NSOCendorses computer network mamagement approach

A national approach to ensure that teachers and trainers have appropriate access to technology to support teaching and learning was recently ratified by the National Senior Officials Committee (NSOC).

Research has found that approaches to computer network management differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and organisation to organisation. These differences have led to inconsistencies in computer network policies, making it difficult for teachers and trainers to use innovative e-learning and communication resources and applications.

In a significant step forward for the embedding of e-learning in VET delivery, NSOC has agreed on the e-learning functionality required by teachers and trainers to embrace e-learning in practice, and this is represented in the VET Teacher E-learning Toolkit and companion document, Commonly-used E-learning Applications and Tools in VET. Key stakeholders from each state and territory were consulted in the Toolkit’s development, including IT managers, network administrators and teaching staff.

These documents ensure that vocational education and training (VET) Standard Operating Environments (SOEs) and computer networks provide the sector’s teachers and trainers with access to a guaranteed minimum range of applications and tools to support 21st century learning.
E-learning Toolkit

The VET Teacher E-learning Toolkit is a recommended set of web and desktop functionality requirements that teachers and trainers need to help support the effective use of e-learning strategies in their education and training programs.

The Toolkit provides IT departments with a guide to the functionality requirements for their networks and computers. This will ensure that teachers and trainers can gain access to training resources and to communication, collaboration and content development tools.
E-learning applications and tools

The Commonly-used E-learning Applications and Tools in VET document lists popular e-tools and applications already in use in the sector. It profiles the tools for functionality, common usage, basic network configuration requirements and outlines known issues.

The VET Teacher E-learning Toolkit and Commonly-used E-learning Applications and Tools in VET are equally applicable to IT managers, network managers, e-learning practitioners and teachers and trainers, and provide a starting point for discussions about enabling the use, and increased availability of e-learning tools, within organisations.

These documents represent the continuing efforts of the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), in exploring computer network access and firewall issues in the VET sector.

For more information, please visit the Framework’s E-standards for Training website.