I am working in a PRU and we have a Learning Platform. This is uesd to post lesson plans, e-mail students and generally keeps them in the loop when they are not attending the school. It is a means to contact them and allows them to keep up with work if they can. It can also help parents as they can see the students work and the plans for the school year.:)

Hi, Leonard,

I found the powerpoint most helpful and challenging - thanks.

Question: Have you thought of providing these hard-to-reach learners with an e-Portfolio - their own 'corner' - which they can customise and make their own. A place where they can think through their own learning, reflect, plan and perhaps collaborate, certainly in a more personal setting than the 'school' Learning Platform.

I believe that an e-Portfolio that can move with the 'owner' especially when moving to a new institution will help in this situation.

Yes absolutely a learning platform can help engage with hard to reach learners. The organisation I represent has had great success at both providing access to learning for medically ill students who are unable to attend school, and with re-engagement and re-integration of excluded/disaffected pupils. These pupils can learn from a library, PRU or even from home. The great thing about using a learning platform and a virtual environment is the degree of personalised learning it affords allowing each pupil to study at a level they are comfortable with.

We've actually been working with Staffordshire University to develop a masters level module about the use of learning platforms and other technologies to engage with hard to reach learners (see attached).