Loughborough College has today been announced as a finalist for a prestigious national Times education award – for the third successive year.
The dedication and expertise of the people and teams who make a significant contribution to improving the skill levels of young people and adult learners are celebrated in the 2017 Times Educational Supplement shortlist.
Once again, Loughborough College is in line for a top honour in the ‘Outstanding use of technology for improving teaching, learning and assessment’ category, this time for Enigma and Horizon.
These were innovative live action events giving 500 Loughborough College staff an insight into how students feel when using learning technologies – and encouraging them to incorporate it into their teaching and assessment.
A series of challenges used a dynamic story as a way of including knowledge to be learned. Enigma had a code-breaking theme with an against-the-clock aim of recovering documents stolen by a double agent. Horizon saw staff sent into space on a perilous treasure hunt involving a range of difficult practical and emotional choices.
Enigma and Horizon have had a major impact at Loughborough College and beyond, including a boost in English and Maths pass rates and many other colleges asking the College eLearning team to deliver the training to their staff.
“I am delighted that Loughborough College's talented e-Learning team has been shortlisted for a prestigious TES FE award in the ‘Outstanding use of technology for improving teaching, learning and assessment’ category,” said Loughborough College Chief Executive and Principal Heather MacDonald, who spent five years as a trustee at leading national educational technology organization Jisc.
“The pioneering Enigma and Horizon training created by the team has proved highly successful in enabling and encouraging our staff to use technology in ways which are making a real difference to students, enhancing their learning and preparing them for the world of work.”
Rachel Challen, eLearning Manager at Loughborough College, added: ““I am incredibly proud of the team and what they have achieved.
“Innovative and exciting methods like Enigma and Horizon provide an engaging learning environment for staff, giving them the tools to impact positively on the experience of our students.”
The Loughborough College eLearning team involved in Enigma and Horizon included: Rachel Challen, Matt Aldred, Dan Vaughan, James Blackburn, Ricky Snodgrass, Barrie Edmonds and Andy Ironmonger
The TES Awards 2017 winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London on 24 February.