flexible learning in ACE

	Quick reference
	overview	methodology	defining flexible learning	themes
		practical guide	further reading	acknowledgements

Using the TAFE VC as to support teachers and learners @ Olympic Adult Education

This scenario illustrates how ACE has successfully used online mechanisms available to them in unique ways to support staff and students online. This tool, together with the face to face support offered by Cathy in her role as e-learning co-ordinator, has been a vital strategy in developing staff confidence at this centre.

Olympic Adult Education
Northern Region

E: cathy@oae.vic.edu.au

Olympic Adult Education (OAE) is a community owned organisation, adult community education (ACE) provider and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) providing educational and community development opportunities to adults in the West Heidelberg and surrounding areas.

The organisation began as a collective in the early 1990's and developed a primary focus on language and literacy programs for adults who are educationally disadvantaged. Provision also includes vocational and pre-vocational training as well as personal development and general adult education programs. The organisation specifically targets individuals from the following groups who encounter barriers to education, training, employment and general community life: Non-English speaking background, refugees and asylum seekers, disabled, sole parents, women, older adults and youth.

In 2001 OAE set up a Staff Communication Hub using the TAFE VC platform. The aims of the Hub were to: provide an effective means of online communication for staff, many of whom are employed on a casual basis; reduce the amount of paper used for internal memos and correspondence; give staff experience with online communication and help develop their IT skills.

The Staff Communication Hub has been widely used since its inception. It is now the main means of communication in the organisation and staff login on a regular basis. The Discussion Board is used to inform staff about meetings, PD opportunities, OH&S issues and other items of a general nature. Teachers who share classes frequently correspond via the internal email.

There was resistance from some staff in the Hub's early days. Only a few members of staff had Internet access at home and the connection at work was slow or often dropped out. However, over time these issues have been resolved and the Hub is now accepted as the primary means of communication.

The Hub requires regular maintenance. Old messages need to be deleted and new staff need global ID's from a provider administrator so they can access the Hub. In addition, new staff require a brief induction session. OAE has assigned these tasks to an e-learning co-ordinator.

Learners will be part of an e-community that involves intra-class, inter-class and inter-organisational communicative activities. The Hub will give learners the opportunity to develop the online communication skills considered essential to successfully negotiate pathways for further education, employment and training opportunities, and to experience greater involvement in community life.