09-08

=**Child Studies RPL**= toc

**RTO**
Petersham TAFE Sydney Institute

**Contact**
Debbie Zappia debbie.zappia@tafensw.edu.au

**Category**
RTO-Business Partnership

**Business Partner**
Gowrie - Lady Gowrie Child Centre - NSW

Executive summary
The Child Studies Recognition Project aims to build on the existing professional relationship with Gowrie to expand Sydney Institute’s client base and uptake of Recognition with existing workers in the Child Care profession.

Sydney Institute aims to provide the most cost effective and time efficient mechanism to ascertain suitability and eligibility for Recognition with Child Studies, Petersham College. The online proposal is an innovative alternative to physically attending college to pursue the Recognition learning pathway with the use of ICT. This will involve the development of a wiki that will be designed to facilitate the implementation of a range of information and communication technologies including: survey monkey, Adobe Connect and E-portfolios.

Child Studies Petersham has a long history of involvement with the Child Care profession. We respect Gowrie’s position as a major peak body in our industry and is recognised as an innovative and respected organisation with many years experience both providing Child Care Centres of excellence and also in providing training for child care educators.

In 2008 a partnership was developed between Sydney Institute and Gowrie to work towards common training goals in the areas of Recognition and customised training and delivery of accredited units of competency. This project will focus on first step of the

**Background**
TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute is one of the largest and most innovative education and training providers in Australia. Each year, we help more than 70,000 students achieve their education, learning and work skills goals through 800 rewarding and exciting nationally recognised courses and training programs offered across seven Sydney Institute TAFE colleges, in the workplace, online and via distance learning.

A partnership between Lady Gowrie Childcare Centre, Sydney and Sydney Institute has recently been established. This partnership facilitates an opportunity for the delivery of training programs in Early Childhood. Lady Gowrie Childcare Centre has a different client base to those who have traditionally studied Certificate level and Diploma programs at Sydney Institute. Lady Gowrie’s clients have been sourced from the childcare industry and their study requirements normally include short training programs.

This partnership aims to improve the qualification levels of untrained childcare workers giving them increased opportunity to participate in higher level qualifications. Much of the focus of this project will be in the area of Recognition. Project Implementation and Sustainability

This project is a completely new e-learning practice. The primary focus was to develop a pilot e-learning program for a specific target group. The project had clearly identifiable stages: Development of technology, Implementation of technology and Evaluation.

Implementation

 * 1) Development of wiki and e-portfolio technologies
 * 2) Prospective clients were provided with a brochure outlining the Recognition Wiki URL at each Gowrie In-service according to the Training Calendar.
 * 3) Prospective clients accessed the Wiki in their own time and became familiar with the Recognition: process/ eligibility/ roles / and success stories of previous students
 * 4) Development of individual learning plans and development of Recognition E Portfolios
 * 5) Participation by students with resource and student forum
 * 6) Survey Monkey was used to guide reflection of current skills, knowledge and experience. This data was then analysed by the team members
 * 7) Evaluation and reflection was carried out by team members and the feedback was then given to Lady Gowrie

My Experience With Children Wiki
@http://myexperiencewithchildren.sydneyinstitute.wikispaces.net/

**Project Wiki for My Experience With Children**
@http://csinnovations09.sydneyinstitute.wikispaces.net/