Revewing the review year

2008 is screaming towards its end and it is a time to look at what has been achieved and consolidate the direction for 2009.

2008 has been a "bringing it all together year" for SSI. The early years (from the 90's on) were focussed on "train the trainer" to support delivery of traineeships. We branched into e-learning to combine with workplace learning and provide more flexibility for learners. As WE developed our skills and learned more we branched into provision of PD and implementing e-learning for other organisations and businesses.

In 2008 the emphasis has been on practicing what we preached. Interestingly the Flexible Learning Framework focussed on IMPLEMENTATION of e-learning and that was just what we had decided to do. It is easy to say how "e-learning can make learning more engaging and more accessible" but for credibility you need to show how it can be done..... and actually have done it!!!

We have therefore gone back to our roots and built up the TAA and traineeship side of the business and used the tools we believe make learning engaging and accessible anywhere anytime.

Surprise, surprise it wasn't as easy as we thought. It was a little like the old story of running out front with the flag and looking behind to find very few are following. Baby steps were required and even MORE flexible approaches. Hopefully our clients learned heaps because we did. We learned a lot about coaching and change management and these will soon be added to the SSI product list.

The impending economic challenges are going to provide opportunities for training organisations. The skills shortages are still in mind which should keep the focus on continued training. However the downturn is going to relieve some pressures and create others. There are signs in the economy already of a "value for money" approach. E-learning provides an opportunity to address this - opportunites that we are going to be ready to grasp.

Blogs and creating a blog in blogger

I have had a few queries about blogs lately. Many of you have established great blogs and others are starting to ask questions about how to do....

If you are considering creating a blog this screencast may assist. By the way blogs are great for includig screencasts of digital stories that are hosted at You Tube.

Screen cast on using Photo Story

Here is a screencast on how to create a digital story using Microsft Photo Story.

Coming soon

our podcast

POD

Push Pull and e-Learning

Remember Dr Dolittle and the Pushmepullyou? Well I am reminded of it when i think of the changes that are being witnessed in learning and particularly the differences between e-learning and traditional learning. When I am thinking of traditional learning I am thinking both of the apprenticeship model and also face to face delivery. It seems that in both of those the teacher or mentor is the knowledge giver and the learner is the fairly passive reciever.

But things have changed!! There is an ever increasing amount of knowledge available.....and it is growing hourly and daily. It is more of a subscribe model now. The learner identifies what they want to learn and then uses the net or their network to source it. Rather than the passive recipient the learners are the active seekers.

Learning management systems perpetuate the recipient model with content selected and available for the learner. Wikis (and other web2 tools) have a different focus as learners congregate to create knowledge.

Podcasting Workshop

A full group of participants braved the first day of term 2 to attend the DET Podcasting Basic workshop. Most partipants wanted to learn strategies to include in their learning be it in face to face delivery or in flexible delivery.

Everyone was engrossed in making their own pods....and there was some VERY creative productions. Watch out ABC you have competition!!!

Training Training Training

Training programs offered by Skills Strategies International include:
Certificate IV Training and Assessment
Certificate III- Diploma in e-Business
Certificate I-Diploma in Business (Frontline Management)
Diploma in e-Learning
Certificate IV and Diploma of Project Management
Delivery is flexible and cutomised to meet learner needs

For more information www.skillstrategies.net

WA Start-Up program

SSI is looking forward to commencing work with an eager 28 people from a variety of RTO's who are keen to learn more about elearning and aim to implement and online project in their workplace.

There will be two teams....Frogs and Dragons. And there is going to have to be a lot of kissing to turn the frogs into princes and princesses who can challenge the dragons.

INSTEP West Enetwork (Formerly NETSPACE)

INSTEP West is compiled of a group of Catholic and Independant schools who collaborate to provide a coordinated SWL and Vocational Learning Service for the participating schools. While they are quite a tight network and recognise the benefits of sharing information and ideas, the participants are all very busy people. Funding from the Flexible Learning Framework Enetworks grants has enabled the group to communicate by list serv and a document repository. These tools seem to be working well for the group but as they get comfortable there is probably more that can be added. The photo is at the F2F induction that was part of their PD Getaway. (don't be surprised if you see the venue on the show of the same name)

Internet Radio 638

SSI is coordinating a project focusing on the engagement of disengaged learners through the development and operation of an Internet Radio Station. The project will operate between Mandurah Senior College and Ballajura Community College and is being funded though the Flexible Learning Framework Inclusive E-learning funding. Initially students from Mandurah Senior College will build the radio infrastructure and students from Ballajurra Community College will create the content. So far much of the focus has been on working with teachers and staff and completing the planning.......but the students are eager to have a go.

Pilbara TAFE PDA Workshop

Karratha is a very pleasant place to be at the end of June. And the workshop presenting information on the use of PDA's in training was also a pleasant experience. Content covered included using the features of the PDA, voice recording, digital storytelling utilisation of laplink and utilisation of Class in Hand.

New Directions

Directions RTO and Group Training are working with SSI as part of their Learnscope project. They hope to develop online learning to support their RTO ebusiness delivery and to support their apprentices and trainees. The first training session involved getting familiar with Moodle. It is planned to add audio into the online environment to improve student access.