<p>Session 3.4a: E-assessment Case study: Acacia Training & Development Use of MP3 voice recording and online portfolios</p><p>About the organisation Acacia Training and Development Ltd. (Acacia) is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to provide work-based learning (WBL) in the areas of Health and Social Care, Hospitality, Management and Housing, and also offers further training and development courses. Currently 580 learners are enrolled on NVQ courses with Acacia. The courses are delivered by five members of the training team who work both in the workplace and in the centre, and by approximately 20 internal assessors and five internal verifiers (IVs). Jason who trained as an E-Guide is also an IV/assessor and has taken on the role of implementing e-learning across the WBL provision, including training colleagues.</p><p>About the chosen technology Attending the Work-based learning E-Guides training programme Jason had the opportunity to investigate the use of voice recording for collecting evidence for NVQs. Furthermore, Acacia bought into a commercial online portfolio system, which would allow assessors, IVs and learners access to their portfolios anytime (providing they have internet access).</p><p>MP3 voice recorders Back in the company, Jason conducted a cost analysis of the use of MP3 voice recorders for collecting evidence, both through the assessor and by the learners themselves. The analysis explored if the use of MP3 recorders to collect evidence would be more cost-effective than the traditional method and it also explored if it would enhance the service and learning provision. Based on this analysis Acacia decided to provide all assessors with MP3 voice recorders. All assessors were trained in using the equipment, ensuring that they were able to record high quality evidence and storing the evidence as an electronic file (and potentially uploading it to the e-portfolio).</p><p>Online portfolio Acacia had previously explored and used another e-portfolio system and decided to buy the new system based on user-friendliness and ease of use for both assessors and learners. They opted for an online portfolio system as it would grant access to it anytime and anywhere. Initially the online portfolio was used with 15 learners. Each portfolio is set up so that the learners, one lead assessor and the IV can access it. The online portfolio allows to store electronic evidence which is needed for the NVQs, and it gives percentage reports about the learner’s progress. To date, five of the assessors are trained in using the online portfolio system. In May the remaining assessors will be trained by the E-Guide in using the system, and the portfolio will be made available to up to 50 learners by the end of June 2007, this will then be increased to meet demand.</p><p>E-Guides training programme 2007 - 2008 Session 3.4a: E-assessment</p><p>Impact and benefits to date</p><p>MP3 voice recorders Using MP3 voice recording significantly enhanced the learner journey at Acacia. For both assessors and learners, having access to digital recording technology has made collecting evidence more creative and less restrictive. Assessors have been able to use their time more effectively by saving time on using digital voice recording instead of taking notes and afterwards writing these up. Furthermore, using this technology has allowed assessors to focus more on the learners themselves during visits. Using voice recording also during interim telephone visits also enhanced the quality of these visits. For IVs, having gained access to digitally recorded audio files also proved beneficial because they present accurate and authentic accounts of the assessment process. The use of MP3 voice recorders has proved motivating for learners at Acacia as well. Because the process is quick and easy compared to the traditional process, learners are more willing to talk and more motivated to actively participate in the process. It also allows learners to record witness/expert witness testimonies and reviews of their own work that can be used for their portfolios. Being able to collect evidence without depending on reading and writing has made the process of recording evidence more learner-centred. As one result, learners are able to complete their qualifications quicker and are drawn out of their work less.</p><p>Online portfolios As Acacia is still in the implementation phase for the chosen online portfolio system they are currently still investigating its cost-effectiveness for the company. For assessors the key benefit of using the online portfolio has been its anytime, anywhere access. Additionally, having access to automatic progress reports supports the effective learning and assessing process. Learners at Acacia now have the choice between using a paper-based or online portfolio. Therefore the introduction of the online portfolio has created an additional choice for learners. </p><p>Barriers Acacia encountered a number of potential barriers when implementing the new technology. For some staff being introduced to new technology was threatening at times. Acacia faced this potential barrier by providing regular training days for all staff, ensuring that the training was simple and focussing on offering practical ideas to staff. Initially some of the assessors encountered difficulties with applying the new technology, but gradually the benefits and the quality of the evidence overcame these difficulties. Furthermore, IVs welcomed the digital audio files as evidence as this would allow more standardisation across the company. Organisation-wide, the cost of implementing the technology was a potential barrier. To avoid this barrier technology was chosen that was affordable, and more importantly, sustainable to up-keep in the long term.</p><p>E-Guides training programme 2007 - 2008 Session 3.4a: E-assessment</p><p>Future plans Acacia has many plans for further implementing e-learning across their company. These developments include training and implementation of using Blogs, developing a website offering access to individual learner accounts, use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), development and use of interactive learning and training content linked to the online portfolio system, use of interactive voting software, and producing and offering a whole range of training videos that can be edited into different formats so will be accessible using different equipment and environments such as computers, mobile phones, Sony PSP, internet, email and so much more, all this will give learners more access to learning resources.</p><p>Key ingredients for success “Concentrate on something that could save time and money, embed it and then focus on the next developments. Don’t buy into things that are too expensive and that you can’t continue using.”</p><p>“Keep it simple.” “Make all information as simple and clear as possible so all staff know what you’re talking about.”</p><p>E-Guides training programme 2007 - 2008</p>