Small RTO grows with e-learning

In 2009, the introduction of e-learning transformed little-known Island Health College (IHC), a small Tasmanian registered training organisation (RTO) providing natural therapy training to locals, into a nationally recognised training provider with more than 46% of learners enrolled in online modules.

With funding and support from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s (Framework) E-learning Innovations, IHC developed an online program for anatomy and physiology modules, which form part of a number of broader health qualifications. This provided geographically isolated learners in Tasmania with the opportunity to study natural therapies for the first time.   

An online presence helped IHC secure Australian Pilates Method Association (APMA) endorsement as a preferred training provider of modules included in the Advanced Diploma of The Pilates Method, leading to national exposure and recognition for their pilates training.

IHC Director, Diane Donovan said that the online modules provided learners with the opportunity to gain competency in a broad range of qualifications, regardless of their location in Tasmania or on the mainland.  

“Our learners include mature age learners working in the natural health industry and geographically isolated learners from around Tasmania and mainland Australia. The flexibility of online learning enables learning to take place with minimal disruption to day-to-day lives,” Diane said.

IHC uses the Moodle learning management system to deliver online training through forums, live classrooms, assessments and quizzes. Interaction through forums and live classrooms has proven successful in simulating a physical classroom environment and, as such, has become a mandatory requirement for learners participating in the course.

IHC Learning Program Coordinator, Angela Baker, said that it was essential that web conferencing software had the functionality and sophistication needed to provide the level of learner support and interaction associated with a physical classroom. For example, with IHC’s online course, teachers and trainers are able to drag and drop documents from their desktop into the live classroom session, enabling learners to access information on the spot.

With the delivery of online anatomy and physiology modules successfully bedded down, IHC has begun developing course content and delivery strategies for an online Advanced Diploma in Homeopathy, in partnership with trainers and assessors on mainland Australia.

In 2010, IHC plans to embed e-learning in the theoretical components of their entire catalogue of qualifications and expand even further into the national market.

The Framework’s E-learning Innovations business activity integrates and embeds e-learning into the national training system by supporting and enabling innovation in training design and delivery. In 2010, more than 140 projects have been awarded a share of $5.3 million to embed innovative e-learning solutions around Australia. 

This content provided by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s Branding Team

IWith over 3.5 million courses registered worldwide, open source learning management system Moodle has grown to become one of the most popular delivery tools in education and training.

 Teachers and trainers around the world are using Moodle with learners across all education sectors, from primary to high school to vocational and tertiary education. Moodle has the flexibility to deliver either complete online courses or blended learning, or to facilitate individual modules, assessment or networking exercises.

 But how can Moodle help you?

 Moodle allows practitioners, without previous web development skills, to quickly create effective online learning sites which are tailored specifically to the needs of their learners.

 Moodle’s interactive features are popular with teachers, trainers and learners due to the engagement and flexibility they provide. Features include:

 ·          Lessons – learners progress through a series of web pages, accessing information, completing activities and answering questions.

 ·          E-assessment – includes online assignment submissions, quizzes/tests that are automatically graded, and poll questions.

·          Chat – allows ‘real time’ text conversations between teachers/trainers and learners, and supports html and images. Chats are logged and can be accessed as a resource.

·          Wikis – web pages created for specific courses that can be edited by both teachers/trainers and learners to allow interaction and collaboration.

 ·          Forums – allows interaction between teachers/trainers and learners. Different types of forums can be created to suit individual needs, eg teacher-only, course news, open-to-all, or one-thread-per-user. 

 How one RTO is embedding Moodle

 Since receiving E-learning Innovations funding and support from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) in 2009, Capital Hairdressing Academy and Regional Training (CHART) has worked to harness the benefits of Moodle for learners, teachers/trainers and employers.

CHART adopted Moodle as a tool to introduce e-learning to apprentices enrolled in Certificates II and III in Hairdressing. Using Moodle, CHART created its own customised e-learning resources, where it was previously restricted to generic hard copy materials.

Using Moodle, CHART’s hairdressing apprentices are able to complete the theoretical component of their training online, at their own pace, during their down time at work or in their own time at home. Training is comprised of online lessons and quizzes, and learners are automatically reminded and prompted when to submit their assignments.

Teachers and trainers have benefited from the convenience of being notified via an automatically generated email from Moodle when a learner has completed a lesson and is ready to move to the next unit.

To speed up reporting to employers and encourage faster progress, employers are able to mentor their apprentices. Using a group wiki, employers can communicate with their apprentices and monitor their progress. 

Kathe Kobold, Director of Studies at CHART, said that while the project had proved a significant learning curve, Moodle was the right choice for them because of its easily adaptable features.

 “Moodle has allowed us to create online learning resources which are customised to the specific needs of our learners: we can enter our own content, create our own activities and design our own e-assessment exercises,” Ms Kobold said.

 “It also makes it easier for teachers and trainers to keep track of the pace at which apprentices are progressing through their theoretical training.”

 Ms Kobold explained that CHART faced some challenges in adopting Moodle, as the hairdressing industry is highly practical and many employers and apprentices in this field were unfamiliar with e-learning.  

 “We chose Moodle as an e-learning delivery platform because we recognised that its capacity for interaction would appeal to learners in this highly practical field.

 “We also decided to introduce Moodle in stages, starting with our teachers and trainers. Once they were comfortable using Moodle, we released it to our employers and apprentices.

 “In 2010, we’ve expanded its use in conjunction with the Mahara e-portfolio system as a professional development tool.”

 Read about other E-learning Innovations projects using Moodle:

  Locher & Associates Pty Ltd – using Moodle and Elluminate web conferencing software to improve the delivery of its Certificate IV in Frontline Management.

  Pivot Solutions Pty Ltd – using Moodle to engage geographically isolated learners in the WA health industry.

  New England Institute of TAFE – using Moodle to deliver flexible learning to learners studying veterinary nursing.

 Read more about Framework E-learning Innovations projects

 Visit the Moodle Demonstration Site (registration and log in required)

for those of you working with Moodle, or just getting underway, the MoodleMootAU conference would be a great opportunity to boost your knowledge and provide you with lots of ideas about how to use Moodle for training. The projects outlined below will also give you some good ideas.

Moodle projects deliver e-learning without limits

Two E-learning Innovations projects funded and supported by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) will feature at MoodleMoot AU 2010, one of Australasia’s largest education and training conferences.

MoodleMoot AU 2010 will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 11-14 July. Themed Without limits, the conference will explore how the Moodle learning management system (LMS) is helping to deliver more flexible and engaging teaching and training across all education sectors including school, university, vocational education and training (VET), and for learners in the workplace.

Delegates will hear from e-learning and education experts about how Moodle-produced online courses and websites can enhance learner experiences in a range of ways. The conference will feature workshops, discussion panels and master classes highlighting the latest Moodle case studies, research and technology developments. 

Framework E-learning Innovations projects are leading the way in exploring new ways to use Moodle. Projects selected to present at the conference are:

Diving into mobile learning
Presenters: Bronwen Campbell and Melanie Doriean

Date: Tuesday 13 July, 3:00pm-3:25pm (AEST)

This presentation will show how the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) is using Moodle as both a mobile learning tool and an information portal for learners.

Bronwen and Melanie will discuss how Moodle can be used in conjunction with mobile technology to provide learners with information while in the field, and explain how ADAS is using Moodle to provide mobile training beyond the classroom using technologies including netbooks, smartphones and iPod devices.

They will also discuss how ADAS is using an offline version of Moodle (Poodle) to provide information, resources and training materials to current and past ADAS learners.

Moodle and Mahara in new applications and E-learning Innovations

Presenters: Howard Errey and Nicole Ralph

Date: Tuesday 13 July, 4:00pm-4:25pm (AEST)

This presentation will showcase the different ways that Moodle and the Mahara e-portfolio system are being adopted by Victorian VET providers.

Howard and Nicole will discuss how this uptake is being driven by the availability of Moodle through Victoria’s Training Virtual Campus (TVC) e-learning platform; and explain how a number of Victorian E-learning Innovations projects have taken advantage of the flexibility of Moodle to enhance training delivery.

The session will also demonstrate how the Framework’s E-portfolios initiative is supporting Victorian training providers to use Mahara.

Want more?

The Framework’s Victorian Toolbox Champion, Ken Gooding, will present on Integrating Moodle into the Training Virtual Campus on Monday 12 July, from 2:30pm-2:55pm (AEST).

His session will demonstrate how TVC has integrated Moodle with existing products including:

 ·         an integrated content management system

·         Mahara

·         Blackboard (learning management system)

·         Elluminate (virtual classroom)

·         MessageMedia Web SMS system (mobile).

 A number of the Framework’s 2010 E-learning Innovations projects are also exploring Moodle:

 ·         Animal care online – This project will enhance the design and delivery of the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing by developing new media-rich resources for delivery through Moodle.

·         CommC@re online – Two units of the Community Services certificate will be developed and administered online using the full functionality of Moodle (asynchronous forums, chat, rich media, and web 2.0 technologies) to provide an engaging mix of course materials and assessment options.

·         Embedding an e-learning framework strategy – This project will embed Moodle as a means to provide a one-stop learning space and communication tool for remote learners and facilitators.

Visit http://flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations/teamprofiles to browse all E-learning Innovations projects since 2008.

 Register now

There are limited registrations remaining for MoodleMoot AU 2010 so register now to avoid missing out.  

 copy provided by the Branding Team

A great opportunity for those of you fresh to e-learning, or just dipping your toe in the e-learning pool.

Have you ever asked yourself this question? There are so many tools, websites and technologies ‘out there’ that it can be hard to tell which one(s) would work to engage your students…or solve your training problem…or make your job easier….or reach out to distant clients/students.

What is the aim of this course?

The aim of this 6 week online course is to introduce you to 23+ tools, resources and sites that will allow you to begin e-learning, simply and quickly….or get it moving faster….or help you improve what you are already doing. The focus of this course will be on the learning and training enabled by the tools – not the tools themselves, although you’ll certainly be playing with them! J

Other benefits

As an added benefit, this course is being run in Moodle, so you’ll experience being an online student using Moodle and gain valuable knowledge and understanding of how it feels to be an online student, as well as gaining skills in online facilitation and delivery.

What is the time commitment?

There are THREE levels of coursework (OK…homework J) and it is up to you to decide which level is right for you:

Level 1:  This is basic but will offer some understanding & skills and will take you about 1-2 hours a week.

Level 2:  This will broaden your skills and capabilities, and will take 2-5 hours depending on how much time you want to spend.

Extra:  For those of you lucky enough to have more time, extra links, tools, documents and resources will stretch you further.

How much does it cost?

For Tasmanian VET practitioners this service is provided free of charge.

When does it start?

 The first week begins on 17 May 2010. As soon as you register however, you can go to the Moodle site and start familiarising yourself with the space and doing the pre-course set up.

There will be a face-2-face workshop in Hobart on Friday 21 May, from 10 am - 1 pm, in the State Library Computer Lab - just off the car park (we’ll put up signs). Also, for those of you that can’t make the face-2-face session there will be an online (in Elluminate) session at  4 pm in the afternoon. This will be recorded so you can view it later.

 I really encourage you to attend one of these sessions and it will make the rest of the course flow more smoothly and make that initial getting started hump much less bumpy.

Contact details for more information:Jennifer Dunbabin  ph 03 6233 8487 jennifer.dunbabin@skills.tas.gov.auPeter Shanks  ph 03 6233 4617 peter.shanks@skills.tas.gov.au

Please complete the online form below to register to participate.

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The world’s first iMoot runs from Thursday 4^th to Sunday 7^th February.  Operating 24 hours a day, iMoot will be run as an online e-conference with forums and elluminate sessions bringing together Moodle practitioners and administrators from around the world.

For more information on iMoot 2010, or to register for the conference visit http://imoot.org.

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.

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