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E-learning Innovations
Australian Flexible Learning Framework
flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations
YMCA Perth
• Community based not-for-profit
• Operating in Perth for more than 100 years
• Being an RTO is a small part of the Y
• Mission driven
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YMCA Perth Training
Strategic intent –
We grow the capacity of individuals through the provision of flexible and innovative training and assessment
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Challenges
• Geographically dispersed learners– Many in rural/remote locations
• A focus on the individual rather than large cohorts
• Very limited resources
Technology based learning is a natural fit
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What makes innovation work?
Seven key drivers –
Callan & Bowman 2010
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Innovation requires a ‘safe space’
• Framework funding can provide that ‘safe space’
• YMCA Perth has innovation embedded in it’s strategic intent– Framework funding has provided a safety net
for some risk taking innovation
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Innovations projects
YMCA projects have aimed at improving learning and overcoming disadvantage
– Geographic isolation– Lack of time– Literacy
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Innovations projects
The use of technology has to be appropriate and has to add something
– Often the old technologies are the best
“After 400 years, print is still superior”
Hsu & Mitchell 1997
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Innovations projects
2008 – Hand-e-fit
2010 – Choose your own learning
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Hand-e-fit technology
• Nokia 6131 NFC• RFID tags• Video files• Telstra Next G network• tagIT application
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Hand-e-fit• Participant uses the
phone to swipe a tag located on a piece of gym equipment
• Tag activates a request for a video and checks against a server in Tasmania
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Hand-e-fit• Participant views a
video on how to operate that specific piece of equipment
• Central server records the action
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Hand-e-fit
Server checks current
version of video
Video downloaded to phone via Next G
Play requested
video
Participant swipes
RFID tag
Video request sent to server
Usage recorded by the server
NO
YES
Process flowchart
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Hand-e-fit
• The idea and technology worked well– We proved the capability
• The application/context wasn’t right– Lots of environmental noise– Small screen size and bright environments– Some interference from the metal frames of
the equipment
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Choose your own learning technology
• ARED
• Existing LMS
• PC/Internet
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Choose your own learning
• Learners access computer based scenarios
• The scenarios are a rendering of a ‘decision tree’
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Choose your own learning
• By choosing their own pathway (and receiving feedback) they are able to construct knowledge
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Choose your own learning
• The approach ‘worked’
• Maybe ARED wasn’t the ideal tool– Required a bit of post production tweaking
• Feedback was positive– This mode of object creation and use will be
more widely implemented
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Benefits of the projects
• Opportunity to test new ways that may not have been trialled otherwise
• Provided an alternative to heavy text based material which engaged learners
• Opened up avenues for better supporting distant learners
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Our learning
• The learning objects weren’t the major outputs – the professional learning was!
• The technology wasn’t the major challenge– The old fashioned job of developing the
content was– Coupled with ‘how’ to best utilise it
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Looking forward
• Framework funding has enabled us to try a number of new things– Existing participants have benefited– Future participants will benefit even more
• Innovation is part of our strategic intent
• We hope to have more opportunities to learn as part of the framework
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Any questions?
Thank you