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**YWCA Workers E-Learning Project**

 * Manager:** Caecilia Roth – cpc [at] ywcansw.com.au
 * Facilitator:** None at this stage 23092006


 * Centre Manager** :

Regional Manager - Judith Reardon       02 44 238 512   - judith@ywcansw.com.au RTO Manager - Kerry White       02 44 238 512   - kerry@ywcansw.com.au


 * Sponsoring RTO:** YWCA [ Nowra ]


 * Target client groups:** Indigenous; Youth; Disengaged

YWCA NSW is a non-profit RTO providing training to a wide range of disadvantaged groups, including young people, particularly early school leavers, and Indigenous people. Many are isolated both geographically and socially due to unemployment and previous negative experience with education. We intend to pilot flexible learning options with a number of Training Packages. This project aims to give managers and trainers time to explore the possibilities of e-learning, become familiar with available e-resources, and consider how best to use the available e-learning resources with the target group. Consultation with clients and service providers to identity barriers to e-learning will be used to support the planning process.
 * Project summary:**


 * Online presence:**


 * Wiki** - http://ywcaelearn.wikispaces.com/
 * Wiki 2** - [|http://scrapshop.wikispaces.com/]
 * Spaces** - [|http://scottsywcaspace.spaces.live.com/]


 * Postcard from the Field**


 * Proposed LearnScope visit/s:** ¦ 28 Sep. ¦ 21 Sep. ¦


 * Team events**


 * FURTHER DETAILS:**

The project will directly integrate e-learning approaches into teaching and learning through the Action Learning Teams. These teams will develop and apply skills in their teaching environments. Reflection and sharing of this process will form a fundamental part of the project to facilitate the capture and dissemination of this experience to others across a wide network via blogs and the learning community. The impact on uptake of e-learning will be significant due to work based learning processes and the focus on teachers and students who have little or no e-learning knowledge and the relevance of e-learning to their client group. There will also be indirect impacts on colleagues and students who come in contact with the action learning teams and their students, and through the networks and showcases that will be integrated as part of the state-wide project. Students will also develop e-learning skills through involvement with e-learning technologies being implemented by the action learning teams. Many of the student groups will not have used the technologies in a learning context before, and this will be beneficial in a range of ways, including the development of skills with using technology, problem-solving, collaboration and communication. This project is a key strategy and priority for both TAFE NSW and TAFE Online. It supports Strategic Plan objectives to: achieve targets for better participation and outcomes for Aboriginal students; increase choices and customisation of training to support industry and individual clients; address skill shortage needs; support TAFE staff to increase capacity and capability in flexible learning and e-learning to better meet the needs of clients; and, place TAFE NSW at the forefront of vocational training and education.
 * Background to the project:**

§ Teachers will develop technological skills in order to use new technologies that will enhance the learning experience of Aboriginal students **//(NCI)//** § Moblogging, Blooging and Digital Story telling will be introduced to disadvantaged students **//(NSI)//** § Build capability in flexible delivery to MECAT trade students in regional and remote locations. Employers will be provided with a more flexible approach and skills shortages will be addressed **//(WI)//** § Inexperienced uses of elearning will be introduced to and apply a variety of teaching and learning ideas – these will be evaluated and shared with colleagues **//(SWSI)//** § Staff will develop technological skills in order to use new technology effectively and to modify existing online modules and learning objects **//(Hunter)//**
 * Proposed project outcomes:**

Teaching and learning will be enriched by the use of technologies and different teaching and learning strategies. Student and teachers will engage in new activities such as moblogging, blogging, online delivery and digital story telling. The use of mobile technologies will allow for teaching and learning to be more accessible and occur in remote areas. Different learning needs/ styles/ interests will be addressed by incorporating more access to audio visual technologies, in addition to current resources. Different circumstances will be supported by the individuality of each project from each Institute – teaching and learning strategies will complement each project in a unique manner. Students will be involved during class times and feedback will be available by both observation and evaluation processes.
 * Benefits to client group:**

All teams will have student involvement in trials with new ideas and skills with input via participation in new activities and evaluation and feedback. The use of Skills Audits, Surveys, Blogs and Wikis will also be used for feedback and evaluation. Possible formats for evaluation could include online Survey Monkey, Survey Console, Zoomerang, Blogs and Wikis.
 * Evaluation strategies:**

There will be 2 layers of capturing what learning has occurred. The first is at local level where teams will record the learning and teaching experiences in a method of their choice. This could include the use of the Janison Jetty, blogs or Wikis. At state level the project will have a reporting area within the TALE Learning community where team can share and collaborate across the state. Learning will also be captured within evaluations, minutes of meetings, brainstorms, online discussions, logs and pre and post questionnaires.
 * We are capturing our learning via:**

· This project has links with the goals of Access to New Technologies Project (Tafe online) – this project also includes Professional development. · Active participation national Framework events such as Icvet Conferenc eShowcase (4th August, 2006) · Active participation in named NSW LearnScope network groups · Local presentations at Annual Conferences · Mentoring newly engaged staff · Newletter articles · Local workshops and showcases · Discussion boards and Forums
 * We hope to share our learning :**

· Reports to team meetings, staff meetings, Managers, local Campus Meetings. · Faculty Conference presentations · Workshop Presentations · Mentoring with staff at local level · Articles in Insitute Newletters · Team blogs and Moblogs · Digital Storytelling · Ongoing involvement in national network groups · Involvement in industry, community or VTE networks
 * We’ll connect with others via:**

· Demonstrations via Bridgit · Digital Storytelling · Team blogs and Wikis · Team TALE group · Progress reports · Videoconference showcase · Janison Jetty · Project portfolio – including links, stories, products, MP3 files, mindmaps, FlickR tags · Breeze sessions · Personal diaries · Personal skills/confidence graphs
 * Proposed project products/outputs:**