Sustainability
From the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study describes how Hull and Stockton Riverside Colleges used the topic of sustainable development to improve aspects of STEM careers guidance. Hull College The project encouraged a greater holistic awareness in lecturers of the diverse skills and technologies essential…
STEM Careers Information, Advice and Guidance
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this document describes a project to improve STEM careers information, advice and guidance in the Post-16 sector. Detailed case studies from this project can be seen in the corresponding collection Progression Through STEM. The case studies describe work done by…
Employer Engagement: Teaching and Learning
From the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this document summarises their Exploring Improvements in Teaching and Learning Through Employer Engagement project. It looked at developing links between institutions and employers in the Post-16 sector. The outcomes of the project can be seen in the series of case studies that…
Harnessing Technology: Teaching and Learning
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this document describes the background and key learning points from the Harnessing Technology project. This resulted in a series of case studies that illustrate the use of technology to advance teaching and learning in the Post-16 sector. This document briefly describes…
Recruiting and Retaining Qualified and Motivated Mathematics Teachers
The shortage of specialist teachers of mathematics has been a concern for many years and this resource, from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), is designed to help organisations focus upon a plan of action, which will lead to better recruitment and retention of mathematics teachers. Organisations are invited to…
Kinaesthetic Strategies for Basic Arithmetic
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of embedding functional skills. The case study describes a foundation construction programme at Bolton College, which sought to address the issue of poor numeracy in learners. To ensure appropriate provision for these students, a staff…
Functional Maths - Sharing Good Practice
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of embedding functional skills. The purpose of the case study was to celebrate success and share good practice. The study involved disseminating information and resources gained from a STEM event, followed by a discussion of ways in…
Maths in an Industrial Context
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of employer engagement and mathematics. The project, by Rotherham College of Arts and Technology, aimed to generate an understanding of the industrial application of mathematics in learners, staff and employers. It is increasingly…
Progression Through STEM
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of progression, new jobs and careers in STEM. North Lindsey College has been developing a suite of activities to encourage local young people to choose STEM subjects, and reminding them of the opportunities that are going to be…
Supporting Mathematics
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of progression through STEM and mathematics. It describes how the mathematics team at Bradford College are using ‘mathematics workshop’ to provide students with easy access to a range of part-time mathematics programmes.…
Financial Awareness
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of embedding functional skills, numeracy and financial capability. It describes a project that is being piloted at Hull College. The project aims to improve the financial awareness of its entry and level one learners, as well as…
Improving the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of embedding functional skills. Derwen College is a specialist residential college which delivers a wide range of vocational courses to students with learning difficulties and disabilities. While undertaking the vocational courses…
Using YouTube to Support Maths
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of harnessing technology. By Birmingham Metropolitan College, the study describes how an e-learning mentor produced a series of video clips relating to the mathematics curriculum. These were made available to view on You Tube and have…
Supporting Numeracy
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of embedding functional skills and curriculum development. It looks at the City of Bristol College which wanted to enhance its partnerships with local schools. The project addresses functional mathematics. Partnerships were developed…
Enhancing Functional Skills Teaching within Prisons
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of embedding functional skills. From Strode College, the project engaged practitioners with professional development designed to share practice in subject knowledge and delivery of functional skills. It aimed to: • offer training…
'Brookside Brush-up' - Inspiring Learning Project
Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of embedding functional skills. It describes how Strode College used active learning techniques to engage adults, who were working with children, to improve their maths skills. Through increased self-confidence and skill levels,…
Vocational Context for Maths
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of mathematics and progression through STEM. It describes the development of the mathematics provision at Abingdon and Witney College. The aim was to make maths more relevant to students, particularly those undertaking GCSE maths.…
Take Home Maths
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study addresses the theme of embedding functional skills. From Reading Borough Council, it looks at a group of teachers who worked collaboratively across secondary schools to explore strategies for developing functional skills in mathematics. Individual members…
Initial Skills for Life Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the theme of functional skills. By HMP Durham, the case study is an account of the basic skills initial assessment and diagnostic procedure each learner undergoes on entry to the prison. The study follows the learner experience and outlines the…
Where Do the Learners Go?
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the theme of progression through STEM subjects. By Newham Adult Learning Service, it describes an action research project that aimed to capture progression and learner voice data from a sample of learners who had recently completed a level two mathematics…
Gender in Maths
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the theme of equality and diversity. By Newham Adult Learning Service, the study set out to explore, in a scientific manner, tutor and learner perceptions regarding gender and if there was in fact any gender bias in mathematics. Actual or perceived…
Mentoring Scheme for AS Maths Students
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the theme of progression through STEM subjects. It looks at a mentoring scheme set up by St Francis Xavier College to support students in mathematics. In the scheme, A2 students were paired with AS students and given advice about how to mentor.…
CPD - Developing Learner Feedback
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the themes of harnessing technology and continued professional development. This project was set up to develop effective ways of collecting and reviewing student evaluation in Hillcroft College, a London Further Education college. Various channels…
Functional Skills in the Workplace
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. This case study, from Universal Training UK, looks at the themes of equality, functional skills, employer engagement and mathematics. This study looks at ways of pre-empting and overcoming problems faced when delivering…
Embedding Functional Skills into Motor Vehicle Studies
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. By Cambridge Regional College, this case study looks at the themes of functional skills, equality, engineering and mathematics. The aim of the project was to work with staff to raise awareness of the requirements of functional…
Supporting ESOL Learners in Numeracy/Maths Qualifications
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. From Leicester College this case study looks at the theme of equality and diversity. For many ESOL learners (speakers of other languages), achievement in mathematics and numeracy is impeded by difficulties in understanding…
Developing Staff Capability to Deliver Functional Maths
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. This case study, from Network Learning Centres UK Ltd, looks at the theme of embedding functional skills. In this instance, the planned implementation of functional skills was broken into four stages. This case study…
Developing Active Learning Approaches in Numeracy
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. This case study, written by Options 2, looks at the themes of embedding of functional skills and the wider sector. Options 2 provides training for young people to enable them to achieve the skills and qualifications they…
In-house Training for Maths Staff
Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. By New College Nottingham, this case study looks at the themes of progression through STEM and professional development. The project was set up to provide opportunities for in-house professional development in specific…
Using Positional Vocabulary
Published by LSIS, this mini mathematics module can be used a short activity in the classroom to introduce the vocabulary needed to describe an object's position. This can lead into a discussion on positions and co-ordinates.
Knowledge and Technology Transfer Profile Builder in STEM Subjects
Published by LSIS, this tool is a self-assessment guide for further education providers. Knowledge Transfer is principally about the flow of information from the knowledge source to business. This guide helps senior managers in further education providers to examine their internal organisation, processes and procedures. It also…
A Guide to Developing Mathematics Skills in the Adult Social Care Workplace
Published by LSIS, this guide is intended for learning providers who want to help care workers develop better mathematics skills at work. The guide is divided into two parts. Part 1 identifies the mathematics that care workers use at work, offers an overview of the adult social care sector, considers attitudes to mathematics…