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THE LEARNING POWERHOUSE:
Sustaining the Spark
         Friday, 10 August 2007

   

Showcases of Excellence

Each showcase created an interactive learning space between showcase presenters and conference participants about:

The Strength of the Triangle

Michelle Tierney-Elliot, Co Project Manager/Facilitator TAFE NSW Hunter Institute, Ourimbah Campus
Kate Johnson, Welfare Teacher TAFE NSW Hunter Institute, Newcastle Campus

The triangle is the strongest shape; it has excellent capacity for load bearing. Ancient Egyptians used it in a three dimensional form to build pyramids, Abraham Maslow (1943) A Theory of Human Motivation, used it to identify and explain his theory of Human Hierarchy of Needs. The project being showcased recognises the three way relationship in training between relevant industry, student/clients and trainers/assessors.
Understanding the relationships can enhance the learning and assessment for all three stakeholders and allows for shared knowledge using e-learning tools across general groups and industry specific learning groups. Each industry area has Assessor/ Trainers, Industry Representatives and Clients/Students investigating multi media tools such as pod casting, wikis, blogs, video conferencing, digital storytelling, smart board technology, web cam and Adobe Connect platforms for continuity of use within training, assessing and industry workplaces.The project has encouraged skill sharing relating to e-learning for all team members in a range of industry areas such as Community Services, Biological Sciences - Dental, Massage and Fitness and Children’s Services.

Accessible e-Learning technologies

Janet Bailey, Library Manager Petersham College TAFE NSW Sydney Institute
Kimberley Jessel, Librarian Petersham College TAFE NSW Sydney Institute
Shery Minasian, Librarian Ultimo Collect TAFE NSW Sydney Institute

A team of Sydney Institute Library staff used accessible e-Learning technologies to produce digital stories & enhanced PowerPoint presentations, as part of a TOL2 Project – Effective Learning Resource Management.

The digital ‘learning objects produced will be made widely available to TAFE staff by housing them in a Learning Reference Repository (LRR), such as TaLe. The project enhanced skills of all staff so that they can support teachers in adopting emerging technologies for e-Learning.

The Showcase will share our knowledge and successes by demonstrating the technologies, digital products & the LRR.

Interactive RPL & Workplace Learning

Natasha Bobic, Gricel Mendez, Anne Maley, Kate Appleton, Teachers Social and Community Services, TAFE NSW South Western Sydney Institute, Granville College

This showcase will enable delegates to experience a range of interactive tools that Granville
Social & Community Services have used in the implementation of RPL in Certificate IV in Community Services and Work-based assessment.

The focus of the showcase is interactive in nature. It, outlines our use of
Learning Management Systems (EdNA & Janison), pod casting, Personal Data Assistants (PDA’s). The
development of online resources in our delivery and feedback from students and industry
Partners are also featured. Presenters will assist delegates who will be able to test our EdNA Sandpit. EdNA Sandpit is used in the RPL process in Certificate IV in Community Services and our distance based Certificate IV in Employment Services.

It is hoped that delegates will appreciate some of the advantages and challenges that our section has encountered in developing an innovative approach to RPL and work-based assessment.

WorldSkills Australia our country’s premier showcase of youth skill and trade excellence

Heather Knights, Events Co-ordinator Workskills Australia
Sarah Larsen, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Workskils Australia

WorldSkills Australia is a not for profit organisation which conducts trade and skill competitions to challenge young people to achieve work skill excellence. Through strong networks with government, training organisations, industry and the community, we have been able to achieve incredible results by directly encouraging more than 45,000 young people to achieve excellence in a trade or skill career.

WorldSkills Australia is our country’s premier showcase of youth skill and trade excellence. Through a program of internationally aligned competitions we work to ensure that today’s young people have the skills and abilities to compete within the rapidly changing global marketplace.

Spark plugs

Sue Eriksson, Organisational Learning Co-ordinator TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute
Allsion Ford, Teacher Development Coordinator, NSI

This showcase looks at how two projects within NSI are plugging training gaps in much needed areas.
The first project involves the Meadowbank and Northern Beaches, Welfare and Sport and Recreation sections who have joined with peak bodies of the aged care and disability industries to set up a network to examine skill gaps for their staff.
One of the outcomes from the networks discussions has been the need to significantly customise the gap training to meet the specific skill needs of each staff menber. The success of this network, which began in 2006, is seen in its growth to a current membership of over 70 members and its growing influence and substantial lobby group for the industry.
The second project involves Tourism and Hospitality from Ryde (Northern Sydney Institute) who has formed a teaching and assessor network to collaborate with Sydney Institute and Western Sydney Institute. This project began in 2007 to prepare for a benchmarked, cohesive roll out of their new training packages in 2008. This partnership will support quality and consistency in delivery and content, and in assessment tools and processes.

International Society for Business - Australian Chapter

Maria D'Angelo, Head of Department TAFE NSW Riverina Institute Albury College
Prashil Singh, Team Leader, Wadonga TAFE

In May 2006 a successful bid for Reframing the Future funding allowed staff members from rival Institutions TAFENSW Riverina Institute, Albury Campus and Wodonga Institute of TAFE to form a team to establish a Business Educator Network for all teachers, trainers and facilitators of Business studies.
A major aim of the network was to hold forums to bring together all organizations that delivered training in the business studies areas with a view to sharing resources, teaching strategies and to forge networks, as well as mentoring and buddying.
Part of the team’s initiative was also to establish an Australian Chapter of the International Society for Business Educators to encourage further development of partnerships and networking with other business teachers globally. Locally, two highly successful, well represented forums have been held to dat. An Australian Chapter has been established and will come into formal operation from 1 July 2007. This showcase will focus on, how the network was established, the process used and how it can be used elsewhere and the benefits of being linked amd how to link to the Business Educator Network - Australian Chapter.

Library Partnerships

Lucy Hill, Manager TAFE Library Services, TAFE NSW
Jennifer Vaughan, Manager Library and Information Services Riverina Institute
Peter Maher, Mobile Library Officer, Western Institute

What is the most appropriate way to provide library services for the students and staff at a multi-sector educational campus and how do you provide a library service to your far flung customers when there is no building in which to house a collection or staff available? The answers to these questions are important to many TAFE students and teachers and are part of the reasons TAFE libraries develop partnerships with other library sectors to develop and provide services that meet these needs.
The Library Partnerships Showcase will highlight key benefits to our staff and students from such library partnerships and demonstrate entrepreneurial approaches to meeting the challenges. The showcase will include information about the many joint-use library services that operate across the state and feature scheduled tours of ‘MOLI’ so you can experience first hand the wonders of this mobile library service from the Western Institute.

Tools for Training Package delivery and compliance

Fraser Nelson, SkillsPro Project Officer, Manufacturing Engineering Construction and Transport TAFE NSW
Sam Formosa, Manager Technical Services, TAFE NSW MECAT

The introduction of Units of Competence and the notion of Competency Based Training have brought new dimensions in how work is defined, managed and assessed and concequently how many employees are trained, classified and paid to address Industry Award requirements. In addition other reforms such as the Australian Qualification Framework and Training Packages have challenged the status quo of how training and assessment is to be carried in VET. The amount of information and detail that teachers/educators have to absorb and comprehend can be overwhelming.

In response, the Manufacturing Engineering and Construction Curriculum Centre has developed a number of tools (software packages) that assist teachers to produce documentation that addresses areas such as RPL, Logbooks, Role Book inserts, Unit Sign-Offs etc. MEC&T will showcase Learning Plan and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Generator Tools for Training Packages from each Curriculum Centre. These tools allow the user to create learning plans and RPL documents that are compliant with the sometimes complex rules contained in training package policy documents and allow many other forms and reports relating to the created plan can be generated.

Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory - a recognition program

Lindy Wellsmore, A/Director Educational Delivery Primary Industries and Natural Resources, TAFE NSW Western Institute
Marianne Chaffe, Part-time Teacher Intensive Agriculture, TAFE NSW Western Institute

TAFE NSW Western Institute gained a contract to deliver a recognition program to the Thoroughbred Racing Industry in NT. The project is a partnership between CHARTTES (the industry advisory body), Thoroughbred Racing NT (as the industry governing body) and TAFENSW Western Institute. The target audience is 19 jockeys and 41 horse racing trainers located in Darwin and Alice Springs. The majority of participants have not achieved a qualification prior to this program and have been involved within the racing industry for 10 or more years. The session will outline the following:
why the project was proposed:

How VET Enhances Human Capital : 31 Examples

Suzy McKenna, National Project Director, Reframing the Future
Cheryl Bald, Senior Project Officer, Reframing the Future

This showcase will feature several NSW participants in Reframing the Future projects in 2006 that focussed on developing VET practitioners’ skills and knowledge in implementing the national training system in light of the COAG priorities and the National Reform Agenda. There will be opportunities to talk with NSW TAFE project convenors and discuss how professional development and change management methodologies can enable new practices in recognition, implementing training packages innovatively, forming and maintaining partnerships with industry and local communities and engaging in training and assessment in the workplace.

The latest publications from Reframing the Future will be available at the Showcase.

The State of Recognition

Charlie Higgs, TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute
Rhonda McLennan, Hunter Institute

Recognition has a high profile on the Council of Australian Government (COAG) Agenda and as a consequence the Federal and State governments have funded a number of major RPL Projects.

TAFE NSW is involved in the following COAG funded projects:
Virtual RPL website for DET and TAFE
Skills Express project for skills assessments in a range of trade areas
TAFE NSW Professional Development Project

This showcase will allow you to gain information about stage 1 of the TAFE NSW Professional Development Project called the 'State of Recognition'. Further information will also be available about issues surrounding recognition of prior learning (RPL) and procedures for the supporting, processing and assessing of your student applications.

HEALNet

Karyn O'Reilly, Head Teacher Nursing TAFE NSW, North Coast Institute

HEALNet is a uniquely Australian educational website for health professionals. It provides short one hour topics online, including interactive activities, which allow the health professional to study anytime, anywhere. Each topic is worth one education unit that can count towards yearly registration in their chosen profession. To obtain these education units, the health professional is required to successfully complete an assessment online and an evaluation form. They may then download and print their certificate to add to their professional portfolio.

The site has nearly 500 customers enrolled from every state in Australia with a few being from overseas. In 2006, HEALNet won the North Coast Institute Outstanding Achievement in Innovation Award and has recently been endorsed by the peak nursing educational body – The Royal College of Nursing Australia.

A Spreadsheet Toolbox for Games and Virtual Worlds

Dr Tom Benjamin, Senior Research Officer, Centre for Learning Innovation

This Showcase will demonstrate recent advances in spreadsheets that make possible interactive sheets suitable for use with interactive whiteboards, home computers, laptops, and even some of the more high-end mobile devices. These can form the basis for adventure games and quests or as an alternative way of presenting conventional maths/science exercises.

The Toolbox that will be shown consists of Control Box form tools, clip art human characters, special fonts, and modified Charts (ie- graphs). Taken together, these can produce the look and feel of virtual worlds without special programming, macro’s, or plug-ins.

Train-the-trainer assessments will also be demonstrated that allow teachers to rehearse the fairly basic skills they and their students will need to get full value out of the toolbox. All items are available for free download as they are largely from the public domain and office software to which teachers already have access.

Publishing eLearning Modules

Jonathon Finklestein, netLearn Learning Systems

In recent years, teachers have been exploring the delivery of academic content with multimedia and the Internet as a way of enhancing the learning experience through educational technologies. For teachers, elearning materials can liberate them from the time-consuming task of teaching foundation skills. This allows them to spend more quality time with each student and focus on integrating and extending their skills instead. For students, it allows them to engage in self-paced learning in or away from the classroom, affords them instantaneous feedback and can improve the quality and scope of the educational outcomes experienced by those studying at a distance.

TAFE Accreditation, Registration and Quality Services and AQTF 2007 (TARQS)

Ian Bevan, A/Manager Student and Course Administration, TARQS

TAFE Accreditation, Registration and Quality Services (TARQS) is responsible for managing systems and processes to support the TAFE NSW delegations to accredit courses and vary scope of registration. It provides support and advice on the national and state agenda. AQTF implementation, compliance requirements for the accreditation of courses and approval of Training Package qualifications for delivery in TAFE NSW. It is also responsible for the course information system and provides support for TAFE Educational Systems.

The unit is currently providing a range of professional development activities across TAFE NSW to assist in the transition from AQTF 2005 to AQTF 2007.