Ph  Fax  Level 4, 1 Oxford Street, DARLINGHURST NSW 2010 TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning TAFE NSW RPL Colloquium 2007: More possibilities, better results Thursday 7 June 2007 Swissotel Sydney In association with TAFE NSW – COAG RPL Professional Development Project ICVET RPL Project Manager – Janet Hewson

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Pam Christie Director Sydney Institute - TAFE NSW Chair, TAFE NSW RPL Steering Committee Colloquium 2007 opening

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning OVERVIEW 1.Why so much interest in RPL? 2.How is TAFE NSW performing? 3.What’s happening to support the expansion of RPL in TAFE NSW?

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Why RPL? Skill shortages Fast track skilling solutions Focus on mature age Need to up skill existing workforce Cost and efficiency pressures

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Response from Governments “All RTOs in receipt of public funds to provide …. a quick and simple process to recognise their skills” COAG 2006 COAG Commonwealth/State program to build capacity and drive good practice - $6.6m matched funds over three years NSW State Plan targets and NSW Government election commitment to expand opportunities for RPL

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning TAFE NSW PERFORMANCE Credit transferRPL NSW15 Vic67 Qld58 SA83 WA36 Tas44 NT22 ACT71

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning TAFE NSW PERFORMANCE RPL for TAFE NSW was 3% of all module enrolment outcomes in 2005 From 2007, RPL attracts 100% ASH Policies and procedures for reporting recognition updated SIS enhanced to capture and record RPL

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning TAFE NSW RPL INITIATIVES BVET PROJECTS Skills testing pilots – develop RPL tools and pilot skills testing in 10 trades Prove it! – CLI managed site – TAFE intranet version

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning TAFE NSW RPL INITIATIVES COAG PROJECTS 1.Virtual RPL Support Centre – on line advisory and referral service 2.Skills Express – industry partnering Construction, Plumbing, Electrical, Automotive and Hairdressing 3.RPL Professional Development

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning CHALLENGES RPL is not quick and simple RPL requires good assessment practices RPL candidates need to be well informed RPL needs to be personalised RPL needs to be offered with gap training

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Opening address Dr Pauline Hart Associate Director Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction and Transport Curriculum Centre

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Program overview and introductions Maret Staron Manager TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning (ICVET)

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning What kind of web do we want to spin today? Key speakers TAFE Board Spark topics Conversations Networking Follow up

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Conversations Conversations are learning experiences – a way of sharing and creating knowledge together Knowledge resides in people (and only flows through technology). We create learning environments, but the chief tool that makes learning happen is conversation (Alan Webber) We learn in conversation, in relationship

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Strategic conversations ― Core assumption : you need to be involved in diagnosis and generating solutions (Schein, 1978) ―A collective creation of propositions and finding strategy (2 nd Road, 2006) ― Goal: making new horizons, sharing understanding through thoughtful, collective conversation ―The questions focus our search for solutions

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Key contacts NSW COAG RPL PD Project Partnership : Illawarra Institute : –Bernadette Ioannou, Project Manager –Charlie Higgs, R/Recognition Coordinator Hunter Institute –Jill Albrecht, Recognition Coordinator ICVET –Janet Hewson, Chief Education Officer –Lynne Stallard, A/Principle Education Officer

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Writers –Deborah Willmer, R/Teaching and Learning Manager, SWSI –Keith Greenough, R/Assistant Director, Learning Pathways and ICT, Strategic Business Unit, SI –Kate Appleton, Teacher, Community Services, Granville, SWSI –Anne Walsh, Teacher Coordinator, NCI –Norma Smith, Contractor –Wendy Wyatt, ICVET Website Manager –Janet Hewson, CEO, ICVET

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Watch out for –Alex Hays, NSW LearnScope Project Officer, ICVET, podcasting –Robyn Jay, NSW LearnScope Manager, photos plus –Deanne Bulmer, Administrative Officer, ICVET

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning What sparks your interest in RPL?

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning “Spark Topic” – 3 P’s - Pedagogy Generating new opportunities in the engine room Anne Walsh Senior Education Officer Teaching and Learning Development North Coast Institute

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning RPL more possibilities – better results Making RPL a valid process - Beyond the Portfolio

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning My aim today: is to stimulate discussion about the validity of the recognition process as it is generally understood and applied by the everyday VET practitioner.

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning What is validity? A valid assessment is one that assesses only what it claims to assess. For example – written tests are only valid if there is an expectation in the unit of competence that the candidate has literacy skills. (This could be indicated in the key competencies.)

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning If the candidate requires particular skills in order to undertake the assessment, and those skills are not included in the competency being assessed, the assessment process is not necessarily valid.

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning In a typical RPL the candidate: is given information about the specific evidence requirements is advised on ‘typical’ items of evidence goes off and collects evidence collates evidence into a portfolio of some sort maps portfolio to unit(s) and elements presents evidence for assessment

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Skills required? Ability to interpret a unit of competence and specific evidence requirements differentiate between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ evidence collect, collate, map and present evidence in the form the assessor expects

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Remember Benjamin Bloom? The skills required to compile a portfolio are higher order.

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Lower level skills required… Remember what they have done in the past Make sense of the requirements of the unit/elements and specific evidence Apply that information in the context of their own experiences

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Higher level skills required… Analyse their experiences to determine the relationship to the evidence requirements and what evidence they may be able to extract Evaluate the evidence in terms of it’s relevance and appropriateness Construct a portfolio/narrative to explain their artefacts

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Is this fair? Depends on the: nature of the unit of competence nominated level of the key competencies AQF level of the unit context in which the competence is being applied

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning The ‘simple’ answer Apply the principles of assessment to recognition Think beyond the ‘portfolio’ Provide structured support for the candidate All of which have resource implications.

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning My question for you to consider If you agree there are validity issues associated with the assessment process, what are you going to do about it?

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Networking How to make the most of your networks – ‘intensional’ networks and relationships Cliff Trood Chief Education Officer TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning (ICVET)

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning networking Its about building and sharing what you know

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning networks : two ideas of interest the Strength of Weak Ties Grannovetter, 1973 ‘intensional’ Networks Nardi, Whittaker & Schwarz, 2002

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Ties StrongWeak regular time spentLotslow / none emotional strengthHighlow closenessHighlow

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Weak Ties you Weak ties are bridges that allow new knowledge and practice to travel between networks

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning ‘intensional’ netWORKs changing work environments personal networks deliberate construction continuous maintenance activation to do the job

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning One of the most important resources we share with each other is access to those in our networks. The other is our knowledge

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Networking Opportunity Refreshments Ballroom Lobby

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning “Spark topic” – 3 P’s - Process Harnessing the power of process Jill Albrecht COAG RPL PD project team Hunter Institute

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning

Harnessing the power of process The 10 top tips for processing Recognition

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Course Student Assessment Guides Student Recognition Guide for each module Course Credit Estimate Report on E- services Tip 1: Recognition Information on the Internet

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning

DET Intranet site – TAFE and Community EducationDET Intranet site TAFE Strategy and Business Operations Teaching and Learning – Recognition Contains Embedded Testamur Policy and other policies PowerPoint presentation for use in staff training Links to HSC/TAFE website and other relevant sites Tip 2: Educational Capability website

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Found on Educational Capability website New chapters on processing Recognition Hyperlinks to relevant websites and for easy navigation Frequently asked questions covering nearly every possible Recognition scenario Tip 3: Everyone’s Guide to Recognition – NEW EDITION

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Found on Educational Capability website Updated annually Hyperlinked for easy navigation Detailed instructions on processing all types of forms Tip 4: 2007 Guide to Enrolment and Enrolment Adjustment forms

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning What If Student Record Summaries SCIENRSRS GOLD 2 for What If report Shows all possible entitlements based on previous TAFE studies Complements the E-services report available to students Tip 5: SCIS

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Standard exemption entries Advanced Standing Arrangements Course Student Assessment Guides Unit Guides Tip 6: CIDO

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning A useful new resource for Recognition recording? May need to be customised, or perhaps a new version for Recognition assessment could be added? Available on CIDO for every course Full course structure shown with unit codes and names Codes for types of evidence presented Tip 7: Learning and Assessment Strategy Form

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Link to the sites from the TAFE NSW website HSC/TAFE site shows all entitlements for Standard exemptions based on HSC study Shows possible units that students may gain credit for, based on VET study in school High rate of use in schools TAFE/Uni site links to Universities with credit transfer websites Tip 8: HSC/TAFE and TAFE/Uni Credit Transfer websites

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Country Education Profiles – AEI website (Australian Education International) Obtain a password from TAFE International Education Unit – Debra Pinkerton Multicultural Education Unit booklets map overseas school and university qualifications to Australian levels Tip 9: Tools for processing Overseas study

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Many new Recognition resources under construction Funded by ESC, BVET and COAG Will be in hard copy and electronic formats SCIS Help Desk Progressions and Completions Unit (David Hooker’s unit) Your campus support staff Tip 10: Curriculum Centre Gateway sites and your colleagues

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Prior learning is a gift, but sometimes we treat it as a burden” Adapted from Ratna Omidvar, Executive Director, Maytree Foundation Recognizing Learning Conference Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 2001 Conclusion

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Strategic Conversation on key questions Q1 How can we reconcile the tension between quality assessment and the economic imperative – “quick and simple” and “increased volume?” (COAG, OECD, 2007) Facilitators: Jill Albrecht – Yellow group Cliff Trood – Blue group Q2 How can we facilitate new training/business opportunities by seeing RPL as a diagnostic tool as opposed to just a ‘must do’ policy? Facilitators: Lynne Stallard – Pink group Charlie Higgs – Purple group Q3 How can we reconcile the tensions between individualised/personalised assessment and the economies of scale in the classroom or large groups? Facilitators: Bernadette Ioannou – Green group Greg Madden – Red group

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Networking Opportunities Lunch in the Ballroom Lobby Poster Session : Curriculum Centres COAG RPL PD Project Bruce Blackshaw HT Network

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning “Spark topic” – 3 P’s - Product Working with Industry Bernadette Ioannou Project Manager - COAG RPL PD Project Recognition Excellence and Learning (REAL) Project Illawarra Institute – TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Product – Working with Industry Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (ISC) Strategy in skilling the workforce Why is it important? Key to best practice Expertise of assessors Best practice model

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Product – Working with Industry TAFE NSW – Appliance Industry Association Certificate II in Electrotechnology Servicing (Appliance – Refrigeration) Aim of programme Benefits Development of RPL process and tools Outcomes

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Product – Working with Industry Skilling the Existing Workforce Project National project focus Duration Stakeholders Enabling strategies

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Strategic Conversation on key questions Q4 How can we reconcile a teacher’s role as an educator as opposed to that of an RPL assessor – how do you take the learning out of assessment? Facilitators: Jill Albrecht – Yellow group Cliff Trood – Blue group Q5 What are the responsibilities for the teacher’s role in the RPL process as opposed to those of the student? Facilitators: Lynne Stallard – Pink group Charlie Higgs – Purple group Q6 How do we reconcile the tension between the implicit/intuitive/tacit nature of professional judgements and meet our audit requirements for explicit, valid and accountable data?” Facilitators: Bernadette Ioannou – Green group Greg Madden – Red group

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Sustaining the momentum Reinforcing processes ―Self facilitated “like” groups – Institutes (x10), Curriculum Centre (x1), Statewide Units (x1) ―Where to from here? How do I share this with others? “A learning oriented strategy aims to produce self-sustaining change in a way that continually accelerates its own growth and development. In systems terms, it operates as a “virtuous reinforcing cycle”. (Senge, 1999)

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Key address Melanie O’Connor Managing Director The Academy Network Pty Ltd NSW TAFE Commission Board

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning Closing Remarks Kim Fillingham General Manager TAFE NSW Business

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning CLOSE ICVET website – eZine August 2007 –Today’s PowerPoint –Resources/stories from the Colloquium RPL Online forums (Adobe Breeze sessions) Wed 25 July and Thur 23 August Please leave evaluation sheets Refreshments are available in the lobby Thank you and have a safe journey home

TAFE NSW International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning