Learning Assistants e-portfolio blog feed

The Gatwick Express and the importance of user testing

Bryan Mathers — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:23:25 +0000

(Alternative title – “I’ll tell you where to go…”) Recently, following a trip back home to the province, I flew back in to Gatwick Airport on a miserable Friday evening. I had got chatting to a really nice Glaswegian fella, who was on his way to Jamaica for his last holiday of the year sans-kids. It…

Learning Assistant joins City & Guilds

Bryan Mathers — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:23:00 +0000

Over the past few years the E-Portfolio and E-Assessment market has developed rapidly. Not only has Learning Assistant grown to become the UK’s leading e-portfolio provider, but the accreditation landscape has changed fundamentally as the existing frameworks and funding have been replaced. Over the last eight years, Learning Assistant has gained endorsement from all the leading…

This time its personal – QCF Engine’s new PLR

Bryan Mathers — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:40:55 +0000

Following on from Learning Assistant’s recent release of the QCF Engine, a suite of tools which allows Learning Centres to effectively manage their QCF qualifications, I thought I’d give you details of the next piece of the jigsaw – the Personal Learning Record (PLR). The Learning Records Service PLRS The team at The Learning Records Service (formerly…

Transition to QCF – why you need a quality External Verifier

Bryan Mathers — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:41:37 +0000

Over the last few months there has been a frenzy of activity by Awarding Bodies and Sector Skills Councils to ensure that qualifications successfully make the transition towards QCF in a timely manner. Recently, I talked to some of the centres using the Learning Assistant e-portfolio about how they have found the transition towards the QCF…

iPads, Tablets and Slither Slates

Bryan Mathers — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:34:41 +0000

Having recently purchased an iPad (e-portfolio purposes only, you’ll understand) I was interested to see that the Pad-thingy / Tablet-thingy Wars had finally commenced. Here is a BBC techie review of the Samsung’s “Galaxy Tab” and PC World Magazine for a useful feature comparison. As no-one knows what the actual use is for this type of device, we have…

University or Apprenticeship? Go on, make a mistake!

Bryan Mathers — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:24:03 +0000

The demand for University places this year is much higher than it’s been in previous years. There has also been a huge surge in demand for apprenticeship places, which are seen by some as more likely to provide a secure job (or a job at all) at the end of the course. Have a look at…

Can you afford not to invest in an e-portfolio?

Bryan Mathers — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:36:59 +0000

I’ve finally returned from my holidays and after a couple of days ploughing through a gazillion unimportant emails (apart from those emails that you sent me which were very important…) I’m back into the swing of things. It almost feels like I’ve never been away. If only I had some top-up tan lotion to keep…

Turbo your e-portfolio with QCF Engine

Bryan Mathers — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:05:36 +0000

Just when you thought I was going to keep this exciting news to myself, here is a sneak preview of the upcoming new release of the Learning Assistant e-portfolio. The main focus of this release is, as expected, a bunch of tools under the hood to help your training centre get to grips with the new…

When it comes to buying something… who can you trust?

Bryan Mathers — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:28:06 +0000

If you’re anything like me, the thought of parting with your hard earned cash makes you quite nervous. I know I’m far more inclined to trust the opinion of a fellow consumer than I am the marketing department of the company that’s trying to sell me the product. That’s why when I’m looking at a…

A good time to bury bad news? – Osbourne’s drastic cuts budget vs England’s crucial group game

Bryan Mathers — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:01:08 +0000

Questions need to be asked. Investigations should be carried out. Heads must roll and justice must be done! The whiff of conspiracy to defraud the good English public of further pain floats high above this green and pleasant land. George Osbourne is due to deliver his first budget to the commons on Tuesday 22nd of June. The…