Member Article

New online system aims for 'amazing' results

Newcastle-based digital products company the amazing group launched a major new product aimed at further education colleges nationally last week. The system intends to update the idea of colleges’ Individual Learning Plans for the digital age. Four companies in Newcastle – amazing, Katherine’s Florist, Thorntons and Statex – collaborated closely to pull off the launch. In addition, North East based sporting legend Jonathan Edwards recorded a special podcast for the launch aiming to inspire young people to set high goals and strive to achieve more.

Alex Mackenzie, ILP product champion at amazing said: “Further Education colleges must have individual learning plans (known as ILPs) for their 16-19 year old students. Up until now these have been largely paper based and, for most tutors and students, frankly, a rather dull experience. “We saw the opportunity to entirely redefine ILPs and turn them into something really worthwhile that students and tutors valued and found fun. Both tutors and students can access ILP online, anywhere and anytime. “Because online activity is in tune with how students work and communicate they will make much more use of their ILPs.”

amazing’s research suggests this needs a careful blend of understanding how students best learn – visually, in a group or on their own – and analyzing what they have achieved in academic work and other activities – sport, drama or community work. The aim then is to start to plan their future career direction by taking small steps towards their eventual goals.

Jonathan Edwards said: “Young people are so important, but too often their talents and ambitions are still being wasted. amazing’s online iLP seems a fabulous way to get them to set clear goals and I am delighted to be able to help and look forward to hearing of their successes.”

An online demonstration can be viewed at: www.amazing-ilp.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .