Skillz for Life
In partnership with Whizz Kidz, National Star College has developed five interactive and fun workshop sessions:- Going for Gold, Go Team, Work Skillz, Healthy Living and Creativity Day. 18 specially trained Skillz for Life trainers are delivering the workshops to 36 Whizz Kidz ambassador clubs across the UK. Ambassador Clubs are designed to enable young people with a range of physical and sensory disabilities to meet up, have fun and develop their own campaign agendas. From October 2011 National Star College will deliver Skillz for Life workshops to a further 11 clubs nationally.
GASS (Gloucestershire Accessibility Support Service)
This two year project started in 2011 and funded through LSIS (the Learning and Skills Improvement Service) Flexibility and Innovation Fund, will carry out county wide technology assessments, support and equipment loans for over 50 disabled adults between May 2011 and March 2013, to enable independence and autonomy to promote living, learning and employment opportunities.
DART (Disseminating Access Roles in Technology)
This two year project started in 2010, funded through the LSIS Flexibility and Innovation Fund, is disseminating assistive technology best practice across the sector by promoting and supporting the Assistive Technologist role.This is a collaborative project with Beaumont College as the lead partner. The National Star College is working with four partner colleges; Oakwood Court, Bournemouth and Pool College, City of Bristol College and Swindon College providing advice and assistance on improving and implementing assistive technology best practice. A National dissemination event will be held in the summer term 2012.
e-Safety - Specialist on-line resources
National Star College is working with Linkage and Landmarks Colleges to develop a series of on-line specialist resources for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities and organisations. This is also funded by LSIS Flexibility and Innovation fund.
iTEN (“Star to Star”)
This is an LSIS funded project as part of the technology exemplar network working with a specialist partner organisation in West Tennessee. The Star Center U.S.A and the National Star College U.K. are both specialists in the use of assistive technology support, assessments and innovation working with people with physical, sensory and learning difficulties. The project will develop a communication portal for teachers, professional practitioners and learners to be able to communicate with each other to improve teaching, learning, knowledge and capabilities.
InStep – Measuring the Un-measurable
National Star College is currently researching and developing of an assessment continuum and video database that allows learners and learning stakeholders the ability to review progress over time –particularly in social and physical development.The video comparisons will be built into a specialist e-portfolio called InFolio. The college as part of a wider development team recently won Learning Technologist Team of the year 2011 for the development of this e-portfolio.
Previous Projects
- 2008 -2010 – Molenet - Delivery of three Learning and Skills Network Molenet projects exploring the use of mobile learning technology
- 2008 -2010 – Technology Exemplar Network – disseminating our expertise in the use of enabling technology
- 2008 -2010 – InFolio – Development, in partnership, of a specialist e-portfolio.
- 2010 – Measuring the un-measurable – Research Development Fund to produce a research paper on the development of InStep
- 2010 – Realise
- 2009 – ePDA Showcase – Development schemes of work used as planning tool s are used to ensure structured progression where the learning objective are focussed on how learners learn to use technology.
- 2009 – Know IT all – Development of an on-line IT induction programme
- 2008 – e-Guides
