JOSEPH
Joining up Organisations Supporting Engineering Pathways into Higher education. Watch a demonstration by clicking on the video to the right (Note: just an example at mo - no sound). This project is funded under the Cross-institutional Learning strand of the JISC Capital Programme and runs from October 2006 to March 2009. Project partners include Connexions Nottinghamshire and Edexcel.
JOSEPH is linking the fields of ePortfolio and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) in the context of the UK's new 14-19 Diploma in Engineering. It is exploring vocational pathways for young people into Higher Education and support for cross-institutional learning.
Access Joseph Now...
A demo version of Joseph is now available online. The demonstration module integrates with both the Nottinghamshire Area Prospectus (myChoiceNotts) and Nottinghamshires ePortfolio system (passportfolio). Click on the link below, create an account and trial Joseph now.
Access Joseph demonstration applicationAims and Objectives
Aims
To identify and scope existing IAG processes for learners and advisers on vocational, multi-institutional pathways in 14-19 education, and to specify the priority web services needed to enhance the integration of eportfolios and IAG for the benefit of both students and support staff.
To scope, specify, build and pilot an SOA solution (instantiation of the eportfolio ‘engine’ proposed by the eportfolio Reference Model project) to co-ordinate the use of Nottingham Passportfolio with IAG processes and resources, in the context of the new Specialised Diploma in Engineering. This will include links to the new 14-19 online prospectus and UCAS course entry information and will be purposed to transfer to the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire LLN for roll-out across the sub-region.
To test the viability and usefulness of an institution-free eportfolio for this category of learner by seeking answers to key questions, such as:
- What is involved in personalising a generic, institution-free eportfolio system to support learner progression on a specialised diploma route in a specific occupational sector (Engineering), accommodating several learning providers at the same time?
- How will eportfolios interoperate with the variety of on-line resources and on-line and/or face-to-face advice services provided by IAG organisations (primarily Connexions, but also FE/HE/workplace mentors) in a specialised diploma learner’s preparation for application to FE or HE?
- How widely transferable is the technology required for eportfolio-based progression to FE/HE on this route, in a vocational specialism governed by sector bodies, including transitions not just between educational institutions, but also including training and employment?
Specific Objectives
(a) to work with the 14-19 Nottingham partnership (Connexions, AimHigher, Children’s Services in the City and County) to identify eportfolio-enabled web services to enhance access to IAG for students in local schools/colleges, including linking to the regional on-line 14-19 prospectus to be introduced by August 2007
(b) to focus this practically and strategically upon IAG processes for learners on pathways in Engineering, especially those piloting the new specialised diploma in Engineering, one of the first to come on stream in 2008
(c) to identify the kinds of personalised, cross-institutional programmes which will be characteristic of the new diplomas, and to provide an instantiation of the eportfolio ‘engine’, as proposed by the eportfolio Reference Model project, in relation to IAG requirements to support learners operating across more than one institution/learning situation
(d) to provide and evaluate year-long pilot implementations in 07-08 with specific groups of learners who will be using the new Passportfolio, involved in a pilot for the new Specialised Diploma in Engineering and considering applying for entry to FE and/or HE
(e) to produce a scalable solution and demonstrate its scalability by supporting the take-up of the outcomes of the project across the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire Lifelong Learning Network 2007-2010.
