Flexible Learning Has Technology “delivered” strategic advantages to Education? Raju Varanasi Associate Director Business, Arts and IT Curriculum Centre TAFE NSW

Flexible Learning – a definition Flexible Learning expands choice on what, when, where and how people learn. It supports different styles of learning, including e- learning (Flexible Learning Advisory Group, ANTA, 2001) Education has come a long way in exploiting Technology for business benefits. However, a lot more needs to be achieved.

Characteristics of Education markets Increased competition eg private vs public in vocational education Increased competition eg private vs public in vocational education Blurring amongst sectors eg TAFEs vs Universities in post graduate levels Blurring amongst sectors eg TAFEs vs Universities in post graduate levels New qualifications eg Associate degrees New qualifications eg Associate degrees Diverse learner needs eg gifted and talented, isolated, behavioural, medical, special Ed, Diverse learner needs eg gifted and talented, isolated, behavioural, medical, special Ed, Pressure for new streams of revenue eg commercial training activities Pressure for new streams of revenue eg commercial training activities High unmet demand in some areas eg children’s services, business services High unmet demand in some areas eg children’s services, business services

Dimensions and key elements of Flexible Learning Access – equity and technology are the key elements Access – equity and technology are the key elements Structure – educational, organisational flexibility Structure – educational, organisational flexibility Content – educational, learning design, technology Content – educational, learning design, technology Media – technology, Media – technology, Methods – learning design, pedagogy Methods – learning design, pedagogy Interaction – learning design, pedagogy, technology Interaction – learning design, pedagogy, technology Pathways – educational, organisational flexibility Pathways – educational, organisational flexibility

Technology has been a key enabler for Flexible learning over the last 10 years Communication- Communication- Collaboration – chat Collaboration – chat Learning Management System Learning Management System Learning Object Methodology Learning Object Methodology Repositories Repositories Search and discovery tools Search and discovery tools Portals as Online Learning sites Portals as Online Learning sites Self-serve Tools in Learning Self-serve Tools in Learning

Good Practice examples Languages Online – Secondary Schools - French, Japanese and Chinese Languages Online – Secondary Schools - French, Japanese and Chinese Wound management - Online learning for post initial training in Nursing Wound management - Online learning for post initial training in Nursing Human Resources Management – A toolbox for HR related roles – based on scenarios from real life cases Human Resources Management – A toolbox for HR related roles – based on scenarios from real life cases Children’s Services – flexible learning customized for a migrant resource centre Children’s Services – flexible learning customized for a migrant resource centre Viticulture – field activities to reflect learners workplaces Viticulture – field activities to reflect learners workplaces Real Estate and Fire Rescue – “time poor” occupational roles, not just “distant” Real Estate and Fire Rescue – “time poor” occupational roles, not just “distant”

Benefits Realised Improved usability - Integration with Janison Learning Management System using on Windows Improved usability - Integration with Janison Learning Management System using on Windows Reduction in error rate - of materials sent, received, addresses eg NCVER audit Reduction in error rate - of materials sent, received, addresses eg NCVER audit Tracking assignments and automatic acknowledgments – operational efficiencies Tracking assignments and automatic acknowledgments – operational efficiencies Huge rise in the use of self help functionalities – student satisfaction Huge rise in the use of self help functionalities – student satisfaction Online availability and access of exam papers to students – rise in student motivation and participation Online availability and access of exam papers to students – rise in student motivation and participation Single log on to a range of services – customer service Single log on to a range of services – customer service

Current Strategic gains Resource efficiencies Resource efficiencies More mileage for same investment eg distance education More mileage for same investment eg distance education Quality teaching practices Quality teaching practices Integration in learning environment Integration in learning environment Further unleashing the power of self service Further unleashing the power of self service Modular product development to re- purpose and re-use Modular product development to re- purpose and re-use Integration in publishing Integration in publishing

Future our strategic gains Pedagogy and improved learning designs Pedagogy and improved learning designs Integration of content to the context – quality of teaching Integration of content to the context – quality of teaching Personalised learning – eg year olds, vocational students Personalised learning – eg year olds, vocational students Customer Relationship Management – not just milestone monitoring Customer Relationship Management – not just milestone monitoring Teaching and Learning Exchange – a major initiative for DET in NSW Teaching and Learning Exchange – a major initiative for DET in NSW Teacher professional development Teacher professional development

The Strategic Shifts now occurring From Operational use (eg: automated student records) to Strategic use (eg: personalisation) From Operational use (eg: automated student records) to Strategic use (eg: personalisation) From Administration milestones to Relationship building From Administration milestones to Relationship building From Print based distance learning to Blended Learning and support From Print based distance learning to Blended Learning and support From Content focus to Collaboration in Learning From Content focus to Collaboration in Learning From completely in-house product to leveraging third party materials From completely in-house product to leveraging third party materials

In summary After a period of trial and error, we learnt our lessons re the use of technology After a period of trial and error, we learnt our lessons re the use of technology We are now focussing more on the other elements of the learning environment, now that technology is in place (although still fast changing) We are now focussing more on the other elements of the learning environment, now that technology is in place (although still fast changing) Flexible learning is moving from the edge to adjunct to the core of our business. Flexible learning is moving from the edge to adjunct to the core of our business. Thank you. Thank you.