The DART Project Rohan Slaughter

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The DART ProjectRohan Slaughter 12/6/13
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Introduction to Beaumont College

• Scope run Independent Specialist College (ISC)
  based in Lancaster
• 96 learners in Lancaster, two satellite
  provisions with 20 learners
• 330 FTE staff
• Ofsted Outstanding
• LSIS Beacon Status
• Curriculum focussed on personal development,
  independence, skills for life
• Creative arts specialism

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The Technology Team at Beaumont
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History of the DART project(s)

• 2010/12 DART1, an LSIS funded project
• Beaumont College and National Star College worked
  with 8 colleges, in a deep support capacity
• Beaumont and Star are ISCs Independent
  Specialist Colleges
• One of those DART1 colleges was Henshaws
• Now we are running DART2, a JISC Advance funded
  project
• Beaumont College, National Star College, Henshaws
  College, Colleges Scotland, NATSPEC, JISC all
  working together
• 10 deep support colleges, 2 in Scotland
• 3 workshops, delivered twice, once in Birmingham,
  once in Stirling

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DART2

• The DART project seeks to
• Improve AT practice in the sector
• Enable the replication of the innovative
  Assistive Technologist role
• Produce AT case studies for the sector
• The project is achieving this through
• Deep Support for ten providers
• A Workshop series
• A Natspec sponsored research project

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Deep Support

• Following an application and shortlisting process
  that was overseen by JISC TechDis 10 Colleges
  were selected
• Applications for the deep support element were
  heavily oversubscribed, with approximately three
  times more applications than places available
• This indicates that there is a large unmet need
  in the sector.
• Unsuccessful applicants received priority booking
  for the workshop series. After the priority
  booking period, places will are allocated on a
  first come, first served basis
• We plan to move to a paid consultancy basis for
  this support going forward, but fear that
  contracting budgets will limit the appeal of this

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Deep Support

• Beaumont College to Support
• Bridge College
• Myerscough College
• Kilmarnock College
• Edinburgh College
• National Star College to Support
• Derwen College
• Homefield College
• Queen Alexandra College
• Henshaws College to support
• Landmarks College
• Percy Hedley College
• Royal College (Seashell Trust)

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Workshops

• Day 1 Assessment for Assistive Technology Feb
  2013
• Slides from the events
• http//dart.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/?p342
• http//dart.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/?p358
• Day 2 Creating the Assistive Technologist role
  and its integration into a College structure,
  April 2013.
• Slides from the events
• http//dart.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/?p391
• http//dart.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/?p384
• Day 3 Specific Assistive Technology software
  training, June 2013
• Slides from the events are not yet available

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Natspec Research Project

• The Natspec sponsored research project
  (publication pending, expected shortly) was
  conducted via online questionnaire / telephone
  follow up, and sought to
• Inform the content of the workshops (give the
  sector what it required in terms of AT related
  CPD)
• Define key themes around what is working well (or
  what is not working well) with respect to
  Assistive Technology in all types of FE College
• A summative DART2 project presentation will take
  place at the JISC RSC NW annual conference on
  26th June 2013 http//www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/northwest
  /news/2013/february/jisc-rsc-northwest-annual-even
  t.aspx
• For more information please see
  http//dart.beaumontcollege.ac.uk

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College structure and relationships between teams

• The technology strategy in a College stands or
  falls based on
• Relationships between teams
• The College Structure
• Relationship of the IT/Technology team with
• Teachers
• Therapists (where present)
• Supporting staff
• People in the AT role

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THANK YOU

• Email us
• maria.chambers_at_scope.org.uk
• rohan.slaughter_at_scope.org.uk
• Follow us
• _at_rohanslaughter

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Any questions?