E-learning Innovations Australian Flexible Learning Framework

1. E-learning Innovations Australian Flexible Learning Framework

2. YMCA Perth • Community based not-for-profit • Operating in Perth for more than 100 years • Being an RTO is a small part of the Y • Mission driven

3. YMCA Perth Training Strategic intent – We grow the capacity of individuals through the provision of flexible and innovative training and assessment

4. Challenges • Geographically dispersed learners • Many in rural/remote locations • A focus on the individual rather than large cohorts • Very limited resources Technology based learning is a natural fit

5. What makes innovation work? Seven key drivers – • Strategy • Senior leadership • Business case • Resourcing • Champions • People supports • Technological support Callan & Bowman 2010

6. Innovation requires a ‘safe space’ • Framework funding can provide that ‘safe space’ • YMCA Perth has innovation embedded in it’s strategic intent • Framework funding has provided a safety net for some risk taking innovation

7. Innovations projects YMCA projects have aimed at improving learning and overcoming disadvantage • Geographic isolation • Lack of time • Literacy

8. Innovations projects The use of technology has to be appropriate and has to add something • Often the old technologies are the best “After 400 years, print is still superior” Hsu & Mitchell 1997

9. Innovations projects 2008 – Hand-e-fit 2010 – Choose your own learning

10. Hand-e-fit technology • Nokia 6131 NFC • RFID tags • Video files • Telstra Next G network • tagIT application

11. Hand-e-fit • Participant uses the phone to swipe a tag located on a piece of gym equipment • Tag activates a request for a video and checks against a server in Tasmania

12. Hand-e-fit • Participant views a video on how to operate that specific piece of equipment • Central server records the action

13. Participant swipes RFID tag Usage recorded by the server Video downloaded to phone via Next G Video request sent to server Server checks current version of video NO YES Play requested video Hand-e-fit Process flowchart

14. Hand-e-fit • The idea and technology worked well • We proved the capability • The application/context wasn’t right • Lots of environmental noise • Small screen size and bright environments • Some interference from the metal frames of the equipment

15. Choose your own learning technology • ARED • Existing LMS • PC/Internet

16. Choose your own learning • Learners access computer based scenarios • The scenarios are a rendering of a ‘decision tree’

17. Choose your own learning • By choosing their own pathway (and receiving feedback) they are able to construct knowledge

18. Choose your own learning • The approach ‘worked’ • Maybe ARED wasn’t the ideal tool • Required a bit of post production tweaking • Feedback was positive • This mode of object creation and use will be more widely implemented

19. Benefits of the projects • Opportunity to test new ways that may not have been trialled otherwise • Provided an alternative to heavy text based material which engaged learners • Opened up avenues for better supporting distant learners

20. Our learning • The learning objects weren’t the major outputs • the professional learning was! • The technology wasn’t the major challenge • The old fashioned job of developing the content was • Coupled with ‘how’ to best utilise it

21. Looking forward • Framework funding has enabled us to try a number of new things • Existing participants have benefited • Future participants will benefit even more • Innovation is part of our strategic intent • We hope to have more opportunities to learn as part of the framework

22. Any questions? Thank you