073

Elearn4Health
 * Alternative training solutions for the heath Industry using E-learning tools

[image:http://elearn4health.pbwiki.com/f/ProjectTeam.jpg width="458" height="196"**


 * Manager:** Ruth Greene – ruth.greene [at] tafensw.edu.au
 * Facilitator:** Robyn Honeman – robyn.honeman [at] tafensw.edu.au


 * Sponsoring RTO:** Riverina Institute TAFENSW


 * Target client groups:** skills shortage; learners in the workplace; disengaged

TAFE NSW Riverina Institute has a committed focus to improve working partnerships with the health industry and develop new models of training delivery to meet this industry’s needs across the Riverina region. This project will raise awareness and understanding of the use of current and emerging e-learning tools for the delivery of training to the health industry and provide professional development of teachers and educators in this sector. Teachers and health industry educators alike will be provided with the information, understanding and exposure to support the adoption and use of e-learning tools in their training delivery. The project will also promote the interaction and partnership between Riverina Institute and the region’s health providers in the development and use of e-learning options in the delivery of training. In the future this project would provide a pathway for the inclusion of e-learning tools and options into the ongoing delivery of training to the health industry.
 * Project summary:**


 * Online presence:** (blogs, wikis, Breeze, Bridgit, Audacity, Digital story telling. Movie maker, ipod casts etc)


 * Postcard from the Field due date:** week starting August 14


 * Proposed LearnScope visit/s:** Robyn 7 September


 * Team events**

23.6.06 Professional Development Day 1 1 & 2 August 2006 Professional Day 2 and 3 7.8.06 Postcard from the Field” 12.9.06 Professional Day 4 – Evaluation Ongoing Chat on-line with team members regarding e-learning project (once every 2 weeks)

Team Discussion Team Blogs - Elearn4Health [|http://elearn4health.pbwiki.com]


 * http://nswlearnscope.wikispaces.com/message/list/073**


 * FURTHER DETAILS:**

Many healthcare facilities and students within the Riverina are geographically isolated and due to the nature of work within health it is imperative that technical skill updates and professional development are facilitated to ensure ongoing competency of core skills. Some work areas within the health industry employ disengaged workers who have not attended training since schooling experiences or responded to traditional training delivery, and hence not actively pursued ongoing professional development eg. Laundry / cleaning service areas. Added to this are pressures of shift work, and the shortage of skilled professionals within the health industry. This further limits the worker’s opportunities to attend face to face delivery and traditional training models and warrants the use of alternative learning and delivery methodologies such as e-learning and m-learning.
 * Background to the project:**

§ Research and explore what applications of e-learning that has occurred in the past within the health sector and the outcomes of these experiences. § Raise awareness and develop understanding of teachers and educators in relation to e-learning and m-learning tools and strategies to maximise the benefits and enhance the opportunities of use of this technology. § Through collaborative partnership and links with the health industry to embrace new solutions and approaches for the delivery of training in line with industry needs. § To provide suggested guidelines for the use of e-learning solutions in ongoing training to the health industry § Identify ongoing areas of professional development for teachers and professionals in the areas of e-learning.
 * Proposed project outcomes:**


 * Benefits to client group:**

The target client group for this e-learning project is TAFE teachers in the areas of health and Industry health educators. This will be facilitated within the project by teachers being involved in the following activities: § experimentation with e-learning tools to further enhance teachers and trainers individual skills and knowledge concerning e-learning and m-learning tools. § Development of e-learning experiences for teachers and industry educators that will raise their awareness in the application of e-learning in their everyday training delivery. Through this project an understanding by teachers and educators in relation to the use of e-learning tools and its “fit” in this model will be established. The project will facilitate an assessment of e-learning tools that are available and are appropriate for the health industry and the health worker. Given the range of technical skill areas within health a single tool may not be suitable for the broad spectrum of workers and their needs within the industry. This will be accommodated through the selection of team members whose teaching expertise is from a variety of health areas. At the first scheduled professional day the impact of learning styles, needs and interests of different student groups in line with the use of e-learning tools will be discussed with team members. Indirectly other client groups such as student groups will also be impacted by the project. This will be facilitated through the experimentation component of the project and the proposed increased awareness in the use of e-learning as part of varied training models. It is also anticipated that teachers who are directly involved in the project will also peer network within their own areas of work. This will provide ongoing communication regarding the use and the outcomes of further experimentation with e-learning tools. The feedback from these other targeted client groups will be gathered by team members and feedback included through input into such tools as online conferencing, learner journal entries and scheduled chats.

The impact of the project on our clients will be evaluated through the following ways: « The use of Blogs for teachers to record their individual learning experiences « A project Wiki that will facilitate teacher comments and provide a hub for ongoing learning experiences. « The use of Bridgit conferencing software to facilitate on line discussions between project team members. « The feedback from these other targeted client groups will be gathered by team members and provided through input into such tools as online conferencing, learner journal entries and electronic survey. « The reporting of outcomes of the project by individual teachers and educators through technology such as digital storytelling. This can then be shared with their professional peers. « The scheduling within the project of a showcasing of the outcomes of team members’ individual projects within the final project professional day in September 2006
 * Evaluation strategies:**

The learning that has occurred as a result of this LearnScope project will be captured throughout the project by the following methods: 1. Prior to commencement of project – Pre project questionnaire / setting up of learning/ commitment agreement with all team members. This will identify both individual and the teams learning needs. 2. Following each professional development workshop – evaluation and feedback will be captured through the use of Blogs and on-line surveys. This will record the thoughts of team members and ongoing areas for improvement. Blogs will document progressively team member comment and feedback, identifying individual areas for further learning and required support. 3. Between team meetings - Email and online work spaces (Bridgit and Wikis) for collaboration and team conferencing. This will also provide the opportunity for mentoring and support of team members both collectively and individually by appropriate professionals. 4. Anecdotes and quotes from team members will be from Blogs and recorded on a Wiki– this will capture the learning as well as the challenges and any issues faced in real time. 5. Development of a guide – this will be developed as a result of the application by teachers of e-learning strategies within their teaching plan. The developed guidelines will detail the suitability of an e-learning resource into the current health area. 6. Input to LearnScope network groups and use of EdNA group to facilitate reflection on learning within other LearnScope projects as well as share the outcomes of this project. 7. Showcasing of e-learning projects of individual team members e-learning experiences and projects will facilitate a broader learning base for all team members.
 * We are capturing our learning via:**


 * We hope to share our learning via :**

« Conference delivery / showcasing national framework and professional articles of interest in industry and technology publications « The appointing of team members from a variety of areas within the health industry and from different campuses within the Institute will facilitate the sharing of outcomes over a large geographical area and a diversity of teacher peers. « Professional development meetings will foster the ongoing collaborative environment between Institute teachers and the health industry « Peer networking, instigated as a result of the workshops, will provide ongoing communication regarding the use and the outcomes of further experimentation with e-learning tools. « The established Health project steering committee and related reference groups will have project outcomes reported and discussed. This will facilitate dissemination of project outcomes not only throughout TAFE NSW Riverina Institute but also the Riverina Region. « The reporting of outcomes of the project by individual teachers and educators through technology such as digital storytelling and Podcasts.. This can then be shared with their professional peers. « Learning from this project will be shared within the Institute through the project manager and TLS officer. « Participation in the NSW LearnScope EdNA Group

Sharing the learning that has achieved as a result of the project will be provided not only at the conclusion of the project but also at different stages of the project. This will occur in the following ways:- « Learning from this project will be shared within the Institute through the project manager and facilitator with their peers and relevant areas of expertise. « Reporting of the progress of the project will be facilitated at various TAFE NSW Riverina Institute internal meetings including the Profile committee, the Health Steering committee, industry reference groups and the TLS Profile sub-committee. « Availability as Podcasts of speaker presentations delivered at professional development days. This will incorporate Podcasts to Institute Managers through the Institute’s Podcasting project ensuring they are informed of project developments. « Presentation of the project outcomes at professional conferences and through professional articles of interest. « Development of suggested guidelines for the use of e-learning solutions in ongoing training to the health industry « Peer networking instigated as a result of the workshops will provide ongoing communication regarding the use and the outcomes of further experimentation with e-learning tools « The established Health project steering committee and related reference groups will have project outcomes reported and discussed. This will facilitate dissemination of project outcomes throughout not only Riverina TAFE but also the Riverina Region. « Presentation at E-learn 06 – NSW LearnScope Showcase « Progress report to LearnScope through the provision of a “postcard from the field” which will be posted on the LearnScope web site.
 * We’ll connect with others via:**

« Progress report to LearnScope through the provision of a “postcard from the field” « Completion report at the conclusion of the project that is available in written and electronic form. « Team and individual blogs throughout the project period « Availability as Podcasts of speaker presentations delivered at professional development days. « Development of suggested guidelines for the use of e-learning solutions in ongoing training to the health industry « Showcasing of team member e-tool experiences and applications to teaching through digital storytelling and Podcasts. « Presentation at E-learn 06 – NSW LearnScope Showcase
 * Proposed project products/outputs:**