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IT@Work

The results for IT@work are now out and have been published in the latest edition of the ICT Skills for Life Briefing.

The Project

The IT@work development project, jointly funded by Derbyshire Learning Skills Council and UNOCO Group company, Atyourpace Ltd., aimed to develop an online management system that could be used by the LSC, learning providers, employers and other stakeholders to manage LSC funded programmes.

The Brief

The development brief included an e-portal to provide an information and communication link for all stakeholders. The level of access would be managed by a strict, password protected, access protocol. The portal was linked into a programme management system to store statistical information, track learner progress, store contract documentation and provide reports. The system was designed to allow for the further development of a full paperless portfolio.

The Trials

Following the development stage, the system was successfully trialled as part of the Derbyshire Employer Training Pilot, with 1220 learners from over 100 employers taking part. Two qualifications were used in the trial, Begin IT, a foundation level VRQ, and iTQ, a NVQ Level 2 programme for ICT users. New online diagnostic assessments and multimedia learning resources incorporating standardised portfolios and online learning were also used as part of the trials.

The Results

The trials produced excellent overall results with 88% of students completing Begin IT and 86% completing ITQ. Further more progression rates showed that 94% of learners progressed from Begin IT to ITQ and the success rate of learners who entered straight into ITQ was 69% - this was an increase of 31% from previous achievements.

Although achievement rates for all students was very high, it was interesting to note that the rate of achievement for iTQ, Level 2 was higher (94%) for the students who had first completed the entry level programme, Begin IT, than for those who had gone straight onto ITQ (86%). This supports the Skills for Life agenda, providing learners with foundation skills and knowledge before progressing them onto further learning.

The successful results are due to implementation of a system which took advantage of new technology such as the e-portal, password protected access to information and the ability to track, manage and report on learner progress. This combined with new assessment and learning resources and the traditional principles of accurately assessing learners' needs and access, train, access delivery, to significantly increased engagement, retention and achievement rates.

The full IT@work report has been published in the October 2006 edition of ICT Skills for Life Briefing:

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