Cumbernauld College takes two technology awards

The ITEC Innovation in Technology awards saw more than 23 colleges in Scotland battling it out. Cumbernauld took awards in learning and teaching, and technology and business systems.

The learning and teaching award was for the use of a new technology Mahara, an open source platform with an electronic portfolio, weblog and social networking system used in the virtual classroom.

Allan Moffat, creative industries lecturer, who developed the Mahara project, said: “I think this award recognises the hard work that everyone has put in.

“The major developments taking place outside education – developments in new media applications and web-based technologies for example, – means we are creating a learning environment that compliments the practice-based teaching and learning in the classroom.”

An equalities data tool took the title of first place in the technology and business systems category and was described as “sector leading” by the judging panel. The tool provides statistical information to allow staff to identify equality imbalances in student retention and achievement.

Jason Quinn, head of IT, said: “The advantage of this innovative technology is that it allows staff to identify equality imbalances very quickly, freeing up time to interpret the information rather than gathering the information.”