Hello everyone,

Listed below are the presentations from the e-learning showcase event held on the 18th November.  Video from the day will be made available and accessed via the Australian Flexible Learning Website, links will be made available when ready for viewing. Still working on Clint Smith’s presentation, it’s being naughty and not uploading!

Cathy Moore - Story Telling techniques

Clint Smith - How to prepare a winning e-learning innovation application

Frankie Forsyth - Niche marketing : how to succeed as a small RTO in a global market

Brad Beach - Making a project work

Deirdre Brown - Creating a blog as a learning resource

Roger Stack - Virtual worlds, real learning

Kim Edgar - LORN

Ian Whitehouse -  A successful project requires effort - Seven steps to success

Brad Beach - Online facilitation

Gail Wilson - ePortfolios, what is al the fuss about?

VET Teacher elearning toolkitThe Toolkit specifies the minimum web and desktop-based functionality requirements needed to support e-learning in the national training system. The purpose of this information is to inform the development of vocational education and training (VET) Standard Operating Environments (SOE) to support the e-learning functionality required by teachers and trainers. This information is also available for download in PDF (158 KB) and Word (261 KB). Read more here.

A new survey has confirmed that the vocational education and training (VET) sector is using e-learning to deliver more flexible, engaging and personalised training - and that it’s no longer a question of ‘if’ training involves e-learning, it’s ‘how’ e-learning is used that matters.

Now in its fifth year, the national E-learning Benchmarking Survey shows that technology is providing learners in the VET sector with greater choice and control over where, when and how training is delivered.

The survey also confirms that e-learning is being embedded in VET, with 45% of registered training organisations (RTOs) reporting that e-learning is now included in their overall organisational or team business strategy.

The survey found that 35% of employers are already using e-learning for training. Employers reported that they are using e-learning to deliver customised training in the workplace - reducing employee ‘down time’, as well as the cost of delivering training offsite.

Other key findings included:

• VET students and teachers/trainers responded positively to using e-learning - particularly when e-learning is delivered as part of a blended learning experience.

•  90% of VET students would like at least ‘a little’ e-learning in their course, and 59% thought using e-learning had increased their confidence and improved their job prospects.

•  87% of VET teachers and trainers said they now use e-learning, with more than half saying that e-learning has improved their teaching.

• Nearly 60% of VET teachers and trainers said that e-learning has made learning more interesting and engaging for their students.

• 56% of RTOs surveyed delivered some units involving e-learning. However, the uptake of e-learning by smaller private and industry-based RTOs is slower than the larger RTOs, with 55% of very small RTOs currently not using e-learning.

The full 2009 survey results are available from the E-learning Indicators website, including a final report which analyses the survey results, and a breakdown of survey results by employer, student, teacher/trainer, RTO, demographic and industry area.

The survey results were launched on 15 October at E-learning for business 09. For recordings of sessions and other resources provided by e-Gems presenters visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/egems

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Likewise, you can lead students to computers, but you can’t offer them engaging courses – unless VET practitioners have developed and honed the skill sets required to effectively implement e-learning.

In this edition of The Knowledge Tree we expose the skill sets vital for VET practitioners to make lively, interesting, informative and educational e-learning. How do we support and acknowledge those who have these skills – and how do we ensure that otherwise effective classroom educators aren’t left behind?

What are the emerging skill sets VET practitioners need to keep pace with ever evolving education delivery? And how can they obtain them? In this special series of interviews, we ask a select group of Australian e-learning practitioners to consider, among other issues, the differences between the skills needed for face-to-face teaching and those required for e-learning, how Web 2.0 tools can be used most effectively, and how new skill sets can be better shared and acknowledged.

Instructional designer Cathy Moore has a strong message for vocational education and training (VET) practitioners and businesses using e-learning:

It’s tempting to view e-learning as simply a quick and efficient way to present information, but we can harness far more of its potential by using it to design activities which allow learners to practice new knowledge in a safe, online environment. 

In a recent interview for The Knowledge Tree e-journal, Cathy drew on her extensive experience as a trainer and e-learning designer to provide insight into how training providers and businesses can strengthen their e-learning design, delivering the most effective possible experience for learners.

During November and December this year, Cathy will be touring Australia speaking at various state and territory end of year events for the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework).

These events provide a forum for e-learning novices and experts to come together and discuss the technologies and strategies which underpin successful e-learning in VET.

Follow this link to find out about your state’s or territory’s end-of-year e-learning events

On the 18th November Skills Tasmania will be holding their end of year event, Tas-e Day09 making e-learning work for you, at the University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus.

Tas-e Day09 is about you and your business. No theories, no abstractions – we are offering ideas for business improvement and the opportunity to engage with hands-on learning for both experienced e-learning practitioners and those just starting out.

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s (Framework) 2009 E-learning Innovations projects will also be showcasing their creations – this is a great opportunity to talk with people who ‘walk the talk’.

There are four workshop streams (the inside story on Innovation Projects, business improvement, getting started and hands on workshops) and a keynote address by renowned international guest speaker, Cathy Moore.

Other presenters include Clint Smith (Learnworks), Brad Beach (GippsTAFE) and Kim Edgar (Australian Flexible Learning Framework).

Topics include:

• how to make engaging, learner friendly resources
• developing a niche market
• how to pitch e-learning to meet the needs of your client
• assessing e-learning readiness
• online facilitation
• how to set up your own e-portfolio platform (Mahara)
• making the most of the Framework’s resources
• developing learning objects
• project funding update
• how to write a business case for e-learning.

If you are thinking about applying for Australian Flexible Learning Framework funding  come along and have a chat with the innovations coordinator who will be there to provide advice and support.

Please feel free to distribute the following flyer to your colleagues, enterprise partners or learners
TAS-e DAY09 making e-learning work for you

The cost of registration is $55.00 (incl GST).  Online registration closes Wednesday 11 November 2009. This online registration form will be submitted automatically (online payments will not take place). You will receive an automated initial acknowledgement and an official confirmation will be sent a few days later. If you do not receive this confirmation please contact the organisers below. An invoice will be sent shortly and once payment has been received and processed a receipt will be forwarded separately.

For further information please contact:

Gail Wilson, E-learning Coordinator gail.wilson@skills.tas.gov.au or call 6236 5600, or
Fiona Huskinson, Innovations Coordinator by email fiona.huskinson@skills.tas.gov.au or call 6233 2140

We will be taking photographs and filming sections of this event and we trust that your consent is given with your registration.  Should you have any questions please note them in the comments box on the registration form.

Please register to attend the Tas-e Day09 end of year event.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Skills Tasmania are offering the following professional development activities over the next couple of months.  Please note registration using the online registration from at the bottom of the page is essential.

NOVEMBER SESSIONS

Exploring e-Innovations   |   Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5  Online

Exploring e-Innvations 09 showcases the latest innovations in e-learning from around Australia. The focus will be on flexible e-learning outcomes developed through industry and business training provider partnerships and models designed to enhance the learning of specific client groups.

The sessions run from 10:30am - 4:30pm AEDST on both days.

Gain insights from the showcased innovations: Find out how VET practitioners, training providers and businesses are using e-learning pedagogy and technologies to promote new and flexible training options through 8 – 10 online web conferencing sessions over the two days.

Ask questions of e-learning expert panel: Drop-in to online ‘Experts Lounge’ to ask your questions and interact with a panel of e-learning experts in real-time in the afternoons of Day 1 and Day 2 from 12:00pm - 3:00pm (AEDST)!

Come and explore…

http://networksevents.flexiblelearning.net.au/

Tas-e Day09 making e-learning work for you

On the 18th November Skills Tasmania will be holding their end of year event, Tas-e Day09 making e-learning work for you, at the University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus. For further information - see here.

Each person attending will need to register using the following form.

cforms contact form by delicious:days