Flexible LearningFlexible Learning

Has Technology “delivered” strategic Has Technology “delivered” strategic advantages to Education?advantages to Education?

Raju VaranasiRaju VaranasiAssociate DirectorAssociate Director

Business, Arts and IT Curriculum CentreBusiness, Arts and IT Curriculum Centre

TAFE NSWTAFE NSW

Flexible Learning – a definitionFlexible Learning – a definition

Flexible Learning expands choice on Flexible Learning expands choice on what, when, where and how people what, when, where and how people learn. It supports different styles of learn. It supports different styles of learning, including e- learning learning, including e- learning (Flexible Learning Advisory Group, ANTA, 2001)(Flexible Learning Advisory Group, ANTA, 2001)

Education has come a long way in exploiting Education has come a long way in exploiting Technology for business benefits. Technology for business benefits.

However, a lot more needs to be achieved.However, a lot more needs to be achieved.

Characteristics of Education marketsCharacteristics of Education markets

Increased competition Increased competition eg private vs public in eg private vs public in vocational educationvocational education

Blurring amongst sectors eg Blurring amongst sectors eg TAFEs vs TAFEs vs Universities in post graduate levelsUniversities in post graduate levels

New qualifications New qualifications eg Associate degrees eg Associate degrees

Diverse learner needs Diverse learner needs eg gifted and talented, eg gifted and talented, isolated, behavioural, medical, special Ed, isolated, behavioural, medical, special Ed,

Pressure for new streams of revenue Pressure for new streams of revenue eg eg commercial training activitiescommercial training activities

High unmet demand in some areas High unmet demand in some areas eg eg children’s services, business serviceschildren’s services, business services

Dimensions and key elements of Dimensions and key elements of Flexible LearningFlexible Learning Access Access – equity and technology are the key elements– equity and technology are the key elements

Structure Structure – educational, organisational flexibility – educational, organisational flexibility

Content Content – educational, learning design, technology– educational, learning design, technology

Media Media – technology, – technology,

Methods Methods – learning design, pedagogy– learning design, pedagogy

Interaction Interaction – learning design, pedagogy, technology– learning design, pedagogy, technology

Pathways – Pathways – educational, organisational flexibilityeducational, organisational flexibility

Technology has been a key enabler for Technology has been a key enabler for Flexible learning over the last 10 yearsFlexible learning over the last 10 years

Communication- emailCommunication- email Collaboration – chatCollaboration – chat Learning Management SystemLearning Management System Learning Object MethodologyLearning Object Methodology RepositoriesRepositories Search and discovery toolsSearch and discovery tools Portals as Online Learning sitesPortals as Online Learning sites Self-serve Tools in LearningSelf-serve Tools in Learning

Good Practice examples Good Practice examples Languages Online – Secondary Schools - French, Languages Online – Secondary Schools - French,

Japanese and Chinese Japanese and Chinese Wound management - Online learning for post initial Wound management - Online learning for post initial

training in Nursingtraining in Nursing Human Resources Management – A toolbox for HR Human Resources Management – A toolbox for HR

related roles – based on scenarios from real life related roles – based on scenarios from real life casescases

Children’s Services – flexible learning customized for Children’s Services – flexible learning customized for a migrant resource centrea migrant resource centre

Viticulture – field activities to reflect learners Viticulture – field activities to reflect learners workplacesworkplaces

Real Estate and Fire Rescue – “time poor” Real Estate and Fire Rescue – “time poor” occupational roles, not just “distant” occupational roles, not just “distant”

Benefits RealisedBenefits Realised

Improved usability - Integration with Janison Improved usability - Integration with Janison Learning Management System using on Windows Learning Management System using on Windows

Reduction in error rate - of materials sent, received, Reduction in error rate - of materials sent, received, addresses eg NCVER auditaddresses eg NCVER audit

Tracking assignments and automatic Tracking assignments and automatic acknowledgments – operational efficienciesacknowledgments – operational efficiencies

Huge rise in the use of self help functionalities – Huge rise in the use of self help functionalities – student satisfactionstudent satisfaction

Online availability and access of exam papers to Online availability and access of exam papers to students – rise in student motivation and students – rise in student motivation and participationparticipation

Single log on to a range of services – customer Single log on to a range of services – customer serviceservice

Current Strategic gainsCurrent Strategic gains

Resource efficienciesResource efficiencies More mileage for same investment eg More mileage for same investment eg

distance educationdistance education Quality teaching practicesQuality teaching practices Integration in learning environmentIntegration in learning environment Further unleashing the power of self Further unleashing the power of self

service service Modular product development to re-Modular product development to re-

purpose and re-use purpose and re-use Integration in publishingIntegration in publishing

Future our strategic gainsFuture our strategic gains

Pedagogy and improved learning designsPedagogy and improved learning designs Integration of content to the context – quality Integration of content to the context – quality

of teachingof teaching Personalised learning – eg 14-19 year olds, Personalised learning – eg 14-19 year olds,

vocational studentsvocational students Customer Relationship Management – not Customer Relationship Management – not

just milestone monitoringjust milestone monitoring Teaching and Learning Exchange – a major Teaching and Learning Exchange – a major

initiative for DET in NSWinitiative for DET in NSW Teacher professional developmentTeacher professional development

The Strategic Shifts now The Strategic Shifts now occurringoccurring

From From Operational useOperational use (eg: automated student (eg: automated student records) to records) to Strategic useStrategic use (eg: personalisation) (eg: personalisation)

From From AdministrationAdministration milestones to milestones to RelationshipRelationship buildingbuilding

From From Print basedPrint based distance learning to distance learning to Blended Blended LearningLearning and support and support

From From ContentContent focus to focus to CollaborationCollaboration in in LearningLearning

From From completely in-housecompletely in-house product to product to leveraging third partyleveraging third party materials materials

In summaryIn summary

After a period of trial and error, we After a period of trial and error, we learnt our lessons re the use of learnt our lessons re the use of technologytechnology

We are now focussing more on the We are now focussing more on the other elements of the learning other elements of the learning environment, now that technology is in environment, now that technology is in place (although still fast changing)place (although still fast changing)

Flexible learning is moving from the Flexible learning is moving from the edge edge to to adjunct adjunct to theto the core core of our of our business.business.

Thank you. Thank you.