Online event - using technology for RPL

How can technologies such as Skype, podcasts, wikis and e-portfolios help your organisation move away from a manual and paper-based approach to RPL (recognition of prior learning)?

Training providers around Australia can go online for the first South Australian Workplace Assessors Network (SAWAN) event in 2009, which will focus on using technology to achieve a more client-centred RPL process.
 
Janene Piip from Skills Smart will describe how freely available tools such as Skype and wikis can assist the RPL process, while Allison Miller, from the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), will outline how e-portfolios are being used in RPL.

RPL is widely recognised as a crucial system to help solve the national skills shortage, as it acknowledges a worker's informal learning and skills, helping to reduce time and money spent in training and retraining.

However, both learners and practitioners can attest to the shortcomings of a manual RPL system, such as its lack of flexibility in catering to different types of learners and its time-intensive and bureaucratic nature.

This event will show how technology can be introduced into your workplace to help achieve RPL best practice by:

• allowing learners to more easily identify, describe and document evidence for RPL in a meaningful and consistent way
  
   
• supporting ongoing dialogue between learners and assessors, allowing assessors to view and provide advice on evidence as it is generated
  
   
• overcoming geographical, time or language barriers, which may prohibit face-to-face or real-time communication or validation of evidence.

The event will be broadcast online on Monday 22 June from 4.45pm–5.30pm. You can access the online session from 4.15pm at http://tinyurl.com/lskaen. There is no need to register to participate online. Further instructions are provided below.

This face-to-face event will be held on Monday 22 June from 4.30pm-6.00pm at Barkuma Inc, Level 1, 260 Currie Street, Adelaide. To register, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2f01Ug7qHRg5_2f3YtGJ290wQ_3d_3d

For further information on the presentation topics:

• The Framework’s E-portfolios web page provides access to the latest e-portfolio news and resources, including the recent E-portfolios for RPL Assessment report. This report identified e-portfolios as a key tool to support timely and client focused RPL processes, in line with COAG’s (Council of Australian Governments) RPL initiative.
  
   
• The South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology’s paper, ICT Tools for RPL Assessment.

To access the event online:

• Please log in at least 15 mins prior to the start time to allow Centra to 'load' (you may need to 'OK' an 'ActiveX' file). 
  
   
• The site is self registering and you will need to enter your name and email address when prompted.
  
   
• You will need a headset with microphone.
  
   
• You can log in at anytime and test whether you can access the site.

If you require any assistance or further information about logging in, please email Allison.Miller [at] tafesa.edu.au (Please replace at with @ to use the email address), or call 0400 732 270 if you encounter any difficulties on the day.

» Click here to comment on this article
Published on 18/06/2009