Below is event summaries from recent Scotland’s Colleges events and workshops. View the details of future events.
Vision and Learning Disability Workshop in association with RNIB
Tuesday 24 April 2012
 “Social exclusion significantly affects blind and partially sighted people. The affect on someone who has an undetected sight loss, coupled with a learning disability can be catastrophic. People with a learning disability and sight loss are often further disadvantaged as a result of carers and professionals with limited knowledge and understanding assuming diminished capabilities.” Linda Mitchell RNIB.
The half day workshop on Tuesday 24 April 2012 gave delegates an overview of prevailing statistics on visual impairment in people with learning disabilities, key health messages, and consequences of sight loss. Delegates were given an overview of common sight conditions including practical, simulated experience of these conditions.
View presentation and additional resources from the event.
Using ipads as a Communication Tool for Learners with Complex Learning Support Needs
Friday 16 March 2012
 This one day workshop looked at appropriate apps for learners with complex needs, accessibility and management issues surrounding the use of ipads in colleges.
Delegates were able to practice using the accessibility options built into ipads as well as lite versions of apps. Demonstrations were given on how switches and separate input devices can be added to ipads. Reference was made to current blogs which evaluate applications suitable for the focused learner group.
The event gave delegates lots of ideas but it was agreed that thinking on how ipads would be used with learners was crucial: would they be used be for individual usage, for linking to a smart board for group work or would they be used as sharing devices? Should/could ipads be used in place of PCs? Each option will have separate management issues.
We were reminded that the development of ipads was as a personal device but as they have become so popular usage is changing into a learning device which involves the management of multiple ipads by colleges. Management solutions are only now being developed. For certain their usage is growing in colleges by the number of delegates who reported that they were in the throes of purchasing more ipads.
View presentation and additional resources from the event.
Managing Support Issues: Promoting Positive Partnerships
Monday 5 March 2012
 This one day conference gave delegates an update on a number of guidance and support arrangements colleges can use to help manage support arrangements for students with complex needs.
The Scottish Government will be updating Partnership Matters guidance in the near future. Ideas on the update include: having a shortened, easy read version; making the format electronic; including diagrams; listing roles and responsibilities; including policy summaries such as Curriculum for Excellence, GIRFEC etc.
An overview and history of Self Directed Support was given by Jack Blaik, advisor to the Scottish Government. New legislation is likely later in 2012 which will extend personalisation and choice of services to adults entitled to support packages. Discussion centred around how this may impact on support arrangements for such learners.
Scottish Funding Council representatives gave an overview of the Additional Support for Learning Needs Allowance which sits in bursary funding; the rules associated with the use of this allowance and uptake rates across the college sector.
A brief summary of the PVG scheme was given.
Four workshops were on offer to delegates from: Perth College, Edinburgh's Telford College, Motherwell College, and Dundee College highlighting current partnerships in place for learning and for managing support for learners.
The support for learners with profound and complex needs project has produced agreement templates that colleges can use with external support staff. These documents can be downloaded from the project's support wiki.
Finally a panel of experts including representatives from the Scottish Government, Scotland's Colleges, Health and Social Work answered questions posed by participants. View the film of the session.
View the presentations from the event.
Example packs from Dundee and Perth Colleges on their support arrangements are still available on request.
Supporting Looked After Young People and Care Leavers in a College Setting
Tuesday 14 February 2012
This one day seminar targeted key personnel in colleges with responsibility for establishing the Buttle UK Quality Mark.
The day began with Joanne McMeeking (Professional Advisor, Improving Outcomes for Looked After Children, Scottish Government) setting the context for the event and outlining the Scottish Governments commitments to raising educational outcomes and life chances for young people. This was followed by Dr Graham Connelly (Research and Qualifying Courses manager, Centre For Excellence For Looked After Children In Scotland) setting the research context.
There was a session on ‘Learning From The Pilots’ and an overview of learning captured from two of the pilot studies - John Wheatley College and the Edinburgh Colleges. This was a useful and practical session enhanced by the personal experiences of Rachelle McGowan, a student who spoke about her experiences as a care leaver. She highlighted the support she got through the project that enabled her to continue with her education.
In the afternoon Susan Mueller (Quality Mark Manager, Buttle UK) introduced the Quality Mark and facilitated a practical session so that delegates were clear about the processes involved in making a submission. This was greatly enhanced by colleagues from Stevenson College and Telford College providing examples of their submissions.
The day generated lots of discussion and enthusiasm and feedback was very positive:
'It was a very enjoyable day thanks for all the follow up information you sent.'
'This is all incredibly useful.'
'That was a brilliant event...very worthwhile and lots of helpful information.'
We will be running further events over the next few months to support this agenda. Please contact Sandy MacLean, Advisor at Scotland’s Colleges by e-mailing Sandy MacLean if you have any questions.
Empowering Students: Promoting Partnerships
Friday 13 January 2012
Scotland’s Colleges and students from Kilmarnock College put Curriculum for Excellence into action by planning and delivering the above event.
Kilmarnock College Personal Empowerment Zone Plus students, who are undertaking a Leadership in Practice Intermediate 2 Award, organised and hosted a national event to showcase organisations working in partnership with colleges throughout Scotland as part of their course.
The interactive event entitled Empowering Students: Promoting Partnerships, demonstrated effective partnerships between organisations and colleges from across Scotland which result in inspiring and equipping young people towards positive futures. It gave the students opportunities to showcase the progress they have made and demonstrate the skills they have gained through coming to college.
Throughout the day students showcased the benefits of closer co-operation with businesses, charities and other external organizations, and the following snapshop session were successfully delivered, see  Handout - Empowering Students Promoting Partnerships (80.96 kB).
Kilmarnock College students reflections on the event:
Linzi Slessor, said: “I feel that it was a great success and totally worth all the hard work involved in organising the day. I felt really proud standing in front of everyone and helping to host the event.”
“Despite being very nervous I felt really proud to be a part of it and to have had the chance to do something like this”, Grant Smith
“ I felt nervous but once I got into it and started to speak in front of everyone I became more and more confident, I feel so proud to have been involved”, Karen Clegg
“ It has been a pleasure to work together with everyone in this event and the hard work has paid off as seen by the feedback we received”, Darryll Johnstone
“I felt really proud that I helped and supported the guys to achieve this incredible day”, Kayliegh Sawyers, volunteer leader, Kilmarnock College
“ This is why I do this job! I was inspired and moved by my students, Stars! If we give our students a voice and platform to achieve then today’s event shows the incredible results” Mark Vance, Learner Engagement Officer, Kilmarnock College
Profound and Complex Needs project: Round Table Discussion: Recent Research into Learner Engagement with Regard to Students with Profound and Multiple Intellectual Disabilities
Tuesday 29 November 2011 - Scotland’s Colleges, Argyll Court, Stirling
Sponsored by: The Scottish Funding Council
Professor James Hogg BA, PhD is a chartered psychologist and director of the White Top Research Unit, University of Dundee, and an honorary professor in the School Psychology, University of St. Andrews. He has carried out research in the field of disability for over 40 years and contributed to the development of services in England and Scotland. Throughout this time his principal interests have been complex disability, aging and disability. His recent research has been in the field of adult protection and he is Independent Convenor of the City of Dundee Adult Support and Protection Committee. With his wife Loretto Lamb, he was a founding member of PAMIS and has been chair of the board for the past 18 years. He is a citizen advocate with Dundee Independent Advocacy.
James gave an overview of the history of education for people with profound and multiple intellectual disability. He covered causes, recent research, developmental milestones and considerations for assessment and curriculum planning. Videos were used to demonstrate effective methods of engaging learners.
James demonstrated the effectiveness of sensory story telling using some of the sensory stories created by PAMIS. PAMIS have produced a range of sensory stories which can be accessed free of charge (postage only to be paid).
A power point explaining the techniques of storytelling can be viewed here:
A power point on PAMIS campaign for accessible toilets can be viewed here:
James also left with the project handbooks, with a DVD, on accessible leisure activities for people with profound and multiple disabilities. If you would like a copy please contact your regional advisor.
You said:
“A thoroughly interesting event which went into a great deal of detail on this learner group”
“Can we have another session please?”
“The Sensory Story boxes are well worth borrowing”
Transforming Professional Learning
Thursday 17 November 2011 in Scotland’s Colleges
Introduction to the Day by Graeme Hyslop, Principal, Langside College and Chair, Professional learning and Development Forum Scotland - What’s Happening in Professional Learning?
Graeme opened the session by setting the context within which the college sector will be operating in the immediate future. He noted the current reform consultation and highlighted the importance of a focus on providing college staff with appropriate professional learning opportunities as they engage in the transformational change that faces us.
Roundtable Discussions by Barbara Nelson, Consultant and John McCann, Director of Next Practice, Scotland’s Colleges
Barbara and John introduced the new report ‘What’s Next in Professional Learning’ and then lead delegates through a series of challenge questions based on the 5 key themes of the report: See the content of the report and contribute to the debate here.
Graeme Hyslop closed the mornings session by thanking delegates for their contributions.
Professional Learning : Generating a Transformative Agenda by Roddy Henry, HMI, Education Scotland
Roddy introduced delegates to the ‘Opening Up Transformative Innovation kit’ and challenged them to try it out. The kit contains a series of games based exercises which provoke professional dialogue based on the Three Horizons approach: Phase 1: strategic conversations that envision the future Phase 2: identify the changes/innovations needed Consolidate and think about next stage. It has a number of applications to focussed dialogue and support planning at a whole college or curricular team level. Delegates were given one of the kits to take back to college. See Roddy Henry’s presentation here.
IT Community of Practice - Collaboration and Delivery of Shared ICT Services
Thursday 10 November 2011 in Scotland’s Colleges
With the recent ‘Review of ICT Infrastructure in the Public Sector in Scotland’ by John McClelland, and the ‘Review of Post-16 Education and Vocational Training in Scotland’ by Willy Roe, reflection on changing relationships and delivery models in the education sector continues apace.
ICT and the potential for new service delivery paradigms is clearly enunciated in the McClelland report and is essential reading for everyone with an interest in how ICT can support and deliver services effectively and efficiently in the context of financial constraint.
The Higher Education Information Directors (HEIDS) commissioned a report ‘Above Campus IT Services for Scottish Universities and Colleges’ by Sero Consulting. Published around the time of the McClelland report, it highlighted broadly similar issues in relation to college and university ICT services and the potential for future collaboration, integration and enhancement. Integration and sharing of ICT services facilitates shared service delivery models.
This event, supported by the ICT Community of Practice and HEIDS, will provide an opportunity for delegates to appreciate the work that has already been undertaken and to consider the potential for the college and university sector to work together to address the shared services agenda.
All staff from colleges and universities with an interest in how ICT can shape the business and learning services of the future are welcome to attend.
In the event of oversubscription for the event, staff from colleges and universities will be given priority.
Profound and Complex Needs project - Talking Mats part 1: background, support, materials and symbols to create a Talking Mat
Friday 28 October 2011 in Scotland’s Colleges
 Joan and Lois of Talking Mats University of Stirling took delegates though the history and research behind the Talking Mats communication system. Talking Mats is internationally recognised. Joan and Lois have delivered training sessions all around the world. Delegates watched a number of videos demonstrating the effective use of Talking Mats with people with significant learning and communication disabilities. We all then practised using prepared symbol sets on a mat ensuring that we were using ‘open questions’ with our partner. Delegates were given three sets of symbols that we hope can be used with college learners to reflect on the course programme, the colleges experience and responsibility. Delegates are now tasked with filming learners using a Mat which will be shared at our next training session in December.
You said:
“Well-presented; good pace; interesting topic.”
“Very worthwhile morning which greatly increased my knowledge of Talking Mats and my confidence in being able to use them.”
“The purpose and practical use of Talking Mats was well explained. Although I had used Talking Mats before I was not fully clear on the purpose and uses.”
“All presentations were well-paced and easy to understand. Very good event.”
“Most informative and enjoyable.”
“I found it very stimulating and liked the way that it was backed by robust research.”
Profound and Complex Needs project - Developing effective methods of learner engagement for students with complex communication support needs
Thursday 06 October 2011 in Scotland’s Colleges
Sally Miller from Call Scotland, Moray House University of Edinburgh gave delegates a whistle stop tour of communication challenges many of our learners face. We were encouraged to become more communication aware, to create communication friendly zones, and become more inclusive in our communication systems. We looked at various communication support needs, thought about the importance of checking if learners have understood, and about embedding inclusive communication across all settings. Delegates looked at various low and high tech communication systems including Apple applications which, because of price and accessibility, are becoming more widely bought for young people with communication difficulties where appropriate.
All delegates received a CD of resources from Sally, many of which will be available for a limited period of time from Call Scotland.
Download the presentation Developing effective methods of learner engagement for students with complex communication support needs (9.38 MB).
You said:
“All presentations were delivered in a clear, concise manner, evoked positive discussions and learning.”
“This was a very positive learning experience and an opportunity for networking with other colleagues within the sector” |
