$144,400 funding for e-learning innovation in tasmania
National Monday Update Issue:
Tasmanian registered training organisations (RTOs) can apply for a share of $144,400 in funding and support to develop innovative e-learning solutions for businesses and individuals in line with key Tasmanian training priorities.
E-learning Innovations funding and support, provided by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), will be awarded to RTOs based on their ability to:
- support business-training provider partnerships that can drive the integration of e-learning into business and training
- develop innovative e-learning practices that target the needs of a more diverse range of learners.
Tasmania’s funding is part of the $2.65 million allocated for 2011 E-learning Innovations projects nationwide, provided to each state and territory on a pro-rata basis. This follows yesterday’s announcement that the Framework has received the go ahead for its activities until the end of June 2011*, opening up new opportunities for Australian RTOs, business and industry to embed e-learning as a key aspect of their business strategy and tailor training to meet learners’ needs.
Projects will need to align with one or more of the action areas in the Tasmanian Skills Strategy, including:
- improving adult literacy skills
- improving workforce development
- meeting industry demand for skills
- skills for innovation and future industries
- deliver responsive, high quality education and training
- building on local advantage
- attracting skilled people to Tasmania
- attracting and retaining young people in education, training and employment
- increasing opportunities through social inclusion.
Applicants are encouraged to build on existing Framework e-learning infrastructure when developing e-learning solutions, such as Flexible Learning Toolbox (Toolbox) learning objects, e-standards, resources, guidelines and professional networks.
Since 2008, the Framework has helped 34 Tasmanian projects embed innovative e-learning solutions. Two case examples are detailed below:
e-Orientation: How a major hotel group eased its training burden
Tasmania’s largest private sector employer, the Federal Group, partnered with GlobalNet ICT to develop e-Orientation, a high quality and dynamic online orientation training and assessment program. The program was developed to address the challenges involved in the retention and training of its remote, geographically dispersed and seasonally-based workforce.
Providing tailored orientation information for each group’s tourism and hospitality business online, e-Orientation significantly reduces the need for costly face-to-face orientation programs and enables the company to more effectively train and re-train employees.
Small RTO grows with e-learning
Island Health College (IHC) developed an online program for anatomy and physiology modules, which form part a number of broader health qualifications. This provided geographically isolated learners in Tasmania with the opportunity to study natural therapies for the first time.
An online presence helped IHC secure Australian Pilates Method Association (APMA) endorsement as a preferred training provider of modules included in the Advanced Diploma of The Pilates Method, leading to national exposure and recognition for their pilates training.
Refer to the E-learning Innovations Team Profiles to access information on all past projects.
Applications open on Tuesday 24 August 2010.
Read the 2011 Tasmanian E-learning Innovations Guidelines for Applicants for more information on how to apply for funding in Tasmania.
Applications close at 5:00pm AEST on Monday 20 September 2010 and the successful applicants will be notified on Monday 4 October.
To assist you in applying for funding, a free national online information session will be held:
Date: Thursday 9 September 2010
Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm AEST
Location: http://tinyurl.com/egems-2011innovations OR
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=675&password=M.8831B0E4AD9F2C0338DBE968E80CB0
Registration is not required. Participants must have access to internet, headphones and a microphone and have installed and configured the Elluminate web conferencing software beforehand.
For more information contact the Framework’s Tasmanian Innovations Coordinator, Fiona Huskinson, by phone: (03) 6233 2140 or fiona [dot] huskinson [at] skills [dot] tas [dot] gov [dot] au (email)
*The six month allocation, to end of June 2011, will bring the Framework funding cycle in line with other funding arrangements under the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), which are based on a financial calendar year.