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TAFE QUEENSLAND
ONLINE Summary TAFE Queensland Online (TQOL) is a provider of online education and training services to TAFE Queensland Institutes.
Context Established by the Queensland state government in 1998, TAFE Queensland Online is a business unit of TAFE Queensland set up to give TAFE Queensland Institutes a competitive edge in the online market segment.
As a business unit TQOL generates income from service provision as well as managing corporate functions. All 16 TAFE Queensland Institutes are shareholders and contribute to its financial viability. Through service agreements with the Institutes, TQOL provides a basic enrolment and student tracking service, allows access to all online materials and manages the online enrolment and payment processes. Delivery is managed by the Institutes.
Key Features Learning Materials
TQOL uses a range of development tools including 'Flash' and 'Dreamweaver' but because of bandwidth problems in rural Queensland, adopts a very simple approach to web design. In order to make information attractive and accessible to the broadest group, ease of navigation is considered extremely important.
Although TQOL acknowledges the value of text, interactivity and visual effects are considered essential.
Technology is a tool to be used in the service of course design, learners’ needs and sound pedagogy but not as the key element. The pedagogy for online learning is an area needing further research
Student Support
All information in relation to courses, fees, admission and assessment requirements is available through the TAFE Queensland Website,
www.tafe.net. Additional online support for students studying online is provided by the TAFE Institute at which students have enrolled. The majority of student support is online but is also available through telephone and email. Students are offered a free course on how to use email and the Internet and staff also have access to information about delivery and development strategies. The website has a FAQ area.
Future Plans
Online courses are currently being developed and modified for the Tourism and Hospitality (Retail Travel Sales), e-Commerce, Project Management, Sport and Recreation, Administration, Community Services (Drug and Alcohol) and IT industries. These are based on training packages and add to the courses currently being offered via this medium. TAFE Queensland currently has in excess of 145 units of competency available online including a newly accredited Certificate IV and Diploma in Project Management due for release in early September 2001.
Improved Quality Assurance procedures are being developed to keep pace with the changing nature of the IT industry.
In the future TQOL plans to offer online RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) and job-seeking services, and to improve its links with learning facilitators in the Institutes.
Key Messages
- Creating a business relationship between the online service unit (TQOL) and the TAFE Institutes has the strategic value of establishing a supply and demand relationship, with in built accountability.
- TQOL's emphasis on ‘information design’ and appropriate pedagogy recognises the importance of information (rather than entertainment) as a key motivation for people accessing the Internet.
- In addition to managing product development, TQOL plays an integral role in providing online facilitator training to ensure courses are available across a wide range of industries.
Contact
Leura Cathcart (Director)
Leura.cathcart@tafe.net
http://www.tafe.net
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