limber up & become flexible! tales from my australian flexible learning leaders year

Limber Up & Become Flexible!

Tales from my FLL Year

By Leanne IsaacsonRegional Learning Coordinator

Murray Mallee Community Education NetworkSeptember, 2004

Agenda

My Journey and Lessons Learnt Flexible Community Education in

Murray Mallee Flexible Learning Leader

Scholarship and 2004 Activities Limbering Up – How can Flexible

Learning Engage the Community?

My Journey Attended Geranium Area School &

Walford Anglican School for Girls Employed as Book keeper, Share

Registrar, Council Administration Officer Returned 1989, Married & 2 Children Involved in Adult Education in 1995 Voluntary Co-ordinator Education Group

1996 -1999

My Journey Adult Community Education (ACE)

Council & Agriculture & Horticulture Training Council in 1997

FarmBis Officer 1999 Networks for You Regional Coordinator

2000 Ezigrain Trainer 2002 Regional Learning Coordinator 2003 Flexible Learning Leader 2004

Community Education in Murray Mallee

Southern Mallee Community Education Group Originated in 1992 – Incorp in 1996

Region covers 30,000 square km – population of approx 22,000

Community Education in Murray Mallee

Vision “To establish a flexible

learning environment for the Murray Mallee Region that allows communities

to pursue lifelong learning opportunities”

Community Education in Murray Mallee

Share market, succession planning, forklift & truck licences, communication

Woodwork, first aid, cooking,craft, singing, parenting

Flexible Community Education in Murray Mallee 1996 - Suite of laptop computers – courses in

local football clubrooms & local primary school.

1997 - Cert 3 in Info Technology via flexible delivery (blended delivery of F2F & email using Eudora). 9 people gained Certificates

1997 - "Working the Wool Market" delivered by video conference via satellite to various locations throughout Australia. 12 participated at Karoonda. One way video and 2 way audio contact via phone & fax directly to the presenters.

Flexible Community Education in Murray Mallee 1999 - IT Seminar at Geranium entitled "Rural

Communities Utilising Technology towards 2010". Topics included Internet & Phone Banking; F@rming Online; Utilising New Technology; Online Education & Video Conferencing. 65 people attended.

2000 - 2002 - Networks for You and Ezigrain raised awareness of internet.

2002 “Come & Try Videoconferencing” series of workshops via videoconference eg Farmers Legal & Liability Issues; How to Turn your Farm into a Host Farm; Apprenticeship Info; Wine Appreciation.

2003 - Wine Appreciation course via video conference from Naracoorte TAFE to 5 sites within the Murray Mallee region.

Flexible Learning Leader Scholarship 2004 - Goal

To develop a flexible learning plan for Murray Mallee Community linking flexibly delivered ACE programs with pathways to future participation in flexibly delivered VET programs.

Flexible Learning Leader Scholarship - AIMS Increase skills in online learning, video

conferencing and other forms of flexible learning

Facilitate delivery of ACE programs via flexible methodology providing learners with increased experience and confidence to undertake flexible delivery of more formalised learning.

Research & visit organisations in Wales

Flexible Learning Leader - Activities 2004

Floristry – F2F & Video Conference

Video Conference Sharemarket Workshop – ABB Ausbulk UGH merger & implication for farmers

“Your Childrens Eyes” Video Conference

“Flexible Learning Can Be FUN” Forum

Flexible Learning Leader Activities 2004

Floristry – Face to Face

Flexible Learning Leader Activities 2004

Floristry – Video Conference sessions

Flexible Learning Leader Activities 2004 - WALES

Swansea University DOVE Workshop Glynneath Training Centre T.A.B.S. Welsh Development Agency WEA – Risca Catapult – Tredegar WDA ICT Trailer – Pembroke Dock

Cymru-ar-leinE-Learning Strategy for Wales To demonstrate excellence in:-

Connectivity – access a learning network that is electronically linked and integrated by creating a national integrated e-learning network & providing high quality delivery infrastructure

Content – to make possible high quality learning experiences by construction or procurement of high quality e-learning programmes, promote interoperability compatible with emerging international guidelines and quality standards;

Confidence – to recognise and explore the benefit technology can bring to learning by supportfor participating learners, national program of people development, program for public understanding

Competence – to exploit technology fully to access, support and deliver learning by creating a national observatory to facilitate intelligence gathering, centre of excellence, instructional design competence, raise ICT skills

Community University of the Valleys Partnership

• A unique partnership between the Higher Education and Voluntary sectors in the West Wales & The Valleys Region

• Working to develop appropriate community based lifelong learning opportunities

• activities specifically target isolated communities, providing innovative community based learning opportunities, from informal to degree level study, offering accessible options to gain higher-level qualifications and improve skill and employability levels.

http://www.cuv.org.uk/about.htm

D.O.V.E. Workshop - Neath

www.doveworkshop.org

Community University Courses - Part-time Degree Programme

• Introduction to Sociology• Science and Society

• World Politics in the Twentieth Century• Matter, Mind and the Cosmos

• New and Old Wars• Literature and Society in Wales 1950-

1990• The Soviet Union from Lenin to

Gorbachev

Glynneath Training Centre The Centre consists of:

• Two computer labs • Broadband Internet access • A custom built Art Centre • A main classroom/meeting room for up to 20 people

http://www.glynneathtc.org.uk/

T.A.B.S. Telecentre & Business School – Porth

Computer Technology CLAIT (Computer

Literacy & Info Tech) Database,Spreadshe

ets DTP ECDL

Media Department

Wales - observations Centres well resourced with ICT equipment & internet

access Most courses accredited Large amount of funding from European Social Funding Distances between centres very minimal however

students don’t appear to travel to neighbouring centres

Flexible Learning Leader Activities 2004

Wine Appreciation course via video conference from Mt Gambier TAFE

to Geranium and Swansea in Wales.

True International “FUN”

Flexible Learning!

Lessons Learnt – Flexible Community Education in Murray Mallee

All forms of flexible learning have a role to play in the Murray Mallee and each are important for the sustainability of individuals, businesses and our rural community.

Limbering Up – How can Flexible Learning engage Rural Communities?

Individuals can learn when it suits them Reduce course costs Encourage rural regions to keep up with

new technologies Overcome sparseness of population by

enabling small groups to participate in a variety of learning

Lessons Learned Everyone has skills – recognise, value

and share them Everyone can create opportunities for

themselves & others Opportunity sometimes knocks quietly All forms of learning are important Flexible learning – what individuals

need, when they need it and where it suits them

Make Flexible Learning FUN!

We are all teachers & learners. We are able to teach & learn from each other no matter what subject, in what form and in which location.

Be prepared to take risks both as flexible learners and deliverers of flexible learning.

Create learning opportunities by Limbering Up and Becoming Flexible.