’
• Excellent technology, particularly Amazing.com’
• ‘[It was good] being shown activities of other providers and being able to network.’

Suggestions for future events and RSC support for Y&H Work Based Learning Providers were:

• Undertaking ‘e reviews in WBL’ – recording pastoral support
• Assessor training in the use of ‘E’ collection methods – how to photo/video observations, etc
• Bid writing techniques, including method of scoring/assessing bids
• Sharing information about learners, speaking of their experience.
• Subject specific examples
• Technologies to support learners with learning difficulties
• Hands on workshops

As a result of the feedback from the event and the Work Based Learning support survey, we are planning events and support materials around all delegates’ requests.

Events Planned:

• Bid Writing
• E Guides Forum (with hands on workshops & good practice examples)
• Excellence in Inclusivity
• Excellence in e learning

Providers have now been informed as to whether their LIG3 bids have been successful. The list of successful bids has not yet been officially released but I have asked around and am extremely pleased that some Y&H Providers have received a positive response. I’ll post more when it’s official.

LSC funded providers will be eligible to claim £2,500 of capital funding to purchase ILT equipment when a delegate from their organisation completes one of the eligible CEL programmes listed below:

ConnecT, eQuiP, Realise, FE eXplorer, WBL eXplorer or Leading Change for Digital Dividends.

LSC funded providers will be eligible to claim £2,500 of capital funding when a delegate from their organisation completes an eligible CEL programme. However, in the interests of fairness across providers, each provider will only be able to claim a maximum of £7,500 from CEL (so attendance of up to 3 delegates across eligible programmes), irrespective of how many delegates they send on the eligible CEL programmes. This funding is available up to a maximum of 275 delegates attending on CEL elearning programmes listed above running between 1 November 2007 and 31 August 2008.

How long is the capital grant available for & how can we claim it?

Available up to September 2008

In order to claim the grant, each provider/attendee will need to attend the full programme and submit an action plan describing the capital equipment they are proposing to buy and how this purchase will support them to embed the learning from the programme that they have attended.

For further information please telephone 0870 060 3278 or email:

Lydia for ConnecT, Realise or WBL eXplorer queries:
Lydia.mcdowall@centreforexcellence.org.uk

Lisa for eQuiP, FE eXplorer or Leading Change for Digital Dividends queries:
Lisa.noronha@centreforexcellence.org.uk

E Guides – NIACE

Grants will also be allocated to individuals who complete the NIACE E-Guides training programme and will amount to £2,500 per person up to a maximum of three participants per organisation. To be eligible to receive a grant, an individual must complete the three days training and submit an action plan showing how the funds will benefit their organisation.

Places are limited on the E Guides courses so you are advised to book as soon as possible.

For further information about the E-Guides training programme including dates and a booking form go to
http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/TrainingCourses/eguides.htm

What is LIG Funding?

LIG stands for Learning Innovation Grant and the funding, provided by the LSC, is awarded to providers by the Association of Learning Providers (ALP). The funding aims to encourage innovative developments and to improve the use of e learning/ILT within the Work Based Learning sector.