Online learning platform developed in Scotland marks 25th year and a million learners registered
Viewed by many as Scotland’s first and most successful online learning provider – SCHOLAR - is marking its 25th anniversary, having registered more than a million learners since it was set up.
Run by Heriot-Watt University, the online learning resource for schools and colleges has an average of 140,000 students and 15,000 teachers and lecturers registered each academic year.
SQA aligned
Founded as a STEM focused resource, Scholar now delivers online education across 21 subjects at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels including English, Mathematics, Modern Languages, ESOL, Computing Science, Sciences, Business Management, Geography and Music.
The learning platform offers 42 complete courses with more than 10,000 interactive activities and assessments, designed by experienced educators and a team of content and software developers.
The courses are unique in that they offer comprehensive curriculum coverage, aligned with SQA specifications and with guidance available from qualified teachers and lecturers.
Supporting learners in a wide range of circumstances
Accessible 24/7, anywhere and on any device, Scholar supports learners in a wide range of circumstances and locations.
Teachers use Scholar to provide support and challenge within school, for example helping EAL learners develop their language skills with ESOL courses or supporting those who may be unable to attend.
Learners can access comprehensive curriculum content for self-directed learning to address knowledge gaps or for subject mastery while teachers can benefit from real-time, data-driven insight into learner progress, helping them to maximise learning potential.
Professor Richard A. Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University said how pleased they were to be marking the 25th anniversary of Scholar.
He said: “Virtual teaching is increasingly a reality in Scotland as online learning spreads.
“We’re very proud to have established a learning platform that is now used in nearly nine in 10 [note 2] of Scotland’s schools and colleges, supporting schools and teachers in removing barriers, promoting equity and delivering effective learning and teaching, both in classrooms and at home.”
Gaëlle Seal-Coon, Director of Scholar, said: “Scholar is SQA-aligned and our course content is crafted by practising subject-specialist teachers to ensure its relevance and depth. Content developers design our engaging and interactive courses, while our software developers deliver a seamless, user-friendly and accessible platform.
“What’s unique about the programme is that it uses real-time, data-driven insights for educators, including formative assessments with instant feedback so that decisions about next steps for learners can be personalised.”
Constantly evolving
The platform is constantly evolving and responding to the changing needs of learners and teachers, ensuring that course content continues to be relevant and flexible, in and beyond the classroom. For example, the new cloud infrastructure allows a responsive platform to support evolving pedagogical approaches while ensuring data security compliance and a smooth user experience..
Looking ahead, Gaëlle Seal-Coon said that new developments will include developing content in areas such as AI and robotics to help widen learner pathways. She said:
“We’re continuing to develop our technology stack to ensure Scholar remains at the forefront of online education in Scotland and building closer ties with providers across Scotland and beyond, so that Scholar is further embedded in the education ecosystem and continues to inspire learning for the next 25 years.”