E-learning News
From experiment to embedding – how one WA business embraced e-learning
It started as an idea and developed into a fully-fledged commitment to embed e-learning as a teaching and training tool.
When the Central Institute of Technology in Western Australia (formerly Central TAFE) applied for E-learning Innovations funding in 2008, pockets of teachers within the organisation were delivering e-learning, but with little coordination.
To address this Central made a bold commitment that in three years they wanted to embed e-learning within their organisation, improving online delivery and enhancing support for those learners engaged in e-learning.
The funding was used to develop a new e-learning facilitation model which provided a template to train current and future online facilitators. This training included guidelines on developing and updating online courses; as well as timing, delivery methods, expectations and staff requirements for a successful e-learning program.
From speaking to project manager Keith Critchett, it’s clear that Central has gone from strength to strength since receiving their initial E-learning Innovations seed funding.
What's happened since you developed your e-learning facilitation model in 2008?
We have a much more holistic view of e-learning. Dedicated e-learning staff are now employed at the college, including three mentors and a Leader Online Learning. Our new innovative practice budget is allocated solely to the development of e-learning resources and educational technologies and integrates e-learning into the college’s business planning. Priorities are set to review IT services to ensure infrastructure can continue to support e-learning.
This focus has seen the number of students with access to online resources double from April to October this year, and up to 74 new e-learning projects are underway.
Most importantly though, there’s an enthusiastic cohort of teaching staff providing their students with a range of e-learning services in a consistent way. Teachers are using wikis, new course development, social media, audio recording, vodcasting and podcasting to better connect with their learners.
Can you give an example of how e-learning has been embedded at Central?
This year we launched the E-PR program, which received 2009 E-learning Innovations funding, to deliver e-learning to public relations students.
With social media emerging as a valuable channel for organisations to engage in dialogue with their clients, we wanted to give our students the PR 2.0 (social media) expertise that would help them stand out to future employers.
We encouraged students studying the Certificate IV and the Diploma of Public Relations to experiment with a range of media including Twitter, Facebook, wikis and blogs. The aim of the trial was to create responsible digital citizens and help students understand why they were using social media and the effect it had.
The students used a range of social media to market their road safety event and media campaigns, and feedback from their work experience placements was that the social media knowledge they brought to the organisation was hugely beneficial. Their campaign was also financially endorsed by RoadWise and Optus.
What started as an experiment has now been embedded as a key component of the PR courses at Central and will continue to be rolled out in 2010.
Is the sky the limit for e-learning at Central?
We think so. We’re going to use a mix of high profile online developments for Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications to increase Central's online brand. By the end of 2011, we’re planning for each course to have at least a minimum online presence, plus we want to increase the number of courses using online collaboration, e-assessment, communication tools and interactive learning materials.
This will contribute to enhancing our organisational capability to sustain e-learning and mainstream innovation in education.
It started as an idea and developed into a fully-fledged commitment to embed e-learning as a teaching and training tool.
When the Central Institute of Technology in Western Australia (formerly Central TAFE) applied for E-learning Innovations funding in 2008, pockets of teachers within the organisation were delivering e-learning, but with little coordination.
To address this Central made a bold commitment that in three years they wanted to embed e-learning within their organisation, improving online delivery and enhancing support for those learners engaged in e-learning.
The funding was used to develop a new e-learning facilitation model which provided a template to train current and future online facilitators. This training included guidelines on developing and updating online courses; as well as timing, delivery methods, expectations and staff requirements for a successful e-learning program.
From speaking to project manager Keith Critchett, it’s clear that Central has gone from strength to strength since receiving their initial E-learning Innovations seed funding.
What's happened since you developed your e-learning facilitation model in 2008?
We have a much more holistic view of e-learning. Dedicated e-learning staff are now employed at the college, including three mentors and a Leader Online Learning. Our new innovative practice budget is allocated solely to the development of e-learning resources and educational technologies and integrates e-learning into the college’s business planning. Priorities are set to review IT services to ensure infrastructure can continue to support e-learning.
This focus has seen the number of students with access to online resources double from April to October this year, and up to 74 new e-learning projects are underway.
Most importantly though, there’s an enthusiastic cohort of teaching staff providing their students with a range of e-learning services in a consistent way. Teachers are using wikis, new course development, social media, audio recording, vodcasting and podcasting to better connect with their learners.
Can you give an example of how e-learning has been embedded at Central?
This year we launched the E-PR program, which received 2009 E-learning Innovations funding, to deliver e-learning to public relations students.
With social media emerging as a valuable channel for organisations to engage in dialogue with their clients, we wanted to give our students the PR 2.0 (social media) expertise that would help them stand out to future employers.
We encouraged students studying the Certificate IV and the Diploma of Public Relations to experiment with a range of media including Twitter, Facebook, wikis and blogs. The aim of the trial was to create responsible digital citizens and help students understand why they were using social media and the effect it had.
The students used a range of social media to market their road safety event and media campaigns, and feedback from their work experience placements was that the social media knowledge they brought to the organisation was hugely beneficial. Their campaign was also financially endorsed by RoadWise and Optus.
What started as an experiment has now been embedded as a key component of the PR courses at Central and will continue to be rolled out in 2010.
Is the sky the limit for e-learning at Central?
We think so. We’re going to use a mix of high profile online developments for Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications to increase Central's online brand. By the end of 2011, we’re planning for each course to have at least a minimum online presence, plus we want to increase the number of courses using online collaboration, e-assessment, communication tools and interactive learning materials.
This will contribute to enhancing our organisational capability to sustain e-learning and mainstream innovation in education.
posted by Adult Learning Australia
at
11:38 AM
« Home