Confirmed: Framework activities and funding opportunities to June 2011

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), has received the go ahead for its activities until the end of June 2011, opening up approximately $3.5m in funding opportunities for Australian registered training organisations (RTOs), business and industry to embed e-learning as a key aspect of their business strategy and tailor training to meet learners’ needs.

This announcement is timely, as a recent survey* found that 50% of Australian businesses surveyed are now using e-learning to provide flexible, timely and efficient employee training (up from 40% in 2009).

This six month allocation will bring the Framework funding cycle in line with other funding arrangements under the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), which are based on a financial year calendar.

For RTOs, business and industry, funding opportunities will enable them to:

• implement innovative e-learning solutions for business and learners through E-learning Innovations funding and support

• develop high quality learning objects (small self contained components of learning material) to support the online delivery of nationally recognised training packages through Flexible Learning Toolboxes funding and support

• embed e-learning in industry-led workforce development, with support from Industry Integration of E-learning funding for three new business clusters and continued multiple year funding for 10 ongoing industry sectors

• implement and trial an e-portfolio system to support learner mobility

• conduct trials into key emerging technologies and tools that may impact on learning and where future standards support may be required, with support from E-standards for Training funding.

While the funding is allocated for the January-June 2011 period, some funded activities will start in the second half of 2010 to allow successful applicants time to carry out their projects.

Mr Raymond Garrand, Chair of the Framework’s managing body, the Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG), said that in the last six months of the 2008-2011 Framework Strategy the Framework would focus on continuing to embed e-learning to achieve a more flexible, responsive and sustainable national training system.

“This focus is in line with COAG’s (Council of Australian Governments) reform agenda for VET, and the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment’s (MCTEE) focus to strengthen the tertiary education sector and its capacity to meet Australia’s future demands for a highly skilled workforce,” Mr Garrand said.

“Our vision is that by the end of this Framework Strategy, the Framework will have contributed to a future where learning is more personalised and tailored to learner needs, and learners are empowered to take control of their own learning with teachers and trainers as effective ‘managers of learning’.

“Industry and business will be committed to using e-learning for workforce development, and there will be sustainable e-learning infrastructure in place.”

During 2010 the Framework has contributed to this vision by:

• funding and supporting six new emerging technology trials and testing the educational applications of and applicable standards for technologies, including Point of View glasses, iPods, smartphones, web 2.0 tools, augmented reality, QTI, e-books and virtual worlds

• improving the functionality and usability of the LORN online training resource portal, including increasing the number of learning objects available and the uptake of the My LORN functionality  

• conducting and publishing research to inform the VET E-portfolio Roadmap, a national strategic plan designed to support the diverse requirements for e-portfolios in VET.

• continuing the expansion of the Toolboxes suite through the development of Series 13 Toolboxes and expanding the range of learning objects in the Toolbox Repository and the release of the Learning Design Tool in the second half of 2010

• building a greater understanding between practitioners and auditors around the benefits and uses of e-assessment through the release of the E-assessment and the AQTF: Bridging the divide between practitioners and auditors report

• providing multiple year Industry Integration of E-learning funding to support 10 industry sectors to embed e-learning in long term workforce development

• enabling innovation in training design and delivery by funding and supporting more than 140 E-learning Innovations projects across Australia

• providing free online events and information about the latest developments in e-learning in VET, including The Knowledge Tree, Flex e-News and the e-Gems and e-Events web conferencing series

• enhancing practitioner capability through advice and support from the national E-learning Coordinator network

• enabling access to online resources and support tools through the flexiblelearning.net.au user contributed website.

A range of Framework funding opportunities will be available from August 2010 through to early 2011. Continue to read Flex e-News for funding updates, or check the Framework funding opportunities page for announcements.

The Australian Government and all states and territories have approved a total of $7.5m to implement the Framework from January-June 2011. The Framework's activities for this period are outlined in the January-June 2011 Framework Business Plan.

* The 2010 Employer E-learning Benchmarking Survey was conducted with a sample of 800 employers across Australia. Detailed analysis of the survey results, including comparisons by state/territory, industry sector and employer size will be available from the E-learning Indicators webpage in the coming months: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/e-learningindicators

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Published on 23/08/2010