The spark sustained!
Build on your foundations, persevere, aim high and work and share with your team were keys messages of the Learning Powerhouse 2007 Conference.
Without the support and enthusiasm shown by all involved - presenters, conversation facilitators, showcase exhibitors, sponsors, conference delegates, TAFE NSW, the ICVET team, the conference steering committee, contractors, students from Sydney Institute, service providers and supporters -the Learning Powerhouse Conference could not have been the great success that it was.
Nearly 600 delegates from across NSW gathered together to share teaching and learning practice and to gain a wider perspective of VET from TAFE practitioners and subject experts at the Learning Powerhouse 2007.
The three themes of workplace learning, partnerships and RPL were explored through the wide variety of engaging and informative presentations, facilitated conversations and the Showcases of Excellence. As with previous Learning Powerhouse conferences, this year’s event had a strong emphasis on learning through practical application, interaction and participation.
Resource:
Live video streaming of the theatre presentations ensured a wide conference audience. All sessions were audio recorded. Video's and podcasts are on the conference site. You will need to register to view the webcasts. Podcasts will be uploaded as they become available.
Setting the tone
On arrival we were greeted by an army of cheerful helpful students who are studying Events Management at Sydney Institute. Their role was to greet and help us 
work our way through the maze of corridors and rooms that made up the physical layout of events. This put a friendly, personal touch to the conference – fitting as personalising learning and assessment were key threads running throughout the sessions and showcases.
After the opening, the tone of the day was set with a fantastic address by Marie Persson, Deputy Director-General TAFE and Community Education. Marie’s address explored where we have come from in vocational education and TAFE NSW, where we are going and why, and the strengths we have to carry us through.
TAFE’s capacity for change and sustainability, was mirrored in the story of the conference site, the Australian Technology Park. This unique site was developed to build world class steam engines, in response to industry needs. Over time, it adapted to new technologies, such as diesel, and new demands. Vestiges of its origins remain in the beautiful old workshop buildings, the engines and tracks and traces of the smell of grease. But the site has undergone incredible change, transformed in function and purpose to reflect the change that has come with the industry requirements of the knowledge era. The metaphor was a clear reminder of the day’s themes.
Marie’s speech was moving and inspirational. I felt a sense of being part of something that was part of history and continuint to build for the future. It put current demands and responses by VET into perspective and gave me a metaphor for change I could relate to.
Conference participant
Marie’s final comments, in line with this image, were
“history teaches us the importance of reinventing our role to create our own future. Our challenge is to talk, listen and share and take that to others.
We are the future TAFE, the legacy is ours to invent”
click for Marie’s speech
Mark Callaghan, CEO, WorldSkills Australia, took a similarly historical approach in his keynote, taking the philosophy of WorldSkills back to the comments of a Roman emperor, and later, post-World War II rebuilding needs in Spain. Mark spoke about WorldSkills’ progression, its role in raising the status of vocational education and training, in benchmarking and promoting quality, and what is happening now in the regional lead up to this year’s WorldSkills event. The continued outstanding results of TAFE NSW students in WorldSkills is evidence of the world class nature of the work we do.
click for Mark's speech
Sharing knowledge
I enjoyed the buzz and movement around the showcases. They had a real purpose and offered the opportunity for real dialogue. There were people around them all day long, not just in breaks, which is different to a lot of conferences you go to.
Conference participant
The Showcases of Excellence were opened by Kim Fillingham, General Manager, TAFE Business. Delegates were invited to visit the showcases throughout the day and engage with fellow practitioners with something they were proud to share. This year there were 16 showcases presenting. They came from a wide range of areas and they were continuously busy with visitors and conversations.
Concurrent sessions following the plenary gave delegates a selection of quality learning activities. Just some of these included:
What you said about the sessions
"Lots of interaction and choice "
"brilliant concept – what is needed Australia
wide, very inspiring, inspiring an excellent team effort driven by the community"
"Informative, interactive and necessary"
"I learned some useful activities and new ideas to take back to staff "
"Learning how others are starting up their projects and the issues involved "
"Useful exercise which promoted extensive discussion"
RPL
- Unravelling RPL
- RPL in Australia
- Recognition champions
- Assessment, recognition and TAFE NSW AEET network
- Diploma of community welfare work recognition project
- RPL online network (RON)
Workbased learning and assessment
- Knowledge and workplace learning
- Effective employment based training models
- A model for workplace training
- Delivery of the new National TP for plant and heavy vehicle – all on the job
- Meat retailing and bakery apprentices – workplace delivery
Partnerships
- Automotive partnership in Sydney’s heartland
- Flexible training for family day care workers
- Striking a match – working with NSW Rural fire service in a rural partnership
- Malabugilmah: turning wastewater into resource water
- MyStory – a community approach to developing literacy, using digital technology
Other (eg technology in learning)
- Personal learning environments
- Wikkis educational tools
- Implementing life-based learning
- The learning object repository
- Converging ICT technologies and industry partnership
- Strength based approaches to capability development
- Learning competency and engagement that transcends time, place and culture
The grand finale – An Olympic Performance
And now for something (almost) completely different….
Dual Olympian and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Brennon Dowrick left a lasting impression with his dynamic presentation which incorporated his 9.9 Gold medal winning pommel horse routine. Brennan had us glued to our seats till a standing ovation. He illustrated, with funny and touching anecdotes from his career in gymnastics and his awesome skills on the pommel horse, his beliefs in the power of:
- Setting goals
- Knowing your strengths and your focus
- Build success on the foundations and strengths you have
- Team work being the key to individual and group success
What was different? The leaps on the pommel horse. Don’t try them at home.
What was the same? The messages, which apply to us all as individuals as an organisation.
Making connections
Mingling amongst Olympic gymnasts, conference presenters and TAFE NSW delegates, was a relaxing, happy experience. There was a lively buzz of conversation and good will that capped off a valuable and interesting day.
The SENSE-ational Cocktail and Networking Event provided a sociable venue to discuss learning, catch up with colleagues and make new contacts.
What’s the buzz?
Delegate feedback from the conference has been overwhelmingly positive. Delegates commented on the quality and value of the day and the renewed levels of inspiration and motivation the conference has provided.
“It was great to hear from real people on the ground, with people being proud of skills/knowledge etc willing to change”
“It was great to see the range of experience and skill we have to draw on”
“The format was excellent– lots of short sessions, lots of interaction was possible and there was much to choose from”
“It was great to see I’m not alone”
“All speakers were experts and passionate about their topics and left me feeling very motivated”
“I came away refreshed, positive, inspired, engaged and energised. ”
Finally, as with previous conferences, the most overwhelming feedback centred around the capacity to network and share.
What next?
Check out this conference edition of the Zine, explore the sessions through the videos and podcasts of sessions, the papers and slideshows linked from the conference website. Follow up with any presenters or showcasers to put new ideas into practice.
Spread the gains from the day to others – and build on the strengths we have as individuals, a team and an organisation.