Case study
PLTS:
Secondary:
A learning journey
In Hertfordshire, Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) are very
this it helps to build their confi dence in the
T_h e rural challenge
much at the heart of the Diploma of_f er. Dorothy Lepkowska reports
long run,” Mr McMahon said. “You see them
get quite excited as they progress and their
understanding develops.”
HEN THE Advanced learning was taking place, so the Diploma is Another challenge for this advanced
W
Diploma in Engineering was really about getting the students to think for Diploma has been to make the course attractive
developed by a consortium themselves and working out the solutions to to both male and female students. Currently,
in Hertfordshire, PLTS were problems. it has nine students, eight of whom are male.
very much at the heart of it. “We wanted to get them working and Units include topics such as construction and
“We wanted learners to have real-life thinking independently because that is what design, electrical and electronic systems, and
experiences and decided that using PLTS they will have to do at university and the manufacturing techniques.
was the easiest way to deliver that,” said John workplace beyond.” Course content which is relevant to today’s
McMahon, from West Herts College, who Mr McMahon said the Diploma, which world has helped to attract learners. Some
has been working in partnership with local was introduced last September, is teaching of the topics being taught include iPod and
secondary schools on developing Diplomas. young people how to manage their time and touch-screen technologies.
“Imagine using a Satnav to get you from to deliver work on schedule. Even James Dyson, the award-winning
A to B. If you suddenly take it away and use “Students who drop out of university inventor, has contributed by providing
an old-fashioned map instead, then you are often do so because they can’t cope with the students with a vacuum cleaner motor that
calling on a number of skills to get you to structure. Diplomas help to prevent that they could take apart and put back together
your destination, rather than following the because they introduce some of these work again to see how it worked.
instructions given by the voice. practices earlier on. “We feel that we have rebranded
“It’s a bit like that with PLTS because it takes “T_h ey are a completely diff erent way of engineering into a 21st century qualifi cation
students on a learning journey, where they have teaching. Students are receiving the skills they which is designed by employers. Mr Dyson
to problem-solve and fi nd their way.” need for higher education, as well as business is himself particularly keen on creating the
West Herts College delivers the Advanced and industry.” engineers of the future and feels it is vital that
Engineering Diploma with St Clement Diplomas allowed each and every student Diplomas such as this one should succeed.
Danes School in Chorleywood, after it was to achieve their potential, and to be noticed in “What has been lacking in this type of
approached in 2008 by the South West classes, he said. learning until now has been problem-solving
Herts consortium to design and develop the “Previously, if you asked students to work and a practical and theoretical approach.
Diploma. Representatives from the college in a team the strongest learners would emerge In that respect, using PLTS is giving us a
met with staff at St Clement Danes to sort out and take control. Now when working in huge advantage because it is creating an
timetabling issues, schemes of work and lesson groups, they each take on a responsibility environment for sharing and exploring
plans, as well as seeking out the involvement whether it is as project manager, or researcher, ideas. Engineering is about
of local employers to ensure the Diploma was while a third one will present the fi ndings,” innovation.” DD
relevant and ran smoothly. Mr McMahon added.
Overall, West Herts College has been “Every lesson has a problem-solving activity
working with 11 secondary schools in which is very important in engineering.
the county with a view to developing and “You need a logical thinking approach
delivering Diplomas. in this area and will come across
“St Clement Danes was the natural one to problems every day of your working
go for when it came to Engineering because it life.”
has quite a big design and technology centre, For example, as part of the practical
so it was equipped to do the Diploma” Mr activity in one unit, students were
McMahon said. given electrical circuits with a fault
“T_h e challenge was to develop resources placed in them, and it was their task to
and assignments that were high-quality and fi nd out where the fault was.
relevant, and which were written to create “T_h ey have to know how to design,
real-life problems and situations. build and work diff erent components and
“We wanted to change how teaching and while it might take them a while to achieve
Delivering Diplomas • Volume 2 No 1 Spring 2010 27
26-27 case study.indd 3 5/3/10 12:04:47
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