Robyn Jay, National Award for Outstanding Contribution
Robyn Jay receives her award from the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training
Five movers and shakers were recently honoured with the 2005 Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy and/or Numeracy. ‘These awards recognise the personal commitment and outstanding achievement of five individuals who have worked to improve literacy and/or numeracy skills in their community.’
Robyn Jay of NSW, is one of these deserving recipients of the award. She adds this to her list of recent achievements: winner of the General Excellence section in the 2004 Women in Vocational Education (WAVE) Writers Awards, a recipient of the Flexible Learning Leaders scholarship and a published article ‘Rethinking models of Literacy Provision for the 21st Century’ in the e-journal of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.
Robyn ‘initiated and led research and professional development projects to explore innovative uses of technology in adult education. Her research has challenged and equipped teachers to integrate new technologies into their teaching programmes, gain qualifications, and break down information technology barriers to enrich teaching practice and opportunities for learners,’ says the Minister’s website. She set up and facilitated an online network for adult literacy practitioners capitalising on online facilities such as voice chat. This enabled educators from even remote areas across Australia to connect with each other, learn about elearning and adult literacy, and access professional development opportunities with their peers and mentors.
In her quiet and unassuming manner, Robyn’s leadership, influence and expertise in the field of elearning and digital story telling is highly valued as she enthuses and motivates teachers and trainers nationally to look at new ways of engaging students in the learning environment. Her extensive post-graduate studies across a number of disciplines including elearning, adult literacy, numeracy and ESL have ensured she maintains current knowledge and demonstrate her own personal commitment to continual and lifelong learning in a rapidly changing global learning environment.
And ICVET is proud to announce that Robyn joined our team this year. In the short time she has been with ICVET, Robyn has demonstrated excellence in her capacity to share her wealth of experience and knowledge across TAFE and other VET sectors in her role as a LearnScope Project Officer.
Prior to joining TAFE, Robyn worked with many small businesses and the Adult and Community Education sector in the North Coast, where she still lives, and assisted in moving staff ‘gently’ into communicating, assessing, moderating and participating in professional development via e-technology rather than being dependant on face-to-face support. This approach has brought students and teachers, who were once geographically and professionally isolated, together. She is cognisant of the barriers and dynamics required of elearners (both teachers and students) to ensure that practitioners feel comfortable in using a very different medium of communication. Robyn has the capacity to blend a strong theory base into practical and understandable applications resulting in quality teaching and learning environments.
Congratulations Robyn on your achievements, and this well deserved award!
See also
2005 Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy and/or Numeracy
Literacy
Link Vol 5 No 24 October 2005
