New eLearning Research Addresses Skills Shortages

Launched by the national training system's eLearning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework E-learning to support national training initiatives reports on nation-wide consultations and includes three innovative case studies of eLearning practice.

Key findings from the Framework's research include:

• Employers clearly want more work-based training, with less time spent in off-the-job training and shorter completion times for apprenticeships.
• ELearning capability is a key factor in an organisation's ability to innovatively support national training initiatives.
• There are trade-offs for eLearning, including higher demands related to collaboration between all stakeholders and students expecting to see training that uses technologies they are comfortable with.
• In the future, social networking tools will be central in providing greater support for learners as they complete more of their training away from the direct support of their teachers and fellow learners.

The Framework's Benchmarking and Research Business Manager, Annie Fergusson, says the research highlights the important contribution that eLearning makes to solving skills shortages and provides valuable insight for people wanting to implement eLearning within the vocational education and training (VET) system.

Three case studies are featured in the study are:

1. The Chisholm Institute's mobile learning and assessment project
2. TAFE SA's carpentry training course, using Moodle to create effective online learning sites.
3. Blue Dog Training, Queensland's online training for apprentices.

This report coincides with the launch of the Framework's Guidelines for supporting learners using eLearning in the workplaces report, which provides practical models for businesses and their training partners to develop eLearning.

Case Studies