09-61+-

=**Byte Size Assistance**=

**RTO**
Australian Institute of Management

**Contact**
Karen Lee (Project Manager) karenle-at-aimnsw.com.au

Ann Brady (Project Coordinator) ann.brady2008-at-gmail.com

**Category**
Empowering learners

**Business Partner**
N/A

Executive summary
AIM are a not-for-profit organisation who work with closely with industry to improve their management capability. Our current learning and assessment model is to deliver face-to-face training, followed by a work-place assessment task. Assessments are work-based to encourage active learning with almost immediate practical application. However, our geographically dispersed participants sometime fail to complete their assessment tasks due to barriers such as lack of time and isolation. This project will address these issues by implementing an e-learning solution which provides a robust, structured and supportive online environment where participants will be guided through the assessment process. We believe that this flexible approach will improve completion rates and lead to improved skills utilisation in the workplace and an increase in the number of qualified workers.

See our blog for a detailed account of our experience including video feedback from the team!

A Byte Size Assistance Information Pack can be downloaded here. A Byte Size Assistance e-Facilitation Guide can be downloaded here.


 * The project in a nutshell:**

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**Final report**
=Background= The Australian Institute of Management (AIM) is a not for profit  membership organisation, dedicated to enhancing the capacity of managers, leaders and organizations.  We do this through a range of services in business and management training, events and seminars, coaching, research and publications, supported by a specialist management bookshop and library services. For more information about our organisation please visit our website http://www.aimnsw.com.au.

In 2009 we were successful in acquiring funding through the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) to further embed e-learning into our training practices This project provided AIM with an opportunity to extend our current assessment support process by developing a collaborative online assessment model, designed to support learners who are undertaking work-based assessment with AIM.

Competing demands upon learner’s time often prevents them from successfully completing their assessment tasks. Our model assisted our learners to integrate assessment within their existing workload. The support methodologies included the provision of coaching (for example, evidence collection or developing and maintaining an assessment plan) as well as opportunities to collaborate with peers. We trialled the supported assessment process with students who had completed face to face training in the Certificate IV. The intention was to develop a framework using e-learning tools and strategies, that would lead participants to a successful outcome. This process is transferable to work-based assessment in any management subject.

=Project implementation and sustainability= The project lifecycle ran from April 2009 to November 2009.

The following phases were implemented to keep the project team on track and to ensure that we met our project outcomes:

Phase One: A meeting of key stakeholder and the formalisation of the team Phase Two: Investigate and select appropriate e-tools Phase Three: Induct AIM staff, develop e-learning resources and undertake preliminary trials. Phase Four: Participants undertake Frontline Management training and assessment activities and provide feedback using various evaluation methods selected Phase Five: Conduct interim review and undertake end of project activities, including project reporting and attendance at //elearning 09//.

=The solution= The project trialled a supported assessment process using e-learning tools and strategies for employees of the NSW Ambulance Service who have completed face to face training in the Certificate IV in Frontline Management. The intention was to develop a framework that would lead participants to a successful outcome and introduce e-learning tools. This experience was documented in a blog which will include an assessment model and a case study.

=Benefits= The supported assessment resulted in a less stressful assessment experience overall, through:
 * the provision of online coaching
 * setting achievable goals
 * maintaining contact with the students throughout the assessment process
 * understanding what constitutes evidence and guiding participants in a process to gather and produce their evidence which could then be uploaded electronically
 * constructing knowledge through collaboration
 * providing a flexible environment, where participants can log in at their convenience
 * continually offering feedback to students on the development of their portfolio

By undertaking workplace assessment, learners were able to transfer their learning into their workplace leading to an immediate application of newly learned skills thereby embedding those skills within the learners practice.

Our learners are managers and leaders. Their positive learning experience is likely to encourage others in their organisation to engage in e-learning and gain qualifications which will lead to a more highly skilled workforce.

Although e-learning is a growing trend, current perceptions within the business community remain focussed on classroom-based learning and assessment. This project has promoted and strengthened our position that e-learning strategies are accessible, social, and offer valuable career development opportunities for learners. We believe this project has begun to change the corporate perception of our clients about how learning and assessment can be undertaken.

=Framework resources= A diverse range of Framework products and resources are available from the Framework website [|www.flexiblelearning.net.au] to support teams with their e-learning initiatives.
 * E-learning for Industry website []
 * E-tools n Tips
 * Innovate and Integrate website []
 * Your guide to social e-learning

=The results= The results for our project were captured using comments from our learners on the wiki and through telephone conversations at the end of the project. The project team met monthly to discuss progress and issues as they arose and we stayed in regular contact by email throughout the life of the project. AIM met with the Ambulance Service management at the end of the project and took video feedback. All team members have provided video feedback which will be available on our blog shortly. Feedback from learners, the client, the assessor and the RTO have been extremely positive.


 * The learners**

Some direct quotations from our learners follow:

“I think this has been an excellent way to do assessment. I believe that with more people it would promote even more interaction. I personally think I will take away more from this online module than a paper based assessment with no interaction or reading about other problems and solutions (both good and bad” “I might actually learn something about the net amongst other things” “Love the idea, a lot easier for me to do it this way. It is also good to read everyone elses thoughts on the questions, the idea of learning from my peers is great” “What a shame our other assessments could not be accessed online”


 * The client**

The client reported that the project was a “great return on investment for the Ambulance Service”. Completion rates have improved substantially and the client stated that the convenience of being able to see how participants were progressing was a significant time-saver. They were also impressed by the collaboration between station managers (that is, the learners) who continued to learn practical day to day management practices from each other throughout the process. Another interesting observation was that

“the relationship between assessors and participants led to assessors being more motivated to get participants over the line [that is to achieve competence]. But it also worked the other way. The participants were more motivated to finish and make assessors proud”.


 * The assessor**

The assessors enjoyed the challenge and the interaction with students. Specific challenges were becoming familiar with the technology and learning how to adopt an appropriate tone in the online environment. They commented that a substantial amount of time was involved encouraging and motivating participants to begin and then to sustain their efforts.


 * The RTO**

Our project alerted our management team to the fact that small groups throughout the organization are investigating various e-learning tools and strategies and has resulted in an organization-wide strategic approach to integrating e-learning within our training and assessment model. The model will include the online assessment process developed in this project and is likely to follow the steps outlined below:



=Project Outputs= A Byte Size Assistance Information Pack has been developed and can be downloaded from the Executive Summary at the top of this page. It includes the following which can be adapted for use with Wetpaint wikis:
 * Logging on to a Wetpaint wiki
 * How to participate in a Wetpaint discussion
 * How to controlling email alerts
 * How to upload files
 * How to add contenet to a wiki page
 * How to upload an attachment
 * Third Party Report template
 * Sample code of conduct
 * Glossary of terms

A Byte Size Assistance Facilitation Guide is also available from the Executive Summary and contains the following information:


 * The face to face session
 * Facilitating online discussions
 * Facilitator interaction and feedback
 * How to delete inappropriate or irrelevant posts
 * Send a direct message to an individual
 * Collecting evidence

=Framework connection= The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework [1] ) funds and supports [|E-learning Innovations] projects which aim to embed e-learning into the national training system by supporting and enabling innovation in training design and delivery, at the state and territory level. =Acknowledgement=

This is a NSW [|E-learning Innovations] project output, developed by the Australian Institute of Management, with seed funding from the Framework.

=For more information= Australian Institute of Management Karen Lee Curriculum Development Manager Byte Size Assistance Ph: (02) 9956 3066 Email: karenle-at-aimnsw.com.au

Phone: (07) 3307 4700 Email: enquiries@flexiblelearning.net.au Website: __ flexiblelearning.net.au __
 * For more information on the Australian Flexible Learning Framework:**

[1] [|http://flexiblelearning.net.au]