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The specific objective of the
project was to bridge the simulated learning/assessment environment
of Practice Firms with the 'real world' of entrepreneurial
small business. To do this the project team set up a Work
Studio within the Todd Street Business Chamber small business
incubator. Graduating students from the Practice Firm (campus
based) were relocated into the Work Studio (incubator based),
supported by relevant staff who would facilitate learning/assessment
activities as appropriate either within the incubator or
in intensive tutorial support sessions (as outlined in the
tourism timetable example in the project report).
The new
practice introduced the students to the world of small
business operators in a community supported business environment.
It provided
networks and opportunities, not just for employment but also
for self-employment. The students were helped to identify a niche
market within
their chosen
vocational pathway and, for a short period of time, became
part
of the business incubator community as they commenced their
business operations. They experienced
the same mentoring program that other incubated businesses
experienced; attended networking functions; liaised both
within and externally
from the business incubator to facilitate their business, and
operated a business
that required them to initiate, generate and consolidate business
activities. |
Pauline de Vries
Douglas Mawson Institute of Technology
Download a video overview of the project - QuickTime (7.5Mb)
or MPEG (4.9Mb)
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The project report provides a mapped list of demonstrated
employability skills across three Training Packages: Level IV
- Retail, Tourism
and Information Technology, aligning these wherever possible
to the Business Incubator Manager's
model of incubator readiness and an employability skills framework.
Mapping of these specific outcomes provide an insight into
the level of readiness
the students brought with them from the Practice Firm or other
experiences, as well as any learning developed or enhanced
because of their Work Studio/business
incubator experience.
To share the learning experience the project
team documented the learning process from student, staff and
other stakeholder perspectives, including issues arising on the journey.
The
case study
process
also provided
opportunities for the project team to reflect as individuals,
to share (sometimes somewhat brutally) the frustrations,
personal visions and hopes for the
students through the project outcomes. The case study became
a wonderful story of the staff journey and the insights of
the business partner and
institute patron.
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The project resources available on-line through the links
above, as well as additional video footage, sound and images
have been developed into a multimedia resource of 'new practices'.
This CD-ROM is available and can be ordered through your local
Framework communication officer by completing the online order
form.
Order a New Practices in Flexible Learning CD-ROM. |
