Professional Development Resources

Online resources are available to guide the design, development and management of your flexible delivery.

Flextrek: A guide to Leadership
Characteristics in the Flexible Learning Environment
Link to the Flextrek website

The flextrek resource is aimed at Vocational Education and Training (VET) managers and leaders responsible for developing and managing customer-focused, flexible learning approaches.
The resource provides:

- An exploration of eleven key leadership characteristics essential for VET practitioners

- Activities which include self-assessment tools, case studies, snapshots and in-depth readings.

Doing assessment online
Link to the Doing Assessment resource

A construction manual for building assessments in the online environment. Provides a step-by-step process and includes lots of examples of different types of assessments as well as links to many software tools useful for assessment.

Who’s it for?
Teachers and developers wanting to use a variety of assessment approaches online.

enCompass
Access the TAFE VC unit/module

A highly customisable tool for developing your organisation’s plan to introduce online learning. Provides a virtual organisation environment for professional development activities, case studies and resources to develop the models, strategies, roles and skills needed. Templates can be personalised.

Who’s it for?
Planners, managers, change management or innovation teams. Can be customised in the TAFE VC (Victorian RTOs) or loaded onto your intranet. Comes with detailed instructions for customising.

e-Moderation short course
Access the TAFE VC unit/module

A 40-hour module for teachers who have the basic technical skills but are new to the craft of online teaching. Focuses on communicating with online groups, based on the respected Gilly Salmon model for e-moderation.

Who's it for?
Teachers and trainers.

Enhancing interactivity in flexible learning
Link to the Enhancing Interactivity resource

A practical online guide to the ways to increase levels of active learning in flexible learning programs. Covers all forms of web use (classroom, online, blended approach) and covers all aspects (courseware, learning activities, communication strategies).

Who's it for?
Online courseware developers and teacher/trainers using the Web.

Getting best outcomes for online learners
Link to the resource

An online tool to assist trainers to establish their online learning group and communicate effectively using verbal and non-verbal techniques.

Features:

- a visit to a virtual classroom to observe the strategies used by the teacher

- resources and tools to help you communicate with learners.

Who's it for?
Teacher and trainers.

How to succeed as a flexible learner
Link to the resource

A guide for learners new to the online learning environment. Provides a range of information and activities to explore the skills and approaches needed to succeed.

Who’s it for?
Self-directed resource for learners, or a teaching resource for induction programs for your learners new to online. Also useful for teachers new to online.

How to succeed as a flexible trainer
Link to the resource

A development guide to the skills, roles and processes needed to implement online learning. Covers management and support issues as well as developing and facilitating. .

Who’s it for?
Self-directed resource for staff, or as a PD resource for staff training for the online environment.

ID online
Link to the resource
Access the TAFE VC unit/module

A short course to introduce teachers and developers to the basics of instructional design. You follow the steps in designing a sample online unit, applying ID principles.

Who's it for?
Teachers and developers.
Designed for organisations to deliver to their staff in-house, or can be used as a self-directed tutorial.

Online communication – let’s get connected
Access the TAFE VC unit/module

A short practical course on communication methods for subject teachers and trainers new to teaching online. The courseware is available on the TAFE VC for Victorian RTOs planning to run their own PD.

Who's it for?
Teachers and trainers using online tools for teaching and communication.

Only connect
Link to the resource

A resource for learning about teaching and learning online including relevant theories and models. Follow a path of background and readings, or try practical approaches to developing resources. Includes:

- examples of online learning materials
- choice between an academic/research path or/and a practical approach to developing resources.

Who's it for?
Teachers, trainers and developers. Designed for anyone new to online development and delivery. Can be used for self-directed professional development individually or in groups.

Practitioner guide to online assessment
Link to the resource

Presents an overview of the issues and useful case studies of a range of Australian VET providers designing online assessment in a competency-based environment. Good links to practical resources and readings.

Who’s it for?
Managers, teachers and assessors looking for ways to achieve quality assessment in the online environment.

Usability testing for online learning
Link to the resource

Provides design guidelines for usability plus a step-by-step guide for testing online courseware during the stages of development. Includes planning guides and customisable checklists for checking navigation, appearance, language and graphic design.

Who’s’ it for?
Designers and developers of elearning courseware.

Usability wizard
Link to the resource

An automated design aid for meeting usability standards in web site design. You key in your course and learner data and get a print-out of recommended design specs. Developed by Binary Blue.

Who’s it for?
Writers, designers and developers of e-learning courseware.

Virtual tour of online learning
Link to the resource

A cyber tour of key online learning sites worldwide, with guides pointing out the key features of each site, with rating of the services provided to learners. Includes resources to follow-up and explore issues.

Who's it for?
Choice of 4 tours: managers, teacher/trainers, teacher/developers and IT/support staff.

Web logging
Link to the report online
View the PDF document (PDF - 1.1MB)

A project to investigate what the 'blog revolution' is all about, and how blogs can be used in teaching and learning. Includes a website where you can explore a blog, and a research report summarising the project findings.

Who's it for?
Teachers, trainers and online developers.