Background & Context
Start and End date
First strands of concept 1997 - completed 2006. Work commenced on the site in May 2005 and the building phase was completed in June 2006, at this point the building was handed over to the College by the contractors and the equipping of the centre commenced.
Case Study tags: learning spaces, portland college, new build, east midlands, independent specialist college
What was the context of the development?
The vision was 'to create the first national ILT Learning Centre designed specifically for disabled learners'.
Information Learning Technology is a powerful enabler for people with physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties. Effective application of ILT in its broadest sense has furnished disabled learners with a raft of opportunities that would not have been possible without the ILT revolution. It is envisaged that research and development in this area will continue to improve the access disabled learners have to learning and the wider community, and this factor was a key driver in Portland College's vision to create the first national ILT learning centre designed specifically for disabled learners. In 1997 the College's Principal, Mike Syms, OBE, pulled together the first strands of a concept that would eventually become reality in 2006. The centre was to be designed in order to afford optimal flexibility to accommodate future changes and developments.
Type of project
New Build.
What is it?
The Learning Centre is located in the heart of the College grounds (in Mansfield, Nottingham) adjacent to both the Administration Block and the Newstart Building. The central position will enable the new building to become the focal point of the College and thus enhance the collegiate feel of the campus. The Reception function of the College will operate from the Learning Centre's Reception area.
In addition to serving the Portland College Community, the Learning Centre will be accessed by the wider community - locally, regionally and nationally. Through associated activities the College will establish a Regional Centre of Excellence for people with disabilities.
The Portland College Skills for Life Strategy is to imbue learners with the ambition and the enthusiasm to succeed in life, and to help them to undertake education and training to achieve their aspirations. Over recent years the support offered to learners for Skills for Life and Key Skills development has increased considerably and having outgrown its current base the Skills for Life team is eagerly awaiting its move to the Learning Centre. Acquisition of Skills for Life and Key Skills is fundamentally important as these skills underpin all other components of the learners' programmes. Therefore, it is fitting that the Skills for Life team is moving into purpose built, spacious accommodation to enable further developments and improvements to the support offered. In addition to timetabled Skills for Life sessions and Workshops, the Skills for Life Room will be developed as a resource room, providing learners and staff with access to a variety of electronic material, journals etc to assist them with their studies, research and planning.
Already a leading provider in the field, Portland College was keen to maintain and enhance its reputation. Governors and managers identified the need to develop more spacious teaching and learning spaces especially as the complexity of learners' needs increased often meaning they required more space to accommodate larger electric wheelchairs etc. There was a major need for additional space to give the College the opportunity to grow and develop in modern, purpose-built buildings. Additional space would also enable the College to open its facilities to the wider community.
In addition to meeting the technological requirements and provide a high quality environment for teaching and learning the ultimate design needed to complement the College's surroundings. Selection of the architects was a major decision and would clearly be very influential in the design and quality of the finished building. Patel Taylor Architects were selected and continued to work very closely with the College from the initial design to the completion of the project. Patel Taylor's skills meant that they were able to create a design that knitted into the existing framework of the College and provided an opportunity to enliven the campus and inspire and motivate learners. From the outset, it was important to all concerned that there was a clear strategy for improving and consolidating the 'masterplan' of the campus, to include landscaping, creating pedestrian zones and enhancing routes through the campus.
Funding Sources
The steering committee was established to spearhead the National Appeal. The committee worked tirelessly to raise huge amounts of money from a variety of sources and by July 2006 the National Appeal had reached a total of £3.2 million for capital costs and £370,000 for equipment and technology.
A small number of College governors formed a working party to monitor all aspects of the project. The group met on a regular basis to assess and modify design plans and project implementation and manage the budget. The working party also planned and implemented the tendering process for the main contractor.
Technology
Information Learning Technology is a great enabler for people with physical disabilities and the Learning Centre boasts state-of-the-art Information Technology equipment providing the optimal accessibility to learning for disabled people. A sophisticated Information Learning Technology infrastructure provides the latest hardware and software to support a diversity of learning opportunities from pre-entry level sensory experiences to vendor Information Technology qualifications at level 3.
The Learning Centre provides first class facilities for the delivery of a variety of Information Communication Technology based programmes specifically designed to equip learners with the necessary skills to progress competitively and successfully into the workplace. A key consideration in the design process has been optimal flexibility and responsiveness to enable the College to keep up-to-date with industrial standards and the needs of employers.
The training environments will accommodate the Information Communication Technology (CISCO qualifications; CompTIA A+; CompTIA N+; Microsoft Windows 2000 Network and Operating System; Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Server; MCP Microsoft Windows XP 7270; MCP Windows 2003 Server 7290) and Computer Aided Design (2-D levels 2 and 3; 3-D level 3, Inventor Professional 3D) curriculum areas.
For the first time, the Information Communication Technology Programme area will take control of its own independent network separate from the main college network. This new approach to learning will give the students the opportunity to work on live and simulated work activities in networking, troubleshooting of applications and e-mail services on a live SME network. The CAD programme area will also have an additional area devoted to live work and students will be able to carry out designated design requests from local businesses to give them the experience they need in preparation for the workplace.
Adding Value
Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
Portland College has been at the forefront of developments in AAC and associated Adaptive and Assistive Technologies for many years, supporting learners to harness technology in order to communicate effectively using unique Information Communication Technology based solutions. The Learning Centre provides a fabulous base for this high quality work to continue. The College has been active in a range of Research and Development in the AAC/AAT field and is committed to spearheading future developments for the benefit of our next generation of learners. There are many opportunities to develop this aspect of our provision within a Regional Centre of Excellence for people with disabilities and the Learning Centre will provide the 'Shop Window' to enable our practitioners to engage effectively with providers in the region. In addition to working with the AAC users themselves, the facilities in the Learning Centre will enable seminars and courses to be delivered to other providers, therapists, parents and carers.
An ILT suite fully equipped with the latest adaptive and assistive technologies and specialist software affording optimal access for learners with very complex physical disabilities.
Thus, the space allocated for this purpose in the Learning Centre will be an invaluable resource, the specialist equipment will allow Therapists to work hand in hand with our students, their tutors and their carers to ensure that they are able to maximise their learning opportunities at Portland College as well as in the future. In addition to the benefits for Portland learners, it is envisaged that this facility will be popular with therapists and their clients in the community and the region. The use of this space will be optimised for the benefit of the learners and also in future developments and collaborative practices.
Success Factors
What Makes The Space Successful?
The users' comfort and needs have been central to the planning and design process and the general feel and ambience of the centre results in an environment that will help to maximise effective teaching and learning.
What Is Innovative About The Design And The Use Of The Space?
Transition and Job Club
The Learning Centre provides a focal point for effectively managing the progression of learners into both employment and independent living. The purpose of all College teaching and learning programmes is to enable students to develop a fulfilling and properly recognised transition from the College. Using the latest Information Communication Technology facilities in the centre the transition process will be significantly enhanced. There will be opportunities for working in partnership and collaboration with Job Centre Plus for employment outcomes and the Connexions Service for independent living outcomes. It is also envisaged that the facility using e learning techniques will be able to support our alumni.
Research and Development
The Learning Centre will provide a focal point for Research and Development activities. Research and Development activities at the College are essential to ensure that a progressive and inclusive approach to teaching and learning is maintained. Such work will guarantee learners the opportunity to be involved in, and impact upon, developments which directly affect their life experiences and the way they learn. Similarly, college staff will be encouraged to reflect on their learners' needs and contribute ideas for incorporation into project work plans. This problem-solving-based approach to research will ensure that work undertaken will have maximum impact upon the learning community, locally, regionally, nationally and potentially, internationally. It will also be key in forging additional links with Higher Education providers and commercial organisations.
Lessons Learned
Portland College feels privileged to have a fabulous facility and is excited to see how the centre is used over the next year or so. However, a number of key points have been identified below that may have enhanced the experience still further:
- Curriculum leaders to have a more open dialogue with the working party, resulting in the best design and specification that truly is flexible and fit for purpose
- Learner and curriculum leader representation on the working party
- Better consultation with learners, staff and other stakeholders
- Improved communication of key milestones and progress with the whole College community
- Flexibility in the planning process (time moves on, plans need to as well!)
- Regular review of ILT infrastructure as technology advances very quickly
- Use well-proven suppliers of equipment, will unique designs cause unnecessary delays at a crucial point in the project?
Contact
Clyde Hinton, Dawn Green
Case Study written 2007.
