Welcome to keyboard college! - May 2001

£5m commitment to bring virtual college to all  - June 2001

Welcome to keyboard college!
Politicians are always good at telling us about their 'visions' - but occasionally, to everyone's surprise, one of their concepts comes true. When the Government outlined its idea of 'lifelong learning' as; 'A learning society in which everyone, from whatever background routinely expects to learn and to upgrade their skills throughout life', this may have seemed like so much hot air from the hustings, but May 16th is the date when the 'virtual college' becomes reality.

Log on and learn...
direct-ed.com is the online learning division of TQ Education and Training Ltd. Their exciting 'virtual college' project is launched into cyberspace on May 16th. The direct-ed website will offer students an increasing range of Further Education courses, including Key Skills 2000. In the privacy of your own home, or anywhere you can gain access to a PC, any-one seeking to develop their abilities in communications, numeracy or information technology can simply log on and start learning.

'Key Skill?' No mystery
Sounds like jargon, but 'Key Skills' are just that - they provide the key for the process of lifelong learning, they enhance job prospects, and help companies to build flexible workforces. Within either industry or the world of education, direct-ed's Key Skills courses can offer improved levels of achievement in such areas as Application of Number - a valuable skill enabling you to collect, record and work with data and then present your findings. Another priceless Key Skill is Communication - steering you through the process of taking part in discussions making presentations, how to read and respond to written material, and produce your own. Very important is I.T. - developing your skills to prepare information, process and present it.

Employers lead the way
direct-ed have worked closely with employers, who have led the way in promoting Key Skills. Government-funded training programmes, apprenticeships, all recognise just how important these skills are when it comes to employability, and with these courses being available round the clock via the Internet, direct-ed can offer complete flexibility and easy access.

Top marks for 40 years
Over four decades of links between direct-ed's parent company, TQ and the education industry, has led to successful working relationships between the company and awarding bodies, with the end result being that today's direct-ed packages, rank with the very highest educational standards. Undergraduate programmes use Key Skills, which are now of crucial importance throughout higher education, as they have been for some time in schools and colleges where GNVQ's and work experience projects encourage the use of Key Skills.

Everyone's included...
Carl Gibson is direct-ed's Director of Online Learning. He is justifiably proud of his company's promotion of Key Skills; "We believe that Key Skills are ideally suited to e-learning. The aim is to develop and recognise an individual's ability, and apply these skills in their daily lives. They are intended for everyone. Our material is both appealing and accessible - instantly - something important to most of us who lead busy lives - but wish to brush up or learn new skills".

Flexible benifits, today and tommorow
Learning Key Skills the direct-ed way, offers an interactive education experience, which, with its use of audio-video and animation, sits well in the modern world of Internet communication. This 24-hour, 7 days per week accessibility is just one of the many benefits which will enrich the student's life and help to gain higher grades. The knock-on effect is felt in the classroom, with new vistas for discussion leading to better teaching methods, allowing ultimately more individual coaching. It's a relaxed, personal environment offering a sense of ease when tackling sometimes complex subjects. With this new opportunity to learn, the future looks bright as we all begin to adapt to new working environments. Cyberspace is no longer a hidden dimension - this is the classroom of the future, and everyone's invited.

Ends
More Info contact: Carl Gibson, Director of Online Learning, direct-ed. Tel: 0115 954 0124.

£5m commitment to bring virtual college to all
Two East Midlands organisations have jointly committed £5 million and launched direct-ed.com - an international 'virtual college' offering internet enabled vocational training programmes. EMFEC - the East Midlands Further Education Council provided the teaching materials and core programmes while Nottingham based TQ Education and Training Ltd design, manage and maintain the site. TQ Education and Training is well established with over 40 years experience in delivering customised educational solutions, which specifically address and support individuals education and training needs. The launch of direct-ed.com is a logical extension of their portfolio, and they hope to repeat the success that they have enjoyed in educational equipment manufacture and associated services provision.

direct-ed delivers fast access, relevant online learning materials for further and higher education and industry. direct-ed's material is available anywhere and at any time. Courses have been mapped against appropriate accredited qualifications so users can be confident that site content has been developed to the right academic standards and quality.

The major advantage that direct-ed has over other elearning systems on the market is its completeness. Not only does it encompass the courses and learning material that a student requires, but also a learning management system provided free of charge. This has facilities for monitoring the progress of students and enabling communications between student, tutor and even other colleges. Already, learning establishments from across the UK, and as far abroad as Saudi Arabia are seeing the potential of this solution.

At present, courses are available in Key Skills 2000, Word Processing, modern languages and health and safety, with accounting, supervisory management, and customer services soon to follow. This is only the beginning, and TQ plan to expand this range to encompass the whole spectrum of innovative courses.

"In an ever-changing world, the ability to learn and adapt is increasingly important. People must constantly improve their skills and develop new ones. direct-ed provides a 'virtual college' with a growing compliment of courses including Key Skills 2000," explained Director of Online Learning, Carl Gibson.

"Key Skills units are ideally suited to e-learning. They develop and recognise individual abilities, helping people learn and apply new skills in their daily lives. They are intended for everyone, from pupils in schools to chief executives."

direct-ed's highly interactive material enriches the learning experience, providing immediate access to up-to-date material.

Audio-video, sound and animation bring subject matter to life, making study interesting and accessible.

This highly effective route to quality learning is flexible enough to be used as a classroom resource, enabling teachers to devote time to individual coaching, or as a distance learning tool. It enables students to fit their study around work or family commitments, enabling them to choose where, when and how they wish to study, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ends
More Info contact: Carl Gibson, Director of Online Learning, direct-ed. Tel: 0115 954 0124.