{"id":12605,"date":"2024-10-01T10:56:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T09:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=12605"},"modified":"2025-04-06T13:43:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T12:43:49","slug":"my-journey-with-the-crdl-and-winning-the-ufi-voctech-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2024\/10\/my-journey-with-the-crdl-and-winning-the-ufi-voctech-award\/","title":{"rendered":"My Journey with the Crdl and Winning the UFI VocTech Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Zoe Tierney, Learning Technologist for AmplifyFE <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I am incredibly honoured and excited to share that Burton and South Derbyshire College has won the inaugural Association for Learning Technology (ALT) Award<\/a> for Use of Technology in Vocational Education, in partnership with Ufi VocTech Trust<\/a>. This achievement is the result of our work integrating the Crdl device<\/a> into our Health and Social Care programmes\u2014an innovative technology that has truly transformed how we approach teaching and learning.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Curious about Crdl<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My journey with the Crdl began when I first discovered its potential to create interactive soundscapes through touch. Designed originally for therapeutic settings, I realised its incredible versatility, not only within dementia care but across a range of vocational and educational contexts. Through touch, we adopt invisible threads of care and healing, creating a bridge between isolation and connection. This technology has become much more than a tool for teaching about dementia\u2014it has sparked curiosity and conversation around well-being, team building, and sensory engagement in our immersive suite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joy I\u2019ve found in exploring the multi-faceted uses of the Crdl throughout the college has been immense. It\u2019s been adopted not just in healthcare but in other areas like childcare, and we\u2019re currently investigating how it can support our well-being programme and team-building activities. The feedback from students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive, and watching learners adopt empathy and understanding through such an interactive device has been rewarding beyond measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Winning the UFI VocTech award at ALTc 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I believe we won this award because the Crdl represents innovation at its core. It\u2019s a technology still being explored, but its potential to enhance learning is already evident. We\u2019ve only scratched the surface of what it can do. Winning this award validates our commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology to make learning more engaging and meaningful. It\u2019s also a celebration of collaboration, as this project wouldn\u2019t have succeeded without the input of local care homes and the creativity of our students and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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