'Inclusion and Inspiration'
8 - 19 November 2004
NET*Working 2004 online conference registers high level interest
More than 1,900 vocational education and training (VET) professionals registered to take part in NET*Working 2004, making it one of the largest online education and training conferences ever held in Australia. NET*Working 2004 ran from 8 - 19 November and was supported by over 200 local events held in all States and Territories, providing a unique 'face-to-face' element.Leading edge virtual classroom technology allowed NET*Working 2004 participants to communicate with presenters and other delegates using the latest voice, visual and text software.
NET*Working 2004 Project Director Sue Lapham said the online conference provided an opportunity for participants to: enhance their skills using new technologies; receive valuable advice and tips on teaching and learning online; be inspired by VET professionals' e-learning journeys; and make valuable new contacts.
"We hope we achieved our goal of providing a content-rich rich, online learning experience for participants with diverse technological skills, from long-term technology converts to teachers and trainers new to the concept of e-learning," Ms Lapham said.
"Sessions using the 'Elluminate' virtual classroom technology and 'Wimba' voice boards proved to be most popular from the range of different interactive activities offered by the 10-day program.
"Participants were amazed by sessions where they could listen to presenters simultaneously from New York and London, view PowerPoint slides, ask questions and communicate with other delegates," she said.
"The Elluminate technology allows session participants to virtually raise their hand, talk, leave the room, add their thoughts to the whiteboard, applaud or display a confused symbol, so the presenter can monitor how the session is going. I think it was a surprise for most of the participants to realise that this technology is designed for online classroom training and that it really does translate into a quality, interactive e-learning experience," Ms Lapham said.
One of the most popular presentations was 'Flexible Learning Centres - What are they? What do they look like? Who uses them?' hosted by TAFE NSW staff. The session outlined how Flexible Learning Centres have been designed to provide a supportive, flexible area to enable self-directed life long learning. They also promote a culture of cooperation between students, teachers and support staff.
Another presentation which generated a lot of interest was Associate Professor and former Director of ISD Training Systems, University of Marlyland, Zane Berge's 'Barriers to e-Learning'. Mr Berge discussed research examining barriers to online learning for students.
Key research findings pointed to a range of factors including administrative issues, social interaction, academic and technical skills, learner motivation, time and support for studies, cost and access to the Internet, and technical problems.
This presentation turned into one of the most interactive discussions of NET*Working 2004, with participants using the latest voice communication technology to share their views on the challenges of online learning environment and strategies to overcome them.
Canadian e-learning guru Stephen Downes' lively web blog 'Daily Inspiration' was also very popular with delegates, providing an amusing guide to the daily NET*Working 2004 activities and highlights.
NET*Working 2004 is an initiative of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), a national strategy to support Australia's VET system meet the rapidly increasing demand for flexible learning, including e-learning, from industry, enterprise and clients.
Jim Davidson, Chair of the Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG), which is responsible for providing strategic direction and support to the Framework, presented on the last day of the conference with a discussion on the future direction of e-learning within the VET system.
He said that over the past five years the Framework has:
- increased people's skills
- made available a wide range of flexible learning tools and resources
- significantly increased the strength of individual institutions in terms of their capacity to deliver education and training more innovatively.
The NET*Working 2004 conference site will continue to provide a rich resource for registered delegates, with the entire 10-day conference program, including audio and video transcripts, remaining on the site at: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/nw2004/ until 30 December 2004.
From January 2005 conference sessions will be freely accessible so that everyone can benefit from NET*Working 2004 learning outcomes. Stay tuned to http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au for information about when this will be available
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