Learndirect was rolled out nationwide in autumn 2000 and the first courses commissioned by Ufi to help people with literacy skills, ESOL and the basics of number are underway. During the pilot, Ufi concentrated on IT and business management courses. The new courses use the latest in interactive learning design and are commissioned from experienced and innovative producers.

Forty plus basic skills courses are available so far, half of them in literacy. Important features of all the courses are that they are based on the Qualification and Curriculum Authority's new qualifications structure for basic skills, they are being designed to create opportunities for progression, and they are all free. To give learners the widest possible choice, all these learning materials use a wide range of formats so that learners can choose whether they want to work with CD-ROMs, workbooks or video.

Learners can use learndirect courses at the times and at the pace that suits them best at any of the growing network of learndirect centres. Once registered, they can also work from home if they wish. There are hundreds of centres nationwide in easy-access locations in places not normally associated with learning - for instance, sports and leisure clubs, shopping centres and high streets, even railway stations, pubs and churches.

However, learndirect is a mainly online service. Further down the road, Ufi will increasingly offer web-based courses in literacy, so that people who want to can boost their literacy skills through computers and the Internet. Ufi expects this to be an attractive option for many. First, because web-based courses, used either at learndirect centres or at home, will mean basic skills learners will work alongside everyone else, using the same IT tools and the same approach to learning. They will be part of a nationwide, online learning community, rather than segregated into a separate learner category. The second reason Ufi wants to explore this approach is because evidence is beginning to emerge that learning how to use computers and surf the web is in itself a strong motivator. Ufi will, however, operate in a range of formats for basic skills courses for the foreseeable future until more is known about learner preferences and outcomes. Meanwhile, it has commissioned research into best practice in the use of new technology in basic skills learning.

Support for learners using learndirect literacy courses comes in a variety of forms. Each learndirect centre offers face-to-face tutor support for basic skills learners at pre-arranged times. There is a special telephone helpline for basic skills learners who choose to work at home. And all learndirect's online courses use the Internet to give learners access to chat rooms and discussion groups.

There is strong interest in learndirect among employers and Ufi is working with companies and unions to set up work-based centres as part of the learndirect network. So far BT, Unipart, the TUC, the Army and the RAF have all announced that they intend to offer learndirect courses as part of their employee training schemes at all levels - from basic skills right through to management courses. Other large employers in the retail, rail and motor industries are also planning to join the network. In the health and social care sector, where there are large numbers of employees without formal qualifications and with low levels of literacy, Ufi is developing two tailored literacy programme called Essential Skills for Health and Care and Skills Build. These courses will be available at all learndirect centres later this year. Ufi is also developing literacy and numeracy programmes that will pilot use of learndirect by prisoners, six out of 10 of whom need help with basic skills.
 

Anyone can find out about their nearest centre, or about any other literacy courses on offer in their area, by using the free learndirect telephone helpline 0800 100 900. Details of all learndirect centres and courses available from learndirect are published at www.learndirect.co.uk where you can try free taster courses. Some examples of learndirect courses are: Going Up, an ESOL taster for learners new to the English language; Living Room, a literacy game designed to stimulate literacy skills and introduce people to interactive learning; The English Game; or Word on the Street.

   
Subscribe to Literacy Today