E-learning wisdom at your fingertips

You name it, if it’s topical in e-learning circles it has been covered in one of the funded E-learning Innovations projects across Australia, which are now easily accessible via a new online search facility.

Over the past two years more than 290 E-learning Innovations projects have been selected to implement innovative solutions which drive the integration of e-learning into business and training. Approximately 40% of these involve embedding e-learning innovations in workplaces with the remainder addressing the needs of identified learner groups, providing greater choice in what, where and how they learn.

The E-learning Innovations Team Profiles page allows you to search for up-to-date information on all projects by year of funding, state/territory, industry area, registered training organisation type and project category.

Cricket and AFL volunteers, primary producers in rural/remote areas, women returning to work, and Indigenous Australians are just some of the learner groups benefitting from current 2009 projects. Technologies being trialled include Second Life, Sloodle, the Nintendo Wii and cloud computing.

Profiles of completed 2008 projects are also available and provide links to project outputs including case studies, learning objects and lessons learned.

Examples of 2008 profiles featured on the site include:

Germstop
This project created an e-learning resource for infection control in aged care home laundries. The e-learning resource targets users with low levels of numeracy and literacy as well as non English speaking users. The resource demonstrates how to correctly control germs, highlighting the common dangers faced when handling infectious linen.
Visit the Germstop website to check out this innovative resource.

Alice - this is what we MEME
Staff from the Institute of Aboriginal Development and Parks and Wildlife created a ‘real world’ library, allowing visitors to take an interactive, self-led tour of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
This project collaboratively constructed a multimedia story (text, photos, video and animation) around points on a map showing a tourist walk around the station. A cheap Global Positioning System (GPS) handheld device is used by visitors to detect their location, and information relating to that building or landmark is called up on the screen. The user can choose whether to stop a while and browse, or ignore it and carry on.
Learners have achieved competency across a wide range of topic areas from the Certificate I in Information Technology curriculum as well as developing web 2.0 skills, including collaboration on Moodle and the safe creation and use of personal blogs.Read further about the project at: http://ntvt.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&p=208

Jim’s Mowing
This project developed an e-learning module for mature age, time-poor franchisees employed by Jim's Mowing and Horticultural Services, who wanted to complete the Certificate II in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens).Flexible Learning Toolbox learning objects were contextualised for Canberra’s colder climate. The electronic resources and learning activities were delivered via CD-ROM, and were designed to be easy to use, and complementary to workplace and classroom-based learning.As a result of this project, the employer has nine qualified employees, an achievement which may not have been possible if the course had taken a full year to complete.

View the online resources: Recognise plants, Turf Management, Jim’s Irrigation.
E-learning Innovations projects are funded and supported by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework).

To view all funded 2008 and 2009 projects, visit http://flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations/teamprofiles
For more information about the Framework, its products, resources and support networks, contact: (07) 3307 4700, email: enquiries@flexiblelearning.net.au or visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au

New Resource

- learning and development resource

field has recently released a new resource called Learning@work, which was funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services and has been distributed to all eligible community service organisations.

Learning@work is a resource kit designed to enhance the development of a learning culture in community services organisations. It is intended to support supervisors, team leaders, human resources professionals and others who have responsibility for planning, monitoring and evaluating the learning needs of staff.

Learning@work includes:

Supervisors’ guide - outlines concepts, underpinning knowledge and development practices and addresses issues of purpose and outcomes.
Approaches to learning – looks at the range of ways people learn and different learning options applicable to our industry.
Getting Started – a practical 6 session introductory program on learning and development for supervisors to use with staff.
CD Rom - enabling you to make multiple copies of the Activity sheets in the Getting Started section for use in your workplace.
Learning@work is linked to relevant national competencies, contains checklists, case studies and proformas for easy use or adaptation to your workplace.

Additional copies: $143 incl gst

Learning@work augments the Ready4work Disability Support Worker Induction Kit, 2nd Edition 2009 previously released by field.

Further information

For general enquiries and further ordering of Learning@work resources please contact field on (03) 8686 5621 or email field@field.org.au
View Learning@work contents
Order Learning@work resource kit

Learning@work Seminars

To support the sector in the use of Learning@work, field is offering FREE Learning@work Seminars.

The seminar will cover:

The organisational benefits of a learning framework
The design, content and use of the kit components
How to use the resource in your workplace.

Who should attend:

The seminar is intended for supervisors, HR managers or anyone else who is responsible for learning and development in their workplace.

Seminar details

Preston
Date: Monday 9 November
Time: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Venue: Darebin Arts & Entertainment CentreCorner Bell St & St Georges Rd, Preston
Register for the Preston Learning@work seminar

Traralgon
Date:Monday 23 November
Time: 10.00am to 1.00pm
Venue: Quality Inn Latrobe Convention Centre5601 Princes Highway,Traralgon
Register for the Traralgon Learning@work seminar.

Moorabbin
Date: Monday 7 December
Time: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Venue: Kingston Arts Centre & Kingston City Hall979 - 985 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin
Register for the Moorabbin Learning@work seminar.

ABS Report

New non profit report from the ABS

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released new statistics regarding the contribution of the not for profit sector.Read More >

Showcase

Industry e-learning on show!

e-nterprises, e-merge, e-xhibit, e-mbed - the 2009 Industry E-learning Showcase and Exhibition -

will feature how 10 industry sectors are integrating e-learning into workplaces, recognising that staff benefit from consistent, quality training which can be accessed at any time or place.

Presentations and exhibits will be demonstrated by the stainless steel, water, independent grocers, dairy, baking, community housing, child and family welfare, aviation, electricity supply, and retail industry sectors.

Each sector is unique in scope and operation, and attendees will hear how each sector’s e-learning strategies are providing models in which diverse companies and industry organisations can cooperate on training and workforce development.

Date: Tuesday 24 November 2009 (full day catered event)

Venue: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Melbourne

Cost: $165.00 per person (incl. GST)RSVP:

Register online here before Monday 16 November 2009.


The industry sectors featured at this showcase receive funding and support from the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.

e-explorers

Thursday 8 & Friday 9 October 2009

Getting started in e-learning:
Constructing interactive
and multimedia elements
The Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) provides e-learning professional development opportunities (e-pd) to assist local RTOs in embedding e-learning in VET delivery for the ACT community.

On Thursday 8 & Friday 9 October 2009, the Framework’s ACT E-learning Coordinator
Moir Holmes is running an intensive two-day e-learning explorers workshop for practitioners getting started in e-learning.

The workshop will help practitioners to develop some basic skills which will enable them to construct learning resources containing interactive and multimedia elements. Programs that will be explored include: Irfanview, ARED and Hot Potatoes, Audacity, Camtasia and Reload.

Time: Arrive 9.15am, concluding 4.00pm (both days)

Location: CIT Bruce Campus, room number to be provided upon registration.

To register email: kate.whittaker@cit.act.edu.au by COB Friday 2 October 2009 to secure your free place at this catered event. Places are limited for this hands-on workshop and priority will be given to VET teachers from an RTO

NCVER PAPER

Employers' views on improving the vocational education and training system

Toni Rittie, Tomi Awodeyi

National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)21 September, 2009

This study examines employers' views on the three ways they can engage with the VET system: by having vocational qualifications as a job requirement; employing apprentices and trainees; and using nationally recognised training.

e-learning endof year events

Events extravaganza - State and territory e-learning end-of-year events

Across Australia, e-learning experts, vocational education and training (VET) practitioners, E-learning Innovations project teams and registered training organisations are preparing for the annual 2009 e-learning end-of-year events.

For many years now, these events have provided the forum for e-learning novices and experts to come together and discuss the technologies and strategies which underpin successful e-learning in VET.

This year, renowned international guest speaker Cathy Moore will provide insight into how businesses can strengthen their instructional design skills for e-learning, providing a positive experience for the learner and a return on investment for the organisation*.

For more than 25 years, Cathy has used technology to help people learn. She has designed and written materials for eight-year-olds and engineers, pre-teens and PhDs. Cathy currently helps people to strengthen their instructional design skills, and designs and writes e-learning for businesses. Her materials are also used worldwide by professionals at Fortune Global 500 companies.

Follow the links below to find out about your state’s or territory’s end-of-year e-learning event:

Northern Territory - E-learning Xposed ‘09
South Australia - E-Dayz'09
Tasmania - Tas-e Day09: making e-learning work for you
Western Australia - Online09 - E-learning by Design
Queensland - The big VET es
Victoria - conVerge09: Create Stimulate Integrate
New South Wales - eLearning 09
ACT – journes

*Note, Cathy Moore will be presenting in all states and territories except the ACT.

NCVER PAPER

Tracking our success: How TAFE institutes evaluate their effectiveness and efficiency provides an account of the management strategies and processes that TAFE institutes use to evaluate their performance.

To download a copy of this paper visit http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2169.html

Series 12 Toolboxes

Series 12 Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes), expected to be available for purchase in early 2010, are now available for preview at: http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/preview/byseries.htm

The Toolboxes are currently being developed in consultation with Industry Skills Councils to support the delivery of nationally endorsed training packages and address skills shortages and e-learning resource needs in priority industries.

Toolbox Business Manager Harriet Wakelam said that the Series 12 Toolboxes add to a collection of more than 100 existing Toolboxes across a diverse range of educational and industry areas, helping deliver over 170 qualifications and supporting approximately 930 units of competency.
“Toolboxes are highly visual, hands-on education and training products. They are ideal for just-in-time learning, either on-the-job, in the classroom, or in remote locations”.

The Series 12 Toolboxes are:

· Licensed to Plumb (12.01) will address a shortage of e-learning materials for the plumbing industry, providing an engaging, media-rich, interactive learning experience to support five units of the Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services. It will focus on core skills and knowledge for licensed plumbers, including drainage, water, gas, plan sizing, and layout of plumbing systems.

· Satellite City (12.02) is designed to support four units from the Certificate IV in Spatial Information Services, and the Certificate IV in Surveying. It will guide learners through the processes involved in reading and interpreting spatial data, conducting a field survey and managing, storing and presenting data, in line with industry practices.

· Indigenous Spiritual Wellbeing (12.03) will cover five units from the Certificate III and Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care. It will provide training for health care workers in Indigenous communities, focusing on supporting and assessing clients with mental health, alcohol and other drug issues.

· Electrotech (12.04) will support five units from the Certificate III in Electrotechnology (Electrician). Learners will complete hands-on activities and challenges to develop problem solving skills while learning about basic electrical concepts, electrical occupational health and safety and fabricating electrical components.

· Timber (12.05) will cover five competencies from the Forest and Forest Products Training Package and support a wide range of Certificate II and Certificate III qualifications including sawmilling, merchandising and manufactured products. Timber will deliver crucial e-learning resources for workers in an industry that has traditionally relied overwhelmingly on face-to-face training.

· Retailer 2 (12.06) will extend the Series 10 Retailer Toolbox (10.05) by covering the core units of the Certificate II in Retail, as well as five selling, merchandising and marketing electives. Rather than taking a traditional unit-by-unit approach, learners will complete activities guided by a range of customer-focused scenarios and case studies, which will be mapped back to core units. A skills recognition pathway will be available for new and existing resources.

· TAA (12.09) supports delivery of 13 units from the new Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. The learning design of this Toolbox places the learner as a trainer/assessor for Optimal Learning Solutions (OLS), a fictitious registered training organisation providing training and assessment services to a range of government, private and industry organisations.

· TAA E-learning E-lectives (12.10) supports delivery of three units from the e-learning stream of the new Diploma in Training and Assessment. It also acts as a useful professional development tool for trainers or assessors that would like to develop their skills as an e-learning facilitator and/or designer of e-learning resources.

· Cybertots (12.11) supports delivery of the Certificate III in Community Services (Children's Services). The revamped Toolbox immerses the learner in a virtual child care centre allowing them to experience the role of a caregiver. Through problem-based projects and communication activities in which they will 'interact' with the workers and children at Cybertots, learners develop skills and knowledge necessary for working in the child care profession.

· Small Business Management (12.12) covers 10 units of competency from the Certificate IV in Small Business Management. Each competency provides a variety of information and activities to support qualifications in managing a small business.

To view the Framework’s full range of Toolboxes, visit the Toolbox website. Alternatively, you can access learning objects from past Toolboxes for free through LORN.Toolboxes are high quality, cost effective, interactive e-learning and assessment resources featuring scenarios, images and activities.

They are funded and supported by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework).
Toolbox Champions are employed in every state and territory to support the implementation of Toolboxes. To contact your local Toolbox Champion, visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/toolbox/champions

New DVD

Mining Industry Skills Centre Inc.
Adult Learners’ Week 2009 DVD

In June this year, the Mining Industry Skills Centre received funding from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to create a DVD for national Adult Learners' Week 2009 (1-8 September).

The DVD, Skilling For The Future: Securing Australia’s Resources Industry, highlights the benefits and career-enhancing potential of adult learning, through showcasing the available pathways for progression within the resources industry. It is aimed at adults looking for a career change or wanting to re-enter the workforce.

During the first two weeks of August, our interviewer and cameraperson travelled to ten different sites throughout Queensland to interview fourteen adult learning success stories. From this, we have created an inspirational DVD that is 15 minutes in length, and features interviews with eight people currently working in the industry, from Operator and Trainee roles through to Superintendent and Senior Site Executive roles. We have also created a 90-second promotional clip of the DVD, which is currently available on the internet.

The DVD will be distributed to a wide range of people, including industry groups and Registered Training Organisations. For more information and to order a free copy of Skilling For The Future: Securing Australia’s Resources Industry, please visit the Mining Industry Skills Centre website at www.miskillscentre.com.au and click on Workforce Planning initiatives.

E-portfolios

Introducing the 2009 E-portfolio Implementation Trials:

Three trial teams have been funded by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework to identify the contributing factors and resources required to support the use of an e-portfolio system to help a learner move quickly and effectively between educational sectors, job roles and industry areas.

Click here to find out more.

AgriFood Australia

Marketing facelift for VET - better outcomes from industry training: AgriFood Skills Australia


A major new national effort to reposition the image of Australia's national vocational education and training (VET) system - and to promote better outcomes from training - will be revealed this week at the National AgriFood Conference 2009 held at Sydney's Dockside Convention Centre (Thursday-Friday 24-25 September, starting at 8.30am).

The National AgriFood Conference, representing Australia's $208 billion agrifood industry and around 900,000 workers, will hear details of a two-year national communications project by federal, state and territory governments to improve the way VET is perceived by the Australian community.

AgriFood CEO Arthur Blewitt said AgriFood Skills Australia was advocating a flexible, responsive and high-quality vocational education and training system that could provide job-ready people with the capability to deliver to changing industry and market expectations.

The agrifood industry looked for better outcomes from the national training system and the availability of skilled and well trained workers was one impediment to the agrifood industry’s continued development and growth. These were crucial to run and operate increasingly sophisticated and innovative enterprises, whose success depended on competing globally and complying with the domestic and international regulation in doing this.

"Much of this training needs to be done on the job in cooperation with training organisations equipped with first-rate teachers who have the capacity to respond to changing industry requirements," Mr Blewitt said.

"This is a key challenge for training organisations: AgriFood’s focus is on working with training providers on the implementation and support of industry-driven training products that produce people equipped to do current and emerging jobs. "However, this depends on attracting and retaining capable workers to work and live in the regions, which is critical to the future growth and success of the agrifood industry, as the majority of its workforce is based in regional Australia."

AgriFood Skills Australia has initiated a Regional Jobs Summits to examine getting workers into regional communities (Narrabri Regional Jobs Summit in July and another planned for Emerald). The summits determine and address the skills and workforce needs and jobs of enterprises operating in these areas across Australia. A Regional Jobs Summit will feature at the National AgriFood Conference to examine in detail the issue of jobs in regional Australia.

"The Regional Jobs Summit in Narrabri identified key shortages of higher skilled workers to manage and operate at high technical levels, and the regions are losing their young people, who left high school to go and live in the cities," Mr Blewitt said.

"We need to identify and describe attractive jobs in a contemporary way and have access to quality training. We are working with the local communities, business and government to implement solutions to overcome shortages of the people and skills so essential to sustaining and growing enterprises."

"At the end of the day it’s about regional development and there are some very attractive inland cities out there, such as Narrabri, Orange and Toowoomba in NSW."

The agrifood industry continued to be a key export earner for Australia and recently had been one of the only industries – despite the global financial downturn – to continue to grow its exports and production. The conference was 'a signature event' in considering the new thinking, practice and case studies to underpin the industry’s continued innovation and growth for the future.

Brisbane based marketing and communications specialist, Allan Bonsall, said VET had never taken a clear form or carried positive values or even presented as a meaningful entity to Australians through communication channels. "While VET is understood to varying degrees by government, industry and the education sector it is not well understood by the public," Mr Bonsall said. "For most, it is an abstraction, a collective name for a large number of institutions that are not actually well understood."

The Australian Government, represented by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, has been working for two years with state and territory governments to improve the profile of VET with a view to increasing the flow of people into, and their retention in VET. It has the immediate policy aim of improving the way the vocational education and training ‘story’ is communicated to the Australian community and a consequent policy goal of increasing the flow of people into VET.National higher education specialists will discuss new directions being taken in VET and a panel of leaders from each of the five key industry groups will give an industry response to jobs and skills across all agrifood sectors. Former ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell will deliver the keynote address on the $70 billion food and grocery manufacturing sector - Australia's biggest manufacturing industry. Ms Carnell is CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council.

AGRIFOOD SKILLS AUSTRALIA AgriFood Skills Australia is the national organisation responsible for skills and workforce capacity building for the agrifood industry. It is a public company with an industry board of directors, and a primary focus on improving industry performance through improved skills and workforce capability. The agrifood industry employs around 900,000 people and it generates about $208 billion a year to the national economy.

These industries - rural industries, food processing, mea seafood and racing -occupy two-thirds of the Australian land mass and feed 60 million people world-wide. For the conference web page go to: www.agrifoodskills.net.au

UK Developments

LEARNING THROUGH LIFE

An independent report published today - Learning Through Life - calls for a rethink of the way Government, employers and individuals spend an estimated £55 billion every year on lifelong learning.

If this investment were to be reshaped radically, the foundations would be laid for a genuinely learning society with entitlements to broad education and training throughout life in the UK.The present system is heavily front-loaded, favouring the young and already advantaged. This leaves too many people under-equipped to deal with the accelerating health, social, technological and economic changes all adults face as we go through the different stages of our lives.As life patterns become more complex and less predictable with increased job changes, greater geographical and social mobility and more frequent family changes, adults need ever greater skills and knowledge to remain successful, fulfilled and independent.Moreover, a rapidly ageing and dependent population will lead to a steep rise in the numbers of people who are socially and economically excluded, unless they can gain greater skills to control and give quality to their own lives. Failure to tackle these issues will waste talent and create an ever greater health and welfare burden on families and the taxpayer.

These are central messages in Learning Through Life, the report of a two-year Independent Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning sponsored by NIACE.

The 290-page report outlines a 10 to 15-year vision of radical reform around the key proposals set out below:

* Rebalancing sensibly and fairly the £55 billion spent by Government, business and individuals to provide learning for all, for work and leisure.

* Of this, £3.2 billion to be released for people over 25 - which can be achieved as youth numbers decline - without cutting per capita spending on schools or 18 to 24-year-olds.

* Entitlements to learn across four stages of life - up to 25 years, 25-50, 50-75 and post-75 - each carrying broad but different priorities for work, leisure and health.

* No distinction between financial support for full-time and part-time study and with advice and guidance for all who want or need it.

* Flexible systems of learning when and where people need it - with progression through the accumulation of credit-based qualifications.

* Opportunities for all citizens to develop their capabilities through digital, health, financial and civic education.

* A new relationship between central and local government that will be more responsive to local and individual needs.The Inquiry found the current system too complex and opaque, too skewed to the young and demotivating for too many. Educational inequalities accumulate over the course of people's lives to an unacceptable extent.The Independent Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning (IFLL) has drawn detailed new evidence around the nine major themes below:

* Prosperity and work

* Poverty reduction

* Demography and social structure

* Well-being and happiness

* Migration

* Crime and social exclusion

* Citizenship

* Technological change

* Sustainable development

Director of the Inquiry, Tom Schuller, said: "Lifelong learning is a major issue of public policy. It goes well beyond formal education, into a wide range of social and economic issues. Our recommendations call on Government, employers and individuals to rethink the way learning is distributed across adults' life-courses. We see the emergence of a new mosaic of time - a new balance between paid and unpaid work, learning and leisure."

Chair of the Inquiry, Sir David Watson, said: "Our goal is to set an agenda for lifelong learning that will make sense for the next quarter-century. We set out to assist our society in moving past fixing things (often with unintended consequences) to realising the genuine personal, social and economic benefits of lifelong learning."

Alan Tuckett, Chief Executive of NIACE, the Inquiry's sponsor, said: "NIACE has been delighted to support the Inquiry in its task of reimagining the way adult learning is organised.

The report offers an authoritative and coherent strategic framework for lifelong learning in the UK."http://www.niace.org.uk/news/learning-through-life

Spice Up Your Training

There is a continuing demand for more flexibility in education and training, according to recent NCVER statistics. Training providers want to offer more flexibility in the delivery of their training. Teachers and trainers are often time-poor but want to include new resources to spice up their offerings to learners. Employers need access to more consistent and flexible training for their employees to reduce downtime at work.

The E-learning for Business event, being held in Brisbane on 15 October 2009, will demonstrate how e-learning can really work for businesses, providing cost-effective and flexible training options for vocational education and training (VET).

Hosted jointly by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) and ACPET Queensland, this four-hour event will launch the results of the 2009 national E-learning Benchmarking Survey, and feature two interactive sessions:

· E-learning in Action – A showcase of free Framework e-learning products and resources, including Flexible Learning Toolboxes; LORN; E-portfolios; ARED and the QTImPlayer, that are available to VET providers, business and industry.

· VET E-learning Hypothetical – A panel of VET experts, including Skills Australia, private training providers, Manufacturing Skills Australia and SkillsTech Australia, will discuss how small business can adopt e-learning without a big business budget.

The annual national E-learning Benchmarking Survey, conducted by the Framework’s Benchmarking and Research business activity, is the trusted indicator of e-learning uptake, use and impact in VET.

The launch of the survey results will highlight the latest e-learning trends, showcase VET sector attitudes to using e-learning in teaching and training, and allow participants to benchmark their e-learning activities nationally.

Event details:
When: 3.00pm – 7.00pm (AEST), Thursday 15 October 2009
Where: Customs House, 399 Queen Street, Brisbane, Queensland
Cost: $66.00 (including GST)

View the full program or download a registration form

Community Volunteer Grants Available

Non-profit organisations, who are supported by volunteers can apply for Australian Government grants of up to $5,000 to purchase equipment and cover the cost of petrol.

For more information on the 2009 Volunteer Grants program, including an online application form, please visit www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/funding/Pages/volunteer_grant09.aspx MORE >>

Develop ICT Skills & Careers Expo 2009

ACCESS THE WORLD OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION & TRAINING

Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton
October 30 – November 1 2009

Discover a world of career options and further education within digital technology, media
and entertainment at the 2009 Develop ICT Skills & Careers Expo.

Taking place at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, as part of iDEF (International Digital
Entertainment Festival), Develop ICT Skills & Career Expo will provide an unparalleled opportunity to meet face to face with educational facilities, government bodies and industry members while learning more about this growing sector.

For students currently working in the industry and those looking to gain an insight into what this
exciting industry has to offer, a range of topics will be covered at Develop. Some of the topics exploredinclude mobile content development and delivery, animation, game development and publishing, government-related issues, film and music industry specific topics, ICT multimedia streams and more. A feature on serious games and a simulator display will show some of the broader scope in game development.

In addition, Develop will offer a wide range of networking opportunities with universities and colleges that offer digital education as well as with industry experts and peers.

This unmissable program will include keynotes, panel sessions, workshops, master classes, exhibitions of work and a 'hands-on lab'.

Featuring renowned institutions such as Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology, Academy of Interactive Entertainment, QANTM, Develop will be a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter the industry.

The Develop ICT Skills and Careers Expo is part of the International Digital Entertainment Festival (iDEF) 2009.

Located at the Royal Exhibition Building Carlton, a single ticket will enable entry into
the eGames Expo, Digital Lifestyle Show and Develop ICT Skills and Careers Expo.

Free entry is provided to schools organising excursions for students to attend a series of presentations by industry experts and tertiary educational facilities on the opening day of the expo.

www.idef.com.au

Australian Tax Office

Did you know that the Australian Taxation Office has a non profit portal?

The portal provides information for non profit organisation administrators and offers an email update service on tax issues of relevance to non profits.

Senate Inquiry into NFP disclosures

Government response to Senate Inquiry into NFP disclosure regimes

The Commonwealth Government response to the Standing Committee on Economics Senate inquiry into disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations was presented in June, and is now available to download from the Senate Committee website. The Committee delivered an extensive report to Parliament in December 2008 which included 15 detailed recommendations, such as the appointment of an Australian Minister for the Third Sector and a single independent regulator for not-for-profit organisations. The Government response is to agree in principle to a common terminology for referring to organisations within the Sector. However, it says the results of the Productivity Commission Review may assist is developing a framework which could underpin standard d efinitions and terminology. It also leaves questions regarding more complex tax arrangements to the Henry Review into the future Australian tax system. For further information on the Senate Inquiry click here.

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.

NCVER

VET in an integrated tertiary sector: True love or a marriage of convenience?

Panellists offered their views on the place of VET in the tertiary sector in the post-Bradley era at NCVER’s recent ‘No Frills’ conference.

More

Australia's Skillaroos Congratulated.

Education Minister Julia Gillard congratulated Australia's Skillaroos, whose outstanding performance at the International WorldSkills Competition held in Calgary has earned them 12 medals. Australia's Skillaroos are made up of 26 apprentices, trainees and vocational education and training students aged 23 and under who were medallists in the 2008 Australian National WorldSkills Competition.

The E-learning Crystal Ball

A recent report predicts that online education will expand by 24% this financial year – more than twice as quickly as any other industry in Australia!

The report, from business information analysts IBISWorld, forecasts that online education will be one of Australia’s major growth industries over the next 12 months, as learners increasingly demand education and training that is flexible, engaging and up to the minute.

With learning rapidly evolving beyond text books and the traditional confines of the classroom, e-learning is enabling vocational education and training (VET) providers to keep pace with learner expectations for:
· greater choice and control over when and where learning occurs
· increased learning on-the-job
· an overall richer learning experience, including more engaging tools for learning, and a more collaborative approach to learning.

The shift towards e-learning is already well underway, with teachers and trainers adopting a wide range of technologies to enhance learning, including:
Digital games - Education Queensland recently declared that digital games are the ‘way of the future’ for learning, and is offering instruction for school teachers on how to use Wiis, Playstations and the Nintendo DS as classroom learning tools. Kangan Batman TAFE is also currently trialling the Nintendo Wii as a tool for VET learners in the trades to practice applying surface coatings to furniture.

Social networking tools – Interactive and user driven web 2.0 technologies are making it easier than ever for the VET system to share knowledge, experience and learning resources. Several Victorian training providers are currently trialling using the social networking sites YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to create collaborative online learning spaces which encourage peer support and interaction.

Virtual worlds – Virtual worlds are providing engaging and flexible hands-on learning. Last year, the Canberra Institute of Technology developed a trial virtual world to enable nursing students to experiment and explore activities, interact with their teachers, trainers and peers, and review their actions and experiences – all in a safe, online environment.

In light of these advancements, many VET practitioners are looking towards the future and wondering how emerging technologies will continue to shape the VET system. Two VET e-learning ‘champions’ have given their predictions, using the 3Ps (‘possible, probable, preferable’) model:
· ‘Possible’ – the most divergent and outlandish predictions
· ‘Probable’ – what’s most likely to occur
· ‘Preferable’ – an outline of the most favoured future.

Read their interviews:
Tony Ryan – Speaker, author, publisher and international education consultant
Dheeraj Chowdhury, Assistant Director – Learning Applications and Media, DET NSW - Centre for Learning Innovation

NCVER Report

Australian vocational education and training statistics: Apprentices and
trainees, March quarter - 2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This publication provides estimates of apprentice and trainee activity for the quarter ending 31 March 2009.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2179.html

Diversity@Work Awards 2009

Ticket bookings for the 2009 Diversity@Work Awards NOW OPEN

We invite you to join us and more than 800 attendees from the government, corporate and community sectors to applaud and celebrate the winners of the 2009 Diversity@Work Awards, to be held Thursday 15 October, 2009 at Peninsula, one of Dockland’s most glamorous venues.

Our workplaces and communities require our attention, now more than ever, and the Diversity@Work Awards have an important role to play in supporting and celebrating those who champion the creation of diverse and inclusive workplaces.
In a time of unprecedented pressures on business, government and communities the Diversity@Work Awards are an important vehicle to celebrate and assist organisational focus.

The evenings celebratory program will include a special keynote presentation from Reverend Tim Costello, CEO, World Vision, Jenny Brockie, presenter of Insight, SBS TV as Master of Ceremonies and musicians and artists reflecting Australia’s diverse community.

The 2009 Diversity@Work Awards promise to be every bit as exceptional as the past few years and we welcome you to be part of the excitement and opportunity.

Visit the website www.diversityatwork.com.au/awards for further information on how to purchase your tickets now. There are a limited number of community tickets available, so get in quick – ticket sales close Friday 9th October!

WORLD SKILLS COMPETITION

SKILLAROOS DOUBLE MEDAL TALLY AT WORLDSKILLS COMPETITION

Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib welcomed the great results achieved by the World Skills Australia Team (Skillaroos) at the 40th WorldSkills International Competition in Calgary, Canada. The Skillaroos’ 29 competitors won 2 gold medals, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals at the international competition competing against 50 other countries from around the world in over 26 categories such as landscape gardening and automobile technology.

Minister Arbib said he was immensely proud and inspired by the team’s great performances adding the results were a testament to the team’s skill, dedication and passion.

E-learning for Business

With the changing global economic outlook forcing business and industry to become more resourceful and efficient in staff training, are you looking to:

find out if e-learning can really save you time and money?

get up-to-date with the latest e-learning products, resources and technologies?

compare your organisations’ e-learning activities with the rest of the country?

The E-learning for Business event, being held in Brisbane on 15 October 2009, will showcase how e-learning has emerged as a cost effective and flexible training solution for vocational education and training (VET) practitioners, CEOs, policy makers, business and industry.

Hosted jointly by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) and ACPET Queensland, this four-hour event will launch the results of the 2009 national E-learning Benchmarking Survey, and feature two interactive sessions:

E-learning in action – See demonstrations of and receive information about key Framework e-learning products and resources, including Flexible Learning Toolboxes; LORN; E-portfolios; ARED and the QTImPlayer.

VET e-learning hypothetical – A panel of VET leaders from public and private registered training organisations, business, industry and government will discuss a hypothetical scenar focused on e-learning in VET. The panel will include:

· Adrian Marron – Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG)
· Tim Harris – Director, Blue Dog Training
· Bob Paton – CEO, Manufacturing Skills Australia
· Phil Bullock – Chair, Skills Australia
· Kay Giles – Director, Skills Tech
· Private provider – To be confirmed.

The annual national E-learning Benchmarking Survey, conducted by the Framework’s Benchmarking and Research business activity, is the trusted indicator of e-learning uptake, use and impact in VET.

The launch of the survey results will allow practitioners and training providers to compare their organisation’s e-learning activities with the rest of the country; find out about the latest e-learning trends; and discover what VET clients and learners think about using e-learning for education and training.The survey findings will be broken down into both national and state and territory results, as well as by provider type and industry. This will help to identify the e-learning trends and demands being made within VET.For more information about the event, and to register to attend, visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/research

When: 3.00pm – 7pm (AEST), Thursday 15 October 2009
Where: Customs House, 399 Queen Street, Brisbane, Queensland
Cost: $66 (including GST)

Industry e-learning

e-nterprises, e-merge, e-xhibit, e-mbed - the 2009 Industry E-learning Showcase and Exhibition - will feature how 10 industry sectors are integrating e-learning into workplaces, recognising that staff benefit from consistent, quality training which can be accessed at any time or place.

Presentations and exhibits will be demonstrated by the stainless steel, water, independent grocers, dairy, baking, community housing, child and family welfare, aviation, electricity supply, and retail industry sectors.

Each sector is unique in scope and operation, and attendees will hear how each sector’s e-learning strategies are providing models in which diverse companies and industry organisations can cooperate on training and workforce development.

Showcase details:

Date: Tuesday 24 November 2009
Timing: Full day event
Venue: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Melbourne
Cost: $165.00 per person (incl. GST)

Online registrations can be made at the E-learning for Industry website http://industry.flexiblelearning.net.au. A detailed program will be available shortly.

Toolbox Workshop

The next Toolbox Customisation workshop is coming up on Tuesday, September 22nd . This workshop is to showcase Toolboxes, LORN and Toolbox learning objects and consider the customisation approaches ( technical tools and techniques and teaching strategies) available to help you discover, select and deploy Toolbox and LORN learning resources to best meet your student’s needs.

Customisation Ideas, stories and creative approaches

The session will showcase LORN and Toolbox learning objects and explore the ways in which teachers and trainers customise them using specific tools and approaches that are easily applied across a range of subjects and learners. You will be surprised at some of the particularly creative approaches that make reusing learning objects a valuable e-learning strategy :
· adding interactivity using emerging Web 2.0 applications, audio files and ARED objects.
· Deploying multiple learning objects to sequence learning for particular student needs
· LORN is rapidly expanding – search and discover and expanded range of learning objects
· Tools, techniques and approaches to customisation explained!

Come along and gather ideas and get inspired in the use and reuse of learning objects as your main e-learning strategy.

When
8am – 9.30am, Tuesday, September 22nd
Where
Computer Lab B107, B Block
Southside Campus CIT
Cnr Ainsworth Ave and Hindmarsh Drive
Phillip, ACT.

Please Register by contacting Helen Lynch on 6207 4031 by Monday, September 21st or email helen.lynch@cit.act.edu.au

e-gems web conferencing

Copyright online and media rich digital resources

Monday 21 September


The internet allows teachers and trainers to develop diverse, media rich resources for teaching and learning. But will you be able to use and share these resources in your education and training? And did you know that Creative Commons can enable you to do this, while maintaining copyright?


This session will look at where you should go online to get your music, images and videos and how where you go impacts on whether you can legally use it or share it. Knowing the best places to get your learning resources will help you get the most from them.

The session will cover:
· The basics of copyright
· Copyright secrets for teaching and training in the online environment
· Creative Commons and Free for Education – What are these regimes and how do you use them?
· Which sites provide adaptable, easy to use learning resources?
· Obligations and limitations surrounding your newly created learning resources

The session will draw on case studies and practical examples to show how copyright obligations and limitations apply to teaching and training in the online realm.

Presenter:
As the Framework’s Copyright Officer, Vanessa Tuckfield provides expert policy advice on copyright/intellectual property for the vocational education and training system and maintains the Copyright Kitchen online resource. She also works at the Canberra Institute of Technology, providing advice on copyright issues, and teaching copyright to music and media students.

Date: Monday 21 September 2009
When: 12:30pm – 1:30pm AEST
Where: http://tinyurl.com/egems-copyright
Full URL for session (copy the complete link):
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=675&password=M.9D900997D71B0D3FD61D527CDBE195

Volunteering Australia

Volunteering Australia invites all volunteers and not for profit organisations that involve volunteers to participate in the 2009 National Survey of Volunteering Issues.

Complete survey:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nbfcT1LZQj5VlGBuTORGbQ_3d_3d

Please distribute this link widely to your networks and volunteers.

The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and is open until 30 October. You are able to save your responses and return to the survey if you do not complete it.

National VET Equity Advisory Council

The National VET Equity Advisory Council (NVEAC) has been established by the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) to provide high level advice to training ministers on equity issues in the national training system.

The NVEAC is a single layer advisory body which will focus on supporting all those learners in the training system who are experiencing barriers to achieving successful outcomes. Recognising that many clients in the VET system experience multiple disadvantage, the new Council will identify shared priorities for all equity groups, while continuing to build on the work of the former National VET Advisory Alliance and the three National VET Advisory Taskforces (for Indigenous Australians, people with a disability and equity students.)

The Council held its inaugural meeting on Thursday 13 August 2009 at the Marriot Hotel in Melbourne. To read more about this meeting and NVEAC future activities go to http://www.nveac.tvetaustralia.com.au to access the latest NEWS.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Press Release

APPRENTICES - TIME TO INVEST IN NEW INCENTIVES

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the time is now right for industry and government to develop additional incentives to employers to encourage the employment and retention of apprentices. With the Australian economy growing, investment in apprenticeships is a down-payment today to meet the skills needs of tomorrow’s economic recovery. Figures released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research show a significant drop during the March quarter in the number of employers taking on an apprentice compared to the same time last year. Comparing apprentice commencements for the March quarter 2009 with the March quarter 2008, the number of new commencements of a trade apprenticeship decreased by 22%.

NCVER Statistics Report

To download a copy of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Apprentices and trainees, March quarter 2009 visit http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2179.html

Broadband for Seniors

JENNY MACKLIN MP
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services
and Indigenous Affairs

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, today unveiled the first of the Australian Government’s free internet kiosks for seniors at the Melbourne Legacy Club.

Under the Australian Government’s Broadband for Seniors initiative, $15 million is being invested over three years to install up to 2000 kiosks across the country.

Forty-two kiosks are already operating, with many in regional and rural areas. Over the coming months hundreds of kiosks will be online across the country.

People aged 50 and over will be better connected to family, friends and the technological age with free computer training and internet access available across Australia.

Only one in five Australians over the age of 65 years currently uses the internet.

Many older Australians are missing out on the ease of staying in touch with family and friends online.

Broadband for Seniors will bring older Australians together to learn about computers and share their experiences, giving them the confidence to get online.

The kiosks are accessible to all seniors, including older citizens with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, through the use of specific language software and assistive technology.

The Australian Government, NEC Australia, Adult Learning Australia, the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association and the University of the Third Age Online are working together to provide this free service.

We are currently looking for more community organisations to host kiosks, including computers, a broadband internet service and training materials.

Community organisations who wish to be involved can call the Broadband for Seniors hotline on 1300 795 897 or visit www.necseniors.net.au for more information.

Live Broadband for Seniors kiosks

New South Wales
Dougherty Community Centre, Chatswood, NSW
Polish Association & Seniors Cabramatta, Canley Vale, NSW
Cynthia Street Neighbourhood Centre, Bateau Bay, NSW
Cooinda Aged Care, Coonabarabran, NSW
Tingha Regeneration Inc, Tingha, NSW
Mungindi CTC, Mungindi, NSW
CTC Bulahdelah, Bulahdelah, NSW
Catholic Care of the Aged, Port Macquarie, NSW
North Coast Computer Project, Macksville, NSW
Bowraville Technology Centre, Bowraville NSW
Boambee Gardens Estate, Sawtell, NSW
Sawtell Catholic Care of the Aged, Toormina, NSW
Lismore Neighbourhood Centre, Lismore, NSW
CPSA Dapto Seniors Club, Dapto, NSW
CTC Sussex Inlet, Sussex Inlet, NSW
Eden Community Access Centre, Eden, NSW
Delegate Progress Association, Delegate, NSW
Intereach Albury, Albury, NSW
Intereach Buronga, Buronga, NSW
Nepean Community College, Penrith, NSW
Narromine Community Services Centre, Narromine, NSW
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, Blackheath, NSW
Springwood Neighbourhood Centre, Springwood, NSW

Queensland
African Seniors Club, QLD
Logan Area Committee, Logan Central, QLD
North Lakes Retirement Resort, North Lakes, QLD
Pomona Community House, Pomona, QLD
Fancy That Op Shop, Gympie QLD
Tiaro District Community Centre Inc, Tiaro, QLD
Hervey Bay Senior Citizens Club, Hervey Bay, QLD

South Australia
John Martin House, North Plymton, SA
Aldinga Community Centre, Aldinga Beach, SA

Victoria
Melbourne Legacy Club, Melbourne, VIC
Melita Social Club, Coburg, VIC
Watsonia Neighbourhood House, Watsonia, VIC
Ocean Grove Senior Citizens Centre, Ocean Grove, VIC
Anglesea & Aireys Inlet Senior Citizens Club, Anglesea, VIC
U3A Sunraysia, Mildura, VIC
Emerald Evergreens Senior Citizens, Emerald, VIC
Golden Beach Community Hall, Golden Beach, VIC

Western Australia
Manjimup Public Library, Manjimup, WA
Greenbushes Telecentre Inc, Greenbushes, WA

ARED version 2.1

Build your own interactive learning exercises with ARED version 2.1

(Applications for Rapid E-learning Development)

The Australian Flexible Framework (Framework) provides e-learning professional development opportunities (e-pd) to assist local RTOs in embedding e-learning in VET delivery for the ACT community.

On Friday 11 September 2009, the Framework’s ACT E-learning Coordinator Moir Holmes is running an e-tools workshop on building your own interactive learning exercises with the newly released version 2.1 of ARED.

The ARED version 2.1 tool helps practitioners with little more than basic computer skills, to easily build their own learning exercises. The e-tools workshop will show you how to add your own content to one of ARED’s six e-learning templates and how you can develop engaging
e-learning resources for delivery via CD-ROM, website or learning management system.

Time: 8.30am – 10.30am

Location: CIT Bruce Campus, room number to be provided upon registration.

To register email: kate.whittaker@cit.act.edu.au by Wednesday 9 September 2009 to secure your free place. Places are limited for this event and priority will be given to VET teachers from an RTO.

Further information: Practitioners currently using ARED should uninstall their old version and download the new version.

The e-tools workshops are free hands-on morning workshops which enable VET practitioners to use e-learning tools and resources to create engaging learning content.

BROADBAND FOR SENIORS

JENNY MACKLIN MP
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs


TRANSCRIPT
Doorstop
Melbourne Legacy Club
3 September 2009

JOURNALIST: Minister, how many of these internet kiosks are we looking at around the country?

JENNY MACKLIN: There’s going to be around 2,000 of these internet kiosks around Australia. About 42 have already been set up in different parts of the country, some in country towns, some in our suburbs, already up and running and are providing a wonderful service to older Australians so that they can get online and keep connected.

JOURNALIST: How important is it to I guess use this resource for them?

JENNY MACKLIN: This is a great way for older Australians to keep connected, keep connected with their families and friends who might have moved interstate. For many, many older people that I’ve spoken to who are already online, it’s a wonderful way for them to keep their interests. Whether it’s in genealogy, many older Australians are keen to look back and understand where their families come from; whether it’s to belong to clubs online. The whole range of different ways that older Australians are already very active with computers, this is going to make it easier for them.

JOURNALIST: How do you think that this will help where as previous ways haven’t before? Why do you think that this is a better way of reaching out to older Australians?

JENNY MACKLIN: This is just another way to make sure that we keep older Australians active and connected with their communities. It’s a way of bringing them into their senior citizens’ clubs or their local community clubs. We know that for many younger Australians, this is just the ordinary way of communicating. Being online, sending emails, and now being able to do that to grandma and grandpa is another way that I think families are going to be able to keep connected.

JOURNALIST: How hard is it going to be for some of these older Australians who may never have even turned on a computer?

JENNY MACKLIN: I think as Mrs Rush has shown us here today anyone can learn. It doesn’t matter how old you are. She’s, I hope she doesn’t mind, over 100, and she’s here today at Legacy to show that she’s ready to learn.

JOURNALIST: Do you think that a lot of older people get a bit lost, you know, it’s all a bit over their heads when they hear their grandkids talking about this stuff?

JENNY MACKLIN: Well I know that when I talk to older Australians many of them are really keen to learn, and we’re already seeing with the setting up of these kiosks many people who haven’t previously gone on to a computer, like Mrs Rush, are keen to do so.

JOURNALIST: Do you think there’s anything left to learn at the age of 103?

JENNY MACKLIN: There’s always plenty to learn. It doesn’t matter how old you are, there’s always something new to learn and the wonderful thing about being online is that this makes it easier.

JOURNALIST: And what about the training? Because obviously a lot of older Australians might feel a bit tentative about these sorts of things if they don’t feel that they’ve got enough support, that it might all become a bit too confusing for them?

JENNY MACKLIN: That’s what is good about NEC joining up with University of the Third Age online, so there’s different organisations that older people already belong to, feel comfortable with. We’re setting them up in clubs like Senior Citizens’ Clubs where people feel relaxed and comfortable. They’re going to learn from each other as well. There’s older Australians who are already good at the computer and I think that will make people feel more relaxed.

Enhanced LORN

LORN, the vocational education and training (VET) system’s gateway to online training resources, was officially launched last week at the 2009 ACPET national conference in Canberra.

LORN provides a one-stop-shop for practitioners and training providers to access the latest in education and training resources, drawing on state and national repositories from across Australia.

LORN has been enhanced with a suite of new features, including:
· My LORN: visitors to the site can now register and create their own personalised space, which allows them to:
- download free learning objects and return to their personalised learning object list at any time
- create a shortlist or ‘wish list’ of learning objects for future download
- manage their profile, including personal information and password.
· Enhanced search functionality: learning objects can now be browsed by discipline, keywords, competency, licence, type and collection.

Speaking at the ACPET conference, LORN Business Manager, Kim Edgar, said the new LORN had proved extremely popular with test site users and was now being rolled out throughout VET.

“Through a simple three-step process, LORN users can access and download online training resources that meet their organisation’s needs. Training can be customised by mixing and matching resources from different national, state and territory repositories.

“LORN saves training providers time and money, by allowing them to share resources rather than having to develop their own. My LORN gives users even more control over their use of LORN for education and training development,” she said.

In the future LORN will be enhanced with a new ‘My purchases’ section which will allow users to purchase from multiple sources at the same time and to manage their purchases through LORN.
All LORN resources comply with nationally agreed standards so training providers can use them in a variety of learning management systems.

To check out the enhanced site, visit: http://lorn.flexiblelearning.net.au

Pharmacy Self Care in ALW

Community pharmacies that are members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s
Pharmacy Self Care program are this week getting behind Adult Learners’ Week
through educational material and fact sheets available from the pharmacies.

Adult Learners' Week in Australia, which runs until 8 September, is part of an
international festival of adult learning designed to highlight and promote the thousands
of opportunities to learn as an adult.

Acting President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said it was never too late for consumers to
learn about their health and how to use their medicines properly and one of the most
accessible places to begin this journey of learning was at their local pharmacy.

“Community pharmacists are highly trained and respected members of the health-care
profession and their accessibility means that if you want to learn more about your
health, you can walk in off the street for advice and literature which may help,” Mr
Kardachi said.

“The PSA has in place the Pharmacy Self Care program which boasts more than 1700
pharmacies as members. The program integrates a consumer health information
component with the provision of a pharmacy staff program of evidence-based, peerreviewed
education. It also has a strong focus on the quality use of medicines.

“What this means is that not only are the consumer able to learn more about their health
through the advice, literature and Fact Cards provided by Pharmacy Self Care
pharmacies, but the staff have extra training and resources to help them.”

Mr Kardachi said the pharmacists’ role in self care involved helping consumers to learn
more about, and take more active control of, their health by offering relevant and timely
information, therapeutic advice, and effective products and medicines in the area of
preventive health care, wellness maintenance, minor ailments and chronic disease.

“The program was launched across Australia some 22 years ago which makes it the
most successful and longest-running professional support program in pharmacy in the
country,” Mr Kardachi said.

“One of the foundations of the program is a wide-ranging series of more than 80 Fact
Cards which help you and pharmacy staff learn more about certain aspects of your
health and wellbeing, and how to use medicines properly.

“Adult Learners’ Week is a great opportunity for consumers to come in and start learning
more about their health and how they can manage it.”

Education kit to enhance the skills of exporters

To enhance Australia's export culture and assist future business leaders' knowledge on doing business in global markets, the Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, Anthony Byrne, will launch a tertiary education kit at Chisholm Institute of TAFE, Berwick. Austrade's 'Journey to International Business' education resource is aimed to provide teachers with the tools to equip students with the knowledge and skills to analyse a business' export potential, research suitable markets and how to enter the market. The world of international business is a demanding one, and we want to empower educators, through this booklet, to teach practical ways to succeed in international business, Mr Byrne said.

Indigenous Training Strategy in WA

The participation of Aboriginal people in skilled employment, particularly at local and regional levels, is the focus of a State Government initiative announced today. Training Minister Peter Collier launched ‘Training together - working together’ to increase the number of Aboriginal people in training for ongoing employment in Western Australia. Mr Collier also announced the ‘Training together - working together’ sub-committee of the State Training Board, which includes employers, registered training providers and government agencies who will lead the initiative.

E-learning thrives in adult learning

Commencing today, Adult Learners’ Week 2009 will promote and celebrate the benefits of all forms of adult learning – in the home, at work and in the community – and will highlight the many delivery options available.

Last year’s Australia-wide E-learning Benchmarking Survey – conducted by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) – highlighted some impressive results for adult and community education (ACE). The results suggested the sector is well on the way to adopting e-learning practices to meet the demands of learners and practitioners.

The survey found that the uptake of e-learning in ACE is on par with schools and ahead of private registered training organisations (RTOs). ACE practitioners were also extremely positive about the impact of e-learning on their teaching and training, and on learner experiences.

In fact, there are some exciting examples of e-learning being used within ACE which give learners control over the time, place and content of their learning.

Coonara Community House is a small, Melbourne-based RTO which has used wikis (an online tool for sharing information and collaborating with other learners) to deliver a Certificate III in Community Work to a learner group made up predominately of return-to-work mums.

Through their own private wiki, each learner creates an e-portfolio using technologies such as podcasts, blogs and digital storytelling to produce an electronic record of their skills and work experience. This benefits learners in a number of ways.
The use of technology builds their IT skills, making them more marketable to employers. The interactive nature of the wikis encourages a more engaging and beneficial type of learning, and enables learners to better engage with future employers. The e-portfolio also enables learners to apply for RPL (recognition of prior learning), using previous experience to qualify for AQTF (Australian Quality Training Framework) recognised units of training.

For mature age Australians, the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA), which has clubs in every state of Australia, is supporting members to learn through a number of technologies, with the aim of making technology accessible and fun.

Some of ASCCA’s members are unable to travel to attend training, due to a lack of public transport or incapacitation. However, to allow them to actively participate in society, they require basic training to keep pace with new technologies. These skills help them to keep in touch with their families and community, improving their quality of life.

ASCCA is currently investigating the use of the web conferencing technology, Elluminate, to teach mature age learners computer basics in the comfort of their own home. Through Elluminate, trainers can train learners in skills such as sending an email, browsing the internet and using Skype, plus other popular computer subjects such as word processing, digital photography and genealogy.

Elluminate allows teachers and trainers to interact better with their learners, tailoring training to the skill level of each learner. Training can involve demonstrating the technologies on each individual’s computer screen, and learners are able to practice in a non threatening environment.

Last year, the Byron Region Community College (BRCC) used e-learning to improve the Byron Shire Council’s (BSC) environmental sustainability. They worked to move the organisation from paper-based to online communication by developing employees’ skills in video, audio and the uploading and sharing of information in an online environment.

As a result, BSC staff used their new skills to create an interactive online induction kit for new employees, which encouraged greater interaction in the induction process, and reduced the organisation’s carbon footprint.

In 2009, the BRCC has received further funding and support from the Framework to develop e-learning resources for three new units of the Business Services Training Package, designed to develop ‘green skills’ within organisations.

The Framework also researched the ACE sector in its commissioned E-learning for the mature aged worker report, which produced three case studies of e-learning in practice. These can be found in the E-learning for the mature aged worker: Case studies document at flexiblelearning.net.au/research

With such a rich source of e-learning programs being investigated and implemented in ACE, there is a need for the sector to communicate their learnings to each other and more widely within education and training.

The Framework recently released an enhanced website, flexiblelearning.net.au, which allows practitioners to learn from each other, share ideas, and ensure they aren’t continuing to reinvent the e-learning wheel.

Through the use of blogs, shared networks, communities of practice and the ability for anyone to upload relevant e-learning material to the site, the Framework aims to provide a one-stop hub for people working in e-learning.

Practitioners can also sign-up for the Framework’s e-newsletter, Flex e-News, for a monthly update of news and trends in e-learning (flexiblelearning.net.au/flexenews). E-learning Coordinators are available in each state and territory to provide localised support in using and implementing e-learning.