066

[photo of team]**
 * Learning in the Field Effectively (LiFE)**


 * Manager:** Colin Tyrrell – collin.tyrrell [at] tafensw.edu.au
 * Facilitator:** Beth Hobbs – Elizabeth.hobbs [at] tafensw.edu.au


 * Sponsoring RTO:** Blue Mountains TAFE – Western Sydney Institute


 * Target client groups:** youth; disengaged; learners in the workplace

Learning in the field effectively (LiFE) will engage teachers from Land Conservation, Horticulture, Information Technology, Outdoor Recreation and Outreach as well as librarians across colleges in Western Sydney Institute and Western Institute. Our aim is to evaluate and implement collaborative learning technologies encompassing a range of learning environments, client groups and teacher skills. This will be achieved using a number of strategies including mentoring, demonstrating, networking, workshops to engage staff in trialing/implementing the use of collaborative learning technologies, including web aggregators, blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, podcasts and conferencing tools.
 * Project summary:**

Postcard from the Field due date:** week starting 2 October Proposed LearnScope visit/s:** ¦ 29 August ¦
 * Online presence:** (blogs, wikis, EdNA Group, websites, flickr tag, del.icio.us tag etc)


 * Team events** (focus, date, time, availability to other teams)


 * Team Discussion** **http://nswlearnscope.wikispaces.com/message/list/066**


 * FURTHER DETAILS:**

The LiFE team will be building on initial training and engagement of teachers in using web technologies and open source software for collaborative learning. This included training of over 80 teachers from a range of disciplines and locations in the Institute in using technologies to engage with learners. We want to move teachers from the classroom into the workplace, exposing teachers who have avoided technology in the past to the benefits of existing and emerging technologies. This project aims to engage these teachers in experimenting with these technologies with their students as well as using them to support their own professional development. The project will lead and support teachers to adopt new roles as learning facilitators whilst building capability in using technology to capture and share learning. This will give teachers the opportunity to reflect on their teaching practice, expose them to new technologies and support them in further developing their approaches to new and innovative teaching practice incorporating collaborative learning
 * Background to the project:**

· Trials will be conducted using action learning cycles in applying technologies, collaborative learning, and the field as a place of learning across four industry areas in communities, colleges and workplaces and the wilderness. · Teachers will develop the skills to facilitate collaborative learning in the field using readily available tools and web enabled technologies. · Key managers will develop higher levels of understanding and confidence in supporting the development and promulgation of new approaches to learning and technologies. · Librarians will develop skills and understanding of their role as information coaches and greater capacity to engage as collaborators in the learning process. · The outcomes and opportunities will be shared with teachers across WSI and other RTOs via Showcases and forums. · Document supporting evidence on use of social software in an educational environment to inform our effective educational practice. Benefits to client group:** Learning in the field experiments with new strategies for responsiveness and assists in developing the employability skills of teachers and students. Through engaging in collaborative learning strategies – including modeling how to learn and sharing learning - teachers and students will develop the core skills of team work. Customised learning is a natural outcome of collaborative learning. This is achieved by teachers working closely with students to identify opportunities for learning and assessment in workplaces, community, peer-to-peer discussion and with employers. This project aims to use a variety of technologies as part of the learning process. Activities will include: · Using a BLOG to develop collaborative project planning and collaborative journal skills. Mentors and critical friends will facilitate and provide analysis on the BLOG. · Teachers can join the Teach & Learn Online Google group which provides access to an international network of teachers and trainers new to using open source and tapping into free thinkers about learning.
 * Proposed project outcomes:**

Team members will network with employers of students and provide feedback and learning opportunities for employers.

Formal evaluation using surveys and small group feedback sessions will be conducted with each group of students that are involved with using the various technologies implemented as part of their teaching practice by team members. This feedback will inform improvements for future delivery strategies. Comparisons of participation and completion rates for selected modules will also be used to evaluate outcomes of the trials.
 * Evaluation strategies:**

Learning in the field team will use a range of strategies to capture what learning has occurred for the team, they will include: · Pre-project and post-project questionnaires · Reflection times at team meetings · Minutes and brainstorms · Email and online meeting discussion logs/recordings · Team digital stories · Case studies · Anecdotes and quotes from team members · Development of model documents and guides · Evaluation forms · Use of EdNA Groups · Input to network groups · Use of blogs We hope to share our learning via :** · A web space for new adopters and those who have found solutions to learning challenges will be created to enable team members to share their experiences. · Project team members will engage with Australian Flexible Learning Groups sharing experiences within industries and with new technologies · Team members will network with employers of students and provide feedback and learning opportunities for employers. · Team members will share learning with Community Learning Organizations such as the Permaculture Association and the Blue Mountains Tourism Trust. · Team members will share outcomes of the learning with teachers and other VTE professionals in WSI and beyond through the e-Learning Network and facilitated forums. · Team members will showcase success stories through Institutes intranet space and road shows at collages.
 * We are capturing our learning via:**

· Document progress through a blog which is promoted through WSI Intranet · Use collaborative area on WSI Intranet to keep all documents and associated links related to Learning in the field as a dynamic record and reference point for all team members. · Participate in WSI LearnScope team workshop/s · Actively participate in WSI Showcase for the ICVET conference in August 2006
 * We’ll connect with others via:**

The Learning in the Field team will use a number of technologies to report the outcomes of the project including: · Digital stories · Team blogs · Podcasts · Project portfolio – including links, stories, products, MP3 files, mind maps, FlickR tags
 * Proposed project products/outputs:**