Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Innovative online child protection project shortlisted in 2013 Times Higher Education Awards
The project allows social work students to develop skills that will help safeguard vulnerable children. Implemented by the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences in collaboration with experiential learning company, Toolwire, the programme - known as learnscape, has already scooped a gold award at this year's Learning Awards, hosted by the Learning and Performance Institute in February.
Project leader and Social Work course leader, Anne Llewellyn, commented: "We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award, which recognises creative and innovative use of technology in HE. The success of the online learning tool to provide students with an authentic learning experience in child protection work is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by colleagues within the University and partner agencies. We are now in the process of developing further online learning tools in dysphagia management and dementia care to enhance the student learning experience."
The Times Higher Education Awards recognise the creativity and quality found throughout universities across the UK. The winners will be announced on Thursday 28 November at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. The Outstanding ICT Initiative of the Year award is sponsored by Jisc.
Anne added: "The learnscape has been piloted on about 100 pre-qualifying social work students at Leeds Metropolitan University and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting that they felt more confident about the safeguarding process after working through the learning tool.
"We worked closely with Toolwire to create the immersive online learning experience for our students to develop observational, communication and decision making skills in the area of safeguarding vulnerable children. It takes them through observations and risk assessments and requires them to interact with parents, children and other members of the multi-disciplinary team who are engaged in the child protection process."