The project, funded by HEFCE Catalyst fund, has been developed in response to our students’ requests for a greater use of technology to improve their learning opportunities and achievements. It is in line with Harrow College strategy to maximise student engagement in order to inform our processes, which in turn enhance students’ experience and therefore improve success rates and learning opportunities and outcomes.
The project aims to develop a desktop and mobile phone application (the app) that allows our HE students to stretch & challenge their learning, to engage with their studies outside of class and to open up new avenues for richer learning, real-time feedback and catch-up activity. The anticipated benefits to students are:
1. Enhanced student autonomy
Individuals will be able to access their progress records, timetables, news, updates on scholarly activities and all information related to their student life from one platform and at times suitable to them.
Opportunity to liaise with peers rather than relying on tutors for answers to specific questions, via forums and discussion groups.
Ability to plan their own learning.
2. Improved learning outcomes:
Students will be able to provide structured and ad-hoc feedback to inform course design and the college’s operational process, with the view to enhance students’ learning opportunities, all outside of class times.
Readily accessible information regarding assessment, attendance and progress will serve as an additional success motivaton.
3. Work experience:
The app designer will work with students via focus groups, discussions and their project work, in order to develop an application that is practical, user-friendly and beneficial to all students and staff, regardless of their preferred device.
Employers with access will have a greater insight and more transparent methods of communication with learners where appropriate.
Project update (July 2017):
The App designer has been working with the College students and staff, the App has been designed and it will be ready to pilot from September 2017. A big thank you to the students who have volunteered to become members of our pilot group and who will provide the feedback necessary to improve and finalise the App design.
Final project update (May 2018):
Update coming soon.
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