SCIE media releases 2004
SCIE and Topss England launch consultation on e-learning for social care
20 October 2004
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Topss England are consulting jointly on a strategy for the development of e-learning in social care.
E-learning is the use of information and communication technologies, including the internet and world wide web, to improve and support teaching, training and learning.
SCIE and Topss England have produced a discussion paper and questionnaire to start this consultation process.
The discussion paper introduces the key concepts of e-learning and includes a brief background about the social care sector, including both the opportunities for e-learning and the limitations and constraints.
Everyone involved in social care - practitioners at all levels, employers, training providers and service users and carers - are invited to contribute their thoughts on how e-learning can work best.
It is hoped that the consultation will contribute to our understanding of sector-wide responsibilities for e-learning planning and implementation.
SCIE and Topss England also hope to understand better how the social care sector can link with others, including organisations in the education, training, skills and workforce development sectors.
The discussion paper introduces the principles of e-learning in social care, including SCIE's aims for open access, usability, quality assurance, sustainability and a values-led approach.
The paper focuses on five key 'action areas' that are crucial to an effective e-learning strategy:
- the 'kit' - infrastructure, including hardware and connectivity
- the 'know-how' - skills development for both learners and educators, to embed e-learning in learning and teaching
- the 'subject materials' - learning content development, including online resources, courses and other materials
- the 'technical systems' - delivery platforms and learning systems
- the 'organisational systems' - the structures, partnerships and resources needed within and between organisations to enable the full exploitation of e-learning's potential.
E-learning is one part of a wider approach to improving knowledge and skills in social care. The results of this consultation will contribute to the new Topss England National Workforce Development Strategy for Social Care for 2005-8.
The e-learning discussion paper and questionnaire are available online at SCIE's e-learning website at www.elfs.org.uk or you can order a hard copy by emailing SCIE on publications@scie.org.uk or by calling 020 7089 6840.
The discussion paper and questionnaire will also be available from the Topss England website at www.topssengland.net
The closing date for the consultation is 31 January 2005.
Media contact
Gavin Nettleton | e-learning Development Manager | E: gavin.nettleton@scie.org.uk | T: 020 7089 6840
Notes to editors
• Topss England forms a strategic overview of training needs in social care, which accounts for some 1.2 million workers or five per cent of England's workforce, spread over more than 25,000 employers. Topss England members are drawn from groups representing public, private and voluntary sector care employers, along with representatives of staff, trainers and service users. Social care includes residential care, domiciliary care and social work with all its specialisms.
