Remote education at Middlesbrough College

Remote education is learning that takes place online and away from College premises. 

At Middlesbrough College, we use a combination of approaches to deliver remote online learning, depending on the type, level and nature of the qualification.

Typically, these include:

• 'Live' online teaching sessions (e.g. via Microsoft Teams; Canvas Big Blue Button; Google Hangouts Meet; Smart Assessor Smart Rooms etc…)
• Recorded teaching sessions (e.g. pre-recorded video/audio recordings made by teachers)
• Printed paper packs produced by teachers (e.g. workbooks, worksheets) • activities related to course textbooks and workbooks
• Commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences on
• Long-term project work and/or internet research activities

Generally speaking, we adopt a 'blended' or 'hybrid' approach to our remote online learning offer, which means, depending on the level and nature of the qualification studied, you will be taught using a mix of the activities outlined above. 

Middlesbrough College, NSG and TTE staff are very experienced in designing and delivering online learning and we use a wide range of highly effective virtual learning environments (VLEs) to ensure you can continue to access high-quality and meaningful learning activities. 

• Canvas
• Microsoft Teams and Class Note Book
• Google Classroom
• Smart Assessor and Smart VLE (for most college apprentices)
• Moodle and One File (for some TTE apprentices)

During periods of remote online delivery, we aim to:

1. Teach you the same curriculum topics and content as we would do face-to-face.
2. Where possible, and where safe to do so, ensure you can continue to access specialist equipment, resources and workshop spaces (for example, technical machinery, computers, software, workshops, salons etc…)
3. Continue to help you develop your practical skills through the use of simulated or virtual activities to replicate the type of practical work you might complete if you were on-site. For example, using 3600 virtual tours of work settings or using 3D models to complete work-related tasks; or asking you to record yourself completing a practical task.

Wherever possible we will try to bring you on-site and teach you face to face. However, if national or local restrictions stop us from offering face to face learning, we will flip to online delivery.

Where this is the case, you'll receive an email from the College and further instructions from your Personal Tutor or Training Adviser.

Typically, the amount of online learning and independent study you are asked to complete during periods of remote education will match your timetable. However, we know how difficult it can be for some students to study remotely, and so we will try and be as flexible as possible.

Again, speak to you Tutor if you a have any difficulties in attending online sessions at the agreed time. They're there to help you, and will be happy to discuss possible alternative solutions.

Above all we aim to ensure our remote education offer enables you to:

• Continue to access high-quality teaching and learning
• Continue to develop your knowledge and skills
• Continue to complete necessary assessments and
• Ensure you make your expected progress and achieve the grade you deserve!

When studying online you will be expected to:

• Have your camera on during sessions and mute your microphone when you are not speaking during ‘live’ online sessions. This is to help ensure there is effective communication between you, your peers and the teacher. It will also help staff check your understanding the session's topics and make adjustments where needed.
• Log-in to online sessions on time
• Be prepared with the equipment you need
• Be in a quiet and suitable environment 
• Be attentive and engage in all activities,
• Wear appropriate clothing - dress the same as you would if you were on college premises
• If you are using a webcam, have a suitable background (for example, in MS Teams use the ‘blur’ mode or alternative picture backgrounds)
• Be respectful towards staff and your peers
• Behave as you would in college and follow standard procedures.
• Listen carefully and ensure you complete all set tasks
• Keep track of what, how and when assessments are taking place 
• Respond to the feedback you are given to improve your work

We monitor individual engagement in online learning in a variety of ways, including: 

• Attendance registers: registers are completed for every timetabled online session and comments recorded and used to inform the Student Progress Report.
• Pro-Monitor: Personal Tutors are regularly updated by subject teachers on students’ behaviour, engagement, and ‘readiness to study’ as much during online sessions as they are for face-to-face sessions.
• Smart Assessor: If you are an apprentice, we will monitor how often you complete work and check the quality of the work you upload to the system.
• Attendance Officers: each curriculum department has its own Attendance Officer who will contact you following a reported absence. All absences are discussed and recorded and continued absence can result in the implementation of the College’s Discipline Procedure.
• Parents or carers: will be contacted when a student’s attendance and/or engagement becomes a concern (for 16 – 19-year-old students) For apprentices, in addition to the above measures, employers are contacted and engagement is discussed regularly and recorded during formal Reviews.

No Device?
If you do not have access to a suitable device, either a laptop or tablet, for use at home please contact your Personal Tutor or Training Adviser.

The College have a number of ways we can help, including a long-term laptop loan scheme. Alternatively, you can contact the IT Helpdesk on 01642 333444 or by email at: helpdesk@mbro.ac.uk.


No suitable study space?
You can also access IT resources and high-speed internet in our safe, supervised and socially distanced LRC, which is located on the first floor of the main College site. The LRC is open from 08:30 till 17:00 Monday – Friday. LRC PCs can be booked by emailing lrcinfo@mbro.ac.uk.


Need more advice?
For step-by-step advice on how to access all our VLE platforms; how obtain specific subject sofware/hardware; access internet data; or check eligibility for a loan device, please email helpdesk@mbro.ac.uk or visit our REBOOT website at www.rebootmbro.co.uk.

We recognise that some learners, for example those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to access remote education without support from others.

• Tutors will continue to differentiate online work based on the individual needs of students with SEND
• Additional Learning Support staff will continue to support students with online work.
• Additional Learning Support staff will offer additional 1.1 sessions in-person and via Microsoft Teams.
• Additional Learning Support staff will keep in regular contact with students with SEND to offer advice via email and phone.
• Make available on-site supervised study spaces upon request (contact your tutor to arrange)

Our Careers, Safeguarding and Student Services teams are on hand to help you resolve any problems you may be experiencing and ensure you get the very best out of your time at College.

They are very experienced teams who can support and advise you on a variety of matters, including:

• Safeguarding, welfare and counselling support
• Financial support
• Childcare support
• Additional learning support
• Careers advice