Industry sectors, in partnership with a registered training organisation (RTO), can apply for $75,000 in Industry Integration of E-learning funding and support for 2010.

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), is providing the funding to help one new industry sector meet workplace skills needs through the use of e-learning.
The successful industry sector will need to:

• be in a position to begin its proposed plan at the end of February 2010
  
• develop a two year plan, although funding for 2010 only is available at this stage.

Funding submissions for the remaining industry sector close at 12.00 noon (AEDST) Monday 15 February 2010.

For more information, including selection criteria, download the 2010 Industry Guidelines .
Commencing in 2008 and 2009, nine industry sectors have received ongoing funding and support to embed e-learning in workplace development. These industry sectors will receive continued combined funding of $575,000 in 2010.
Case studies of the funded industry sectors are available:

• dairy and stainless steel industries
  
• housing and child and family welfare industry sectors
  
• aviation industry.

If you would like to discuss your application, please contact:

• Jenny Dodd, Industry Integration of E-learning Business Manager, on (02) 6207 4955 or jenny.dodd@cit.act.edu.au

• Kerry Manikis, Industry Integration of E-learning Senior Project Officer, on (02) 6207 6267 or kerry.manikis@cit.act.edu.au

For information about E-learning for Industry visit the website: http://industry.flexiblelearning.net.au. This website provides rich resources, such as the online Practical guide to e-learning for industry where employers can discover how to make e-learning work in their business. You can also access the 2009 Guidelines for supporting learners using e-learning in workplaces report which investigates a range of e-learning strategies used by businesses that have received Framework funding over the past few years.

Western Australian registered training organisations (RTOs) can apply for a share of $ 566,300 in funding to develop innovative e-learning solutions and better support the training needs of WA business and industry.

E-learning Innovations funding and support, provided by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework ( Framework ), will be awarded to RTOs based on their ability to:

• support business-training provider partnerships that can drive the integration of e-learning into business and training
• empower learners through projects which target the needs of individuals in the community or existing and future students of the RTO.

Projects will need to align with key WA training priorities including:

• i ncreasing and improving the provision of RPL (recognition of prior learning)
• increasing delivery of higher level qualifications
• engaging Indigenous and young learners
• supporting regional communities
• developing innovative and new models of workplace delivery and assessment.

Applicants are encouraged to build on existing Framework e-learning infrastructure when developing e-learning solutions, such as Flexible Learning Toolbox (Toolbox) learning objects, e-standards, resources, guidelines and professional networks.

WA’s funding is part of the $5.3 million allocated to E-learning Innovations nationwide in 2010. Funding is provided on a pro-rata basis to each state and territory to encourage the development of flexible training solutions that equip RTOs, business and industry to respond to the training needs of Australian businesses and workers.

In 2008 and 2009, 30 WA projects were supported by the Framework to embed innovative e-learning solutions. Two case examples are detailed below:

Embedding e-learning at Central Institute of Technology

In 2007, Central Institute of Technology (formerly Central TAFE) made a commitment that in three years they wanted to embed e-learning within their organisation, improving online delivery and enhancing support for those learners engaged in e-learning.

E-learning Innovations funding was used in 2008 to develop a new e-learning facilitation model which provided a template to train current and future online facilitators. This training included guidelines on developing and updating online courses; as well as timing, delivery methods, expectations and staff requirements for a successful e-learning program.

The project produced an enthusiastic cohort of teaching staff providing their learners with a range of e-learning services in a consistent way. Teachers are using wikis, new course development, social media, audio recording, vodcasting and podcasting to better connect with their learners.

The success of the project led Central to develop an e-learning program for public relations students, after receiving further E-learning Innovations funding in 2009.

Environmental sustainabilit-e online

Not-for-profit organisation, Great Gardens, used e-learning to increase delivery of their sustainable land management program. In its initial phase, Great Gardens used e-learning to supplement and support the delivery of face-to-face workshops, which included redeveloping the Great Gardens website and resulted in a 35% increase in site usage.

The free revamped site comprised a series of short gardening instructional videos; a soil search database; Ning software to create a social network (currently more than 300 members); and e -business services including an online events calendar and an electronic booking system where users can see upcoming workshop dates, and book in to attend.

Due to the success of the project, RTO Skills Strategies International has continued to work with Great Gardens to extend their adoption of e-learning.

Refer to the WA E-learning Innovations Team Profiles to access information on all past projects.

Online applications open 1 February 2010, and a Word version of the application form is currently available to use as a working document in preparation for completing the online application. Applications close on Tuesday 2 March 2010 and the successful applicants will be notified from Friday 26 March.

All applicants are encouraged to contact the Framework’s WA Innovations Coordinator, Diane McLaren, by phone: (08) 9319 5516 or email: diane.mclaren@trainingwa.wa.gov.au to discuss project ideas.

For more information, read the 2010 WA E-learning Innovations Guidelines for Applicants .

A face to face information session will be held at WestOne Services (1 Prospect Place, West Perth) on Thursday 18 February, 2010A face to face information session will be held at WestOne Services (1 Prospect Place, West Perth) on Thursday 18 February, 2010 A face to face information session will be held at WestOne Services (1 Prospect Place, West Perth) on Thursday 18 February, 2010 A free information session for people interested in WA E-learning Innovations funding will be held from 10am to 2pm on Thursday 18 February at WestOne Services. An online information session (using Elluminate) will be held from 10am to 12noon on Friday 19 February. Please email epd.westone@trainingwa.wa.edu.au to register your interest in attending and indicate your preference for either the face-to-face or online session.

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

Funding available for a variety of e-learning activities

The Australian Government and state and territory ministers have approved $15 million to implement the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), in 2010. Business activities are set out in the 2010 Framework Business Plan, which has been developed in the broader context of the 2008–2011 Framework Strategy.

Click here to for more information.

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), today received the green light to continue its work in driving the uptake, use and embedding of e-learning within the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system.

In 2010, the Framework will provide more than $7 million in funding opportunities to registered training organisations (RTOs) and businesses that have the ability to:

• trial emerging technologies to inform e-standards ($100,000)
• conduct implementation trials for e-portfolios ($25,000)
• produce further Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) ($1.1m)
• continue multiple year funding for nine industry sectors, plus fund one new industry sector ($650,000)
• develop innovative e-learning solutions in their state/territory through E-learning Innovations projects ($5.3m).

Click here to view the full article

The annual e-learning end-of-year events, hosted by each state and territory through November and December, are over for another year.

The events brought together e-learning experts and novices from the vocational education and training (VET), community and business sectors to share insights and know-how on the latest e-learning resources, networks, trends and issues, including:

• The low-down on social media tools, learning management systems and emerging technologies that support engaging and flexible training and assessment. This included Facebook, Flickr, Moodle, blogs, wikis, podcasts, web conferencing, Second Life, Twitter, point-of-view camera glasses, Nintendo Wii, interactive whiteboards and digital pens.
• Using e-learning to engage specific learner groups, including remote and Indigenous learners, and learners with a disability.
• Tools and strategies for managing issues such as copyright for the digital classroom, RPL (recognition of prior learning), auditing and e-assessment.
• Getting started in e-learning using key Framework tools such as LORN, Flexible Learning Toolboxes, ARED, e-portfolios and the QTImPlayer.
• Hints and tips from 2008 and 2009 E-learning Innovations projects, including the opportunity to get up close and personal with those responsible for some of Australia’s most innovative e-learning examples.  

View the full article.

Eleven new Toolboxes have been developed in 2009 to support the following Training Packages:

Construction, Plumbing & Services; Property Services; Health; Electrotechnology; Forest and Forest Products; Retail Services; Training and Assessment; Community Services and Business Services.

Click here to find out more about each of the Series 12 Toolboxes

So far, 12.10 Training and Assessment E-learning electives, 12.11 Cybertots and 12.12 Small Business Management have been released and the rest will follow shortly.

Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) are high quality, cost effective interactive e-learning and assessment resources featuring scenarios, images and activities. They are designed for use by training providers, industry and business and support online delivery of recognised training packages for the vocational education and training sector.

Toolbox materials come in two formats:

• an integrated learning program incorporating a number of units of competency. These programs are available on a CD-ROM for installation on a server or for use on a stand-alone computer.
• a learning object format allowing users to download smaller self-contained components of content for free. Learning objects generally support an element or unit of competency.

Flexible Learning Toolboxes provide you with options to attract new learners and markets with online resources at a fraction of their development cost.

Online09 – E–learning by Design, will be held on Friday 20th November 2009 at Cliftons and the Parmelia Hilton. The keynote speaker, Cathy Moore, has been creating lively, clear instructions for almost 25 years. Cathy started out as a trainer and technical writer for PC users before moving into adult distance education. Since 1998, she has been designing and writing for online learners.

Hands–on workshops and presentations will be held throughout the day with local and interstate presenters including Frankie Forsyth, Sue Waters, and successful 2009 Innovation Projects.

The conference is a grand opportunity to network, learn and share!

Janice, Cheryl and myself will all be presenting - we hope to see you there!

Link - Online09 E-learning by Design

It’s tempting to view e-learning as simply a quick and efficient way to present information, but we can harness far more of its potential by using it to design activities which allow learners to practice new knowledge in a safe, online environment.  

In a recent interview for The Knowledge Tree e-journal, Cathy drew on her extensive experience as a trainer and e-learning designer to provide insight into how training providers and businesses can strengthen their e-learning design, delivering the most effective possible experience for learners.

Click here to view the full article.

In Edition 19 of The Knowledge Tree, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework e-journal, Elliott Masie who co-invented the term ‘e-learning’ makes a few predictions about e-learning – and offers some advice for teachers – for the next five years:

• Video in learning will increase exponentially. While reading will never go away, we will see a significant rise in the use of video, both edited and also live video-conference formats, to shift e-learning to a watching and listening mode, rather than just reading and writing.

• Failing forward will be key. Much of e-learning is way too easy. Our next generation of learners wants to be significantly challenged when playing a video game. They want to fail the first few levels. Learning should increase the challenge, competition and the ability for our learners to “fail their way to success”.

• Evidence-based research on pedagogy is needed. We desperately need to have more evidence about what teaching and learning styles work most effectively for what types of content – and with which types of learners. This micro level of evidence is needed to be able to hone and target the future of e-learning.

• Collaboration and social learning moves forward. We will invent new models of how learners can learn from and with each other. These will include more use of ratings, peer teaching, project-based learning and structured competition/collaborative learning.

Elliott also says: "Finally, as the person ‘accused’ of helping to introduce the term e-learning, I have one hope: that we drop the ‘e’. Let’s just assume that learning in the future will always make the best use of online resources, digital collaboration and interaction between learners and teachers. The ‘e’ should evolve to be about ‘excellent learning’ that naturally uses these traditional and emerging modalities."

Click here http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2009/ to read Edition 19 of The Knowledge Tree or more of the article, Defining the 'e' in e-learning, which takes readers on a journey from e-learning’s humble beginnings to current global practices and future possibilities.