A digital technology expert has won a national award for transforming the educational experience and revolutionising technology use at The Sheffield College.
Simon Sharratt, Digital and e-Learning Coordinator, The Sheffield College, has won the NCFE Aspiration Awards 2024 support staff of the year category.
NCFE is a national educational charity and its awards recognise students, apprentices, educators, support staff and education organisations.
Simon said: “I am thrilled to have won this award, which is a tremendous honour and reflection of the incredible team environment that we have here at the college.
“The role of education technology is becoming increasingly central to teaching and learning.
"It is very rewarding to enhance the educational experience of students and staff. I am really grateful for the support and encouragement I have received.”
Steven Spence, Assistant Principal for Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Innovation, The Sheffield College, added: “Simon has transformed the use of technology in our college. Winning an NCFE Aspiration Award is tremendous recognition of that.”
The award win recognises Simon's achievements, which include:
- mastery of Google Workspace and making complex technological tools accessible and beneficial to staff and students.
- supporting the professional development of fellow educators through his innovative coding skills.
- designing and implementing innovative teaching and learning solutions.
- managing the college’s two staff innovation centres at City Campus and Hillsborough Campus, which support staff’s professional development.
- training and supporting staff in utilising tools to their full potential, enabling more efficient communication and organisation across the college.
- applying the use of virtual reality to enhance teaching, learning and assessment.
The application of virtual reality has included providing virtual tours and trips for vulnerable students soon after the Covid-19 pandemic to build their confidence.
Simon has used virtual reality with health and social care and motor vehicle students to help them develop their technical skills. Simon is also working on a new training programme for staff to ensure they have a knowledge and understanding of artificial intelligence.
The NCFE awards shortlist was selected by a panel of 24 judges from the further education and training sector. An educational charity and leader in vocational learning, NCFE has been piloting new and innovative approaches to student assessment. This has included testing brand new ideas and exploring the use of technology that meets the needs of students and educators today.
The Sheffield College was the first further education college to receive funding from the NCFE’s Assessment Innovation Fund and took part in a pilot project. The project trialled the use of virtual reality technology and investigated its impact on student assessments with the research findings published last year.
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Pictured: Awards finalist Simon Sharratt, Digital and e-Learning Coordinator, with Steven Spence, Assistant Principal for Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Innovation.
