$100,000 for RTOs to trial new technologies

Registered training organisations (RTOs) throughout Australia can apply for a share of $100,000 in funding and support for up to six trials that explore new and emerging technologies in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), will provide individual RTOs with a maximum of $20,000 E-standards for Training funding to explore tools and technologies that have the potential to deliver substantial benefits to learners within the VET system.

Nine RTOs received E-standards for Training funding and support in 2008 and 2009 to conduct Emerging Technology Trials. The 2009 trials are currently being finalised, with 2008 examples listed below:

• Wodonga TAFE develops a new RFID software program for PDAs
   
• Tasmanian Polytechnic develops QTImPlayer for remote assessment in workplace training
   
• Charles Darwin University trials Croquet virtual world platform for interactive online learning
   
• Canberra Institute of Technology uses web 2.0 social networking tools to enhance e-portfolios

For further information about the 2008 and 2009 Emerging Technology Trials, visit:
http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au

Each year, the trials highlight the benefits, risks and future development needs of technologies and contribute to the development of standards and guidelines to help VET practitioners adopt and use them effectively.

Applications open 1 March and close 31 March. Successful applicants will be notified from 26 April 2010.

Once the applications have opened, further information and application guidelines will be available at http://flexiblelearning.net.au/e-standards. Contact Owen O’Neill on (03) 9661 8711 or owen.oneill [at] eworks.edu.au (Please replace at with @ to use the email address) for more information.

» Click here to comment on this article
Published on 20/01/2010