Planet eStream at Bury College

Planet eStream at Bury College

Planet eStream was chosen as an interactive media platform to complement existing integrated blended learning approaches to curriculum delivery.  Pre-Covid lockdown, we were building an eLearning strategy utilising our Canvas VLE and Office 365 applications to help to encourage staff to deliver subject resources using distance learning as the foundation.  With the onset of the Covid related lockdown, and the imminent changes to delivery models, a decision was made to introduce an additional facet to the digital toolkit for tutors and learners in the form of Planet eStream.





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What is Planet eStream?

Planet eStream is a media platform for education comprised of a variety of (selectable) modules designed to enhance an educational centre’s curriculum delivery more interactively.  Fully integrated into the College’s network infrastructure using single sign on (SSO) and Canvas VLE, we selected the full Video on Demand, TV Connect and Digital Signage modules.



Why Planet eStream for Bury College?

  • Creation of ‘how to’ media guides to inform and help learners to use software, equipment, resources etc.
  • Recording Science experiments, construction tutorials, engineering and sport practicals, hair and beauty skills and knowledge know-how’s
  • Recorded Teams sessions, stored on Canvas and linked to TLA modules
  • Ease of use and accessibility – integrated into our existing authorised distance and remote learning platforms, Canvas and Teams.
  • Videoing exemplar practical sessions used to teach, promote learning and gauge assessment of learning outcomes, units, modules, criteria
  • Interactive assessment of tutor-created media (integrated questions)
  • Full learner analytics – engagement & progress checking for TAG’s
  • Assessments uploaded to Canvas as recorded media for Art andDesign, Music, Performing Arts UAL projects
  • Provide feedback on recorded learner practical sessions (uploaded to Canvas) E.g. Sport, construction, hair and beauty, catering etc
  • Graduated teaching, learning and assessment by chapterising resources (bite-sized media)
  • Create team media to welcome learners, inform learners, used as announcements, discussions






What were the challenges?

The introduction of new software for college-wide use for staff and students always presents an enormous challenge.  We introduced the software to staff in October of 2020, which was late if we wanted to capture new developments and CPD opportunities for the forthcoming academic year.  After extensive promotion, college-wide CPD, training, and support, we introduced and integrated Planet eStream into our teaching, learning, and assessment toolkit.  However, several ‘teething’ issues were difficult to foresee, but came to light once used by staff across several curriculum areas.

 

What have been the main issues with the PeS software features?

Planet eStream has proved to be a worthwhile addition to the digital toolkit for Bury College.  It has presented significant new opportunities in capturing interactive teaching, learning and assessment.  As with all software, there is sometimes a difference between expectations and reality, and in the case of Planet eStream the differences were real but small. 

 

Impact on Teaching, Learning and Assessment

In addition to the suite of TLA features in Canvas and Office 365, Planet eStream armed the college’s staff and students with an additional interactive media toolkit including:

  • TV recording, saving and chaptering of TV programmes and film content.
  • Interactive quizzes built into videos and film segments to promote learning and assessment.
  • Recording of learners’ practical assessment sessions, uploaded to Canvas assignments.
  • Video editing facilities to create bite-size TLA resources.
  • Onscreen video recording to educate, promote, encourage, direct, teach across all subject areas.

The use of Planet eStream promotes digital skills, knowledge and confidence for staff and students throughout their learning journey.  It also promotes sustainability through the active encouragement of online submission for all learner assessments, saving valuable physical resources, time effort, improving organisation and streamlining administrative load.

 

Find out more about supported experiments at Bury College.







Adrian Emerson

 

 

Project Lead

Adrian Emerson

Digital Learning Manager

Bury College

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