'Digital Threads' is a Workers Educational Association (WEA) adult and community learning course provided as part of the 'Digital Threads' project. The course involves the use of digital sewing machines, acquisition of basic ICT skills, searching the Internet for design patterns, digitisation of these patterns using a scanner and interfacing new design patterns with the digital sewing machines.The WEA CGfL successfully designed and produced the e-learning resources for this course.
The framework presented in this paper not only provides the chance to reflect on issues to consider when designing or looking for Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and Learning Design tools to support teaching and learning in ACL, but also puts into perspective the potential advantages of key ACL providers collaborating to implement e-learning solutions.
This paper was presented at the ALT-C 2005: exploring the frontiers of e-learning - borders, outposts and migration conference.
Gardening Online was one of the first distance learning courses we piloted using a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A group of learners were recruited from within Greater Manchester. The learners received a course unit and practical gardening assignments each week for 12 weeks. The learners reported back to the e-tutor directly or to the group using online communication tools. The VLE's tracking facilities helped the e-tutor monitor the learners' progress. The course was received with enthusiasm and recorded an 80% retention rate.
