North Hertfordshire College’s Computing, Networking & Design learners have been using their digital skills to spread joy within the local community as part of their work experience. Level 2 students have been working with residents of Martin’s House, Trembaths, Garden City Court, and Jubilee Court care homes to create digital memory boxes.
Each pair of students were matched up with a resident, and the first step was to have a good old natter about their life stories and memories. Fully briefed on what to include, learners then returned to college to design accessible digital presentations using photos, music, sounds, and illustrations to bring their memories to life.
Each pair thought carefully about the best way to use digital technology to share residents’ life stories, while also being user-friendly.
Once the memory boxes were ready, learners then returned to the care homes to share their final project with residents and their loved ones. It was an emotional session, but the memory boxes proved to be a great hit with residents, their families, and care home staff.
A representative from Martin’s House told us: “We really enjoyed having NHC’s students come to see us, and our residents got so much from talking about their younger days.”
Our learners received similarly positive feedback from Trembaths, who commented: “The students were patient and kind when talking to the residents, gently allowing them to reminisce about when they were younger. It made us all smile.
“The students are a credit to the College and brought some great memories to life – thank you.”
By applying their classroom learning to a real-world project, our Computing, Networking and Design learners made a real difference in their local community. They were able to use their strong IT skills to help preserve residents’ memories in an accessible format.
Not only did they gain confidence in their digital abilities, but students also enjoyed the opportunity to strengthen their interpersonal communication skills. From the briefing conversation with their resident, to the presentation of the completed memory box, learners successfully adjusted their communication style to have meaningful interactions with residents, care home staff, and families alike.
The experience is not only great for their CVs, but it’s also given our students extra confidence by seeing the impact their work can have on the community.
Could you use your classroom learning to have a positive impact on our local community? Be the best you. Ever. Check out North Hertfordshire College’s Digital pathways!