As part of its commitment to driving digital innovation in education, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has launched brand-new ‘I-innovate’ learning pods – providing students and staff with the skills they need to excel in a rapidly changing world.
Following funding from the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), the Group has invested £200K in next-generation technologies from including Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, state-of-the-art drones, green screens and podcasting equipment, eGlass Lightscreens, Wizefloor interactive floor projectors and more.
This equipment is available via the Group’s I-innovate teaching hubs, which aims to creates a new and immersive learning experience for its staff and students.
The Group’s first hub was officially opened at Selby College by Group Executive Director for Curriculum & Quality Standards at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, Lisa Macdonald, as part of a special launch event.
Digital industry leaders from FETECH, Prodigy Learning, Vivi and Texthelp were in attendance, alongside staff and students from the Group.
David White, Head of Regional Partnerships & Projects at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said:
“The development of I-innovate has been a real passion project of our Digital Team and our partner Colleges through the LSIF digital innovation project. The I-innovate pods will provide a zone where staff and students can explore advanced and emerging technologies in a risk-free, supportive environment, helping to foster a culture of creativity and growth, as well as prepare our students for their future careers.”
Using VR, attendees were able to see what it’s like to work in range of roles, including working with patients on hospital wards, working on a construction site or how to repair a boiler. Users are also able to explore other modules such as employability skills, conflict management, public speaking and presentation skills, mindset development and active listening.
They were also encouraged to record their own podcast using a green screen and state-of-the-art recording equipment.
Cassandra Baxendale, Business Development Director at Metaverse Learning, said:
“It’s wonderful to see this newly created immersive classroom equipped with state-of-the-art tools, including laptops, drones, and VR headsets. The I-innovate room will enhance learning by providing a fresh, innovative approach to education. The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s dedication is evident in every detail, and seeing attendees reflect on their thoughts on the meaning of ‘innovation’ through engaging activities like mini podcast recordings was inspiring. I’m excited about the potential for future collaborations and developing impactful case studies together.”
The I-innovate programme was launched in October 2024 and allows staff to earn awards by completing digital tasks tailored to their roles and needs.
Rob Lea, Digital Teaching & Learning Lead at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said:
“I-innovate is a digital umbrella which encompasses various initiatives to enhance staff's digital skills and innovation across the Group. Each College has an I-innovate hub in addition to a full-time learning technologist who creates content, immersive spaces and lesson resources to help staff develop new skills and core technology competencies which are relevant to their work. We hope this will allow staff to work smarter not harder, enabling us to address challenges and seize new digital opportunities.”