Category: Staff Development

Students at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are set to take a walk on the wild side following a collaboration with Edinburgh Zoo, which could see classes using immersive technology and undertaking virtual field trips.

Staff from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) visited the new digital classroom at SRUC’s Barony Campus in Dumfries to learn more about the opportunities offered by the state-of-the-art technology.

They also met with staff from the Animal Care, Forestry and e-Learning departments to discuss the possibility of collaborating on future projects which would benefit both staff and students at SRUC and the youth programmes delivered through Edinburgh Zoo.

Suzanne Scott, head of Discovery and Learning at RZSS, said:

“Having previously worked in learning technology in a tertiary environment, I was keen to bring those skills to the conservation education sector in my new role at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland as Head of Discovery and Learning.

One of my first ports of call was SRUC’s Barony Campus, as I have long been aware of their innovative approach to learning technology.  Working in similar fields, there are a number of common challenges for both Edinburgh Zoo and the staff at SRUC, particularly in terms of teaching subjects based in nature, but still ensuring the students develop their digital literacy skills to ensure their relevance in a 21st century workplace.

Barony successfully balances this and continues to push the boundaries of learning technology. Their new digital classroom is a triumph, showcasing not only the most up to date approaches to learning technology but by promoting independent and collaborative learning amongst students and supporting staff in changing their approach to delivery.

Overall Barony’s passion for learning technology is an inspiration and we look forward to establishing a partnership with staff across various departments to further establish this relationship, with both parties contributing to the long term benefits of combining outdoor based learning with appropriate digital technology.”

Jackie Irving, Animal Care Programme Team Leader at Barony, said: “The common interest in conservation and education will make this a very valuable partnership. It will also greatly benefit students and staff across all SRUC faculties, including Forestry, Horticulture, Animal Care and Veterinary Nursing.

“The collaboration will expose SRUC students to a wider range of experiences relevant to their industries and develop independent learning and reflection.

“This is an exciting venture that will enhance the learning of many students, provide specialist skills to obtain employment and embed lifelong learning.”

Staff from SRUC are meeting the RZSS team at Edinburgh Zoo in May to identify projects, including the use of immersive technologies, virtual field trips and other learning and teaching opportunities.

On Friday 15th of February 2019, the official SRUC Barony Campus kirkmichael Digital Classroom opening event took place. Guests included SRUC’s Chief executive and principle, SRUC Vice-Chairman, Dumfries and Galloway College and Emma Harper local MSP.

Professor Wayne Powell started the ceremony with welcoming guests and highlighted the importance of innovation to SRUC and the power of internal and external collaboration.

Belinda Haig (SRUC’s Group Manager Information and Digital Services) started with the SRUC Learning and Teaching Digital Dream, which began with a visit at Dundee University Learning Space rooms around 20-months previously.

Belinda went onto thank the Digital Classroom committee members, the local team and especially two members of the project team (Julie Parker and Ali Hastie) for their commitment and dedication in producing a state-of-the-art room and facilities for both staff and students.

With the great success with the Digital Classroom project and the Learning Teaching collaborative projects with staff and students at Barony Campus, SRUC officially announced future Digital Classroom installations with similar technologies throughout SRUC.

Once Alistair Marshall (SRUC Vice Chairman) officially opened the Kirkmichael Digital Classroom, with revealing the plaque, he stated: “Collaboration through technology is second nature to students at home and while studying. We need to constantly evolve to support their potential and create a world class teaching environment. The digital classroom isn’t just about today, it also reflects the working practices of tomorrow. Working with staff and students to create our first digital classroom has been brilliant and has offered us a real glimpse into the future”

With the Kirkmichael Digital Classroom officially opened, Ali Hastie took to the lectern and presented the Kirkmichael Digital Classroom journey. Practicing what we preach surrounding the use of technologies with the students, Microsoft Sway was used to present the Kirkmichael Digital Classroom journey:

The Advanced Certificate in Forestry students (Jared Ambrozevich, Adrianna Quail and Ewan Kckelvie) took the floor and showcased their ‘amazing’ digital evidence that they have been collaboratively working within their teams in the digital classroom. This included their high quality Tree Identification e-Portfolios within Microsoft Sway and Pests and Diseases of Trees within their team’s Padlets (online collaborative walls).

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

On the 28th of January 2019, the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) e-Portfolio sub-group held their meeting within SRUC Barony Campuses new Digital Classroom. Members from the e-Portfolio sub-group including staff members from SQA, SPARQS (Student Partnerships in Quality Scotland), City of Glasgow College, Forth Valley College and Glasgow University.

First on the meeting agenda was the introduction to Barony’s new Digital Classroom, including how the Teammate tables and Clevertouch screens work within the room.

Second on the agenda was to showcase the work carried out on the new online Forestry Tree Identification course Unit, which has been successfully delivered to both Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Forestry students within the Digital Classroom.

Christine Wood (SQA’s Project Manager, Digital Assessment Services) stated:

‘The SRUC Barony Digital Classroom is a resource which, from demonstrations provided, appears to offer excellent learning and teaching tools, all of which are designed to enhance learner participation and collaborative learning.  The Teammate tables encourage learners to work together in small groups, linking an iPad to the table screen, and allowing individual students to take on active roles by sharing presentations on behalf of their groups.  The Clevertouch screens in the room also allow easy viewing for discussion across the groups.

One very good example of how SRUC Barony students have made use of the Digital Classroom can be found in the Forestry Tree Identification Project.  Students were able to work in teams, and compete across teams, to complete interactive drag and drop and hotspot activities relating to tree identification.  This collaborative work also involved students creating high quality Sway presentations, as formative assessment for the Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Forestry, and presenting these in the Digital Classroom using the resources available to them.’ 

With sharing best practice to the sub-group, Gordon Mcleod (Learning Technologist, Glasgow University ) has access to the Forestry student team’s (with their permission) high quality digital evidence surrounding their Tree Identification e-Portfolios in which he plans to showcase to staff and students at Glasgow University.

Image above: Staff from SRUC Barony Campus, Dumfries and Galloway College and Borders College

On the 5th of December 2018, staff from Dumfries and Galloway College and Borders College were ‘wowed’ with a visit to the Barony Campus Digital Classroom.

more “Dumfries & Galloway College and Borders College Visit Barony’s Digital Classroom” …