ITSLIFE - Learning for Teaching

This section contains something of a mixture, to try to collect together a number of sites which have a general usefulness, but which aren't necessarily easy to collect together in any other place.

Awarding Bodies such as City & Guilds, Ed-Excel and many others often have very good content relating to their qualifications, and related items, which can include practical advice, updates on syllabuses programme specifications and curriculum news, with much information readily downloadable. To find their location, go to WEBLINKS or the Teachernet site at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/teachers/Site_map

The Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion The site is comprehensive, and contains research reports, news and other items on areas such as Basic Skills and a good deal which is relevant to the post compulsory sector. The centre takes a critical approach, which is a pleasant change! The 'Knowledge Base' section for example is described as follows: http://www.cesi.org.uk/

Directgov is 'the place to turn for the widest range of government information and services.' This is a large, (and I mean large!) portal, and a brave endeavour, which does get you into masses and masses of government-related services, information, publication and statistics. I'd recommend you explore and see what you can find. (I went into the travel section, and there is an amazing journey planner there!) There are so many ways this could be used in teaching with a small amount of research and preparation. Start at www.direct.gov.uk

EROD, the US Education Resource Organisations Directory 'is intended to help you identify and contact organizations that provide information and assistance on a broad range of education-related topics'. This is a useful portal to a wide variety of relevant organisations and resources.

There is an a-z list at http://www.ed.gov/topicsaz/index.html

European Vocational Training Initiative - Training Village. This is a well constructed and useful cross European site, with interactive features, and the chance to contribute to discussion groups and forums. http://www.trainingvillage.gr

Eurydice is committed, first and foremost, to offering policy-makers and all those involved in the provision of education with information and studies geared to their needs. The Network boosts European cooperation in education by developing exchanges of information about systems and policies and producing studies on issues common to education systems.

http://www.eurydice.org/

The Excellence Gateway.

When you call your website an 'Excellence Gateway', you have a lot to live up to. What then is it really like?

HERO is the 'national website for higher education in the United Kingdom' and aims to provide an up-to-date, accurate, and informative database of links to all the key HE websites on the Internet. With information on HE opportunities, institutions and organisations across the UK, HERO will be a gateway for students, researchers, HE staff and businesspeople. This is a well designed and useful web site which can give you access to advice about research, news, and many other HE related items. http://www.hero.ac.uk/index.cfm

Higher Education Academy - Describe themselves as follows: 'Our mission is to help institutions, discipline groups and all staff to provide the best possible learning experience for their students.' Much useful and relevant content here for all teachers, particularly those working on HE courses. http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/

Infed.org, the site for Informal Learning, is a comprehensive, accessible, absorbing and well designed site. In fact it's an absolute gem, with masses of excellent content. Make sure you take a good browse. http://www.infed.org.uk/

Joseph Rowntree Foundation. If you want to see examples of well organised and authoritative research on a number of key issues in society, this is the site for you. The site is well laid out and comprehensive, and has items relating to the social impacts and benefits of education among the many themes. http://www.jrf.org.uk

learndirect is UfI's portal to help you find a course that's right for you and provides information on the national network of learndirect centres. learndirect futures which is part of the same site provides helpful, online careers advice. www.learndirect.co.uk

Learning and Skills Network LSN is a not-for-profit organisation offering services to policy-makers, practitioners and organisations funding, managing and providing education. Programmes previously delivered by LSDA and continuing beyond April 2006 are being delivered by LSN. For more information and access to the Key Skills Support Programme, the Vocational Learning Support Programme, the E-Learning and Technology Programme and Centres of Vocational Excellence please visit www.lsneducation.org.uk

Learning and Skills Council. Describes itself as follows: The LSC exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to make sure we have a workforce that is of world-class standards. We are responsible for planning and funding high-quality vocational education and training for everyone. Our vision is that by 2010, young people and adults in England have the knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a fiercely competitive workforce. www.lsc.gov.uk

Lifelong Learning. The best government-sponsored general site about adult learning , which describes itself as follows 'Welcome to the leading web site for the encouragement, promotion and development of lifelong learning. Lifelong Learning is supported by the Access to Learning for Adults Division of the Department for Education and Skills.' One of the best bits is the 'key learning themes' section. http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/

Merlin helps students

MerlinHelpsStudents (MHS) is a leading student resource website. It was established in 2000 to provide a one-stop-information-shop for students studying in the UK. Reaching an average of 100,000+ users per month, MHS has grown rapidly over the last five years and is now the largest higher and further education portal in terms of content in the UK.

MHS distinguishes itself from its competitors via its range of services, information and advice. Additionally it recognises students' needs before, during and after higher and further education and prides itself on continually seeking to develop new features and services for its users. http://www.merlinhelpsstudents.com/

MERLOT - is a free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and students of higher education. Links to online learning materials are collected here along with annotations such as peer reviews and assignments. You are welcome to browse the collection or search for materials. Members may add materials, comments and assignments to MERLOT. Membership is free. This site is well worth a browse. http://www.merlot.org/Home.po

NIACE - National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education - An excellent site of one of the key organisations relating to adult learning. http://www.niace.org.uk

Projects - This section of the website provides up to date information about current projects that NIACE is involved with. http://www.niace.org.uk/projects/default.htm

The section on 'Influencing Public Policy' has a number of useful downloadable items which can save you a lot of searching. http://www.niace.org.uk/organisation/advocacy/Default.htm#responses

Public Records Office Portal - The National Archives of England, Wales and the United Kingdom has one of the largest archival collections in the world, spanning 1000 years of British history, from Domesday Book of 1086 to government papers recently released to the public. An extensive range of historical and other information, which could be used in many educational activities across all sectors. http://www.pro.gov.uk/

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The body that has overall responsibility for qualifications in the UK. Useful for background information, news and policy about qualifications. http://www.qca.org.uk/default.aspx

Quality Improvement Agency QIA has been set up by the government to create a strong strategic focus on improving quality throughout the sector. It is leading development of an integrated sector quality improvement strategy. It helps providers respond to government strategic priorities for learning and skills, and it commissions and funds research, programmes and services to support performance improvement and strategic change. For more information and for access to The National Teaching and Learning Programme (Subject Learning Coaches), Skills for Life Quality Initiative, Support for Success, Learning and Skills Beacon Status and the Learning and Skills STAR Awards, please visit www.qia.org.uk

South West Skills and Learning Intelligence Module (SWSLIM) exists to bring information and intelligence on skills and learning to policy makers and practitioners across the South West. This is a comprehensive site, which is one of the key sources in the South West, and should be in everyone's favourites. http://www.swslim.org.uk/index.asp

Support4Learning - 'The site contains links to resources for advisers, students and everyone involved in education, training and communities. These links will help you to choose, finance and support your education, training, lifelong learning, career planning and jobsearch.' a good site with various useful areas, at www.support4learning.org.uk

Teachernet, the government's teachers' web site has section for resources, lesson plans, and a comprehensive list of awarding bodies, so is also well worth looking at. The site is aimed clearly at school teachers, not FE, but does have a good deal of relevant content. There is also a very detailed list of 'useful sites' within the Teachernet site at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/teachers/Site_map

UK Statistics Authority - described as the 'home of official UK statistics, Britain's economy, population and society at national and local level. Summaries and detailed data releases are published free of charge. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/

Census results - A Census is a survey of all people and households in the country. It provides essential information from national to neighbourhood level for government, business, and the community. The most recent Census was on 29 April 2001. This site takes you to its findings which are available to everyone free of charge. Plans are being made to hold the next Census in 2011. This is the site for England and Wales. There are similar sites for Scotland and Northern Ireland. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census

UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established on 16th of November 1945. It has its headquarters in Paris, France and 73 field offices and units in different parts of the world. The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations. http://www.unesco.org/

This site has an amazing selection of information sources on it on a large range of themes and issues. It would take some time to browse it, but there are gems such as:

ALADIN - The Adult Learning Documentation and Information Network at http://www.unesco.org/education/aladin/

The UNESCO LIBRARIES Portal at http://www.unesco.org/webworld/portal_bib/

The World Higher Education Database at http://www.unesco.org/iau/whed-2000.html

Universities With the Best Free Online Courses No tuition money? No problem! There are many top universities that offer free courses online. This list ranks several of the best free university courses available for people who want to enhance their personal knowledge or advance in their current field.

http://education-portal.com/articles/Universities_with_the_Best_Free_Online_Courses.html

Weblinks from Sheffield College has probably the best overall selection of links available of relevance to our sector, and is at: http://weblearn.sheffcol.ac.uk/links/

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