2007_003


 * PROJECT TITLE - Utilising Web 2.0 tools in teaching

MANAGER** Kim McLean A/Head Teacher Business Administration TAFE NSW – Western Institute, Orange College kim.mclean-at-tafensw.edu.au

Carolyn Laycock Educational Leader BA&IT Faculty TAFE NSW – Western Institute carolyn.laycock-at-tafensw.edu.au
 * FACILITATOR**

The Project, Utilising Web 2.0 Tools in Teaching, is all about building on the previous learning of utilising social software skills in VET by sharing the learning with trainers and implementing the tools into learning groups. The Project aligns with Western Institute’s strategic approach to increase flexible delivery and adapt to change by exploring new and innovative ways of teaching and managing learners in the current flexible learning environment.
 * SUMMARY**

However, the scope of this Project not only focuses on new and innovative Web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning, but using the most appropriate tools for the different learning groups. Because of this, there is a vast contrast in the identified learning groups on which this Project is to be trialled.

The strategy of this Project is to increase participation and completion rates of students learning online, in the workplace, using videoconference and blended delivery. The team’s evaluation of the Project will include recommendations to management on what future actions need to be taken to entrench effective e-learning practices into Western Institute’s strategic planning to make it part of the delivery mix.

Western Institute is the largest of the NSW TAFE Institutes in terms of geographical area; in fact, it is equal to the size of France. It ranges from Lithgow in the east to Broken Hill in the west. Communities range from small remote drought affected areas, dealing with distance and isolation to larger centres such as Orange and Dubbo dealing with a mix of multicultural groups and social issues. Hence learners and Project target groups are from a wide range of courses.
 * CONTEXT**

Flexibly delivery methods are utilised significantly in Western Institute however, to keep abreast of new technology learners in the following groups have been targeted for the Web 2.0 Project:
 * TARGET GROUPS**

Cert IV in Frontline Management (Murdi Paaki Aboriginal Group Coonamble, Walgett Council) Murdi Paaki Trainees (Cobar, Broken Hill, Coonamble) Information Technology –TVET (Cowra) Diploma in Frontline Management (multi-sites) Cert III, Cert IV and Diploma in Business Administration (Orange) Information Technology (Orange and Bathurst)

The team for this Project, represent small, medium and large campuses in both remote and central locations in Western Institute.
 * TEAM**

Teacher in Charge of three small remote communities, flexibly delivering Cert IV Frontline Management to Murdi Paaki Aboriginal Group in Coonamble, Cobar, Broken Hill and staff from Walgett Council Only full time teacher at Cobar supervising flexible delivery to Murdi Paaki trainees in Cobar, Broken Hill and Coonamble and currently trialling Connect to communicate with trainees IT Teacher, delivering flexible IT and groups with optional class attendance and directed activities plus TVET IT groups Management teacher delivering Diploma Frontline Management in multi site locations using electronic communication. Acting Head Teacher supervising flexible, Cert IV and Diploma Bus Admin groups Trainer for flexible groups that do not attend the campus Trainer Cert IV and Diploma Bus Admin online group in multi site locations, using Janison. IT teacher supervising flexible online IT groups Connect coordinator/trainer for flexible learning in the Faculty Head Teacher Information Technology Information Technology teacher Flexible Learning Coordinator Acting Head Teacher Information Technology Part-time trainer Business Administration
 * Leah Burnheim - Coonamble/Walgett & Lightning Ridge**
 * Elizabeth McKay - Cobar**
 * Stephen Welsh - Cowra**
 * Carolyn Laycock - Western Institute**
 * Kim McLean - Orange**
 * Jenelle Frewin - Orange**
 * Jane Rogan - Orange**
 * Bettyanne Hauville - Orange**
 * Jennifer Kingham - Parkes**
 * Roxanne Streatfeild - Orange**
 * Deborah Lander - Orange**
 * Merelyn Treanor - Orange**
 * Chris Jones - Bathurst**
 * Lin Seears - Cowra**


 * KEY DATES**
 * Launch Date: Thursday, 31 May, 2.00 pm**; initial meeting/video conference to outline Project scope, aims and identify learner groups for trial of e-learning software
 * Second meeting: 14 June, 2.30 pm** by Adobe Connect to discuss team members strengths and weaknesses

June: Development of individual e-learning capability plans for each team member July: 2 day workshop with guest lecturer on creating and managing e-learning tools Teachers to run trial sessions with their students providing exposure to each tool Mid-way – August: F2F meeting to share experiences with team members, evaluate trials and methods used September: Engaging stakeholders workshop for input by industry Development of evaluation tools for teachers and students 1 December 2007 - End of Project report prepared as a multi-media asset/make recommendation to management Sharing of lessons learnt through faculty forum and Institute Sharepoint site Learnscope Showcase event.

The knowledge gained and networks formed by faculty representation on the 2006 Advanced Learnscope Team will be utilised and shared with team members through wikis, blogs, online spaces or sites and Learnscope activities and support. Successful outcomes or lessons learnt will be shared through faculty forums, faculty and institute Sharepoint sites, VTE networks and newsletters, forums and conferences. The team will report on the successful outcomes of the trial and make recommendations to management regarding strategic planning and staff development programs to invest in e-learning and embed it effectively in the workplace through e-learning champions from the Learnscope team.
 * SHARING KNOWLEDGE**

The team’s wisdom will be captured at the initial meeting through various team tools to analyse existing skills and e-learning experience, and build upon the strengths of experience. It will be shared throughout the Project through action learning by communicating with the team using the various e-learning technologies. The knowledge of members from other Learnscope teams and staff will be shared in mentoring roles. The social software tools will be trialled by the team members with the learners, and the learning from this trial and the feedback from students will be compiled into a report on the suitability of the tools to specific learning activities.
 * WORK BASED LEARNING STRATEGIES**

Anticipated outcomes for both team members and target learners are increased interaction and communication with flexible study, establishing rapport through social software, building confidence and awareness of e-learning. Team members will realise how social software can be implemented into training within their workplace.
 * ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES**

A collaborative approach will be taken in the Project, involving learners in an e-learning needs analysis and trial of e-learning tools linked to their learning needs and e-learning experiences. These will be mapped to team/ individual plans and lesson plans. Clients in industry from Walgett Shire Council and Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Cert IV FLM will form two of the pilot groups, representing the North West. Country Energy, Uniting Care and Greater Western Area Health will be engaged using a range of technologies, identified as a result of the Project learning and then the trial evaluated. The evaluation will be compared to the online toolbox evaluation from 2006 to identify any benefits or issues with the e-learning delivery mix.
 * CLIENT / INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT**

The Project’s impact on the skills and knowledge of team members will be evaluated through a collaborative approach involving an e-learning needs analysis and trial of e-learning tools. This analysis will be linked to needs and e-learning experience and mapped to team/individual plans and lesson plans.
 * IMPACTS ON LEARNERS / CLIENTS**

From this evaluation and analysis, recommendation will be made to management for embedding e-learning into future organisational planning and practices. Regular Project briefings will be provided by Educational and Support Managers to inform Project meetings to assist in process development.

Replace this text with your URLs ( links ) when you have completed the requirements listed below. Midway through the project your team will be required to; Meet with a member of the NSW LearnScope Management team face-to-face. A podcast recording will be conducted during this meeting which captures your progress and reflections on your teams learning. These podcasts will be available via the [|NSW LearnScope podcast] Your team will be required to submit a 250 word Postcard From The Field for publication in the [|NSW LearnScope blog]. Note : This should be submitted in text form only and be accompanied by a link ( URL ) to an image in your own respective Flickr site.
 * REPORTING MID PROJECT**

Replace this text with your URLs ( links ) when you have completed the requirements listed below. NSW LearnScope requires a final report that comprehensively details your teams project journey. This will include your teams findings, outcomes, client impacts and connections.
 * END OF PROJECT REPORT**

Note : this component of the your project must be enabled for web production ie. it must be available to load to and / or be accessed via the internet. This report can take the following forms;


 * Podcast** - a 20-30 minute recording ( audio)which is a multi-voice conversation between team members, clients and industry representatives where appropriate.
 * Digital Story** - 20 -30 slides with audio
 * Blog Post** - a comprehensive ( detailed ) reflective summary of your teams journey with accompanying images
 * Multimedia production** - a video or Flash movie that brings together many differing aspects of your project into a production for easy view via the web.
 * Web Content** - a collection or portfolio of online data that has been brought together into a online summary of your projects journey. This site MUST be accessible for anyone via the internet.