College providing virtual answers in class
The mention of virtual reality learning is one that will trigger visions of clunky visors and black Lycra bodysuits for many, but, as FE Week reporter Paul Offord found out, the vision is not quite the reality, thankfully
Students at the College of North West London are making use of every learning aid at their disposal, even virtual reality (VR).
Around 1,100 learners on construction courses (levels one to four) in plumbing, gas utilisation, trowel trades of brick and plaster, carpentry and joinery, and painting and decorating use it.
A further 1,400 on engineering courses (again levels one to four) in electrical installation, air conditioning and refrigeration, welding, 
automotive engineering, body and paint, mechanical engineering use VR.
Putting the college ahead of the field, virtually speaking, is its head of construction, Martin Biron.
“The College of North West London has embraced opportunities to support vocational education through the development of VR and AR [augmented reality],” he told FE Week.
“I think it is fair to say we are pioneers in advocating and developing the use of digital technologies within FE.”
He has been learning how to create new VR teaching programmes through a part-time masters degree at the University of the West of England and has developed a virtual hair and beauty training salon called le Salon De Coiffure at the college that is expected to be in operation from September.
“It can’t do things like simulate cutting hair,” he said.
“But students will be able to develop soft skills, like conversing with clients.
“I also developed a central heating component identification pod — this allows students to work in pairs within the virtual world and learn about the different components found within a domestic heating system.”
Students can download the VR software on home computers and smart phones.
They are also encouraged to use AR software that recognises tools filmed on smart phones (pictured below) and plays videos explaining how they work.
Another 8,500 students across the college have access to the college’s VR software that is not actively used in lessons. They use it to support studies, for example when learning about health and safety issues for a variety of skills training courses.
Mr Biron said that he saw VR teaching software as complementing rather than replacing workshop-based teaching.
“Gas fitting students, for example, can be working on a valve in class which controls the supply of gas to different appliances,” he said.
“We can show them on a big screen while they’re doing it which way the gas is flowing inside the valve.”
It might sound like an expensive piece of kit, and Mr Biron said it costs around £10,000 a year to maintain and update the VR and AR software, but he predicted providers would increasingly look to the technology as budgets are cut.
“It would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds for the college to build a new training salon, but one man did it for next to nothing in the virtual world and we will hopefully introduce that into the teaching programme from September,” he said.
He added: “We haven’t got the software yet to fully replicate practical physical activities like welding or cutting hair, but I’m confident there will be completely interactive virtual workshops within 20 years that will cut out all our current health and safety worries.”
It’s Brazil to lift the World Cup say FE and skills leaders in FE Week fundraiser
Brazilian magic will see the host nation lift the World Cup in just over a month’s time — that’s the overwhelming view of the FE and skills sector.
Yes, Brazil, whose first game tomorrow night against Croatia will get the tournament under way, are the sector favourites to win the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, July 13.
Lynne Sedgmore (pictured above, centre), 157 Group executive director, and David Hughes (pictured above, left), chief executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, were among those to back Brazil as FE Week launched its World Cup-inspired fundraiser for the Helena Kennedy Foundation.
“Our predictions have been developed following advanced algorithm-based scientific analysis and helped by the keen football insight of 157 ‘associates’ (ie family members of the team),” said Mrs Sedgmore.
“The host country must have a definite advantage to lifting the cup this year and Brazil are our favourites to beat Spain in a closely-contested final at the Estadio de Maracana.”
A similarly impressive prediction technique that arrived at Brazil as winners was adopted by Mr Hughes, who looked to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) for help.
“There’s very scientific reasoning behind my prediction,” he said.
“Firstly, I wanted to look at the most important data so I found the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) study on adult numeracy from 2013 and used that to forecast that the most numerate nations would do best.
“The main problem with this approach is that not all of the 32 nations in the World Cup participated in PIAAC, so I chose the best two European from the study and balanced that, to be even-handed with the clearly best two Latin-American countries. Simple. Let’s hope numeracy is related to spatial awareness.”
But while the host nation were also the favourites of Stewart Segal (pictured above, right), Association of Employment and Learning Providers chief executive, he couldn’t help hold out some hope for Roy’s Boys.
He said: “It’s hard to see anyone beating Brazil on home turf, but it may be close and there is still hope for an outsider that hasn’t won the tournament for 48 years [England].”
However, an AELP spokesperson later added: “Belgium could be considered as a decent each-way bet.”
The information may well have been leaked to the Education and Training Foundation, where leadership, management and governance director Olivia Dorricott (right) also had an eye on Belgium.
“We think Brazil will win, but the team to watch will be Belgium — lots of class and youth on their side,” she said.
“The South American advantage will play to the advantage of Brazil and Argentina, and just like with skills never underestimate the talent of Germany.”
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC said: “I’m going for the home nation to win. With Brazilian bravado behind them, Brazil can’t fail.”
And Shadow Skills Minister Liam Byrne was also going for the Brazilians — but was positive about England’s chances.
He said: “This World Cup is going to be a cracker. Topping the scoring charts will be Birmingham born-and-bred Daniel Sturridge, propelling England into an unexpected third place finish (a nail biting penalty shootout will see them through against Germany, in the most watched third-placed playoff of all time).
“Ultimately, the might of the Brazilians will see them through to the World Cup final where they’ll beat their South American rivals to clinch global glory and spark a carnival in Rio.”
However, there were some predictions of another nation lifting the World Cup.
James Kewin (left), Sixth Form Colleges Association deputy chief executive, said: “I am tipping Argentina to win the World Cup this year, with Brazil in second place, Spain in third and Portugal in fourth.
“Like sixth form colleges, these are high performing teams, full of talented individuals that are used to playing in an extremely difficult climate.”
Argentina, and specifically star striker Lionel Messi, also caught the imagination of Association of Colleges chief executive Martin Doel.
He said: “My rationale was that any team with Messi in it must be a strong contender and Argentina are always a strong street-wise tournament team.
“Spain are not as strong as they were four years ago with an ageing team, but still the best pure footballing team in the world. Brazil will be strong at home but I’m not sure that they have the rounded team to compete with Argentina or Spain.
“Belgium are the equivalent of England in the late 1990s/early 2000s, in that they have a ‘golden generation’ of talented players like Vincent Kompany and Eden Hazard and perhaps they will make better use of this generation than England did.”
Dr Ann Limb, HKF founder and chair, said: “Spain are the best team in the world at the moment and my money’s on them.”
But keeping the England flag flying was Skills Minister Matthew Hancock who thought Rooney and Co would emerge victorious.
“I’d love to see England in the final but it will be a tough journey. Brazil, with their flair and home advantage are the team to beat,” he said.
Lynne Segmore — Brazil, Spain (second), Argentina (third), Germany (fourth)
David Hughes — Brazil, Belgium, Uruguay, Holland
Stewart Segal — Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany
Olivia Dorricott — Brazil, Belgium, Argentina, Germany
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC — Brazil, Spain, Italy, Germany
Liam Byrne — Brazil, Argentina, England, Germany
James Kewin — Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Portugal
Martin Doel — Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Belgium
Ann Limb — Spain, Germany, Brazil, Italy
Matthew Hancock — England, Brazil, France, Portugal
World Cup ‘FE’ver kicks off at college
West Nottinghamshire College brought some Brazilian magic to Mansfield by staging a World Cup-style football tournament.
Taking part in the competition were 24 five-a-side teams made up of more than 160 students and staff from the college. Each team, named after one of the qualifying nations for the real World Cup, competed in a series of eight-minute group games, with the group winners and runners-up progressing to the knock-out phase.
Winning team Honduras, made up of level three sport and exercise science students Joe Martin, Josh Smyth, Scott Mills, Oliver Bennett and Liam Burley, beat staff team Bosnia 1-0 in the final to win a replica World Cup.
The event on June 6 also featured a World Cup-themed carnival, in tribute to the international tournament which starts in Brazil on June 12.
Sport tutor Rob Shaw said: “The tournament created a real buzz and excitement among students and staff and it was great to see all the hard work and planning come to fruition.”
Picture caption: From left: The winning “Honduras” team are Joe Martin, aged 18, Josh Smyth and Scott Mills, both 19, Oliver Bennett, 23, and Liam Burley, 17
Racing through endurance and mental agility tests
Learners from Aylesbury College and Amersham and Wycombe College raced through physical endurance and mental agility tests in front of former Formula One driver Mark Webber.
Teams of 12 students from each college completed events including a giant Krypton Factor-style puzzle against the clock, riding as many miles as possible in two hours on exercise bikes, and racing around Silverstone race track, in Northamptonshire, on handpowered cycles.
The winning team from Aylesbury College was presented with medals by Australian Mr Webber, who lives near both colleges in Buckinghamshire and helped organise the event.
Karen Mitchell, principal of Aylesbury College, said: “Some of the challenges were pretty tough but it was a great day for everyone involved.”
Andrew Kirk, events manager for Amersham and Wycombe College, said: “It was a very exciting day for all the students and they gave everything in the physical and mental challenges.”
The students raised £3,000 through sponsorship and a charity auction for the Aylesbury College Trust, which helps deserving students who need financial support continue their studies.
Mr Webber began racing in Formula One in 2002 and retired last year. His best overall finish was third for the 2010 season.
Picture caption: Former Formula One driver Mark Webber (third from left) and Aylesbury College principal Karen Mitchell (far right) with students from her college’s winning team
Hearing disability can’t stop Charlotte
A student whose hearing disability persuaded her to choose fashion over French is Cleveland College of Art & Design’s graduate of the year.
Charlotte Elise Walters, aged 22, was presented with the award at the college’s annual fashion show by former student and lingerie designer Michelle Taylor.
She said: “I couldn’t really do French because I was born deaf in one ear so opted for textiles.
“Studying at the college has been an inspiration, as you get really fantastic support from tutors.
“My dream now is to develop my menswear label Point. I love menswear as there is so much opportunity to develop the clothes with pockets and gadgets.”
Ms Taylor completed a BTec national diploma in art and design course at the college in 1993 and worked as a designer for Selfridges, Top Shop and Playboy before launching vintage luxury lingerie label Tallulah Love in 2010.
Picture caption: Graduate of the year Charlotte Elise Walters with Tallulah Love
Learning about health care and cultural differences at Indian hospital
New College Nottingham students spent a fortnight shadowing doctors and nurses at a hospital in India. They were shocked to see a mother reject her baby because it was a girl, but came home elated after watching patients’ lives being saved or transformed by surgery, writes Patrick Widdess.
India is situated in a different continent to Britain, and students who spent a fortnight at a hospital there felt like they were in a different world.
The dozen BTec extended diploma health sciences learners, aged between 16 and 21, accompanied doctors and nurses in wards and operating theatres throughout Meenakshi Mission Hospital Research Centre, in Madurai.
Caroline Houldsworth, head of science, technology, engineering and maths at New College Nottingham, said they were shocked to see a mother initially reject her newborn baby girl in the maternity ward.
“The students saw first-hand that there is a cultural preference for the first baby to be a boy and the mother was distressed when she saw it was a girl,” said Ms Houldsworth.
“She refused to handle the baby immediately after the birth, but later on in the day they encouraged her to try and feed the child.”
Ms Houldsworth added the woman eventually breast-fed the baby.
Hospital staff thought was an “encouraging sign” that the family would accept the child and it would not be one of many first-born daughters still abandoned in the vast country.
The highlight for student Neha Mahato, aged 21, was watching cleft pallet surgery on children who were subsequently able to smile confidently for the first time.
She said: “The children who had the surgery were mostly very young.
“It was really good to see them smiling [after the operations] and their parents too.”
Neha, who plans to study nursing after graduating from college, said staff at the hospital taught students the importance of remaining objective so they could keep a clear mind when considering treatment.
She said: “I learned that when you see a patient you feel sympathy for their pain.
“But as a professional you have to think about how to cure them, not the pain.”
She also recalled how students overcame the language barrier to communicate with patients.
“We had to do it through speaking slowly and using common gestures,” said Neha.
Neha was joined by fellow learners Lauren Walker, Abigail Walker, both 16, Emilia Hope, Pippa Carr, both 17, Sidra Asif, Katie Alexander, Victoria Gale, Summun Ahmed, all four 18, Charlotte Turner and Sonja Radosinovic, both 19.
The students, who returned from the trip last month, had previously spent 18 months raising £2,000 per person to fund the trip, through activities including cake sales and packing shoppers’ bags at supermarkets.
Neha raised £1,000 in a single night through a Bollywood-themed event for her friends and family.
The event took place at an Indian restaurant where she has worked for three years, called 4,550 Miles from Delhi.
As well as their experiences in the hospital, the trip also involved a weekend trip to the Gavi national park, in Kerala, where they camped, went trekking in the jungle and saw wild dogs and black deer.
They also visited the Gandhi Museum and bought colourful saris from the local market.
Neha said: “It was not only educational.
“We developed as individuals and really got to know each other well.
“It was an extraordinary experience.”
Main picture: Back from left: Students Emilia Hope, Abigail Walker, Katie Alexander, Lauren Walker, Victoria Gale, Sonja Radosinovic, Sidra Asif, and college head of science, technology, engineering and maths Caroline Houldsworth. Front from left: Students Summun Ahmed, Neha Mahato, Pippa Carr and Charlotte Turner
Inset right: From left: Two Indian hospital medics with Charlotte Turner and Sonja Radosinovic
Inset left: Charlotte Turner learns how to take the pulse of a patient
Hugh Baird and Oldham colleges to open first Career Colleges as plans for at least ten more are announced
The first two Career Colleges have been announced, while plans for at least a further 10 next year — including four from Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) — were also revealed.
Hugh Baird College, in Bootle, Merseyside, and Oldham College were both granted licenses from the Career Colleges Trust to open in September.
They will run the 14 to 19 colleges specialising in hospitality and catering, and creative and digital arts, respectively.
Career Colleges Trust chair Luke Johnson, said: “The Career Colleges at Hugh Baird and Oldham represent very different industries.
“Not only does this demonstrate the diverse nature of our innovative educational concept, but it highlights the different employer/industry requirements in various areas. Career Colleges are, quite rightly, led by employer demand.”
Hugh Baird College principal Yana Williams said: “The visitor economy has been identified by the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership as a key growth area with a range of employment opportunities for our learners.
“By focussing our Career College on the hospitality and catering industry, we are confident that we will help to ensure that employers’ needs are fulfilled in future years with highly skilled, work ready individuals with a clear understanding of the sector and employer expectations.”
Oldham College principal Alun Francis said: “We are thrilled at the response we have had from Greater Manchester employers working in the digital and creative sector, and strongly believe that this initiative will play an important part in regenerating Oldham.”
Meanwhile, a trust spokesperson revealed hopes that a further 10 Career Colleges could open next year.
Four were planned by BMet — with proposed specialism in health and medical, engineering/electronics, creative arts/media and professional services — and one by City of Oxford College, part of the Activate Learning group of colleges, specialising in construction. Five other colleges were said to be working towards approval and hoped to open next year, but were not identified by the trust.
Andrew Cleaves, BMet principal, said: “Our Career Colleges, which will open in September 2015, will focus on providing young people with the skills they need to meet the exciting wide range of job opportunities opening up in Birmingham and the wider region.
“With the creation of HS2, major M42 corridor developments and the resurgence in manufacturing coupled with developments in new sectors such as life sciences and digital, there will be over 40,000 new jobs created in the next decade. Projects such as the Library of Birmingham, Birmingham Airport, the Translational Medicine Institute, New Street Station redevelopment, new Dental Hospital and the BBC Academy are all providing opportunities for employment.”
Lee Nicholls, executive director curriculum, standards and academies at Activate Learning, said: “We are delighted to be at the forefront of developing this exciting new concept in education. The Career College model recognises that our young people need more opportunities to develop the technical skills that will help them to secure employment.”
A Career College spokesperson said there was no minimum or set fee for licenses and that a figure of £150k had been rejected after consultation with prospective Career Colleges last year.
“We have developed a bespoke service, tailored to the needs of each individual Career College,” they said.
However, trust chief executive Ruth Gilbert said fees would apply and that, “some may be higher than £150k, while others may be considerably lower”.
See edition 106 of FE Week (dated Monday, June 16) for more on the announcement of the first round of Career Colleges.
Plunging to new depths to take photos of lake bed
South Cheshire College level three engineering students plunged to new depths with an underwater camera capsule.
The group of 15 learners designed and built the capsule in college as part of a design and manufacture module and headed to Lake Wastwater, in the Lake District, to test it out.
A camera placed inside took a series of images of the bottom of the 270 foot deep lake, with help from an on-board torch which lit up the under-water darkness. The students also measured temperature, pressure and light intensity underneath the lake’s surface using sensors attached to the capsule.
One of the learners Martin Quinn, aged 21, said: “This has been such a great project to be involved in and it has taken our mechanical engineering skills to a whole new level.”
Picture caption: Engineering student Martin Quinn with the capsule