Newbattle Abbey College

From Researching Virtual Initiatives in Education

Newbattle Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near the village of Newbattle in Midlothian, Scotland, which has subsequently become a stately home and then an educational institution - Newbattle Abbey College.

Newbattle Abbey remained the home of the Marquesses of Lothian until being given to the nation in 1937 by Philip Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian, to be used as a College of Education. The College was established under trustees from the four ancient Scottish Universities specifically for adults returning to education. A new residential building was added in the 1960s and funding came through the Scottish Education Department.

In 1987 the Secretary of State for Scotland announced the intention to withdraw funding, threatening the college with closure. However, new forms of financial support have enabled the College to survive.

Its web site is http://www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk

e-learning

Distance learning

The college launched an Open Learning course in April 2012 which was largely delivered at a distance, though little detail is available on the course or whether it still exists (http://www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk/?p=51).

Online learning for on-campus students

The college website indicates the existence of IT Suites but as yet has no information on them: http://www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk/?page_id=334

Open Educational Resources (OER)

No evidence found of OERs.

VLE

The college used a Virtual Learning Environment in support of its open learning course, though details are lacking and it seems uncertain whether it still exists (http://www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk/?page_id=178).

For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbattle_Abbey_College

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