E-Learning and exams - the way forward.

Interested in two pieces of education news today.

First: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) announced that this year will see the first 'on-line' examination sat in Intermediate 2 and Higher biotechnology.
"This first use of technology in a formal exam is a significant milestone as we continue to modernise Scotland's exam process," said SQA chief executive Anton Colella.

My prisoners sit 'formal' e-exams every day and all I can say is that it is a major boost in prison education. The 'students', as we call them, have a designated computer attached to the internet via a router (to ensure that this is the only site that they can get to). This is linked to CISCO HQ in the US and the multichoice tests are taken in real time and marked the instant the enter their last question. The benefit of this is that they know there and then if they have passed their exams.

Considering we still have an education department that delivers paper based exams that seem to take an age to get marked, the students much better prefer our method.

Second: The government computer agency for education systems BECTA announced that computer systems in schools are too old, they are not being renewed fast enough, and about half of schools do not even have a replacement policy.

Considering the emphasis on the use of e-learning I would have thought this was a priority to ensure that all pupils had access to the latest software/hardware. The project I work for has a 3 year refresh program on software/hardware to ensure that what we are delivering is bang up to date. If the Government is honestly working towards e-learning and developing e-exams this should be the norm.
The ratio of 1 computer for every 6.1 students in primary school and 1 computer for every 3.7 secodary school student isn't nearly enough.

In 1999 when I was working in a main stream school we were promised by Labour that every child would have his/her own laptop. What happened to that idea?
It would be very simple, supply all classes with docking stations attached to a main server, and then allocate a set sum of money to parents towards the purchase of a personal laptop computer for each child. The onus is then on the parents to ensure that these computers are kept up to date. Laptop prices have plummeted in the past few years and with good Government backing should cost around £300 each. Then utilising educational licensing of software they could be 'fitted out' for about £150, which should come from school funds.

Finally reasons for the poor showing in IT in schools.

*ICT teachers and heads of ICT normally are seconded teachers from other activities and not primarily computer trained.

*The money offered to ITC Technicians, Network Admin or if you are lucky Network Managers is a joke. Not knocking current staff but with the skills needed to run a school of over 600 pupils you would expect to be earning what a medium sized industry would be offering.

*ICT is underused or abused. IT classrooms are left empty when they could be better used. You can deliver more that ITC on computers.
As for abused, if I had to sit through another 'death-by-PowerPoint' presentation, I would die.

*Enthusiasm, or should I say lack of it. I love my subject, I am on top of new development and enthused to distribute my learning to others. Also I am not scared to answer students questions because I am ahead of at least with them on new developments. The average teacher is normally one page ahead of his student and hasn't had the wealth of funding that I have had to develop my skills into delivering IT at the top level.

Right, getting off my soap box for the day and going to do some work.

Under new management

After months of worry about the future of PICTA we are happy to report that we have a new steering group and management team.
The DfES transferred 'ownership' to the Regime Services Group(RSG) of HMPS under the management of Nick Dickens.

Nick has been very proactive in his past dealings with PICTA and sees this as the next step in its development.

The aim now is to integrate work related aspects into PICTA through developing ties with outside industries. RSG have had success with this in the past through links with the gas industry and see this as a natural progression.

PICTA continues to do its little bit to reduce re-offending and help prisoners to help them self.

PNIE update

Our workshop expansion completes next week when we have the flooring laid. The £15,000 refurbishment paid for by the Offenders Learning and Skills Unit of the DfES allows us to develop the courses currently being run to include the NEW Panduit PNIE cabling and allow more room for the CCNA networking activities.

The expansion would double the amount of ‘students’ we can cater for and have a major impact on the academic level of the courses currently being provided.

We have a lot of offenders that are more dexterous in their approach to work rather than academic, so the cabling courses would suit their working needs. This and the fact that we have recognized a general need in cable engineers in the south of England has been a major impetuous in us pursuing this line of training.

Hard Work Pays Off

Congratulations to Officer Mike Billett of HMP Lewes (PICTA workshop) for being nominated for Officer of the Year for Lewes for his valiant work in Resettlement.
His name is to be put forward with officers from all over the country for the converted prize of 'Prison Officer of the Year'.

Mike has down a wonderful job these past 2 years in developing partnerships with outside agencies and colleges to ensure our students get the chance in life they deserve.

This has a wider consideration for the PICTA project, as it endorses the hard work done by all the prisons the length and breadth of the country.

PICTA Triangles

The twenty PICTA Prisons work in 'triangles' so as to offer each other support and allow continuity of training if prisoners are moved from prison to prison.

What is a PICTA Academy?

The PICTA Academy is a joint project between the DfES and the Prison Service under the control of the OLSU (Offenders Learning and Skills Unit).

Using a system of 6 weekly courses it is aimed at producing skills in computer retail, repairs, maintenance and networking, for which there is a recognised shortage of qualified technicians.The OLSU have formed partnerships with CISCO, Hewlett Packard/Compaq, Interactive Education, BCS (British Computer Society), Scoll Methods, Electronic Paper, CompTIA, ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence), CTAD and OCR. There are also on going attempts to forge more partnerships which not only will deliver qualifications but jobs as well.

CISCO SYSTEMS

CISCO is one of the 20 leading companies in the world. CISCO components are used primarily for network traffic and they pride themselves with the honour of over 80% of all Internet traffic having to pass though their kit. Their involvement allows students to train in computer assembly, maintenance and networking to a standard of certified network technician known as CCNA. They also run a placement scheme and aim to find work for our better students.

PANDUIT

New to our list of courses is the Panduit Network Infastructure Essentials (PNIE. This course teaches the students the following fundamentals:

Basics of cabling and related safety issue - Networking basics -
Signal transmission through various media, including cables, optical, and wireless - Know different types of copper media - Understand fibre-optic media -Understand cabling standards - Implement structured cabling -Proper use of the tools used in the cabling industry - Cabling installation process -Devise cabling for special situations - Understand differences and similarities in standardisation around the world

ELECTRONIC PAPER BCS & ECDL

Electronic Paper work in conjunction with BCS and ECDL They facilitate on-line examinations of the European Computer Driving Licence. The ECDL is now the universally recognised qualification for office type Information Technology employment. The ECDL is in 7 modules and can be completed over a 2 year time span.

CTAD

The Cambridge Training and Development Ltd facilitate key skills in Information Technology through their Target Skills software programme. It is aimed at improving literacy and numeracy levels of the students to Level 2 grade (equivalent to A-C grade GCSE)
CTAD work in close liaison with the Basic Skills Agency to raise the level of English and Maths in the work place. Again testing is on-line and allows the student to appraise their personal progression.

OCR

The OCR have become involved in delivering their new certification iPRO their first Professional IT Qualification. It incorporates segments from CISCO, CompTIA and Microsoft qualifications for a more rounded understanding of IT. We are also utilising OCR qualifications in preparation for work such as letter/CV writing and applying for a job.

CompTIA

CompTIA courses will be delivered also in the workshop with aims to first introduce the CompTIA A+ (computer maintenance) and then possibly NETWORK+, SERVER+ and LINUX+. These courses like CISCO are sort after by the IT industry.

INTERACTIVE EDUCATION

Interactive Education has supplied us with up to the minute presentation software/hardware utilising overhead projectors and interactive screens. This allows for better student/tutor interaction and can be used for displaying presentations, video and TV.

The PICTA project has invested heavily in the workshop utilising the best equipment available to facilitate the student’s needs. We run Compaq – Pentium 4 computers with Windows XP Professional, flat screens over a wireless network.
Students will learn interactively using personalised programs and headsets facilitated by the instructors. This allows for a roll-on roll-off training structure and relieves pressure on the students over speed of information uptake.
A training needs analysis will be initially undertaken, where the students aims and ambitions are tailored into an Individual Learning Plan. The ILP is regularly re-assessed to ensure that the student is getting what they require and allowing for re-adjustment if targets are being met at faster/slower than expected.
Provision has been set aside for 30 x 2½ hour sessions over a six week period for each student with facility of extending this for further training if the student has shown the prerequisites of the course.
Close ties with the Job Club and facilities offered by CISCO are aimed to result in placement of students on their release.

Inside a PICTA workshop

Welcome to PICTA Lewes

Hi this is the first blog of PICTA @ Lewes.

PICTA is a prison run CISCO IT Academy delivering 'real' qualifications to prisoners in 20 prisons across the UK.
Based on a project originally run in the US, we have now surpassed our originators and now deliver ECDL (European Computer Driving License), CISCO IT Essentials 1 & 2 and CCNA qualifications. Also web page design, and a new cabling course call PNIE. In all we are turning out students that have the skills the industry need in the hopes that it will help towards the Goverment policy of reducing re-offending.

PICTA PRESENTATION