CPC40108/110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction

From the CPC08 Construction, Plumbing and Services Integrated Framework Training Package

The units of competency covered in this newest release are:

Competency code                    Competency name

CPCSUS4001A                         Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices

CPCCBC4021A                         Minimise waste on the building and construction site

The topics have been designed to be worked through sequentially with the key feature of the Build Green Toolbox being the scenario-based learning design. Each unit contains a realistic scenario that provides authentic building and construction tasks for the learner.

Interested parties are invited to take part in a research study that seeks to understand how trainers and educators are using learning objects in their day-to-day online teaching and learning practice.The specific focus of the study is on factors that enable and constrain the use of learning objects when developing online learning experiences for learners. 

The proposed research emerges from a study conducted in 2005 by Professor Ron Oliver and Dr. Mark McMahon (2006), which examined the use of learning objects in the vocational education and training (VET) system nationally. The study was commissioned by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.

The new research will look at three education sectors: schools, VET and higher education. It will involve participants completing a survey and being given an opportunity to take part in a voluntary interview.

Complete the survey

More information is available from Helen Lynch, who is undertaking the research.

Hello there, my name is Paddy McLaughlan.  I became committed to the eLearning concept through my own experience studying via a flexible learning environment.  I have a background in information systems, VET teaching and as a coordinator in community learning where I have supported many students using eLearning resources.  I look forward to hearing from you if you need any assistance using the Frameworks learning objects and toolboxes.

paddy.mclaughlan@skills.tas.gov.au

Phone:  6233 4617

 Six new Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) have been released to support the delivery of the following nationally endorsed training packages.

• Plumbing: Licensed to Plumb 2 extends the Series 12 Licensed to Plumb Toolbox by supporting an additional three units of competency from the Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services (eight units in total). It focuses on core skills and knowledge for licensed plumbers in the mechanical services, sanitary and roofing streams.
• Music: Music Box supports the Certificate II in Music, which includes working with new technologies for producing, performing and distributing music as well as musical industry knowledge.
• Manufacturing: Sustainable Manufacturing supports Certificate II and Certificate III qualifications in the Manufacturing Training Package. It introduces experienced workers to a formal learning environment engaging them in structured sustainability training.
• Electrotechnology: Fresh or Freezing supports selected units from Certificates II, III and IV in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. The Toolbox supplements technical units with theoretical units of competency addressing energy saving strategies and renewable energy concepts.
• Forestry: Timber ‘Plus‘ extends the Series 12 Timber Toolbox, covering a total of nine units of competency from the Forest and Forest Products Industry Training Package. It includes more ‘in-demand’ core units as well as sector-specific units relating to the timber manufactured products sector.
• Asset maintenance: Squeak e-Clean covers four units of competency from the Certificate III in Asset Maintenance (Cleaning Operations). The learning objects relate to the knowledge, skills and activities covered in workplace inductions for the cleaning industry.

These Toolboxes (Series 13) add to a collection of more than 120 Toolboxes across a diverse range of educational and industry areas, helping deliver over 190 qualifications and supporting more than 1,000 units of competency.

• Toolboxes are collections of learning objects, resources and other materials (including teaching guides) developed to support industry training. Full Toolboxes can be purchased through TVET Australia, or you can access and download learning objects from available Toolboxes for free through the Toolbox Repository.

·         NB: For assistance with Toolbox implementation and customisation contact Skills Tasmania’s E-Learning Unit on (03) 6233 2140 or elearning@skills.tas.gov.au 

LORN - the resource repository for the vocational education and training sector (VET) - is being decommissioned. VET practitioners will be able to access and download learning objects from the LORN website - flexiblelearning.net.au/lorn - until 31 August 2011.From 1 September users can:

• continue to browse and download free digital learning resources direct from the Framework’s Toolbox Repository - toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/repository - which hosts the Flexible Learning Toolboxes, E-Learning Innovations and E-learning for Industry collections
• directly access the jurisdictional repositories (TAFE VC , WestOne and Tasmanian Polytechnic) subject to any access conditions placed on these by jurisdictions.

Enquiries on accessing LORN and the ‘My LORN’ function to download learning objects should be referred to the online enquiries desk - lorn@flexiblelearning.net.au.

Please share this with your colleagues and encourage them to download learning objects before 31 August. 

Editors note:  If you are downloading learning objects, save them on to your hard drive, so you have continued access to them.  Refer to the http://lorn.flexiblelearning.net.au/howlornworks/download/ for more instructions

Four new Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) have been released by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), with another three coming soon!

The Series 13 Toolboxes have been developed in consultation with Industry Skills Councils to support the delivery of nationally endorsed training packages.

Series 13 focuses on supporting skills shortages in the trades and aligns with the Australian Government’s National Green Skills Agreement, which aims to embed sustainability skills in all training packages over the next few years.

Debbie Soccio, Toolboxes Business Manager, said Toolboxes provide cost-effective, hands-on training that can be customised to suit individual needs.

“Toolboxes are highly visual and interactive education and training products, with the scenarios, images and activities designed to reflect a real life workplace.

“They can be cheaply and easily customised to form complete training packages and meet individual training requirements.”

The four newly released Series 13 Toolboxes are:

Plumbing: Licensed to Plumb 2 extends the Series 12 Licensed to Plumb Toolbox by supporting an additional three units from the Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services (eight units in total). It focuses on core skills and knowledge for licensed plumbers in the mechanical services, sanitary and roofing streams.

Electrotechnology: Harness the Sun addresses three units from the Certificate IV in Electrical (Photovoltaic Systems) and provides timely support for training in a high growth industry - namely rooftop solar panels that generate clean electricity.

Music: Music Box supports the Certificate II in Music, which includes working with new technologies for producing, performing and distributing music as well as musical industry knowledge.

Manufacturing: Sustainable Manufacturing supports Certificate II and Certificate III qualifications in the Manufacturing Training Package. It introduces experienced workers to a formal learning environment engaging them in structured sustainability training.

The other three Series 13 Toolboxes cover the Electrotechnology, Forestry and Asset Maintenance industries and will be released shortly.

The Series 13 Toolboxes add to a collection of more than 120 Toolboxes across a diverse range of educational and industry areas, helping deliver over 190 qualifications and supporting more than 1,000 units of competency.

View the full range of Toolboxes

Image: ‘Toolbox Closed‘
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600108451@N01/337938498

In this workshop, with Tassie’s Toolbox Champion Peter Shanks, you’ll find out how you can modify learning objects available free from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s toolbox collection.You’ve searched LORN (http://lorn.flexiblelearning.net.au) for a pre-made learning object to plug in to your online course. Maybe you found something, but it’s not quite right; or you think it would be more engaging if you customised it for your training environment. Perhaps you couldn’t find anything at all, but you’d like to build something using an existing learning object as a template. If this describes you, then this workshop may be just what you need.Topics covered:

• locating resources that are ‘change ready’
• editing and updating
• creating collections of learning objects with a navigation menu to tie them together 
• repackaging, ready to plug into your learning management system

No previous web development or programming knowledge required - we’ll walk through the basic steps and customise a range of objects on the day.

Training held in Hobart 9.30am to 12.30pm

Image: ‘Toolbox‘
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23288375@N08/2281706277

Tired of constructing learning objects from scratch?

Ever wondered if there’s a better way?

 Help is at hand!

Sign up now for the Introduction to Toolboxes workshop; a quick (painless) introduction to Flexible Learning Toolboxes (as seen on http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au)

Where: Hobart State Library Training Room
When: Friday, 8th April. 10am - 1pm

On the day we’ll look at how to find, download, customise and deploy learning objects - real live training material that’s available for free - ready for you to pick up and present to your trainees and students.

To book a place contact:

Kate Bucher -  kate.bucher@skills.tas.gov.au  6236 5600 or

Peter Shanks - peter.shanks@skills.tas.gov.au  6233 4617

Image: 'Scaffolding: Not just for construction workers anymore‘
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12836528@N00/2201791390

With $400,000 of funding and support from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), registered training organisations will develop five new Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) to support training in sustainable work practices and language, literacy and numeracy (LLN).

The five Series 14 Toolboxes are expected to be available from mid-August 2011, either for purchase on CD-ROM through TVET Australia or as free, downloadable learning objects from the Toolbox Repository.

Toolboxes are collections of learning objects, resources and other materials (including teaching guides and technical guides) developed to support the need for online training in an industry area. They use scenarios, images and interactive activities that reflect real life workplace environments and support the delivery of qualifications from training packages.

The new Toolboxes will be developed to support training in the following skills shortage areas as identified by Industry Skills Councils and Industry Training Advisory Boards:

Sustainability

• Build Green will support two units of competency from the Certificate IV in Building and Construction. The two units address the need to integrate environmentally sustainable building practices into building and construction training, just as OH&S has been.

• Sustainable Timber will extend the Series 12 Timber Toolbox and the Series 13 Timber Plus Toolbox, which is currently being developed. It will comprise four units, all of which have a strong connection to sustainability and green skills, from the Forest and Forest Products Industry Training Package. The Toolbox learning objects will be the first publicly available e-learning resources at a Certificate IV level in the timber industry.

 Language, literacy and numeracy

• Numbers will support the development of numeracy skills, an underpinning skill required in a broad range of qualifications. The topics and content of this Toolbox will be contextualised to the building and construction industry, supporting Certificate II in Construction, Certificate II in Construction Pathways, Certificate III in Carpentry and Certificate II in General Education for Adults.

• Language Links will support three units of Certificate III in Education Support, a new qualification within the Community Services Training Package. These communication-based units are aimed at enabling learners to work with teachers and other educational professionals to support their reading and oral language skills.

• English at Work will support three units of Certificate IV in English Proficiency that have cross-sector relevance and application to a wide variety of workplaces and industries. Learners will be required to adapt the knowledge and skills they acquire and apply them to their individual workplace.

Visit the Toolbox website to preview the Framework’s full range of Toolboxes. Alternatively, you can access learning objects from past Toolboxes for free through the Toolbox Repository.

Toolbox Champions operate in all states and territories and provide advice, mentoring and professional development for practitioners using Toolboxes.

Attribution:

Image: ‘patient‘
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10687935@N04/2376359338