I’m pleased to share the following E-portfolios Update about:

- Accessing VET Learner Attainment Data research - RTOs ability to support & Learners' views

- E-portfolios coming to a place near you

- Other stories and useful e-portfolio resources

Accessing VET Learner Attainment Data - RTOs ability to support & Learners' views

Following on from the research for the 'Verifying VET Learner Attainment Data' 2010 positioning paper, released last month discussing the different kinds of learner verification services available and their applicability to the VET sector and how electronic VET learner information can create efficiencies for 'information consumers', is further research about 'Accessing VET Learner Attainment Data'.

The 'Accessing VET Learner Attainment Data' research is investigating the ability and willingness of registered training organisations (RTOs) to offer electronic learner data as well as the attitude of learners to such services.

Key VET stakeholders, VET managers of learner information, learners, e-portfolio system implementers and developers as well as VET regulatory bodies are currently being surveyed to determine their attitudes about learner controlled, electronic access of their VET learner attainment data, either directly to the RTO or via a 'Learner Record System' (LRS).

This work aims to identify:

where business efficiencies can be realised by allowing learner controlled, electronic access to their VET learner attainment data;

whether this approach would enable RTOs to better meet the AQTF2010 Essential Standards for Continuing and Initial Registration, especially Condition 6: Certification and issuing of qualifications and statements of attainment

This latest work supports the VET E-portfolio Roadmap key goal - 'Verification - to enable verification of educational attainment data, membership of professional associations or trade/occupational licensing information'.

E-portfolios coming to a place near you:

We are usually busy getting out and about speaking with people about E-portfolios activities, but over the coming months we seem to even busier than normal.

We might be coming to a place near you:

Brisbane - 23 June - E-portfolios workshop - more info from Queensland Framework Unit

Perth - 6 July - E-portfolios workshop - A freshen look at RPL - more info from WA Framework Unit

Perth - 7 July - E-portfolios presesentation - Latest research from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework - more info from No Frills Conference

Northern Territory (Online) - 14 July - E-portfolios online session - Resuscitating your recognition with an e-portfolio - more info from NT Framework Unit

Sydney - 6 August - E-portfolios presentation - Investing in e-portfolios for business success - more info from VELG National Conference

Overseas - E-portfolios presentations - ePortfolios 2010 (London) & AAEEBL National Conference (Boston)

We hope to meet you at one of these events but if you can't make any of them you may like to view the recent E-portfolios e-Events recorded online session - Captured Alive - using technology to manage lifelong learning.

Other stories and useful e-portfolio resources

Skilling Solutions Queensland offers an e-portfolio to all customers to support RPL, training and life long career solutions
Skilling Solutions Queensland offers all of its customers access to an e-portfolio. The e-portfolio helps their customers compile their application for RPL (recognition of prior learning), by capturing information about their work experience and on the job development. It will also assist customers with job applications using the e-resume functionality. Formore information about this service click here.

Inaugural international ePortfolios Conference in Boston

The worldwide Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-­Based Learning (www.aaeebl.org) is holding a major international ePortfolios conference in Boston, USA, on 19-22 July, 2010. The conference theme – ePortfolios and the Emergent Learning Ecology – brings together world renowned ePortfolio leaders from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Finland, and Australia, including the Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s E-portfolios Business Manager, Allison Miller as a ‘featured speaker’. To read the blog post adapted from an AAEEBL press release click here.

Additional resources can be found at the E-portfolios Resource Bank, including the VETSA E-portfolio service, which is an e-portfolio sandpit for you to develop your own e-portfolio for free. VET teachers/trainers are encouraged to trial the site with small groups of students. Here is an example of Allison Miller’s VETSA E-portfolio.

Thank you to those people who have shared their good news stories and information with us - if your information has not been published yet please be assured that we will certainly be sharing it in the coming months .......

We are very interested in helping to share good e-portfolio practice and resources via this newsletter, so if you have a case study/information of e-portfolio activity in your organisation or links to e-portfolio resources, please forward them to:

Allison Miller

E-portfolios Business Manager

Australian Flexible Learning Framework

Website: www.flexiblelearning.net.au/e-portfolios

Blog: www.flexiblelearning.net.au/e-portfoliosblog

T: 08 8348 4075

F: 08 8241 5680

M: 0400 732 270

SA Framework Unit

C/- 137 Days Road, Regency Park SA 5010

A quick reminder about the up-coming ‘READY MADE TOOLS TO SUPPORT TRAINING – PART 1 TOOLBOXES’ free online session being held on Wednesday 23 June from 12pm – 1pm (NT time) via our 2010 NT Online Training Room.

What constitutes good learning design?

Using iconic building blocks from the real world, this session will look at how to create meaningful and engaging learning experiences in vocational education and training (VET).

Focusing on the importance of thoughtfully designed learning objects, online learning sequences and teaching strategies, the session will introduce three concepts that together provide a scalable framework for proactive and quality learning design.

Date: Monday 24 May 2010

Time: 12:30 - 1:30pm (AEST)

Location: http://tinyurl.com/2010-egems-playdoh

Presenter:
Helen Lynch is an advocate of e-learning and Flexible Learning Toolboxes. She has worked as an educational management and curriculum consultant; conducted e-learning research and worked with registered training organisations to manage Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and business requirements.
Helen holds post graduate qualifications in educational management, online education and Indigenous education and is currently undertaking a doctorate at the University of Southern Queensland researching professional development and learning object reuse.

I think this is a great presentation to make you think about your content in an online environment. Especially when it comes to marketing.

I love the new updated social media stats video. Definitely gives you something to think about. Check it out here:






Videos posted on YouTube by Socialnomics09

Do you have questions about e-assessment, or want to share your experiences and thoughts to promote better understanding and improved practices in e-assessment?

Beginning in May and continuing throughout 2010, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) is conducting half-day workshops around Australia on E-assessment challenges and solutions.

The workshops will support the implementation of the Framework’s
E-assessment and the AQTF report, which considers key e-assessment issues for practitioners and auditors, and e-assessment compliance with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) 2007.

The workshops will also help to determine the requirements for draft national guidelines for the auditing of e-assessment strategies.

The workshops are particularly timely as the E-assessment and the AQTF report found that while e-assessment is growing in popularity and being increasingly adopted throughout vocational education and training, many practitioners and auditors are still finding their feet with e-assessment.

Workshop details:

National
e-Gems online conference
Thursday 12 May
12:30pm-1:30pm AEST

ACT
Thursday 10 June

New South Wales
TBA

Northern Territory
TBA

Queensland
Wednesday 23 June

South Australia
Friday 18 June

Tasmania
Tuesday 15 June

Victoria
Thursday 29 July

Western Australia
TBA

For updates on workshop dates, stay tuned to: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/research

For more information and to register, contact the E-learning Coordinator in your state or territory: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/e-learningcoordinators

To read the E-assessment and the AQTF report or three e-assessment case studies developed to support the report findings, go to: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/research

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework has awarded $237,000 to develop and manage eight projects that will deliver innovative e-learning training solutions in the Northern Territory in 2010.

Project funding and support has been awarded to registered training organisations based on their ability to either:

• support business-training provider partnerships that can drive the integration of e-learning into business and training
• empower learners through projects which target the needs of individuals in the community or existing and future students of the RTO.

All full list of awarded projects in the Northern Territory are listed below.

Please note: all effort has been made to ensure the below information was true and accurate at the time of posting. This information will be updated and further announcements made once projects have undertaken their 2010 inductions.

1. An e-backpack for Indigenous Rangers by Charles Darwin University
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will facilitate the development of e-resources to assist the sustainability of formal VET training, and support the workforce learning necessary for remote Indigenous Rangers in the Northern Territory.

2. Waltja Nintirripai Project by Waltja Tjutangku Palyapai
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will develop and trial e-portfolios with Indigenous Community Services workers to increase the remote learner's level of learning continuity and effectiveness, as well as increase their capacity to direct their own learning.

3. Becoming e-classroom friendly by Eagle Training Services NT Pty Ltd
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will utilise computer based and electronic delivery methods to allow community based Indigenous trainers to access their Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in a more innovative and flexible way.

4. e-Portfolios for Flexible Assessment by Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will utilise e-portfolios for collection of learner's evidence to assist with the RPL process to gaining the new Certificate IV in Public Safety Qualification.

5. ALPA E-learn 2010 by The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will build the RTOs future training delivery capacity for delivery to remote Indigenous students undertaking retail management qualifications by integrating e-learning strategies into the RTOs present face-to-face training and assessment strategies.

6. POV Camera Glasses for Remote Assessment by Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will develop strategies and tools to enable the use of point of view (POV) camera glasses for remote assessment of learners in the public safety sector.

7. IS Australia 2010 E-learning development project by Industries Services Training Pty Ltd t/a IS Australia
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will look at developing and adapting e-resources appropriate for remote and regional Indigenous learners and to demonstrate how to utilise these resources in mobile learning units located in remote locations.

8. One Mob One Talk by Chamber of Commerce NT
This is an Empowering learners project

This project will develop resources using OneTalk Technology to support Indigenous learners working in the financial services sector by translating training materials and concepts into language.

Registered training organisations (RTOs) can now apply for a share of $100,000 to trial new technologies which have the potential to deliver substantial benefits to the national training system.

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) will fund up to six emerging technology trials in 2010 to help vocational education and training (VET) practitioners adopt and use new technologies effectively.

As well as highlighting the benefits, risks and future development needs of new technologies, the trials will make an important contribution to the national e-learning standards (e-standards) for VET.

“These trials will identify ways that emerging technologies may be used in teaching and learning and where related e-standards work may be needed to support the widespread implementation of these technologies in VET,” the Framework’s E-standards for Training Manager, Kristena Gladman, said.

The following emerging technology priority areas have been identified as being of particular interest to the national training system in 2010:

· cloud computing/web 2.0, including mashups

· alternative input devices to support users with disabilities

· evaluating new or emerging e-learning content development tools (eg eXe)

· tools for development of accessible content and e-learning systems

· e-book applications and devices

· point of view (POV) glasses

· mobile technologies

· assessment and RPL (recognition of prior learning) assistive technology

· virtual worlds and other augmented reality environments.

In 2009, the Framework funded five emerging technology trials exploring diverse educational applications of a range of technologies including cloud computing, RSS feeds, GPS, and wikis. Mobile learning was a particular focus, with several of the trials investigating how mobile technologies can facilitate and enhance hands-on learning outside traditional classroom environments.

The results of the 2009 trials are now available on the E-standards for Training website – to view or download the summaries, follow the links below:

· GPS and geo-tagging to support just-in-time outdoor learning.
· Collating organisational information using RSS feeds.
· Delivering situated, real-world learning and assessment using mobile devices and wireless networks.
· Wikis as development and delivery platforms.

Applications for the 2010 emerging technology trials will close 31 March. For more information, including the 2010 application guidelines, visit the E-standards for Training website: http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/emerging-tech-trials

2010 E-learning Innovations funding

Registered training organisations (RTOs) in the Northern Territory are invited to apply for E-learning Innovations funding and support to implement innovative e-learning solutions for businesses and students. The 2010 Northern Territory E-learning Innovations Guidelines for Applicants provide information about how to apply for funding.

FREE public information sessions will be held in Darwin and Alice Springs in early February. For further information please see below.

Online applications can be made from 1 February 2010 and RTOs are encouraged to apply electronically. A Word version of the application form is currently available to use as a working document in preparation for completing the online application.

To apply for NT E-learning Innovations funding please go to http://flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations/2010application and follow the directions.

Applications will close on Tuesday 2 March 2010 at 5pm NT time.

For more information contact your NT Innovations Coordinator Melanie Brenton on (08) 8942 1651 or email ntinnovations2010@gmail.com.

2010 NT E-learning Innovations Guidelines and Application

2010 E-learning Innovations Guidelines for Applicants -NT - pdf. [236kb]

To apply for 2010 E-learning Innovations funding, please complete the NT Online Application form at http://flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations/2010application

NT E-learning Innovations 2010 Application form (working doc) - doc. [483kb]

NOTE: Please ensure that you have read the NT E-learning Innovations 2010 Guidelines for applicants thoroughly before applying.