Working for more and
different adult learners
different adult learners
Inclusive Learning in Further and Higher Education
Innovations in research, practice and learner engagement
Celebrating the contribution of Peter Lavender to the field of inclusive learning
| Date: | 16 Feb 2012 |
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| Venue: | Milton Keynes: The Open University, The Hub Lecture Theatre, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA |
| Ref: | C3050/0212 |
| Fee: | £125 - full fee |
| Contact: | NIACE Events Team (events@niace.org.uk) Tel: 0116 204 2833 |
| Apply: | Apply Online is now closed for this event |
[Background] [Aims] [Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions]
Background
This conference is brought to you jointly by The Open University, the Learning & Skills Improvement Service and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education: three organisations with a demonstrated understanding, expertise and commitment to inclusive high quality education for disabled learners. The conference recognises how far we have come in the past 15 years, and focuses on the innovations and opportunities that will lead to further mainstreaming of inclusive learning. In particular, this conference shares research and practice in Further and Higher Education, with a view to understanding what the sectors can learn from each other, and importantly, what researchers and practitioners can learn from engagement with disabled learners. Through research, reflective practice and learner engagement, our understanding of a wide range of learning needs and the intersection between disability and other characteristics and circumstances, will be enhanced.
Workshops and presentations at the conference will focus on three themes:
- Learners' Voices
- Curriculum, Teaching and Quality
- Policy, Strategy and Research
and will include examples of innovative research and practice focussing on various aspects of the future of inclusive learning.
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Aims
The conference aims to:
- consider the role of inclusive adult learning in Further & Higher Education in the past 15 years
- share innovative research and practice in inclusive learning in Further & Higher Education
- inspire further innovation to shape future policy and practice in inclusive learning
- reinforce the importance and value of learner engagement in developing understandings and approaches to inclusive learning.
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Audience
The conference will be of interest to individuals and organisations across the full spectrum of adult learning: higher education, further education, workplace learning and community-based learning. It will be of particular benefit to:
- Senior policy makers
- Inclusive education researchers
- Practitioners and learners who advocate for active learner engagement
- Those responsible for teaching methodologies
- Student support staff
- Individuals developing curriculum
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Programme
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09:15 |
Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available) |
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10:00 |
Welcome from the chair of the morning session |
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10:10 |
Provision for disabled learners in an age of uncertainty |
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10:35 |
Inclusive learning in further and higher education: |
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11:00 |
Question and answer session |
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11:15 |
Comfort break |
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11:30 |
Workshops - morning session |
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AM.1. Enhancing learning support Facilitator: Allie O'Brien, on behalf of LSIS The Enhancement of Learning Support materials and resources are the result of an LSIS sponsored project to provide training and development activities for learning support staff and those who manage them. These relevant and practical resources, which have been developed in collaboration with practitioners working across the sector, are designed to improve learner outcomes and support the practice of those working with learners with learning difficulties and or disabilities. This practical workshop will demonstrate the resources and how practitioners can use them to support the training and development of LSAS and to improve outcomes for learners. |
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AM.2. Effective teaching and learning through effective communication Facilitator: Kathryn James, John Stewart and Sudarat Makeshine A bi-lingual workshop developed and delivered by learners who are Deaf. The workshop will provide participants with better Deaf awareness and strategies for communicating with Deaf people, which can help providers to tackle the barriers to effective teaching and learning for Deaf learners. This workshop is part of an LSIS project to build capacity in the learning and skill sector around Deaf awareness but also to provide d/Deaf learners with a voice to celebrate their culture, raise awareness of the barriers to success in learning they face and to develop employability skills and opportunities. |
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AM.3. Mental health and learning for recovery - Back on Track Facilitators: Sue Ward, Head of Centre, Highbury College and Catina Barrett, former member of the NIACE/LSC/ISCRI partnership programme team who is currently the project manager for the NIACE/Skills Funding agency 'Mental Health in Further Education' partnership project and learners The Back on Track workshop will be able to contribute to all 3 of the conference themes and the intention to explore the future of inclusive learning. Working in a strong local partnership with Pam Ringland from Headspace, the NHS Early Intervention in Psychosis service in Portsmouth, Sue and Pam have, in developing the Back on Track programme, made mainstream further education and health service work together to transform access to and success in learning and skills for young people who have a particular mental health condition (first episode psychosis). Young people who want to be able to look forward to a whole life ahead, but who might otherwise be NEET and looking forward to the worst lifetime unemployment rates of any group of disabled people. Back on Track offers a recovery-focused opportunity for young people (aged 19-35) who have had their education interrupted by mental illness to get their lives back on track. |
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AM.4. Using a model of specialist support in a general further education college Facilitators: Barbara Titmuss, Sam La Touche and Steven Philp, Weston College and Kate Williams, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Ambitious About Autism This workshop will outline the provision available at the college for learners on the autistic spectrum. Over the last five years we have developed a model of specialist support which enables us to support students on all mainstream courses from level 1 to degree level programme. Support staff will discuss their work with students and one of our students will give the student perspective on the support they have received. |
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AM.5. What is reasonable adjustment? Facilitator: Julie Young, The Open University |
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12:45 |
Lunch |
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13:30 |
Workshops - afternoon session Application-guide-disabled-learners-LS-June10 [pdf] |
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PM.1. Teacher training - specialist qualifications Facilitator: Viv Berkeley, LSIS This workshop will explain the two pathways on offer within this qualification and specifically focus on the 3 additional units written for this specialist qualification. They are :
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PM.2. A curriculum for employability Facilitator: Yola Jacobsen, Programme Manager, NIACE Policy initiatives such as Valuing Employment Now (DoH, 2009), the cross- government Getting a Life programme and Learning for Living and Work (LSC, 2006) stress the importance of a vocational provision that is relevant to the needs and aspirations of disabled learners, in order to support them to fulfill their potential. The recent SEN and Disability Green Paper (DfE, 2011) continues the focus on the importance of education supporting young people to progress into work. This workshop will examine developments in the learning and skills sector including the early work of the DfE Preparing for Adulthood Programme that is supporting the work of the SEN and Disability Pathfinders, and consider the potential impact on the curriculum. |
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PM.3. Creative listening: hearing the voices of learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties Facilitators: Maria Chambers, Vice Principal, Beaumont College and This work comes from the joint working on a resource published in October 2011 between 6 providers who support learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties. The publication focuses on how providers can listen to the voices of learners who often have idiosyncratic ways of communicating. Because of this their voices are often lost in the system. In order to be effective staff need to be able to interpret learners' behaviours to understand their needs, wants, likes and dislikes. This is difficult to do robustly. The workshop will provide an opportunity to explore ways of interpreting and promoting the learner voice for people with profound and multiple learning difficulties using person centred approaches and thinking skills. Resources from the 'Creative Listening' case studies will be shared and participants will be able to share the challenges and the successes of a range of learning strategies which can enhance learners and staff communication skills. |
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PM.4. Securing Greater Accessibility (SeGA) Facilitators: Anne Jelfs, Martyn Cooper and Paul Mundin from The Open University The Open University currently has around 13,500 registered disabled students and making its modules as accessible as possible is key in ensuring the quality of OU provision. A cross-institutional programme called Securing Greater Accessibility (SeGA) is designed to support a process of clarifying and equipping staff roles across the university that impact on the accessibility of teaching and learning and services. It is a major change management initiative to foreground accessibility in module design and production and to build faculty expertise in accessibility. |
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PM.5. A special relationship Judith Rose, independent researcher and member of RaPAL (Research and Practice in Adult Literacy) Adult literacy teaching and the development of education for adults with learning difficulties have grown up together, but there is not a shared dialogue of theory or pedagogy. In practice constructive and successful partnerships can be established, but tensions remain. I hope that a closer study and understanding of the history of the relationship between adult literacy and education for adults with learning difficulties/disabilities will help practitioners, managers and funders to communicate and share insights, benefiting current teachers and learners. The workshop would aim to look at the history, involve the participants and consider the future in the light of the past and present. Significant documents are A Right to Read (1974), Warnock Report (1978), Tomlinson Report (1996), Freedom to Learn (2000) and guides to Foundation Learning/Personal Progress qualifications. |
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15:00 |
The future of inclusive learning: Research, Policy and Practice Panel discussion chaired by Rob Wye, Chief Executive, Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) to include: |
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16:00 |
Close of conference |
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Event Information
- Arrival and registration is at 9:15am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 4:00pm
- Event fee per person:
£125 - full fee
£ 50 - bursary fee offered to students studying for their Masters or PhD; students on Initial Teacher Training Courses, Associate Lecturers at The Open University and Learning Support Staff
Delegates can apply for bursary places by sending an email to events@niace.org.uk and explaining the circumstances which quality for the reduced fee
(includes tea/coffee and buffet lunch) - NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference or course fees.
- Only online application forms with the payments section completed will be processed.
- NB: If you wish us to invoice your employer we require a copy of the Purchase Order before the form is processed.
- Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed online application forms (one online application form per person)
- Video cameras may be in use at this event. If you do not wish to be photographed or appear on the video outputs please indicate this on the application form and make yourself known at registration
- Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions
- If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact: events@niace.org.uk
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Application Conditions
- Event: Thursday 16 February 2012
- Closing Date: Wednesday 1 February 2012
- Cancellations are subject to an administrative charge of £50 provided written notice of cancellation is received by NIACE before the closing date. No refunds are offered for cancellations after the closing date.
- The full fee is payable prior to the event
- Applications for the reduced hardship fee are to be emailed to events@niace.org.uk for the attention of the Events Manager and outlining the circumstances of the hardship and inability to pay the full fee
- Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event
- A 15 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
- Places are to be reserved online - scroll up and click on Apply Now
- If you would like to apply for a place via a two-page paper-based application form, write to events@niace.org.uk quoting cost code C3050/0212
- Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted
- Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail. Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event.
- NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list.
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