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 * Engaging Learners With Disabilities**

Image by Onafly: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onafly/

Michele Perry – Michele.perry@tafensw.edu.au
 * Manager/ Facilitator:** Heather Beebe – heather.beebe@tafensw.edu.au


 * Sponsoring RTO:** TAFE NSW Sydney Institute Ultimo


 * Target client groups:** disability; youth; disengaged learners

The project will bring together teachers (part-time casual and temporary) from all disability sections across all campuses within the Sydney Institute. The project aims to upskill VTE teachers by providing them with new teaching and learning strategies in blended learning. This will incorporate online teaching tools through the creation of a moodle for students with a disability.
 * Project summary:**

The focus of this professional development will also enable teachers to manage the moodle which will then be made available to and be easily accessed by Sydney Institute teachers and staff and existing or potential students, other institutes, the community, industry and schools


 * Online presence:**


 * EDNA** - http://www.groups.edna.edu.au/course/view.php?id=767
 * Flickr:** [|http://www.flickr.com/]tags/edisability
 * Moodle:** http://www.sit.nsw.edu.au/moodle


 * Postcard from the Field:**


 * Proposed LearnScope visit/s:** Robyn 25 July, Alex 7 August

June 26 Blogging and Online Journaling June 30 Online Resources July 26 and 27 Blogging August 7 Moodle Workshop August 15 and 16 Moodle August 28 Podcasting Workshop August 31 and 4 September Digital Storytelling September 13 Moodle TBA Moodle
 * Team events** :


 * FURTHER DETAILS:**

· Upskill teachers in creating a moodle space as an efficient and effective strategy for delivery of educational support · There have been few training opportunities in e-learning available to part-time casual and temporary teachers in the disability section even though they provide the educational support · Greater opportunities for communication, easier access to resources and sharing of information and skills by teachers and students across disabilities · Extend networks and collaboration in Disabilities across all campuses, schools, community, other institutes and industry
 * Background to the project:**

To learn about blended e-learning and other online resources from a variety of sources. Learn to manage and organise the resources on the moodle Understanding of moodle functions (chat rooms, notes, weblinks, forums.)
 * Proposed project outcomes:**

· The teachers will have an increased knowledge of elearning which will extend and supplement educational practice through blended learning and outcomes for the student target group. · Access to disability moodle - meeting general and specific learning needs · Across disability areas meeting specific learning needs through course notes, podcasting, plain English notes and weblinks to general disability information, such as enrolment, study links, Centrelink and other agencies as well as specific disability information. · Students across disability groups to trial Moodle access a work in progress
 * Benefits to client group:**

· Trial the Moodle in the Access educational support classes across disability areas · Build accessing the Moodle into the class as a component of computer learning · Providing a “One Stop Shop” of disability communication by providing easier access to notes, assessment tasks, outlines and web links both within and outside of TAFE · Clients providing feedback through surveys to project participants with Moodle development
 * Evaluation strategies:**

· Pre-project, post-project skills/knowledge assessment questionnaires and evaluation forms completed by participants · Reflection times/journaling after workshops · Meetings and brainstorming · Emails and EdNA Group · A Team Digital Story highlighting case studies of participants including anecdotes and quotes which will form our project evaluation · The learning journey will be documented on the EdNA Groups website. · Input to network groups
 * We are capturing our learning via:**

Sharing and collaboration will happen within and outside Sydney Institute through:
 * We hope to share our learning :**

· Equity Meetings · Disability teacher Consultant Meetings and Conference · LearnScope Showcase Days in October 2006 · Presentations /staff development within TAFE, · Links to industry and Community Groups · Participation in online events · Linking to other LearnScope projects with a similar focus · Resources shared through EdNA Group

· Equity Meetings · Disability teacher Consultant Meetings and Conference · LearnScope Showcase Day in October 2006 · Presentations /staff development within TAFE, · Links to industry and Community Groups · Participation in online events · Linking to other LearnScope projects with a similar focus · Resources shared through EdNA Group
 * We’ll connect with others via:**

· Team EdNA //Group// and a link to Moodle · Podcasts that will be available on Moodle site · Digital Story showcasing participants learning experiences · Culminating in the development of a new resource //–// Disability Moodle
 * Proposed project products/outputs:**


 * The "No Formal Reporting " Report**

An increase in knowledge and skill of part time teachers and temporary teachers in elearning through blogs, digital stories, podcasting and online resources and the creation of a Moodle on Disability. With the skills learned, teachers can manage and organise resouces in this Learning Management System. This Moodle can be accessed by Sydney Institute staff, existing or potential students and the community.
 * Outcomes**

Difficulties in organisation of rooms and resources for training, Difficulties with participant attendance from across campuses. Trainer empathy and communication issues. The increasing amount of online presence which took focus and time from our project's focus. In hindsight it would have been better to have had the Wiki, the EdNa and the Moodle without the Blog. This would have enabled us to have more to time to engage and create better elearning networks.
 * Issues**

To continue to manage, maintain and update our Moodle To further develop and extend the potential of blended learning with our Moodle. To increase the use of Moodle through client participation and engagement across TAFE teaching sections and community based projects To continue to promote the Moodle amongst Institute staff and the community.
 * Future Directions**