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INSTITUTE OF TAFE TASMANIA
(ONLINE LEARNING SUPPORT PROJECT)
Summary
Institute of TAFE Tasmania is an organisation with 27,737 enrolled students and three major locations in the state; in the south, at Hobart; in the north, at Launceston; and in the northwest, at Burnie and Devonport. Smaller campuses are located in rural areas.
Context
Predominantly, The Institute of TAFE Tasmania’s students attend on
campus although many are training on the job, often in rural and isolated areas. Others receive their training flexibly, through traditional print based Distance Learning courses, and through an increasing number of online courses (Approximately 1400).
The Online Learning Support program was conceived as a means of meeting the needs of an increasing number of students who are unable to access the daytime learning support programs, which are offered in the three major centres.
It is aimed at all enrolled TAFE Tasmania students, online, distance, on the job, or attending regular classes. Their only requirement is the ability to access a computer.
Key Features
The Learning Support Project
The project is conceived as having two parts:
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A self-directed learning program, which gives instruction on key elements necessary for successful completion of studies.
The TAFE Tasmania’s Distance Learning handbook ‘Getting Started with Your Studies' will be included with the online resources.
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A communication hub, consisting initially of a number of Bulletin Boards/discussion groups. It is the role of these groups to build community, discuss learning issues, and support students with their individual concerns. The discussions will be monitored daily by staff.
Email contact and telephone numbers to the Learning Support Advisor and
Student Services staff is also provided.
The Self-Directed Learning Program
An integral part of this is the self-assessment questionnaire, ‘Am I Set Up to
Succeed’, which is recommended to students as the starting point for their quest for success in their studies.
Students complete the questionnaire, giving themselves a mark out of 10 for each question. Questions deal with various aspects of the study/learning process.
Students are advised that in any question for which they score less than
six they should read the relevant ‘lesson’ linked to the question.
The ‘Lessons’
Lessons consist of instruction, written by the project officer. They can vary in length and complexity. Most contain links to relevant web sites.
Lessons are self directed and not monitored by the teacher. Instead, students are encouraged to address any issues encountered with the Student Services staff.
The Communication Hub
There are four bulletin boards; one to facilitate introductions and ‘getting to know
you’; one just for fun, jokes, recipes, community, etc; one for asking general questions; and one to deal with study issues and challenges.
Students who have access to teaching staff are urged and supported to discuss learning/training issues with them.
Email and phone numbers of relevant Student Services personnel are supplied. Students are encouraged to make contact with the relevant staff if the lessons or the discussion groups do not address their issues.
Key Messages
To create a site which:
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is warm, welcoming and friendly.
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has a variety of activities.
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avoids vast tracts of print.
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is interactive.
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consciously sets about building a community of learners, who interact with each other, just as they do in a classroom.
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caters for different learning styles by using multi media and other techniques.
Contacts
June Mezger
Team Leader, Student Services
Phone: 03 63 36 4223.
Pamela Parsley
Project Officer, Student Services
Phone: 03 63 36 2723
Whereas the TAFE Tasmania website will provide information on courses, enrolment details, career and job advice and library services, this case study is confined to the proposed learning support project.
Website: http://www.tafe.tas.edu.au
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