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LAUNCESTON COLLEGE, TASMANIA
Summary
Launceston College matches a strong executive commitment to online learning with a comprehensive professional development plan for its staff, using a range of innovative strategies to provide targeted professional learning opportunities.
Context
Launceston College is a Tasmanian senior secondary college that combines a Year 11/12 curriculum with a wide range of vocational education and training programs. One of the largest secondary schools in Australia, the college has 1300 students studying subjects through its ‘Open Learning School’. Half of these students are over 21. Some are child-rearers aiming to re-enter the workforce; many are older students seeking qualifications for the job market or to enter university.
Launceston College first became involved in open learning in 1996, when the Tasmanian Open Learning Service devolved delivery of its Year 11/12 distance education curriculum to the eight Tasmanian secondary colleges.
With the arrival of the current principal, came a strong executive commitment to the development of online learning at Launceston College. Beginning with the Open Learning program, online offerings have now been extended to the pre-tertiary and VET areas. These involve a mix of in-house content, some commercial products and limited use of WebCT programs. The plan is to integrate on-line technology into classroom situations across the college, as well as offer complete on-line courses. Eventually, college staff hope to develop a range of commercial on-line products, marketable to international students.
Key Features
Professional Development
Launceston College has a comprehensive Learning Technology Plan (2000-2002), which is aligned with its strategic plan. A key component is the approach to the professional development of staff.
With an average age of around 47, teachers’ level of comfort with technology varies greatly. Yet the college has set the aim of enabling all teachers to develop proficiency in learning technologies.
To achieve this, each year, teacher IT competencies are assessed, or previously acquired qualifications are recognised. All staff complete an individual learning plan based on their particular needs. This then informs the implementation strategy for the college’s Professional Development plan for the following year.
To support the PD plan, seven ‘lead learners’ have been appointed, and given one ‘line’ of time release, to develop and deliver a multi-faceted PD program. The ‘lead learners’ work with staff in a wide variety of ways, including study groups, peer coaching, technology coaches and mentoring. The approach is tailored to fit the individual’s learning plan.
Fifty staff have nominated to be part of an innovative online development program,
and have been provided with a laptop computer. They have opted into an ongoing professional development and content development program.
A help desk is also available to staff for ‘just-in-time’ advice and support.
Student Support
Classroom teachers at Launceston College train their students in the use of technologies for on-line learning as an accepted part of the classroom experience. However there are also partnership arrangements with local on-line access centres to provide basic computer training and support for Open Learning students.
Future Plans
Broadband Launceston is a federally funded project that will provide Telstra’s new DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet access to 9000 sites in the Launceston area, enabling connections at 100 times the speed of a normal modem connection.
As Launceston College is already facing bandwidth issues, it sees many potential benefits from the new project. Increased use of videoconferencing is one example.
Another initiative being considered is the use of digital video to capture in-class explanations and demonstrations that open learning students would otherwise miss. These could be bundled onto CD as MPEG, even including different teachers’ presentations of the same material.
Key Messages
- Many organisations make the mistake of planning for the technology, but neglecting the development of staff skills. The Launceston College experience highlights the critical importance of aligning professional development plans with the organisation’s strategic and technological directions.
- To capitalise on the benefits of online technology, the professional development of staff needs to be planned and resourced as thoroughly as any other aspect of an organisation’s strategic plan.
Contact
Nigel Hill, Assistant Principal, Launceston College
http://www.launc.tased.edu.au/
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