RSC Inform

RSC Inform January 2012

2012-01-17T12:13:00.001Z

Welcome to the first 2012 edition of RSC Inform. This edition's main focus is on the range of resources available from JISC and the RSC to support efficiency and effectiveness in FE and HE. This includes a number of free events to be held soon, both face-to-face and online.

Events
Prepared for your impending move to the cloud?
Cut costs not corners: Improving business efficiency

Cloud Services
JANET Brokerage Services
Can cloud help?
The Forecast is Cloudy

Procurement
JISC Procureweb
GeM - the online store for FE and HE

Publications
Managing Your Customers: pathways to best practice
Latest briefing paper from JISC on customer relationship management.

Efficiency and Effectiveness Resources
Using Collaborative Online Tools
Increasingly colleges and universities need to use more efficient and effective tools for meetings and collaboration. This article provides advice and guidance on a range of tools.

Improving Organisational Efficiency - JISC infoNet
Technology Implications of Mergers and Restructures - JISC infoNet

Legal Issues
Is Your College Data Protection Notification Up to Date? - JISC Legal

As ever, if you would like further information about any of the above items, please contact me at the RSC.

Regards,

Fionnuala

Technology Implications of Mergers and Restructures - JISC infoNet

2012-01-16T13:18:00.005Z

n large organisations, such as colleges and universities, changes to the organisational structure tend to occur on a fairly regular basis. The drivers for such structural change may include changes in senior management and hence new strategic directions, changes in service requirements and the opportunity to deliver new and improved services and, increasingly, pressing financial imperatives. In some cases it is decided that the response to some or all of these drivers is best met by merging with another organisation.

This JISC infoNet resource provides guidance on:

Overview of mergers in the sector
Right-sizing?
Alternatives to merger
Merging IT Infrastructure
Converged Services
Shared Services
Enterprise Architecture
10 Steps to Improving Organisational Efficiency

To access the website, follow this link.

The Forecast is Cloudy

2012-01-16T12:21:00.007Z

A useful resource from JISC infoNet which covers all aspects of cloud computing including costs, risks and benefits.

Benefits of Cloud Computing
SURF (2011), the equivalent to JISC in the Netherlands, has identified the following benefits to cloud approaches:

"Utilising cloud services makes it possible to provide high quality ICT services that meet the requirements of students, instructors, researchers, and other staff. The institutions can also keep pace - more than is currently the case - with those requirements and make use of the range available: rapid adoption and availability of new facilities.

The cloud makes it possible to provide services 'at any time', 'at any place', and - increasingly important - 'on any device'

Cloud services produced a significant increase in flexibility, accompanied by cost reduction/control.

If applied effectively, cloud services can make a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption and therefore to achieving the sustainability goals that the institutions have set for themselves.'http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/cloud-computing."

For further information, follow this link.

Improving Organisational Efficiency - JISC infoNet

2012-01-16T12:20:00.010Z

These resources are aimed at helping institutions respond to pressures to do 'more for less' whilst meeting increasing expectations from key stakeholders, particularly learners. It is less about quick fixes to immediate problems (although we hope to offer a few of those) than strategic approaches that ensure you are applying technology effectively in support of your vision and goals.

The resources are primarily aimed at senior and middle managers across the whole range of administrative functions in colleges and universities, and technical staff engaging with a range of stakeholders in relation to strategic planning. The variety of topics covered and the range of project examples may be of interest to many other staff and students.

http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/organisational-efficiency

GeM - the online store for FE and HE

2012-01-13T12:44:00.010Z

GeM is the new eMarketplace and contracts repository for both the Higher Education and Further Education sectors. Use of the system is restricted to authorised staff only. GeM is owned and operated by the sector, for the sector, and will only contain sector negotiated and approved contracts. GeM is free at point of use.

eMarketplace: This click and buy marketplace, operates in much the same way as Amazon, it allows users to buy many of their day to day needs, including services. You can find out more about which suppliers are available now, and which are being progressed over the next few months in live suppliers. Payment for orders placed are via your corporate payment card (Pcard.)

http://www.gem.ac.uk/

Managing Your Customers

2012-01-13T12:16:00.009Z

Managing Your Customers: pathways to best practice is the latest briefing paper from JISC published January 2012.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Service Design are still in their infancy in the education sector. External engagement is also becoming a focus for institutions looking at their overall business strategy. If universities and colleges are to meet student expectations and take advantage of external opportunities such as continuing professional development and workforce development, then there is a need for more customer-focused systems and processes. This briefing is for senior management team and heads of external relations, marketing, enterprise, alumni relations, student recruitment, admissions and services. To read the briefing, follow this link.

Using Collaborative Online Tools

2012-01-13T11:43:00.013Z

Increasingly colleges and universities need to use more efficient and effective tools for meetings and collaboration. As part of JISC InfoNet's work in the area of Business and Community Engagement (BCE), a wide range of collaborative online tools were trialled to enhance and empower collaboration among practitioners, between institutions, and between institutions and external partners. A full list of all the tools used in the project, including details of the context around which it was used and comments from users is available from the JISC infoNet website.

The full infokit: "Using Collaborative Online Tools", provides a range of advice and guidance including:

Selecting an Appropriate Tool

Contexts and Tools
Within a region (individual and groups of educational establishments with regional business partners)
Lifelong Learning
Between departments within an institution
Between institutions and external partners
Community of practice
Learning and teaching

The list of tools used can be found here: http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/collaborative-tools/tools-used
The full infokit can be accessed here: http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/collaborative-tools

Cut costs not corners: Improving business efficiency

2012-01-12T16:35:00.011Z

Getting things right first time and collaborating with others can save your organisation time and money.

Presented by experts from across JISC Advance services, the focus on three key topics which can improve cost efficiency and effectiveness within your organisation.

10am Thursday 19 January - Cloud Computing and the Law presented by John Kelly, Principal Legal Information Specialist
at JISC Legal

10am Tuesday 24 January - Project Management presented by John Burke, Senior Adviser at JISC infoNet

10am Wednesday 1 February - How can Generic eMarketplace (GeM) save my institution money? Presented by John West, Director of JISC Procureweb and Cost Efficiencies with GoogleApps presented by Pete Scott, Manager RSC Wales

The events are suitable for management, senior staff and policy makers from all post-16 education sectors throughout the UK.

To book your place or for more information please visit http://www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/wales/events.aspx or contact events@rsc-wales.ac.uk

Can cloud help?

2012-01-12T16:29:00.012Z

JANET brokerage - benefits of using cloud services

You’ve probably heard the considerable hype currently surrounding cloud computing and data centres but here are some reasons why you should be considering moving to the cloud …

Improved services
With the ability to scale up or down as your organisational or project demands change, cloud technically delivers the flexibility to ensure you perform at your peak – all on demand or at the touch of a button.

Reducing costs
By moving compute and storage off-campus you’ll need less investment in your own data centre and servers. To make your inner accountant happy, you’ll have a much lower capital spend.

Energy saving
An on-campus data centre can potentially use ten percent of an entire campus’s power. Against a backdrop of ever-increasing energy costs, moving computing to the cloud delivers efficiency savings, leading to reduced energy bills.

Economies of scale
Huge data centres are coming online with resources that some of us can only dream of. We’re talking industrial strength security, synchronisation of data to multiple locations nationally, and servers bought by the thousand.

Reducing resource requirements
Cloud gives you a fully managed infrastructure platform, which means one less headache and reduces the pressure on your in-house team.

http://www.janetbrokerage.ac.uk/about-us-2/benefits/

Prepared for your impending move to the cloud?

2012-01-12T16:23:00.008Z

This is a strategic-level cloud and data centre conference for education and research institutions considering a move to the cloud:

How to lead a successful move to the cloud
The business case for virtualisation
Making cloud pay for itself
Security of academic data
Procuring cloud and data centre services
HE and FE case studies

Date: Thursday 9 February 2012
Time: Registration 10-10.30am. Finish at 4pm
Venue: CCT Venues-Smithfield, London, EC1A 4PT

FREE Event

Further details: http://www.janetbrokerage.ac.uk/about-us-2/events/

JANET brokerage

2012-01-12T16:22:00.010Z

Far from being the latest buzzword, it’s clear that cloud computing and data centres are here to stay. Education and research institutions are rapidly realising the benefits of on-demand access to a shared pool of computing resource and are seeing energy efficient, off-campus data centres and services as a way to reduce both risk and cost. With a vast range of cloud suppliers, products to choose from and data centres popping up all over Europe, where are you meant to start?
That’s where JANET brokerage comes in, as an independent broker. Funded by the University Modernisation Fund (UMF), they are there to help you select colleges and universities to select the best solution for your institution.

Can cloud help?
You’ve probably heard the considerable hype currently surrounding cloud computing and data centres but here are some reasons why you should be considering moving to the cloud … click on the link above.

Further details on the JANET brokerage service: http://www.janetbrokerage.ac.uk/

JISC Procureweb

2012-01-12T16:19:00.011Z

JISC Procureweb has unveiled a new website that will help those involved in procurement across the post 16 education sector.

JISC Procureweb recognises that getting the very best value for money from the goods and services you buy is a priority for universities, colleges and research councils. High quality procurement means ensuring that the best value is achieved from your purchase. JISC Procureweb provides tools, information and support to anyone who participates in the procurement process within the sector, such as users, buyers and sellers.

The website will enable users to easily access all information needed in the procurement process.

GeM
Within procureweb there is a service called GeM: an online store for FE & HE. For information about GeM, click here.

To find out more, please go to www.procureweb.ac.uk.

Is Your College Data Protection Notification Up to Date?

2012-01-12T16:14:00.002Z

An organisation has recently been prosecuted for failing to notify the ICO that it processed personal data. Failure to notify is a criminal offence under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the successful prosecution in this case led to a conditional discharge and £614 to be paid towards the prosecutor’s costs. Although it is unlikely that colleges and universities have failed to notify the ICO, it may be worth checking that your notification is up to date and reflects the activities taking place.

The news story is available on the ICO website together with links to the register of data controllers.

JISC Legal also provides free guidance for colleges and universities on Data Protection.

(Taken from the JISC Legal website)

RSC Inform August 2011

2011-08-01T10:05:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the August edition of RSC Inform. As of today (1 August 2011) JISC RSC Scotland is now in operation as a single service across Scotland, further details below. This edition also features the winners of our iTech Awards which was the grand finale of our Future Focus annual conference in June. There were 4 Award categories:

Technology & Business Systems
Learning & Teaching
Access & Inclusion
Learner Services

JISC RSC Scotland Service

RSC Scotland S&W Innovation in Technology Awards 2011

The JISC Design Studio

JISC on Air
• Successful Student Recruitment
• Online Distance Learning: Whose Future?
• Meeting Student Needs to Improve Retention
• Technologies: enabling systems and standards for curriculum innovation
• Efficiencies, enhancements and transformation: how technology can deliver

Transforming curriculum delivery through technology

As ever, if you would like further information about any of the above items, please contact me at the RSC.

Regards,

Fionnuala

JISC RSC Scotland Service

2011-08-01T10:00:00.001+01:00

As of today (1 August 2011) JISC RSC Scotland is now in operation as a single service across Scotland. We assure you of our determination to provide services from our single Scottish centre to as high a standard as you have enjoyed from the two JISC RSCs during the past ten years.

Service delivery has always been based on consultation with supported learning providers, of which a partnership approach is a distinctive feature. The JISC RSC Scotland team recognises the importance of establishing and sustaining productive relationships with key contacts in each provider, including senior and middle managers, network staff, lecturers, staff development officers, learning support and learning resources staff. In the coming weeks we will be in contact with all our supported providers to discuss how we can deliver support and services that meet your individual needs.

We look forward to continuing to provide valued service to the college sector and supported smaller HE institutions throughout Scotland.

And the Winner is ……

2011-07-25T15:31:00.001+01:00

Winner: Learning & Teaching

Cumbernauld College - Alan Moffat for Immersive Use of Mahara for Creative Industry Courses  

Read the full case study

Listen to the interview

Highly Commended:  Learning & Teaching

RSAMD - Mary Troup for Music Matters: Using Social Media for Community Music Placements

Read the full case study

Listen to first podcast

Listen to second podcast

Highly Commended: Learning & Teaching

UWS - Daniel Livingstone for
Using Web 2.0 Tools to Develop and Support a Multi-campus class

Read the full case study

And the Winner is ……

2011-07-25T15:31:00.000+01:00

Winner: Learner Services

GCNS, now City of Glasgow College - Fulton Dunn & George Howie for Workshop Wednesdays and e-CPD

Follow this link to read the case study

Highly Commended: Learner Services

Glasgow School of Art –
Duncan Chappell for
InfosmART: Research Skills for
Art & Design Students

Follow this link to read the case study

And the Winner is ……

2011-07-25T15:30:00.000+01:00

Winner: Accessibility & Inclusion
Glasgow Metropolitan College, now City of Glasgow College - Graeme Brewster, Jen Fuller & John McGuire for Creating Accessible Learning Materials with CALM

Follow this link to find out more about CALM.

Highly Commended: Accessibility & Inclusion
Coatbridge College – Errol Ludders & Julie Grant for Free Resources to Support Inclusion

Follow this link to read the case study.

Shortlisted Finalists: Access & Inclusion Award

2011-07-25T15:29:00.000+01:00

Coatbridge College - Errol Ludders & Julie Grant for Free Resources to Support Inclusion

Glasgow Metropolitan College, now City of Glasgow College - Jen Fuller for Creating Accessible Learning Materials with CALM

South Lanarkshire College – Lorraine Cochrane for Implementation of MyStudyBar for All Staff & Students

University of the West of Scotland - Caroline Lindsay for Using the JISC TechDis Toolbar to Make Your Website More Accessible

And the Winner is ……

RSC Scotland S&W Innovation in Technology Awards 2011

2011-07-25T14:45:00.000+01:00

For the past two years we have thoroughly enjoyed working with our local institutions in Scotland South and West on a variety of case studies as part of our “Best of the West” promotion. By putting a spotlight on examples of innovative and creative uses of technology in tertiary education in the west of Scotland, we aimed to inspire and encourage institutions to engage in a spirit of knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Well, inspire you we did! We now have an astounding collection of nearly 60 case studies including a good number of podcasts and videos, all freely available on our website to browse or download at your leisure.

Our iTech Awards Ceremony was the grand finale of our Future Focus annual conference in June and was a resounding success! With at least one case study from each of our supported institutions, short listing and marking the case studies was not an easy task for our steering group. The short list of nominees narrowed the field down to 4 finalists in Technology & Business Systems, Access & Inclusion and Learner Services. There were 6 finalists for the Learning and Teaching short list, due to the high number of case studies that fell into this category. One Winner and Two Highly Commended trophies were awarded in this category.

Finalists: Technology and Business Systems Award

Finalists: Learning and Teaching Award

Finalists: Access & Inclusion Award

Finalists: Learner Services Award

JISC on Air

2011-07-23T11:42:00.000+01:00

The e-Learning Programme has recently produced a series of radio shows on how digital technologies are supporting institutional practices. These shows offer an informative and engaging discussion with leading experts around how technology is supporting colleges and universities in addressing the challenges they currently face.

The shows are hosted by Kim Catcheside and are between 18 -25 minutes in length. You can access the shows by selecting the links below and you can also download the shows from iTunes.

Successful Student Recruitment

Online Distance Learning: Whose Future?

Meeting Student Needs to Improve Retention

Efficiencies, enhancements and transformation: how technology can deliver

For further information about JISC on Air, click here.

Shortlisted Finalists: Learner Services Award

2011-07-22T15:27:00.000+01:00

Clydebank College - John Kerr, Benefits of Having a Learning Technologist

City of Glasgow College - Jen Fuller & Nicola Buddo, An Information Literacy and Plagiarism Pilot Project

GCNS, now City of Glasgow College - Fulton Dunn & George Howie for Workshop Wednesdays and e-CPD

Glasgow School of Art - Duncan Chappell for InfosmART: Research Skills for Art & Design Students

And the Winner is ……

Shortlisted Finalists: Learning and Teaching Award

2011-07-22T15:24:00.000+01:00

Cumbernauld College - Alan Moffat for Immersive Use of Mahara for Creative Industry Courses

Kilmarnock College - Kenny Girvan for Eco Learning using e-Learning

South Lanarkshire College - Dawn Paterson & the Construction Dept for The Use of tablet PC's for e-assessment

RSAMD - Mary Troup for Music Matters: Using Social Media for Community Music Placements

University of the West of Scotland - Daniel Livingstone for Using Web 2.0 Tools to Develop and Support a Multi-campus class

University of the West of Scotland - Dr Neil McPherson & Alan Simpson for Embedded eAssessment

And the Winner is ……

Shortlisted Finalists: Technology and Business Systems Award

2011-07-22T15:19:00.000+01:00

Barony College – Ian Linwood for Server Virtualisation - Highly Commended

Cardonald College - Martin Forte & Allan Forsyth for Migrating to Virtual Servers

Cumbernauld College - Jason Quinn & Ian McCallum for Equalities Data Tool - Winner

South Lanarkshire College - Linda Young for The Use of Electronic Attendance Systems

And the Winner is ……

And the Winner is ……

2011-07-22T14:47:00.000+01:00

Winner: Technology & Business Systems

Cumbernauld College –
Ian McCallum, Gerry McAdams and Jason Quinn for Equalities Data Tool

Read the full case study

Highly Commended: Technology & Business Systems

Barony College –
Ian Linwood for
Server Virtualisation

Read the case study
or
Listen to the interview

The Design Studio

2011-07-22T14:36:00.000+01:00

The Design Studio is a developing toolkit which draws together a range of existing and emergent resources around curriculum design and delivery and the role technology plays in supporting these processes and practices. The Studio will provide access to project outcomes and outputs from the JISC Curriculum Design and Delivery programmes as they are developed and will continue to be sustained as a community resource after the programmes finish.

A video about the Design Studio can be viewed above.

To access the Design Studio, follow this link.

A video about the Design Studio can be viewed above.

Technologies: enabling systems and standards for curriculum innovation

2011-07-22T11:58:00.000+01:00

The use of technologies and standards to support curriculum design and delivery can bring a range of benefits and help institutions meet a number of different challenges. These range from managing institutional course data and supporting institutional workflows around course development to enhancing learner engagement with assessment and feedback and personalising the curriculum. At whatever level different types of technology are employed to support different institutional processes, there is evidence of the real value they can bring to a range of different stakeholders.

Technologies and Standards supporting curriculum design and delivery processes:

Learning Design tools
Learning environments
Assessment technologies
Media Enhanced Learning
Social networking and web 2.0
Mobile technologies
e-Portfolios
Immersive worlds
Syndication
Repositories
Workflow and document management
Student record systems
Enterprise architecture
System architecture
Competency frameworks

For further information about the above tools, follow this link.

Efficiencies, enhancements and transformation: how technology can deliver

2011-07-22T11:46:00.001+01:00

In the fourth episode of the online radio programmes – JISC On Air – focuses on how learning technologies can be used to support new ways of delivering curricula leading to benefits, efficiencies, enhancements and transformation.

The show highlights how colleges and universities are using technology to enable flexible and creative models of curriculum delivery. This work is not only adding value but also transforming the way in which the curriculum is delivered in different contexts.

Kim Catcheside introduces two different curriculum delivery projects, Making the New Diploma a Success, a learning portal for diploma students at Lewisham College, and eBioLabs, a set of integrated tools that help students prepare for laboratory classes at the University of Bristol. The show then explores their approaches and achievements, with a focus on some of the tangible benefits emerging from their activities.

Click here to access the programme

Meeting Student Needs to Improve Retention

2011-07-22T11:46:00.000+01:00

In this edition of the radio show JISC on Air explores how digital technologies are helping universities and colleges to better meet students’ requirements and improve retention. In this show, Kim Catcheside speaks with Richard Francis, Head of e-learning at Oxford Brookes University and Ellen Lessner, e-Learning Coordinator at Abingdon and Witney College about how their institutions are better preparing their learners for their experience of learning with technology. Both institutions participated in the JISC Supporting Learners in a Digital Age (SLIDA) study and their case studies are available here.

In addition, there is expert input from Stephen Jackson, Director of Reviews for the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Alex Bols Head of Education and Quality for the National Union of Students (NUS) who discuss how the appropriate use of technology can support learners with their studies and lead to improved retention. Kim also speaks with Helen Beetham, co-author of the JISC-funded Learning Literacies in a Digital Age (LLiDA) study and recent Review of Digital Literacies, about what support students require to make more effective use of technology for their learning.

Click here to access the programme.

Online Distance Learning: Whose Future?

2011-07-22T11:45:00.000+01:00

This show looks at some of the issues associated with creating sustainable and effective online distance learning. The show highlights the value of engaging students and enhancing the learning experience through online learning tools such as podcasts and virtual worlds.

The show includes interviews with David White, Co-manager of TALL at the University of Oxford, Alejandro Armellini, Learning Designer in the Beyond Distance Research Alliance, at the University of Leicester and Richard Hall, e-Learning coordinator at De Montfort University.

Click here to access the programme.

Successful Student Recruitment

2011-07-22T11:44:00.000+01:00

This show explores how digital technologies are helping universities to share reliable and consistent course information and support new students throughout the recruitment process.
The show includes interviews with Becka Currant, Dean of Students at the University of Bradford, Rebecca McCarter, Deputy Manager for academic administration at Bradford University’s school for life-long education and development and Dr Harriet Dunbar-Morris representing the 1994 Group of universities.

Click here to access the programme.

Transforming curriculum delivery through technology

2011-07-22T11:36:00.000+01:00

Of interest to curriculum managers, teaching practitioners and support staff throughout further and higher education, a new JISC guide Transforming curriculum delivery through technology: Stories of challenge, benefit and change is now available.

The publication, a mini-guide to the outcomes of the JISC Transforming Curriculum Delivery Through Technology programme, summarises the headline benefits of technology in curriculum delivery made evident by the work of the 15 projects in the programme. The outcomes of these projects provide a rich insight into the ways in which institutions and individual curriculum areas can make use of technology to respond more robustly to the demands of a changing world.

PDF and text only versions can be downloaded and print copies ordered from www.jisc.ac.uk/curriculumdeliveryguide
For further information and access to all programme-related resources please see the Design Studio

Accompanying the guide, as part of a series of radio shows entitled ‘JISC On Air’, the latest show entitled ‘Efficiences , enhancements and transformation: how technology can deliver’ includes interviews with two projects involved in the programme, discussing the impact achieved in two very different contexts and disciplines. Listen here.

Shadow Board positions available at JISC

2011-06-25T10:08:00.000+01:00

Shadow Board positions available at JISC

JISC is seeking to appoint up to six individuals to a Shadow Board to oversee its transition to a new organisation. The Shadow Board will work alongside the current Board, until the new organisation is fully operational.

The Shadow Board’s role will be to look at how to embed JISC even more firmly within the teaching, research and further education landscape, and put JISC in an excellent position to play a key role in driving the use of digital technologies in education and research. By the Autumn of 2013 JISC will have transitioned into a new, more dynamic organisation. However, this new JISC will still have the same clear vision of easy and widespread access to information and resources, anytime, anywhere, with technology and information management at the heart of research and education.

Applications are invited from people with experience at senior-management level gained within further and higher education institutions, a business environment or professions who have experience of strategic management. An appreciation of the value of information technologies to education and research is also desired.

If you’re interested in applying download the job application and read the person/role specification at http://bit.ly/mMBadb

The successful candidates will start on 1 September 2011 and continue until the future JISC becomes fully operational. At present, it is expected that this will take one to two years.

Submit your completed applications to Dr Kathryn Turton (k.turton@jisc.ac.uk) no later than 12 noon on Monday 25 July 2011.

Find out more about JISC’s transition at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/aboutus/hefcereview.aspx

RSC Inform June 2011

2011-06-08T15:23:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the June edition of RSC Inform.

Today JISC Advance have issued a press release announcing changes to the JISC RSC service in Scotland. From August the 1st 2011, there will be a single RSC service for the whole of Scotland. The full statement can be accessed in full at:

JISC RSC Service in Scotland

Other items in this edition include:

JISC Grant Funding 5/11: E-LEARNING PROGRAMME Assessment and Feedback Programme
JISC invites institutions to submit funding proposals for projects to implement and evaluate institutional change in technology-enhanced assessment and feedback. The call is for projects lasting from 6 months to 3 years under the following themes: institutional change; evidence and evaluation; technology transfer. Funding will be for amounts between £20,000 to £200,000. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 12:00 noon UK time on Friday 15th July 2011.

RSC support for assessment funding call

Results of JISC RSCs Customer Satisfaction Survey

Digital Agenda: children using social networks at a younger age; many unaware of basic privacy risks, says survey
UK colleges with younger students may be interested in a recent EU survey which states that 77% of 13-16 year olds have a social networking profile and 25% say their profile is open to the public. This suggests that many are still unaware of basic privacy risks. This article includes links to additional sources of e-safety information

Cloud Computing Toolkit: Guidance for Outsourcing Information Storage to the Cloud
This toolkit aims to guide information professionals in assessing cloud computing services for information use and storage. This article includes links to additional sources of information on cloud computing.

Launch of new training service - JISC Legal Plus
JISC Legal Plus is a new training service delivering practical staff development packages on ICT law. It’s been created in response to the growing demand for tailored, in-house training in this area.

As ever, if you would like further information about any of the above items, please contact me at the RSC.

Regards,

Fionnuala

Results of JISC RSCs Customer Satisfaction Survey

2011-06-08T14:37:00.005+01:00

The JISC RSC Customer Satisfaction Survey confirms the significant benefit the JISC RSC network brings to the sector nationwide. Three areas of support - improving the learning experience, advice on staff development and optimising shared services - were identified as being the most valued, demonstrating that the JISC RSC network is responding to the current issues and challenges facing the UK-wide community.

The results highlighted an overall customer satisfaction rate of 87%, with no less than 50% of respondents declaring themselves ‘very satisfied’ – an outstanding result – and many respondents stating that the support that they received from the JISC RSCs couldn’t be found anywhere else.

Tracey Boston-Townsend, Operations Director for JISC Advance and heading up the strategic direction of the JISC RSCs said: “This survey is just one example of the many ways that we measure the impact of our work. The results reinforce and confirm our service is valued and useful across the community and will help us to continue to deliver relevant information and advice to keep the sector better informed for the future.“

The survey was conducted by LISU, a national research and information centre based in the Research School of Informatics and the Department of Information Science at Loughborough University.

Read the UK report

RSC support for assessment funding call

2011-06-08T13:25:00.013+01:00

The JISC Regional Support Centre Scotland S&W, is keen to help our supported Scottish institutions in bidding for funding under this assessment and feedback call. As such we have invited external suppliers of technologies / services for assessment to deliver webinars so that institutions can get a sense of the tools / services available, which they may wish to consider in relation to a bid. JISC will deliver a general information webinar tomorrow at 2pm and the commercial supplier, Questionmark, will be delivering a webinar next Thursday at 12.30pm giving an overview of the e-assessment tools / services available from them, and how these might fit in this call for projects. We will update the booking page on our website if other vendors take up the opportunity to deliver a webinar on their tools / services. Please note that these webinars are only available to participants from UK academic institutions (with an .ac.uk email address).

For further information on the grant funding call for projects, details of the webinars, how to book and additional support resources, please see the following blog post: http://rsce-assessment.blogspot.com/2011/06/support-for-jisc-grant-funding-511-jisc.html

Grainne Hamilton, grainne.hamilton@glasgow.ac.uk will be happy to liaise with and support institutions in regard to this funding call for projects. Please contact her if you are interested in discussing the project call or have any other queries.

JISC RSC Service in Scotland

2011-06-08T12:25:00.008+01:00

We are pleased to announce that the JISC RSC service in Scotland is being renewed for a further period of three years following consultation with the sector and a competitive tender held within the sector.

Up until now, the JISC RSC service in Scotland has been provided out of two separate centres within the central belt; one hosted by Edinburgh’s Telford College and serving the North and East of Scotland and one hosted by the University of Glasgow serving the South and West. These arrangements are in place until 31 July 2011.

Last year, in consultation with the Scottish Funding Council, we initiated a tender for the renewal of the service, inviting bids for providing the service either in line with the current geographical split or as a single service to cover the whole nation.

Following review of the proposals received, we concluded that best value would be provided by the bid received from the University of Glasgow for a single service covering the whole of Scotland.

In making this change, we are very mindful of the need to maintain and, in some respects, enhance the service provided to all parts of Scotland, whilst driving down the overall costs. We will make further announcements about how this will be achieved shortly.

Both the existing JISC RSCs have done an outstanding job as reflected by high levels of satisfaction with the service expressed both in our own surveys and in the responses to the consultation undertaken by SFC. Our thanks are due to the staff from both services who have contributed to this, and to the host institutions which have made it possible.

We look forward to continuing to provide valued service to the college sector (and supported smaller HE institutions) in Scotland.

For further information please email info@jiscadvance.ac.uk

Guy Lambert
Managing Director, JISC Advance

JISC Grant Funding 5/11: E-LEARNING PROGRAMME Assessment and Feedback Programme

2011-06-08T12:12:00.016+01:00

JISC Innovation Programme: Call for Projects in Assessment and Feedback

The following funding call for proposals on assessment have been announced by JISC. This is open to all FE & HE institutions in Scotland.

JISC is holding an online community briefing event where potential bidders will be given information about the background to the call, its objectives and the bidding process. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions of JISC executive staff. This online meeting will take place on Thursday 9 June at 14.00, and participants may join at:

https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2009077&password=M.419EB8F7BE4377CA99B66F8799AFCE1

from 13.45 (but no earlier please).

If you would like any further information or advice regarding this call, please contact Grainne Hamilton at the RSC who is our dedicated advisor for e-assessment. Grainne.hamilton@glasgow.ac.uk, 0141 585 0022.

Further information on the call, see below. Deadline for proposals 15 July 2011

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) invites institutions to submit funding proposals for projects to implement and evaluate institutional change in technology-enhanced assessment and feedback.

Funding is available for:

Up to 10 Strand A projects funded between £100,000 to £200,000 each (15 months to two years funded duration);
Up to 6 Strand B projects funded at up to £20,000 each (6 months to two years funded duration) ;
Up to 4 Strand C projects funded at up to £40,000 each (9 months to two years funded duration).

The deadline for proposals is 12 noon UK time on Friday, 15 July 2011.
It is envisaged that bidders will be notified of the outcome of the evaluation process in the week commencing 15 August 2011.
The successful projects will be expected to start work in September 2011.
The work is to be completed by 31 August 2014 for Strand A, and 31 August 2013 for Strands B and C.
A briefing event will be held online via Elluminate on Thursday 9 June 2011 at 2pm. Further details are given in paragraph 3 of the call document (at link below).

Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by HE institutions funded via HEFCE, SFC, HEFCW and DEL Northern Ireland, and by FE institutions funded via SFC, DCELLS Wales and DEL Northern Ireland. FE institutions in England that teach HE to more than 400 FTEs are also eligible to bid provided proposals demonstrate how the work supports the HE in FE agenda.

Further information can be found at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/funding_calls/2011/05/assessmentfeedback.aspx

Launch of new training service - JISC Legal Plus

2011-06-08T11:49:00.015+01:00

JISC legal are delighted to announce the launch of a new training service called JISC Legal Plus.

What is JISC Legal Plus?
JISC Legal Plus is a new training service delivering practical staff development packages on ICT law. It’s been created in response to the growing demand for tailored, in-house training in this area.

What will we do?
We’ll be delivering in-house workshops and presentations directly to institutions. Our topics will include copyright, FOI, data protection and e-safety - the key issues that we’re most commonly asked to provide guidance on.

How will we do it?
We’ll be delivering presentations, interactive workshops and remote training via webinar. Our staff development packages will cater to a range of learning styles and will employ the latest multi-media technologies. We will cater to groups of all sizes.

Who is it for?
We’ll be delivering in-house training to a range of professional groups, including managers, administrators, ICT staff, lecturers, researchers, librarians and compliance officers. If you or your team need to keep up-to-date on ICT law as part of your role, then you’ll benefit from our training. If you think your in-house CPD Officer would be interested in our service, then please direct them to the JISC Legal Plus section of our website.

What are our aims?
· To build upon our mission to prevent legal issues from becoming a barrier to digital innovation in HE and FE.

· To share our decade’s worth of experience and expertise in ICT law.

· To provide training that’s accessible and applicable to real-life contexts.

· To equip professionals with the tools to make confident, informed decisions about ICT law.

Further Information
To view our full list of workshops and prices, or to make an enquiry, please visit the service, by clicking here

Invest to save - Dr Malcolm Read, JISC

2011-06-06T15:51:00.009+01:00

JISC executive secretary Dr Malcolm Read has called for more investment in cloud computing in front of an international audience.

Speaking to policy makers, funders, vendors and researchers at a Belgium workshop run by e-Infranet, which develops policies to promote world-class ICT infrastructures, Dr Read said: “In an uncertain funding climate it’s essential that we prioritise. Cloud computing can give universities access to economies of scale which offers real financial benefits – as well as the potential to improve your carbon footprint and deal more flexibly with the changing needs of students and staff in the fast-moving university environment.”

He added: “Our studies show that many universities and colleges in the UK are interested in harnessing cloud computing power – but fewer are actually using it.”

JISC’s studies last year revealed that few universities and colleges have formal polices on the adoption or use of cloud computing - even though it is widely accepted that a centrally managed approach to contracting cloud computing services is required for real efficiency benefits.

JISC is currently funding 11 pilot cloud projects together with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to look into the usefulness of the cloud for research in more detail and find out what the benefits and issues are

JISC is also funding projects that are transitioning service solutions into the cloud in research management, core and corporate information management and student services. These projects will be reporting in July 2011.

Digital Agenda: children using social networks at a younger age; many unaware of basic privacy risks, says survey

2011-06-06T15:19:00.017+01:00

UK colleges with younger students may be interested in a recent EU survey which states that 77% of 13-16 year olds have a social networking profile and 25% say their profile is open to the public. This suggests that many are still unaware of basic privacy risks. Institutions have both legal and statutory duties to safeguard the welfare of all learners when making use of ICT. There are a variety of legal issues to consider within the e-Safety context, including: cyberbullying, harassment, defamation, hosting liability and data protection. The press release (IP/11/479) and links to the Digital Agenda for Europe are available from the Europa website. Follow this link to read the press release.

e-Safety advice and guidance links
JISC Legal e-safety advice
e-safety policy template
Online e-Safeguarding Audit
e-Safety Guidance Video
e-Safety Policy Checklist
Online RSC eSafety and safeguarding topic briefing

Cloud Computing Toolkit: Guidance for Outsourcing Information Storage to the Cloud

2011-06-06T14:55:00.016+01:00

Cloud computing can be described as the ability to access a pool of computing resources which are owned and maintained by a third party via the internet. It is not a new technology but a new way of delivering computing resources based on long existing technologies such as server virtualisation. The 'cloud' as such is composed of hardware, storage, networks, interfaces and services that provide the means through which infrastructure, computing power, applications and services are accessed by the user on-demand and independent of location.

This toolkit aims to guide information professionals in assessing cloud computing services for information use and storage. The author suggests that the toolkit should be used as a starting point for assessment of the risks and benefits of outsourcing services and information storage to the cloud, and the development of a cloud strategy, specification or requirements for using cloud storage.

Top 10 questions

The research identified A Top 10 of Cloud Computing Concerns. These were:

Which process, application and information can be moved to the cloud to gain efficiency and cost benefits while satisfying the organisation's security and compliance requirements?

How can the organisation be harmed if systems, applications, services or information are accessed by unauthorised people and information is being made available to the public?

How are information and systems protected against unauthorised access (e.g. hacking, interception, user misuse) by the cloud service provider?

How can the organisation ensure the integrity, authenticity and reliability of information stored in the cloud?

What are the organisation's responsibilities regarding the security of infrastructure and information in the cloud for the chosen cloud service and deployment models?

How can the organisation apply its records and information management programmes (e.g. classification, retention) to the cloud environment?

What is the impact of outsourcing services and information to the cloud on the legislative and regulatory requirements of the organisation (e.g. DP, FOI, SOX, e-discovery, copyright, licensing etc.)?

How should the organisation audit and monitor cloud services and establish relevant service level agreements?

Will the organisation be able to negotiate contracts and agreements that fit their risk assessment and compliance environment?

What are the total costs of setting up and managing the cloud services?

The aim of the project was to develop a toolkit that could assist in both answering these questions and in assessing the risks and benefits of outsourcing information storage and processing to the cloud.

To access the toolkit, Click here.

Additional Cloud Computing links
7 Things You Should Know About Cloud Computing (2009)
Blue sky thinking or head in the clouds?
JISC Studies in Cloud Computing
Invest to save - Dr Malcolm Read, JISC
Cloud computing – risk or rewards? Video from the JISC 2011 conference

Online RSC eSafety and safeguarding topic briefing

2011-04-06T15:30:00.001+01:00

The advent of Web 2.0 / social software, means the use of sites which support collaboration, conversation, and the sharing of different forms of media, such as social networking services, are now in the mainstream. Safeguarding learners & staff, and providing them with the skills to safeguard themselves when using this technology, is a vital part of the education that organisations should give to learners and their staff members. Watch the topic briefing to find out more ...

RSC Inform - March 2011

2011-03-03T11:16:00.035Z

Welcome to the March edition of RSC Inform. In this issue, the focus is firmly on the future, of JISC, of learning technologies and the need for collaboration, efficiencies and how elearning and technology can help us deliver and remain competitive.

JISC to reshape to deliver in a competitive market

JISC Funding Opportunity
REMINDER: JISC Grant Funding 4/08: E-Learning Programme Learning and Teaching Innovation Grants (Round 6)
These are small up to £50k one year projects giving institutions the opportunity to explore projects to support teaching and learning at the more innovative/high risk end of the spectrum.

Collaborate to Compete
Online Learning Strategy is Key says new JISC report. Universities and colleges need to make online learning a central part of their strategies if they are to stay competitive globally.

Improve your effectiveness with the JISC infoNet Impact Calculator
JISC’s Impact Calculator is designed to provide a robust, transparent and consistent means of predicting and measuring the impact of a new process or system on an organisation.

Shared services in cloud computing to be funded by HEFCE
Universities and colleges in England stand to benefit from a new programme of services and investment to deliver efficiencies through shared services in cloud computing infrastructure and applications.

Horizon Report 2011
The 2011 Horizon Report from Educause again provides some clear indicators for key trends and drivers for technology in education

Resources to help combat cybercrime
Cybercrime is costing the UK around £1000 a second according to a new Government report and now JISC is highlighting six key resources to help universities and colleges ensure they do not fall victim.

NQGA Workshops
These workshops are part of a larger modernisation programme, National Qualification Group Awards (NQGA), where a new on-line assessment system, e-assessments and high quality on-line support materials, that will offer students increased opportunities for progression in lifelong learning, have been developed.

As ever, if you would like further information about any of the above items, please contact me at the RSC.

Regards,

Fionnuala

Collaborate to Compete

2011-03-02T10:51:00.009Z

Online Learning Strategy is Key says new JISC report. Universities and colleges need to make online learning a central part of their strategies if they are to stay competitive globally. The report argues that those institutions that are prepared to make online learning a central focus will be able to develop responsive, engaging and interactive education that is both high quality and cost-effective. The report is published by the online learning taskforce, which includes JISC’s chair Professor Tim O’Shea, and showcases 14 innovative approaches to online course delivery in the UK.

Click here for full details of the report and to download.

Shared services in cloud computing to be funded by HEFCE

2011-03-02T10:48:00.011Z

Universities and colleges in England stand to benefit from a new programme of services and investment to deliver efficiencies through shared services in cloud computing infrastructure and applications.

The £12.5 million programme is part of a suite of activities under the University Modernisation Fund (UMF), a HEFCE fund that aims to help universities and colleges deliver better efficiency and value for money through the development of shared services.

This new programme, which will be managed by JISC, supports colleges and universities in the innovative use of digital technologies. The programme has two core elements:

Investment of up to £10 million in cloud computing, shared IT infrastructure, support to deliver virtual servers, storage and data management applications.

Investment of up to £2.5 million to establish cloud computing and shared services in central administration functions to support learning, teaching, and research.

David Sweeney, HEFCE Director – Research, Innovation and Skills, said: "At a time of pressure on university resources, it is critical that technology is used in a collaborative and cost-effective way, to deliver services that will benefit the sector. Cloud computing has the potential to do this in ways which will serve the academic community leading to improvements in research, teaching and administration."

The programme will start in March 2011 and finish in March 2012.

Further information can be found by following this link.

REMINDER: JISC Grant Funding 4/08: E-Learning Programme Learning and Teaching Innovation Grants (Round 6)

2011-03-02T10:28:00.009Z

JISC recently announced the funding call for Grant 04/08: Learning and teaching innovation (LTIG). These are small up to £50k one year projects giving institutions the opportunity to explore projects to support teaching and learning at the more innovative/high risk end of the spectrum. This is the 6th call for this particular type of funding and the lighter weight application process potentially makes it more appealing for those who have not previously applied for external project funding before.

Bids should be submitted to elearning-bids@jisc.ac.uk using the template provided. Letters of support will not be required at this stage.

Funds of up to £50,000 for projects of one year duration are available.

There is still time to submit an application for funding. Further details available here.

Horizon Report 2011

2011-03-02T10:18:00.012Z

The 2011 Horizon Report from Educause again provides some clear indicators for key trends and drivers for technology in education. The report outlines key trends, critical drivers and short and long term forecasts.

Key trends
The abundance of resources and relationships accessible via the Internet is increasingly challenging us to revisit our roles as educators.

People expect to be able to work, learn, and study whenever and wherever they want.

The world of work is increasingly collaborative, causing educators to reflect on the way student projects are structured.

The technologies we use are increasingly cloud-based.

Critical Challenges
Digital media literacy continues its rise in importance as a key skill in every discipline and profession.

Appropriate metrics of evaluation lag behind the emergence of new scholarly forms of authoring, publishing, and researching.

Economic pressures and new models of education are presenting unprecedented competition to traditional models of the university.

Keeping pace with the rapid proliferation of information, software tools, and devices is challenging for students and teachers alike.

Technologies to watch - next 12 months
Electronic books
Mobiles

On the Horizon - 2 to 3 years
Agumented reality
Game-based learning

Far term Horizon - 4 to 5 years
Gesture based computing
Learning analytics

Download the full Horizon Report for 2011 here

JISC to reshape to deliver in a competitive market

2011-03-02T10:10:00.012Z

The independent review chaired by Professor Sir Alan Wilson and carried out over a four month period concluded that, ‘JISC is an invaluable national resource which has evolved in response to increasing demands over 20 years’. It recommends that due to the breadth and complexity of JISC’s activity its structure, processes, projects, programmes and governance need to be simplified and reshaped, ensuring that it continues to deliver world-class leadership in the innovative use of technology for education and research, for which it is renowned.

The review gives areas and recommendations for JISC to consider how it rises to this challenge, and these include:

focussing activities to achieve a large impact through activities clearly linked to the sectors’ priorities services and projects should be rationalised with a view to significantly reducing their number.

JISC should become a separate legal entity funded through a combination of grants and subscriptions or user charges.

structure and processes should change, with the Board becoming smaller, being differently composed and becoming more strategic.

there should be discussions between JISC, the funders, sector representatives and other bodies to determine the overall funding strategy for ICT in higher and further education.

focus on delivering ‘routes to best practice’, wherever such practice resides.

focus its research and development work on horizon-scanning and thought leadership.

focus on understanding current and possible future trends in ICT and how they impact on the sectors.

review JISC’s relationship with the four companies JANET UK, JISC Collections, JISC Advance and BUFVC, that it funds.

Download the full report here.

Resources to help combat cybercrime

2011-03-02T10:06:00.011Z

Cybercrime is costing the UK around £1000 a second according to a new Government report and now JISC is highlighting six key resources to help universities and colleges ensure they do not fall victim.

Institutions have a right - and sometimes a duty - to ensure that their computer systems are not being used for inappropriate purposes. They also have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.

Computer crime can be classified as:

Content related crime, for example child pornography and criminal copyright infringement

Traditional crimes committed using a computer, for example harassment, fraud and theft

Attacks on computers and computer systems, for example hacking

If you're looking at how to make sure your students, staff and systems are protected, take a look at these resources:

JISC Legal's cybercrime essentials
Ensure that computer systems are not being used for inappropriate purposes by notice and takedown procedures rather than by actively monitoring in general - which may draw increased liability upon the institution.

Legal risks and liabilities for IT services in further and higher education
If you're not sure if your institution would be held liable for individual students and staff engaging in illegal activity, see this JISC Legal paper.

JANET acceptable use guidelines
Make sure that you foster a culture of computer use which complies with these Janet guidelines
Dealing with computer crime (PDF). If you find illegal materials on your institution's computer network, read this advice on the Janet website.

JANET's guide to firewalls
A firewall is a simple protection against the spread of viruses. This guide is a good starting point.

Improve your effectiveness with the JISC infoNet Impact Calculator

2011-03-02T09:50:00.011Z

Further and higher education institutions need to make increasingly tough choices about how they operate and it is often difficult for institutional managers to justify and measure the impact of new initiatives.

JISC’s Impact Calculator is designed to provide a robust, transparent and consistent means of predicting and measuring the impact of a new process or system on an organisation.

Steve Bailey from JISC infoNet explains: “The calculator is a great tool to aid you in the decision making process, particularly when it comes to considering which initiatives to fund. It provides both a solid evidence base for assessing proposed initiatives and also contributes to the financial/impact transparency of those projects which are then funded. “

Produced in Microsoft Excel the Impact Calculator can be used to define and measure the benefit achieved through any process improvement. The tool comprises four main sections which provide the user with the opportunity to:

document the business process they are seeking to improve

define the nature of the benefits they are trying to achieve and how they intend to measure them

capture detailed performance data for each of the benefits defined both prior to and at intervals after the completion of the change initiative

record the costs associated with realising that change

Once the relevant data has been entered into the Calculator it will then chart the level of improvement realised and determine if and when a ‘return on investment’ (ROI) will be - or was - realised.

To download the calculator, click here.

NQGA Workshops

2011-02-22T10:08:00.001Z

The NQGA Development programme is supporting a series of workshops during March,April and May delivered by the JISC Regional Support Centres in Scotland. The cost of attending these workshops (normally £30 per participant) will be met by the programme for participants from Scottish colleges.

Practitioners will have the opportunity to consider effective pedagogical approaches whilst utilising a range of ICT tools and resources.

The outcomes of the project are to:

identify areas of the curriculum where collaborative learning, supported through the use of ICT, can support a blended, flexible, online and cost-effective model of delivery;
utilise a range of nationally available electronic resources;
offer participants opportunities to engage with ICT and enhance their own professional development.

These workshops are part of a larger modernisation programme, where a new on-line assessment system, e-assessments and high quality on-line support materials, that will offer students increased opportunities for progression in lifelong learning, have been developed.

To find out more and see the workshops schedule go to http://scottish-rscs.org.uk/nqga

RSC Inform - January 2011

2011-01-18T12:30:00.001Z

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the first RSC Inform of 2011. To begin the year I thought it would be useful to highlight some of the free advice and services available from JISC and the RSC that are designed to support institutions make the best use of technology for learning & teaching and managing all aspects of their business. Resources from JISC include advice on efficiencies and cost effective solutions. See below for further details.

For the past two years we have thoroughly enjoyed working on a vast range of case studies with our local institutions under our “Best of the West” banner. We are planning an awards ceremony to round off our Best of the West conference which will be held on the 10th June 2011. All the contributions over the past three years will be put forward for the trophies, according to category.

There will be four JISC RSC Innovation in Technology Awards:
• Technology & Business Systems
• Learning and Teaching
• Access & Inclusion
• Learner Services

If you would like any further information on any of the items in this edition, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me at the RSC.

Regards

Fionnuala

JISC Support

Institutional management
Procuring efficient new information and communications technology systems
Strategies for agile institutions

Reducing costs
How can my institution share services to improve our administrative processes?
Making core administrative systems more cost effective

RSC Support
OASES - This Online Accessibility Self Evaluation Service
Topic Briefings
JISC RSC Innovation in Technology Awards

BCE - Business & Community Engagement
Collaborative Online Tools for Business and Community Engagement
Enhancing Business Performance: The Role of Technology in Developing Skills and Knowledge - event

Video and Web Conferencing Tools
Big Blue Button
Access Grid

Other Resources & News
e-Safety Policy Template
Contract negotiation infokit
JISC legal. Interested in Joining Our Virtual Users Group? ... you could win a Kindle!
Social media helps universities attract the right students

JISC RSC Innovation in Technology Awards

2011-01-18T09:51:00.028Z

For the past two years we have thoroughly enjoyed working on a vast range of case studies with our local institutions under our “Best of the West” banner.

By putting a spotlight on innovative and creative examples of the uses of technology in tertiary education in the west of Scotland, we hoped to inspire and encourage other institutions to follow suit by trying out some of the examples of best practice and engage in a knowledge exchange and collaboration. To date we have recorded over 40 case studies, including a good number of podcasts and videocasts. All of them are all freely available on our website to download or just browse whenever and wherever you have Internet access. With at least another 6 new case studies in the pipeline, we are continuing with this theme until our Best of the West conference on June 10th, so if you have been meaning to contact us with an idea for a case study, let us know asap! We’d be happy to come out for a visit to discuss your idea for a case study and what format you would like, whether video, audio or written up by one of the team.

We are planning an awards ceremony to round off the Best of the West conference. All the contributions over the past three years will be put forward for the trophies, according to category.

There will be four JISC RSC Innovation in Technology Awards:
• Technology & Business Systems
• Learning and Teaching
• Access & Inclusion
• Learner Services

Be a Winner!

Got an idea for a case study? The deadline for submitting a suggestion for any new case studies is February 18th. Why not have a look at our website and see what clever ideas and innovations your neighbouring institutions have been working on. Be inspired and be in it to win it! Contact us here at the RSC and we’ll schedule in a time for a chat about your case study idea. We’re always keen to help!

Best of the West Case studies can be viewed by following this link.

Got an idea for a case study?
Contact: Theresa Duffy - Theresa.duffy@glasgow.ac.uk

JISC legal. Interested in Joining Our Virtual Users Group? ... you could win a Kindle!

2011-01-18T09:48:00.005Z

JISC Legal is currently seeking volunteers to join an informal Users Group to provide feedback on our activity on an ongoing basis.

As a virtual user group member, we will from time-to-time invite you to feedback on draft versions of proposed guidance and resources, and we’ll listen to your ideas and suggestions for work we can do. In addition, we propose to hold, on an occasional basis, focus groups by way of web conference. Alas, there’s only moral reward, not financial, but there will be no obligation to take part at any point – just as time and interest allows – and no travel involved (though if you’re passing Glasgow, you’re welcome to stop by for a coffee!).

Being involved will take up no more than an hour or two a month, as and when you have a bit of time or a train journey. Your involvement will, however, be extremely useful in helping us to tailor our services and our available resources to the needs of all our users.

If you work within further education, higher education or the specialist college sector, in an area of work where questions of law relating to ICT come up, and are interested in joining, please drop a mail to Gavin Saxton, our Communications Assistant (gavin.saxton@strath.ac.uk) and we will get back to you with further information very shortly. We are looking to have a group of around 20 users, selected to be a representative sample of our user community. It would therefore be helpful if you could include your job role within your email.

Please contact us by 5pm on Friday, 21 January. As an extra thank you, all those from the relevant sectors who volunteer by this date will be entered into a prize draw to win a Kindle - the draw will be conducted on Monday, 24 January.

We're looking forward to working with you.

Jason Miles-Campbell
Service Manager
JISC Legal

Contract negotiation infokit

2011-01-13T15:57:00.001Z

Selecting the right IT system is only the first step in a successful implementation. It is equally important that you come to a suitable contractual arrangement with the supplier. You need to think about this at an early stage in the selection project. It is tempting to leave contractual matters to the very end and, after a possibly lengthy and tiring selection process, to want to get this stage out of the way as quickly as possible and get on with implementation. Everyone believes at this point that things will go well and the signed contract will go into a drawer never to be looked at again. In the real world this is all too often not the case. Cutting corners at this stage could be your biggest mistake. A well-drawn up contract should protect you (and the supplier) against unforeseen circumstances that throw your project off-track. JISC InfoNet have released a new infokit to help in the area of Contract negotiation. Click here to access the infokit.

Topic Briefings

2011-01-13T15:44:00.015Z

The RSC has developed a suite of briefings that provide an overview of new technologies coming into the mainstream. They describe the benefits and identify the issues and challenges that need to be addressed as they are rolled out and used more widely in Colleges and HEIs. As well as offering topic briefings face to face in our supported institutions we have now developed online versions which can be viewed from your desktop by using the links provided. More will be added to the suite of briefings during this academic year. Briefings include:

Web 2.0 Technologies
Effective Practice with ePortfolios
IPR and Copyright
Mobile Technologies
e-Safety and eSafeguarding

For further information, follow this link.

OASES - This Online Accessibility Self Evaluation Service

2011-01-13T15:43:00.013Z

OASES - This Online Accessibility Self Evaluation Service developed by JISC TechDis is designed to identify strengths and areas for development in terms of accessibility and inclusion practice in your institution. The RSC will be on hand to guide you through the process with solutions, advice and guidance links. At the end of the survey the RSC will creat a report based on the outcomes of the evaluation with a benchmark to wider practice across the UK based on findings of the JISC TechDis evaluations. Institutions can compare their own responses with those of the wider sector in order to benchmark their progress in a variety of areas and formulate a list of priority areas to address.

For further information, follow this link.

Access grid - JANET UK

2011-01-13T14:40:00.009Z

Access Grid is a collaborative videoconferencing tool for FE and HE that allows people in different locations worldwide to meet in virtual meeting rooms known as venues.

Features
• Visual and audio interaction
• Online chat facility
• Shared applications to support group-to-group collaboration (e.g. PowerPoint)
• Data sharing (e.g. file upload)

Scalability
An Access Grid system (node) can be as simple as a PC with a webcam and headset or as sophisticated as a room with multiple cameras, microphones and a large screen. Node size varies depending on user needs.

Uses
• Teaching and lectures • Meetings • Events • Research
• Performing arts

JANET(UK) manages the AGSC which is operated by the University of Manchester. Further information available here.

Enhancing Business Performance: The Role of Technology in Developing Skills and Knowledge - event

2011-01-13T12:59:00.012Z

Both Higher and Further Education institutions are actively engaged in a wide variety of initiatives to enhance Business Performance through the development of Skills and Knowledge.

This free one-day conference is being organised by the JISC RSCs in Scotland in partnership with The Higher Education Academy Scotland team to explore how institutions are turning increasingly to technology to provide Business and Employer Engagement solutions. The conference itself will include a variety of sessions exploring current issues, practical resources and advice in the areas of Business and Employer Engagement. Some of the themes to be explored in the conference will include:
Technological solutions: opportunities and challenges Developing the internal strategy: Communication, culture, recognition and buy-in Relationship management - what are the benefits/the costs?: People and processes Professional development and skills for engagement Student Employability: skills and attributes learners should expect to develop.

The conference will provide an opportunity to explore key finding, resources and issues which have arisen during a range of initiatives both JISC and the Academy have been supporting.

Date: 21 February, 2011 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM
Venue: e-Science Institute, 15 South College Street, Edinburgh

Further information and booking details

Making core administrative systems more cost effective

2011-01-12T16:41:00.036Z

At a time of severe budget cuts, it’s more important than ever for institutions to make their core administrative processes as efficient as possible, freeing up resources for learning and teaching. Information and communication technology (ICT) has a vital role to play in making institutions more efficient and cost effective. However, ICT systems must be well-aligned to business processes, work together efficiently and address users’ needs. There are a number of JISC and JISC Advance services and resources that can help you in this area, e.g. JISC Procureweb. Click here for further information.

How can my institution share services to improve our administrative processes?

2011-01-12T16:41:00.029Z

By sharing administrative processes institutions can reduce their costs and carbon emissions, as well as their need for hard-to-recruit staff with specialist skills in digital technologies. Most administrative processes, such as finance, human resources, student records, timetabling or library management, rely on efficient information and communications technology (ICT) systems. By establishing services to share these processes, institutions can do them better, achieve better value for money and reduce risks. There are a number of JISC and JISC Advance services and resources that can help you in this area. Click here for further information.

Big Blue Button

2011-01-12T16:41:00.024Z

BigBlueButton is a free, open source web conferencing system that allows remote presentation with slides, audio, video, chat and desktop-sharing. The developers aim was to develop a web conference system that would be as easy as clicking a single 'big blue button'. BigBlueButton is aimed at educational institutions to help them facilitate remote teaching and learning. By releasing the software for free under the GNU Lesser General Public License, which allows integration within educational or commercial applications, they also claim this will be at a significantly lower cost than commercial web conferencing systems. That makes it a system worth considering at a time when reducing costs is something all FE and HE institutions are facing.

JISCmail have recently deployed BigBlueButton and to try it out, just join one of their test meetings. To find out more, click here.

For even a more detailed review of Big Blue, read the article by our Netskills colleague, Steve Boneham on this web conferencing system. Click here to read Steve's article.

Strategies for agile institutions

2011-01-12T16:40:00.016Z

Institutions need strategies that enable them to adapt rapidly to change caused by external factors such as funding cuts, changing government requirements, changing student expectations, increased competition and new developments in information and communications technology (ICT). To develop effective strategies, institutions require access to accurate, timely and meaningful information about their core businesses. Cost-effective, interoperable ICT systems provide this information. However, such systems are unlikely to be in place without effective strategies. For further information in JISC and JISC Advance services and support, click here.

Procuring efficient new information and communications technology systems

2011-01-12T16:40:00.014Z

Universities and colleges need to procure ICT systems to run every aspect of their business. Rapidly changing demands require systems to be flexible and adaptable; today’s severe budget constraints demand they are the very best value for money. JISC and JISC Advance are supporting institutions to meet this challenge by developing best practice for ICT systems procurement, working with suppliers to increase system flexibility, and promoting the development and use of open standards to enable different systems to work together. For further information, Click here.

e-Safety Policy Template

2011-01-12T16:36:00.009Z

This template is intended as a guide to help colleges write an effective e-safety policy that reflects their unique college community and context. There are headings, statements and content that a college may select or adapt to suit their own needs. It is assumed that colleges have carried out an e-safety audit of existing measures and have updated other relevant policies. It is available in Word and PDF formats, from the JISC legal website.

Social media helps universities attract the right students

2011-01-12T16:21:00.012Z

Social media helps colleges and universities attract the right students. Facebook photo albums, online clips and video briefings for
international students are among examples of best practice highlighted in a new report aimed at helping learning providers better inform their first-years about education.  Well-informed students are less likely to drop out, so the report illustrates innovative ways of communicating with prospective freshers. It was produced through a JISC-funded project led by the 1994 group and you can read more and download it online. Although most of the examples are from HE, they will help both FE and HE become more competitive in attracting and retaining students from the UK and beyond." Click here to access the report.

RSC Inform - December 2010

2010-12-14T16:14:00.002Z

Welcome to the December 2010 edition of RSC Inform. It's been a difficult month for everyone with huge disruption caused by our early winter snow. In this edition there is a link to Five factors for survival, no, not for the snow but tips for surviving the current economic cuts facing FE and HE. There are also a couple of interesting publications on students' attitudes to technology as well as a toolkit focusing on student-centred learning.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Five Factors for Survival
Student-Centred Learning Toolkit
Student Perspectives on Technology

Five Factors for Survival

2010-12-13T16:30:00.000Z

Tim Marshall in the JISC blog ponders the reality for universities as budget reductions kick in, being faced with seemingly impossible tasks. He says that situations often appear impossible only because our natural instinct is to assume that the way in which we have acted in the past is right for the future. If we focus on the benefits that our communities require and not the features we think they like, the future may not be so impossible after all. He goes on to highlight five factors for survival, which will be of interest to all academic institutions in FE and HE, facing an uncertain financial future.

Know your business

Know your numbers

Strive to be trusted

Empower the team

See over the horizon

To read the full article, click here.

Student-Centred Learning Toolkit

2010-12-13T15:55:00.010Z

A new toolkit on Student Centred Learning published by the European Students’ Union and Education International has been released.

The toolkit forms part of the project entitled Time for a New Paradigm in Education: Student-Centred Learning (t4scl), jointly led by the European Students’ Union (esu) and Education International (ei).This is an EU-funded project under the Lifelong Learning Programme (llp) administered by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (eacea). The toolkit is designed for effective, practical implementation of scl by teaching staff, students and institutional leaders. It aims to show how practical and achievable scl is, as well as being highly beneficial for learners.

The toolkit can be accessed by following this link.

Student Perspectives on Technology

2010-12-13T15:23:00.010Z

So what do students really, really want from the technologies they will encounter during the process of teaching and learning? This new report to HEFCE, prepared by the NUS , contains a lot of interesting information covering student attitudes in both FE and HE. The report, available by clicking here, makes for interesting reading.

Collaborative Online Tools for Business and Community Engagement

2010-12-13T15:20:00.006Z

Collaboration with business and community partners has become increasingly important to further and higher education as a means of ensuring the curriculum meets the demand of employers and of income generation. Collaborative online tools can enhance, and in some cases enable, this collaboration and be of benefit to all stakeholders. Collaboration with business and community partners has become increasingly important to further and higher education as a means of ensuring the curriculum meets the demand of employers and of income generation. Collaborative online tools can enhance, and in some cases enable, this collaboration and be of benefit to all stakeholders.

This new infoKit (online resource) by JISC infoNet examines the use of collaborative online tools to support the interactions between further and higher education and its business and community partners.

To access the infokit, click here.

RSC Inform - October 2010

2010-10-28T14:34:00.025+01:00

Welcome to the latest edition of RSC Inform. In this digest you will find guidance on the Single Equality Duty, Ten Top Tips from JISC legal on the advantages of using ICT, whilst keeping legal. There is also an interesting new resource called Acumen, bringing together a wealth of accessible and easy to use free tools and information sources on the use of ICT in business, designed to enhance existing and new projects and partnerships.

If you would like any further information about any of the items in this edition, please get in touch.

Regards

Fionnuala

JISC Funding Opportunities

Single Equality Duty

Ten Top Tips JISC legal

Supporting Your Institution

Sharpen up your work with business - Acumen

Supporting Your Institution

2010-10-28T14:28:00.009+01:00

Supporting Your Institution is a new section on the JISC website designed to help institutions make best use of technology to manage all aspects of their business. Here you can find out how our latest work can help institutions address issues of current concern, including:

Institutional management
Reducing costs
Student journey
Sustainable futures
Research excellence

Click here to access Supporting your institution

JISC Funding Opportunities

2010-10-28T14:20:00.008+01:00

JISC invites institutions to submit proposals for the following areas in support of its strategic objective to help institutions improve their efficiency and effectiveness, particularly with regard to their corporate and business systems, and to become more environmentally sustainable:

• Business Intelligence Systems
• Relationship Management
• Greening ICT

Brief information about the individual calls is outlined below. The full text of each call will provide information about the amount of funding available per project and project length. The projects are of varying length but will be expected to start in February 2011 and to have finished by no later than July 2012.
Closing date for proposals for each call is Wednesday 17 November 2010.

Business Intelligence Systems

Funding of £500,000 is available to fund a number of projects which will help senior managers and decision makes in institutions make better use of both internal and external data in support of their roles. Projects will work in conjunction with the JISC infoNet new online Business Intelligence resource.

Further details, click here.

Relationship Management

Funding of £700,000 is available to fund projects which will help institutions in the area of relationship management. These include the development of a comprehensive on-line handbook of good practice in Customer Relationship Management processes and approaches for HE and FE, and a number of demonstrator projects which will focus on:
• developing and validating innovations in the management of
information, processes and services that improve the quality of the
student experience, specifically to enhance progression and
retention, and minimise non-completion;
• developing and validating innovative processes and harnessing web
technologies to support mutually beneficial alumni engagement.

Further details, click here.

Greening ICT Programme

Funding of up to £1.05 million is available to fund projects that will help universities and colleges reduce the environmental impact and energy cost of ICT provision and which will investigate how ICT can be exploited to enable institutions to become more sustainable, including:
• a number of short focussed rapid innovation projects which will
focus on solving specific technical problems in Green ICT.
• projects which focus specifically on the role of the estates
departments in addressing areas of Green ICT concern or in the
harnessing of ICT to address estates concerns.
• larger scale exemplar projects which will show where ICT can
enable major changes to the way that institutions do business to
move towards a more sustainable future.

Further details, click here

Sharpen up your work with business - Acumen

2010-10-28T14:06:00.010+01:00

Colleges, universities and other learning providers throughout the UK can now benefit from a new web portal, developed by JISC TechDis, that brings a wealth of useful free resources together in one place and has significant cost saving potential.

Launched at the Auril Conference in Newcastle on 7th October 2010 and funded as part of the JISC Business and Community Engagement programme and developed with the help of the Higher Education Academy, it is hoped that Acumen will become an indispensable online tool to support successful engagement with small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Alongside our society’s move towards digital maturity, it’s more important than ever that the ‘digital divide’ is eliminated to ensure that everyone can benefit from web and new media technologies. While some SMEs are natural technological innovators, others have less experience of using ICT and risk being left behind in a digital age. Learning providers have always had close relationships with the SME community, playing a key role in digital inclusion over recent years and this is important not only to regional and national economies, but also to the institutions involved.

The resources in Acumen represent a wealth of accessible and easy to use free tools and information sources on the use of ICT in business, designed to enhance existing and new projects and partnerships.

Click here to access the Acumen portal

Ten Top Tips JISC legal

2010-10-28T12:49:00.010+01:00

To celebrate 10 years of service and looking forward to the next 10 years, JISC legal have produced 'Top Ten Tips' which is designed to assist you and your colleagues in navigating the advantages ICT brings to you and your students but without the fear of large legal bills. Technological change shows no sign of slowing and new areas such as Web 2.0 and Social Media – with its benefits and challenges – are now part of JISC Legal’s work. To access Top Ten Tips, click here.

Single Equality Duty

2010-10-28T12:47:00.008+01:00

The single equality duty brings together and strengthens a number of existing threads of equality legislation. The JISC TechDis service has a specific remit for advising on the use of technology to support disabled learners in a wide range of sectors. This new JISC TechDis publication provides an outline of the new legislation, which is now in place in higher and further education in October 2010 in England Wales and Scotland. Within this law is a requirement to take a proactive approach to shaping institutional processes and the promotion of equality, therefore merely avoiding discrimination is no longer an option. The publication offers guidelines on how inclusive practices can make a difference to everyone, offers advice on where to start, provides guidance on self reflection in terms of accessibility maturity.If you are interested in specific information on compliance with this law, or on accessibility duty in general, please see this new guide produced by JISC TechDis with input from JISC Legal. Click here to access this guide.

RSC Inform September 2010

2010-09-29T12:02:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the first edition of RSC Inform this year. The focus this month is on the Digital Economy Act. JISC have produced a range of guidance in this area, details which can be found below. There are also a number of funding opportunities available, including a call for FE colleges in the Celtic nations in the area of learning and and teaching innovation. This will be announced next week.

If you would like any further information about any of the items in this edition, please get in touch.

Regards

Fionnuala

JISC News and Funding Opportunities
JISC GRANT CALL 9/10: EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO FIELD TEST THE STRATEGIC ICT TOOLKIT
JISC GRANT FUNDING 11/10: E- CONTENT PROGRAMME
Regional Support Centres become part of JISC Advance

Digital Economy Act
It is vital that organisations across the public sector ensure they implement robust measures to avoid risks of infringing the provisions in the Digital Economy Act and as a result possible future limitation or suspension of their network and internet access.

There are a number of resources providing advice and guidance for colleges and universities, including:

Practical suggestions to remain compliant with the Digital Economy Act
The Digital Economy Act 2010: Implications for UK Colleges and Universities
Podcast: Advice on the Digital Economy Act
Podcast: The implications for universities and colleges

e-Safety
Top ten e-safety tips
Online e-Safeguarding Audit

Green ICT
SMEasure: Could your institution reduce its energy costs?

Other
Recording Lectures: Legal Considerations

JISC GRANT FUNDING 11/10: E- CONTENT PROGRAMME

2010-09-29T10:39:00.006+01:00

JISC invites institutions to submit funding proposals for projects to be funded as part of its e-content programme for 2011. Funding of up to £840,000 is available within two strands:

Strand A - Enriching via Collaboration
Using collaboration to cluster, repackage and re-present existing digital content.
Total funding available £400,000. Up to 5 projects will be funded. Maximum funding for any one project is £100,000

Strand B - Developing Community Content
To develop new content and communities for educational and social purposes.
Total funding available £440,000. Up to 6 projects will be funded. Maximum funding for any one project is £100,000.

The deadline for receipt of proposals in response to this call is 12:00 noon UK time on Friday 10 December 2010. Projects should start by 1 March 2011 and may run for up to 7 months. All projects must be complete by 30 September 2011.

JISC is hosting an event to give delegates more information about the call, and also give the opportunity for networking to take place. More information on the event, which takes place in London on 28 October 2010, is available from the following link.

Eligibility
Proposals may be submitted by HE institutions funded via HEFCE, SFC, HEFCW and DEL Northern Ireland, and by FE institutions funded via SFC, DCELLS Wales and DEL Northern Ireland. FE institutions in England that teach HE to more than 400 FTEs are also eligible to bid provided proposals demonstrate how the work supports the HE in FE agenda.

Further information can be found, by clicking here.

Podcast: The implications for universities and colleges

2010-09-28T15:21:00.007+01:00

Professor Charles Oppenheim, Loughborough University, explains the implications for universities and colleges . To listen to the podcast, click here.

JISC GRANT CALL 9/10: EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO FIELD TEST THE STRATEGIC ICT TOOLKIT

2010-09-28T15:09:00.004+01:00

JISC invites institutions to submit short structured expressions of interest to field test the Strategic ICT Toolkit - a new online resource designed to help institutions analyse, assess and develop their strategic use of ICT - and to report back their experiences.

Funding of £100,000 is available to fund up to 10 field test projects at £10,000 each.

Projects should start by 3 January 2011 and complete by 3 July 2011.

Expressions of interest may be submitted by HE institutions funded via HEFCE, SFC, HEFCW and DEL Northern Ireland, and by FE institutions funded via SFC, DCELLS Wales and DEL Northern Ireland. The deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 12:00 noon UK time on 28 October 2010.

The full text for the call and expression of interest template can be found here

Top ten e-safety tips

2010-09-28T14:36:00.006+01:00

e-Safety is an area gaining more importance in FE and HE today. Institutions have both legal and statutory duties to safeguard the welfare of all learners when making use of ICT. There are a variety of legal issues to consider within the e-safety context, including; cyberbullying, harassment, defamation, hosting liability and data protection. Safeguarding also forms an influential part of the inspection process for colleges, where a low or limiting grade will affect their overall effectiveness. JISC Legal have produced These top tips serve as a quick reminder of the main areas to be addressed in meeting your e-safety duty. Click here to access these tips.

SMEasure

2010-09-28T14:28:00.005+01:00

Could your institution reduce its energy costs?

SMEasure is a free buildings energy management website stemming from research undertaken from the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute. The user simply adds weekly meter readings and the benchmarking and modelling created by the research team on the website provides personalised graphic displays relating to their energy usage and efficiency, potentially helping to save money on energy costs without any equipment or outlay.

In return, the research team is able to access the anonymous data for analysis. The data collected through SMEasure will be used by researchers in the Lower Carbon Futures (LCF) group, part of the highly respected Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at Oxford University. Research insights from LCF are fed back to industry as well as to government in the form of policy recommendations.

SMEasure website

Online e-Safeguarding Audit

2010-09-28T14:01:00.004+01:00

This online audit tool produced by the National Education Network south of the border is aimed primarily at schools but its step-by-step interactive approach to the subject should be applicable to many colleges. Here you can begin to explore the systematic steps that your institution has to adopt to make sure that e-safety is preserved.

To access the tool click here.

Recording Lectures: Legal Considerations

2010-09-28T12:41:00.005+01:00

This guidance examines the legal implications of recording lectures at UK FE and HE institutions, focusing mainly on the issues of copyright and consent. It includes a flow chart of the legal issues and model consent form for institutions to use. It can be accessed in PDF format.

Podcast: Advice on the Digital Economy Act

2010-09-28T12:22:00.010+01:00

Podcast: Digital Economy Act advice for universities and colleges

The controversial Digital Economy Act 2010 has generated much public debate, and the implications for colleges and universities remain unclear. The Act aims to tackle online copyright infringement by giving Ofcom, the communication industry regulator, new powers to deal with it.

Nicola Yeeles from JISC spoke to Kirsty McLaughlin, legal information specialist at JISC Legal, to find out what the new Act could mean for those who work and learn in universities and colleges. Yo listen to the podcast, click here.

Practical suggestions to remain compliant with the Digital Economy Act

2010-09-28T12:16:00.008+01:00

It is vital that organisations across the public sector ensure they implement robust measures to avoid risks of infringing the provisions in the Digital Economy Act and as a result possible future limitation or suspension of their network and internet access. There are a number of practical measures that public sector organisations can consider implementing to help ensure compliance with the Act.

4 step guide to ensure compliance with the Digital Economy Act
To understand the implications of the Act in terms of the individual public sector organisation, it is suggested that the following steps may aid understanding of the implications and ramifications:

Step 1 How the organisation’s internet access is received and supplied to whom and from whom
Step 2 What is the organisation’s role in relation to the Act?
Step 3 Understand the potential risks and costs associated with receiving and supplying internet access and the organisation’s
obligations
Step 4 Take practical steps regarding internet access to minimise the organisation’s exposure to the risk (see below)

To read the full briefing paper, click here.

The Digital Economy Act 2010: Implications for UK Colleges and Universities

2010-09-28T12:11:00.006+01:00

This guidance document produced by JISC Legal examines the Digital Economy Act 2010 and its implications for universities and colleges in the UK. It can be accessed in Word or PDF format.

Regional Support Centres become part of JISC Advance

2010-09-28T12:02:00.008+01:00

On 1st August 2010 JISC Regional Support Centres (RSCs), which guide and support the deployment of technologies for learning providers, became part of JISC Advance. JISC Advance is a not-for-profit company which delivers ICT support services for the Further Education, Skills and Higher Education sector on behalf of funding councils.

The advent of the RSCs into JISC Advance creates a broad and resourceful national service combined with the regional strengths and local relationships of the RSCs. JISC Advance Director, Guy Lambert says, “We are pleased to welcome the RSCs, with which we have been working closely over the last year, into JISC Advance. They are a vital element in both helping our customers interpret and make best use of our resource, and as a feedback channel to help our services develop resources that address customers’ priorities.”

Through joining JISC Advance, the resources and advice of the Regional Support Centres are now complemented by a range of specialist services within the same organisation. These are: JISC Digital Media, JISC infoNet, JISC Legal, JISCMail, JISC Netskills, JISC Procureweb and JISC TechDis.

The Regional Support Centres were launched in August 2000 and have been offering support to the post-16 education and training sector for the last ten years during which time there has been significant change in the use of technology.

RSC Inform April 2010

2010-04-20T13:23:00.010+01:00

Welcome to April’s edition of RSC Inform. A number of new resources on Business & Community Engagement, including videos from JISC legal and an event in Edinburgh run by JISC Netskills. Other topics include gaming technology, accessibility self-evaluations and identity management. As ever, if you would like further information and advice on any of the information provided, the team here at the RSC will be happy to help.

JISC News & Publications

JISC Conference 2010: presentations and keynote videos

Business and Community Engagement (BCE) videos

Leap2A: Enabling e-portfolio portability

Legal Issues Involved in Managing Identity

Transformation through technology: Illustrating JISC's impact across two decades

JISC Value for Money reports (2009)

JISC Event

Supporting Professional Development for Engagement: Information Management Focus

JISC Funding Opportunities

JISC ITT: Internet Radio Shows on Key Themes of the JISC e-Learning Programme

RSC Services

Online Accessibility Self Evaluation Service (OASES )

Other Resources

Games Technologies for Learning: More Than Just Toys

JISC Conference 2010

2010-04-20T12:29:00.013+01:00

Technology: at the heart of education and research was the title and theme of this year’s JISC conference held in London on 12-13 April 2010.

Bill St. Arnaud and Martin Bean gave the keynote speeches, both bringing different perspectives on putting ‘technology at the heart of education and research’. Videos of the keynote plus presentations from all the sessions are available from the JISC website in a 'virtual goody bag'.

Transformation through technology: Illustrating JISC's impact across two decades

2010-04-20T11:01:00.004+01:00

Over the last decade JISC has invested its research and development funds in around 200 UK universities and colleges. The importance of this is not just the resulting new products, approaches and systems but crucially increased skills and capacity. The sustained, managed and strategic nature of our activities means the resulting impacts far outweigh the initial investment. All our successes and achievements are realised as a direct result of our ability to drive innovation within the sector through research and development.

This report provides illustrations of JISC’s impact across two decades. The sustained, managed and strategic nature of our activities means the resulting impacts far outweigh the initial investment. To read the report, click here.

JISC Value for Money reports (2009)

2010-04-20T10:58:00.005+01:00

It is central to JISC's mission to deliver value for money through economies of scale, to provide research and development into how technology can better support education and research, and to provide a range of services and resources that meets the needs of colleges and universities. To read more, follow this link.

Supporting Professional Development for Engagement: Information Management Focus

2010-04-20T10:49:00.008+01:00

Institutions are increasingly involved in a wide range of external engagement activities and supporting the development needs of staff involved in these diverse activities is a challenge. This FREE workshop provides an opportunity to discuss these issues, explore new resources and contribute to national strategy. The workshop is part of JISC’s Business & Community Engagement (BCE) Programme. The workshop will also introduce a new online skills tool which has been developed to guide users to relevant resources based on an individual skills profile. Further details are available here.

Leap2A: Enabling e-portfolio portability

2010-04-20T10:43:00.010+01:00

Leap2A is an open specification for transferring learner-owned information between different systems. e-Portfolio tools and systems are now widely used by learners to present evidence of learning, achievements and abilities for many purposes, including application for a job or university, assessment or professional accreditation. During their studies, these learners may invest significant time and effort in collecting, selecting, reflecting on and presenting the information included in their e-portfolios, so it is vital that their work doesn’t disappear or become unusable as learners move to another college, university or into the workplace.

Business and Community Engagement (BCE) videos

2010-04-20T10:39:00.008+01:00

JISC Legal has provided a series of five short guidance videos on Business and Community Engagement (BCE). Each video explores different aspects of BCE including: Data Sharing and Research, Creating Intellectual Property Together, Using Intellectual Property Together, Keeping Confidential and e-Marketing. They are available from the BCE Theme page of the JISC legal website under the 'Resources' tab.

Legal Issues Involved in Managing Identity

2010-04-20T10:12:00.006+01:00

JISC has launched a toolkit to allow information officers, IT directors, security managers and their staff to better understand the legal issues involved in managing identity issues. Identity management is key to many processes and services that universities and colleges provide for students, staff and other individuals and the sector as a whole can benefit from improved identity management practice. The toolkit can be accessed here.

Games Technologies for Learning: More Than Just Toys

2010-04-20T10:08:00.014+01:00

The Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET) has released a new report exploring the ways in which computer games, digital games and digital learning games can be used to enhance and support teaching and learning.

The report, titled ‘Games Technologies for Learning: More Than Just Toys’ was officially launched at the Game Based Learning conference 2010 held at the Brewery London, as part of a research seminar led by LSN’s Jill Attewell and Rebecca Douch.

Jill Attewell, Research Manager at LSN, commented:
“Not only do digital games support the development of a range of skills, they also help engage and motivate learners. This makes them very effective and flexible teaching and learning tools. Many young people are already very familiar with games technologies and enjoy using them. This removes some of the barriers which might otherwise prevent them succeeding.”

In the report, LSN analysed information from Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET) projects, which have involved 30,000 14+ learners in FE colleges and schools in the last 3 years, and discovered that the use of handheld games devices had increased substantially in under two years, from 300 devices being used in 2007/08, to more than 2,000 in 2008/09.

Drawing on case studies from colleges and schools around the country, the report evidences how handheld games technologies can deliver a range of benefits, including:
- greater flexibility by encouraging learning at different times and in various locations
- improved achievement and attendance
- greater learner engagement through increased motivation, learner focus and attention
- social and emotional benefits in terms of learner confidence and self-esteem

The report also focuses specifically on how handheld games technologies can be used to support learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, through benefits such as overcoming language barriers for those with low levels of literacy and/or numeracy and helping teachers to support learners at different levels. Practitioners can also glean advice on how to use games technology more effectively in their teaching.

The full report can be downloaded here

JISC ITT: Internet Radio Shows on Key Themes of the JISC e-Learning Programme

2010-04-19T16:30:00.012+01:00

JISC invites proposals to organise and produce a series of internet radio shows to communicate key themes of the JISC e-Learning Programme. These shows will be aimed at senior managers and practitioners working in UK FE and HE. It is expected that a total of 10 shows would be broadcasted over a two year period, focusing on topics which are of relevance and drawing together outcomes from the e-Learning Programme which can assist in addressing these issues.

Funding: Up to £50,000 is available for this work.

Deadline for Proposals: 12.00 noon UK time on Tuesday 11th May 2010.

Timescales: It is envisaged that bidders will be notified of the outcome of the evaluation process in the week commencing 24th May 2010. The successful bidder will be expected to start work by 1st June 2010.The final show will be due to have been completed by 1st June 2012, with a short final report describing the processes involved in producing the shows and any recommendations for future e-Learning Programme radio shows being provided by 31st July 2012.

For further information, follow this link