Toolboxes – what’s new, audit highlights and ‘champion’ services
The latest (Series 9) Toolbox previews are available!
Note! these are not completed products and large chunks of content may be missing. Completion dates are not known.
Patches for some Toolboxes (ie additions, corrections, enhancements, etc) are available, the latest being for 808 ‘TAA – eLearning Electives.’
Highlights from the 2005 Audit of NSW Toolbox usage
A Flexible Learning Toolbox is a collection of high quality resources, suggested learning strategies and supporting material to support online delivery of recognised training packages for vocational and technical education. These can be altered and customised by your RTO and copied freely for your staff and students.
Toolbox materials come in two formats:
- an integrated learning program incorporating a number of units of competency. These are available on CD-ROM for installation on a server or for use on a stand-alone computer.
- a learning object format – smaller self-contained components of content –freely available from the Toolbox Repository. Learning objects generally support an element or unit of competency.
Approximately 100 Toolboxes have been developed under funding of the Federal, State and Territory governments.
- The report shows a 19% increase in the usage of Flexible Learning Toolboxes by NSW learners from 2004 to 2005. Projected estimates for 2006 see a further increase of 32%.
- 15,760 NSW learners using Toolboxes in 2005 accounted for 42% of the national estimate.
- Private RTOs using Toolboxes increased 24% in 2004 – 2005, with a forecast increase of 40% in 2006. This equates to a 74% increase over three years.
- TAFE NSW learners numbered approximately 8000 and are expected to grow at a faster rate in 2006 than in previous years (ie 20%).
- In 2006, five new Toolboxes are being developed for the following industry areas:
- Community safety (Public Safety training package)
- Fabrication trade (Metal & Engineering training package)
- Food safety auditing (Food Processing training package)
- Employment services (Community Health & Services training package)
- Sales, mechanical, technology and vehicle body (Automotive Retail Service and Repair training package)
Workshops and Customisation
- There are now limited opportunities for scheduling any more face-to-face workshops for 2006. If you have any requirements for 2007 please discuss them with me.
- I am available for one hour Toolbox customisation demonstrations via online collaboration software such as Macromedia Breeze, Elluminate, DiscoverE or Bridgit. These all have technical and licensing requirements, so we would need to sort them out for each individual case.
NSW Toolbox Champion
Shane Dowd
Email
shane.dowd@tafensw.edu.au
Ph 02 6569 2008
Further details on the services I provide.
Toolbox Champions
The Champions are the ‘face’ of Toolboxes. Each State and Territory in Australia is supported by a Toolbox Champion - a service to assist Private RTOs, Industry bodies, TAFE, ACE and Schools in VET in the successful implementation of Flexible Learning Toolboxes.
What can they do for you?
- Organise and conduct professional development activities.
- Mentor teams wishing to implement Toolboxes, particularly for LearnScope projects.
- Provide advice about using the Toolboxes.
- Disseminate information and broker other types of support (eg customisation). Toolbox Champions are funded by the Flexible Learning Toolboxes Project.