27 July 2011 - Blog That Book Project

This Skills for Life project entitled 'Blog that Book' encouraged students to write a review of a book that they had read on a monthly SfL blog. This project needed some incentives to get it started BUT students enjoyed it (much to their surprise I think) and one tutor has already commented that one of her students is already reading and drafting her blogs for next year – fantastic! Student comments we have received are:

“…the first book that I have ever read from start to finish in my life”
“I read this big book and it gave me confidence and enthusiasm with 445 pages and it is so interesting. I want to read more books rather than watch T.V.”
“The book excited me and when I told my husband and children around the dinner table, they said, it was as though I was there.”
“…I wanted to read more and more of this book”
“… now I can read that helps me with my college work and it gives me confidence to read books. Now I know how to write a book review, that makes me happy.”
“I loved The Dare so much that I’m going to read his other five novels.”

This project has improved student's confidence in their reading, writing skills and style, as well as increased their confidence in the use of ICT. For non-library users it has promoted an active interest in libraries, and has also encouraged their imagination and creativity!

Well done!

12 July 2011 - Regional Conversation Meeting

Today, SCOLA’s Principal, Saboohi Famili, attended the second phase of the regional conversation meetings conducted by Rob Wye, LSIS Chief Executive. This event took place at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North London, Tottenham centre.

The purpose of the regional conversation meeting was to ensure that the LSIS strategic plan provides a robust and balanced statement of priorities for services, support and research and is properly informed by and commands real support from the LSIS Council, and from the sector. LSIS is looking at five broad areas of activity for future investment:
• improving teaching and learning;
• improving capacity for curriculum design and development;
• turning policy into practice;
• enhancing leadership, governance and management; and
• doing more with less money.

This was an informal opportunity to discuss the role of LSIS at national level and across the region.

8 July 2011 - Day 5 at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Another great day at the Hampton Court Flower Show despite the weather! The SCOLA stand still looks good and SCOLA prospectuses proving to be very popular with the public! Lots of positive comments and big crowds taking pictures of the SCOLA exhibit by Level 2 Floristry students.
Thanks to Debbie Sykes, tutor, and the Level 2 students for their wonderful exhibit.

Saboohi Famili
Principal

08 July 2011 - Learners speak about what adult education means to them

John Faulkner, Saboohi Famili and Joanne Barnett of SCOLA presented at the RSC London eFactor Showcase, Senate House, London University.
Despite costing the taxpayer a fraction of the money spent on other educational sectors (schools, FE and Higher Education), millions of learners in the UK benefit from participating in adult education each year. Adult education offers a flexible and welcoming environment in which people can realise their potential. It is often a valuable late option for those whose first experience of education was not a positive one. There are many theories and strategies as to what lifelong learning should be and how it should be funded. Perhaps a good way to start to think about this question is to listen to what actual participants in adult education think.
Here is a selection of short films produced by SCOLA, an Adult Education College in the London Borough of Sutton, in which students talk about what their experience of adult learning means to them:
Basic Skills (2min 38 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/4/l0bb8n-3df0
Teaching and Learning Support (2mins 30 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/2/vucOdoZfM34
Independent Learning and Support (2min 26 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/6/NodZEIHcKfs
Computing and Digital Design (2 mins 46 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/8/gZ6BVepcJzo
Art & Photography (2mins 23 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/9/8nW5FMMPixo
This SCOLA film project was showcased by RSC London at their e-Factor Event on June 28th 2011.
On 28th June 2011 RSC London held an event at Senate House, London showcasing some of the excellent work being done by post-16 learning providers across London. The theme was the effective use of technology and featured presentations ranging from virtual desktops in Bromley Adult Education to advanced VLEs in Haringey, Enfield, and North East London College.

4 July 2011 - SCOLA students at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

SCOLA Floristry students along with their tutor Debbie Sykes won a prestigious competition to take part in the Swinging Sixties Floristry & Fashion Show. Their exhibit called “The Swinging Sixties “ which includes a floral guitar and Abbey Road style crossing can be seen at ‘The world’s largest flower show’Hampton Court Palace, Surrey 5–10 July 2011

We hope to see you there!

Angela Williams
Head of Programme - Creative Studies - Arts & Crafts

1 July 2011 - Great feedback from the JISC event!

The following comments were received after SCOLA presented at the London JISC e-Factor event on Tuesday 28th June 2011.

"I didn't get the chance to see the SCOLA videos on Tuesday, but have been watching them this morning and totally agree with Martin's comments. Nothing so effective as the learner saying why they are learning , what it means to them and where they want to go next. Great advert for SCOLA and for the work of the adult and community sector." - JISC Information Officer

"Thank you very much for presenting at our event.
I would like to disseminate these videos more widely, if that is alright with you.
In all my time in Adult Education, thirty years, we have always had to persuade funders and governments of the value of Adult Education. It seems to me you can give them charts and graphs but nothing is as powerful as hearing learners talk about how their course hastransformed their lives.
Your films do just that. So I will see how we can get more people to see these films.
Keep up the excellent work." - JISC Senior Adviser

Well done to the Principal, Saboohi Famili, John Faulkner and Joanne Barnett

21 June 2011 - Stimulating and Supporting Innovation in Learning

SCOLA was thanked for presenting at the RSC London e-Factor event on Tuesday 21 June and sharing the excellent work being done at SCOLA.

The feedback on the day was been very positive and the delegates certainly seemed to have enjoyed the presentations.

SCOLA was thanked for sparing the time and contributing to the success of the event.