Working with online groups

Most of the online work we have done at SSI to date has been working with individuals. While this has been a little dissapointing for the team (because we have had some GREAT groups working online) it has met the needs of the learners. It is the only way to facilitate people being able to work self paced. Unfortunately this is at the cost of group dynamics and interaction.

There is also the issue that has been clearly evident in the retail project, that people get too shy to share ideas when they haven't met face to face first. It seems to be time to put the creative juices to work to develop a suite of user friendly options.

This social network concept has something going for it too.....

http://socialelearning.flexiblelearning.net.au/social_elearning/index.htm

TAA for teachers

We are now delivering a customised workshop for teachers wanting to gain the TAA qualification. It includes RPL, two days of workshop and recognition of the teacher qualification and experience. The two day workshop focuses on aspects that teachers don't usually cover in their teaching ie History of the formation of the National VET System, the frameworks, policies and strategies that impact on the system, Unpacking of training packages to create learning programs and assessment tools, and the development of assessment plans and assessment tools which are then validated at a validation meeting.

So far the feedback has been really good with even experienced practitioners saying that they learned new things.

The Esperance workshop went well with a mix of experienced and new practitioners. Coodanup Community College become a Senior HIgh School next year and will offer VET subjects to year 11's for the first time. However some teachers have been offering Vocational Learning for many years.

Back on Track

Yay the AQTF audit is over and we did ok :-). No non compliances and best practice in three standards. It was actually a good process as it made us stop and look at what we are doing .........and what we are as an organisation.

And we felt pretty good about it.

Now back to productive work that makes money to buy food.

Making a Difference

It is one of my beliefs that all businesses should give back to the community - in no matter how small a way. It would be nice to be like Dame Elizabeth Murdoch and be 100 years of age and still giving back...but until we have that money and that wisdom it is good to do even a little.

Today I did my usual contribution at the Girls in Enterprise conference at CCIWA. 8 women from business talked to the young ladies about what it was like to run a small business. It was interesting in that 3 of the 8 were ex-teachers and all said there was too much focus in schools about making the right decision and getting the right grades. All had done many jobs...and were happy to move on and do something different.

One of the activities was for the young ladies to utilise limited resources (lego) to create a product (tower). They were introduced to skills that will stand them in good stead for their future. And sadly they are skills that are not focused on in formal schooling.

Great Gardens Even Greater

SSI worked in partnership with the Great Gardens team in 2008 with funding from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework to engage the business in elearning and ebusiness strategies. The final report has now been completed for the Great Gardens project and can be found here

Garry Heady who lead the project has been thrilled with the improvements made to his business operation. He is keen to have Steve work with him into 2009 to continue developing Great Gardens' Elearning capacity.

It is worth a visit to the Great Gardens web site to see the wonderful work they do promoting environmental sustainability...and the see the great strategies that Steve and Garry have designed and implemented for the Great Gardens team. www.greatgardens.info

Well into 2009

In spite of the economic downturn 2009 seems to have come with a rush. Schools are are large part of the business at this time of the year as contracts are developed for auspicing and delivery. The new Secondary Schooling contracts for students at risk is also providing some interest. On the other side of the equation there is more than normal interest from organisations who are exploring Elearning as a strategy to reduce costs and increase environmental sustainability. And of course it is funding submission time as well. I can't help thinking it is a bad time for a 3 day AQTF audit....but we did know it was coming :-(.

The free/low cost TAA that is government funded if you have an apprenticeship or traineeship is still very popular and people seem to be keen to take up the opportunity to increase their skills. In times of uncertainty qualifications and skills gain new importance. We expected a drop in traineeship numbers but they seem to be maintaining their popularity.

In spite of all the G&D predictions (gloom and doom) it seems that things are bubbling along nicely so far

Delivering retail flexibly, meeting local needs and its FREE

Retail is one of the largest industry areas...and one with a poor training culture. As most people know SSI has two offices, one in Perth and one in Mandurah. We applied for Prductivity Places funding to delivery retail (along with IT) in the Mandurah region. As a tourist destination there is significant retail activity in the region and most of it is small and microbusiness.

Therefore we decided that our Retail Certificate III program needed to provide the skills for people to establish their own micro business if required. We have therefore developed a course that is flexible in that there is rolling intakes of small groups who are coached and access online resources. Duriing the course they learn about retail in contexts such direct selling, party plan, ebay, market stalls and online businesses...as well as your traditional retail. It's an exciting development ....and the new participants are particularly excited. It's a very suitable option for mothers wanting a part time income....or retirees trying to preserve their share portfolio until the stock market recovers. The response has been so positive that we are thinking of running the program in the Perth metro area as well. Contact us if you are unemployed...and interested.

Learning Table

When the Learning Table first hit the elearning market we must admit we weren't all that excited. We didn't see how it could be an addition to our work...mind you we mainly work one on one or online.

However one of our recent clients, who we are also doing a Innovation project with, was most impressed when we mentioned it to them.......and more impressed when we demonstrated it to them. Great Gardens provide garden sustainablity workshops all over the state (www.greatgardens.info) and have used the Learning Table to provide audio visuals of products that support the information they provide. Participants can access the the audio visual during the breaks by swiping the tag attached to the product. The workshop staff are stoked as it allows them to prepare for the next session rather than being inundated by questions on the products. SSI have been so impressed with the success of the product...... and with the professionalism of the team at NEC that we have decided to become a WA reseller of the Learning Table. So if anyone is interested...or would like a demo...give us a call on 0421792451 or drop us an email at info@skillstrategies.net.

Find out more about the Learning Table at www.learningtable.net.au.

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.