Projects: Hot Topics - 2004 Projects

Carefully targeted small just-in-time research projects will be commissioned on strategic policy issues identified by the FLAG and other Framework programs / projects to inform future planning.

The Hot Topics cluster outcomes are:

1. Measuring Success: setting benchmarks for flexible learning a briefing paper undertaken by Ian Phillips , I&J Management Services. FLAG commissioned this exploratory research project to inform its approach to advocating for, providing advice on and, where appropriate, facilitating the establishment of data collection processes at national, State and Territory, and RTO level to enable the measurement of:

• the uptake of flexible learning in VET
• the impact of FLAG's activities on the uptake of flexible learning in VET.

The briefing paper identified practical answers to the following research questions:

• what would be suitable indicative performance measures?
• what data is currently being collected that could be used?
• what are the gaps and proposed ways of addressing these?

and made recommendations to FLAG on future strategies and activities to complement its accountability framework. An outcome from this briefing paper was the commissioned research project, Preparing the Ground: performance measures for Framework 2005 - 2007.

2. The 2004 Preparing the Ground: performance measures for Framework 2005 - 2007 project was undertaken by Ian Phillips , I&J Management Services. The outcome of the project was Preparing the Ground: e-learning indicators report which made a set of recommendations to FLAG on a set of performance indicators and data collection tools which could be used to assess the uptake, use and impact of e-learning in VET and included:

• indicators that can be used to capture information on the uptake and outcomes of e-learning
• implementation of these indicators in the short and longer-terms.

The outcomes from the Preparing the Ground: e-learning indicators report informed the strategic planning for the 2005 Framework E-Learning Benchmarking project.

3. Two environmental scans were commissioned to inform the 2005 Framework projects:
E-Learning for Target Learner Groups - Youth and E-Learning for Target Learner Groups - learners with disabilities.

Learners with disabilities

• To carry out an environmental scan identifying recent and relevant research and / or projects / initiatives across the education sector, community and industry both nationally and internationally that:
  • focus on issues for learners with disabilities
  • identify strategies / recommendations that improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities through the use of appropriate e-learning resources and technologies
  • identify key networks in States and Territories
• Provide a brief description of each of the research / projects identified including any key findings / executive summaries and include contact details and links to relevant research / projects where possible
• Provide a case study of a peak organisation identifying how they currently use assisted technology to link clients back into the workforce.

The research was undertaken by John Odgers, WestOne Services. Although the primary purpose of this research was to inform the 2005 project, the findings from the report were considered to be useful to a broader set of stakeholders.

Click here for the full report and database (PDF 342kb).

Youth

• To carry out an environmental scan identifying recent and relevant research and / or projects / initiatives across the education sector, community and industry both nationally and internationally that:
  • focus on issues for young people in the 15 - 19 age group including VET programs with a focus on youth, VET in Schools, disengaged youth and school-based apprenticeships
  • identify strategies / recommendations that motivate and enhance employment skills of young people through innovative programs and resources using new technologies including e-learning.
• Identify existing Framework resources
• Provide a brief description of each of the research / projects identified including any key findings / executive summaries and include contact details and links to relevant research / projects where possible.

The research was undertaken by Kristine Peters, Kristine Peters Project Management.

Key research finding have been widely distributed through the pamphlet, What Matters: e-learning for Youth.

Click here for the full report including the database (PDF 342kb).