|
|
WEST COAST ONLINE
(West Coast College of TAFE, WA)
Summary
West Coast Online is rapidly taking West Coast College of TAFE into the online era through innovative Research and Development into all aspects of online learning and product development for the VET and Higher Education sector.
Context
West Coast College of TAFE has had a commitment to flexible learning for over a decade. The establishment of West Coast Online as a business unit of West Coast College was an important part of the College’s evolving flexible learning strategy, and signalled a major commitment to the online learning mode.
To date, West Coast Online has been involved in a great variety of R&D projects relating to online learning and/or delivery, such as:
-
Learnscope projects (both within WA and multi-state) covering professional development in the area of understanding and implementing online learning/delivery
-
Product Development, in particular the ANTA toolboxes.
In 1999, West Coast Online received funding to develop the ANTA Retail Toolbox, the Certificate I and II in Retail Operations training package. This was followed up in 2000/2001 by implementation strategies and online delivery to both VET students in Western Australia and corporate clients from the retail industry across Australia. The Retail Toolbox can be viewed at
www.westcoast.wa.edu.au/retail.
In 2000, West Coast Online developed the Certificate III in Community Services (Children’s Services) ANTA Toolbox, which has recently been completed and is now being implemented at the College. A Certificate II in Telecommunications (Call Centres) ANTA Toolbox, also developed by West Coast College in 2000, is also being implemented in 2001. The Childcare Toolbox can be viewed at
www.westcoast.wa.edu.au/childcare. The Call Centre Toolbox can be viewed at
www.westcoast.wa.edu.au/childcare.
In 2001, West Coast Online, as part of West Coast College of TAFE’s Research and Development Division, successfully tendered for three new ANTA Toolboxes in Series 4. This was a significant achievement since only 18 Toolboxes were funded nationally, and
acknowledges West Coast College’s reputation as a leader in the field of online product development. Toolboxes currently under development by West Coast Online are:
-
The Certificate IV in Property (Real Estate)
-
The Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Security)
-
The Certificates III and IV in Telecommunications (Call Centres) – selected units.
A significant professional development program is currently being run across the college, involving a variety of study areas. This program aims to integrate online learning into all areas of the college by taking an action-learning approach to provision of skills such as using WebCT and other learning platforms, as well as the skills and techniques involved in effective online teaching.
In 2001, West Coast Online merged with the Research and Development Division of West Coast College. This move will enable the unit to provide support to other R&D activities within the college as online learning and delivery continues to grow across the study areas.
Partnership arrangements include collaboration with other TAFE colleges and industry. Some resource and professional development is done in partnership with WestOne Services. In addition to product development and professional development activities, West Coast Online also maintains the West Coast College web site, which can be seen at
www.westcoast.wa.edu.au.
Key Features
Evaluation
A Hospitality Internet Project was a key West Coast Online pilot in 1999, involving a total of 139 learners. A thorough evaluation of the project has been conducted to assist with continual improvement strategies, and to provide a perspective on the effectiveness of online learning compared to traditional training.
The Project involved four Registered Training Organisations – West Coast College, Central West College, Great Southern Regional College and Hospitality Group Training. It was a significant example of a collaborative exercise that benefited learners and training providers alike.
The evaluation report can be found at www.westcoast.wa.edu.au/
West Coast Online is also currently taking part in a national evaluation process for the Series 2 and 3 ANTA Toolboxes, as well as gathering feedback from its current online learners in order to improve its product development and online teaching practices.
Change Management through Professional Development
During 2000 West Coast Online ran five online awareness programs targeted at facilitation and management staff. One of these projects involved Program Managers who met every second week in August and September to chat, online, about a range of topics relevant to the implementation of online learning in their program areas. Each session lasted for one hour and guest speakers were invited to contribute. Because of the online nature of the chat, interstate guests were regular participants.
Chat log files were sent to all participants after each session. The first two sessions encouraged debate, and the third (on the costs and benefits of online learning) produced a resolution for a small committee to pursue the issues raised.
In 2000, about 50 academic staff members have undertaken some form of training in the application of online technologies to their teaching practice. Some staff have undertaken work-based professional development through Learnscope, other staff have been through the WestOne Program Area Tutor (PAT), Instructional Design Scholar and College Online Coordinator (COCO) Schemes. . Action learning models have been found to be the most successful approach. West Coast College is currently implementing a core professional development program throughout 2001 that will take account of good practice approaches. A range of options and methodologies are presented in a modular form to enable staff to pick and choose the skills that will be most appropriate to them. This just-in-time approach is providing an excellent platform for innovative online learning pilots.
In 2001, three Toolbox implementation projects have been completed or are currently underway. These projects have involved lecturing staff as well as academic managers and student support staff.
Technology Solutions
The server used by West Coast Online is physically located at a Telstra server farm in Sydney but administered locally. This arrangement was specifically chosen for its high reliability and performance speed in an effort to provide the best possible service to all users. In addition, a local server is used to house current development work and local files.
Future Plans
West Coast Online has developed a Business Plan for 2001/2002, which includes the following key strategic initiatives:
-
Continue to tender for the development of ANTA Toolboxes as these have proven to be excellent vehicles for professional development.
-
Implement Retail, Call Centre and Childcare Toolboxes for a range of client groups on- and off-campus. This will include customisation of content and development of good practice learner support mechanisms.
-
Develop and implement a core professional development program for West Coast College staff.
-
Identify and obtain high quality learning objects that can be easily integrated into current teaching and learning practices.
-
Develop a just-in-time online learning system for corporate professional development on the West Coast College Intranet.
-
Integrate data base functionality into the West Coast College web site.
-
Integrate web-based marketing strategies into advertising for courses offered.
In addition, West Coast Online intends to continue networking nationally with other organisations involved in online development and/or delivery. West Coast Online presented a paper at the Open Learning 2000 Conference (Brisbane), the Spotlight On The Provider Conference (Perth) and will be represented at the NET*Working 2001 Conference in October 2001 (Brisbane) during the launch of the Series 3 ANTA Toolboxes.
Key Messages
-
Using online technologies to conduct professional development about online learning is an obvious, but nevertheless clever high yield strategy.
-
Putting facilitation staff at the centre of the educational design model is a useful way of building expertise and generating ownership.
-
Develop a modularised, just-in-time professional model for the application of online technologies to teaching and learning.
-
Work with industry to build customised dimensions of Toolboxes and other online product.
Contact
Anzara Clark, A/Manager West Coast Online
clarka@west_coast.training.wa.gov.au
Alternatively if you wish to contact West Coast Online with general enquiries, email:
online@training.wa.gov.au.
web site: www.westcoast.wa.edu.au
|
|
