2007+Project+Report

media type="custom" key="314575"

The YWCA team has produced many solid outcomes as a result of this project - you only need to look at the ytrainingnsw wiki to see a full report from each of the project team members.

In her reflections the project manager posted her hopes for the project to "see where we can create synergies and collaborate with each other, other YWCA staff and others in the wider community to achieve our goal of delivering training online with our students in the near future." Caecilia is well on the way to meeting that goal! The project was recently renamed "Online by Christmas" as the enthusiasm and highly developed skill levels of the team make it an achievable possibility that the YWCA will have a suite of courses ready for online delivery in the very near future!

Team Reflections
One of the challenges we face as a team relatively new to the e-learning journey is coming to terms with the vast amounts of information and tools available to us. Which ones are useful? Which ones are 'higher quality? Will we ever have time to explore enough of them to make a good enough choice on which ones to use!?! In the end, we need to just jump in & try them to really see what they are like as people on both sides of the page - both front & back end, as trainers developing learning startegies, and as students engaging with them to enhance our learning. This year's LearnScope project has helped us work towards achieving our goal of being able to offer training online and find ways to overcome some of the challenges of format & required infrastructure to make this a reality.
 * Caecilia Roth - Project Manager**

I have really enjoyed being involved in this YWCA Learnscope Project. I am continually impressed with the skills of my co-workers, Scott, Sandra and Alice as to what they research and know about elearning. In my own position as Training Manager I do not find I have a lot of time to devote to this issue and realise that we really need to keep the staff who do have the time and interest skilled up to act as a resource for the whole RTO side of our organisation. Infrastructure is another key issue the YWCA is working through - to be able to support elearning.
 * Kerry Wright - Training Manager YWCA South East Region (SER)**

Sandra has a full report of the use of Yaca Paca in elearning on her wiki page. "I have been investigating the use of the British designed Chalkface Project to develop online assessment tools. [|https://www.chalkface.com/info/about] http://demo.yacapaca.com/
 * Sandra Lothian - YWCA Trainer, SER**

I have trialled online assessment tools using an online program called ‘Yacapaca’ which allows a user to join or create an authoring group related to your area of interest. In the group you can write assessment questions, using various formats, and assemble the questions into a quiz, then join the quizzes into course assessments. The quizzes can also be used individually. I believe that the use of Web2 tools has increased students' confidence and allowed them to use the internet in a more interactive way. Rather than receiving content from their teacher/trainers verbally or in hardcopy and returning content directly to the teacher/trainer via written and observed skills, the use of the internet via email and Web2 tools allows our learners to add content such as videos, podcasts and written content that can be shared with other learners which ultimately expands everyone's learning.

Listen to Sandra talking about YacaPaca in this podcast!

http://annepaterson.podomatic.com/entry/2007-09-06T00_12_34-07_00

I have been working with Aged Care trainer Judith in the development of these online resources and we are very proud of our outcome. I have add elements from other sites such as You Tube and Free Online Surveys to create audio video presentations and assessment questions.[|Here is a link to Scott's YWCA Edublog] started in 2007, focussing on Aged Care units. This has been designed as a space for all YWCA future students to access our learning materials. I have had the opportunity to pilot our site with several work for the dole participants. These individuals have demonstrated a fluent working knowledge of different electronic tools and an eagerness to use these tools for both a educational purpose as well as for personal use. Feedback from these young people has contributed to the further development of our online learning tools.
 * Scott Dickenson - YWCA South West Region Resources Coordinator**

View interviews with young people from our pilot on Scott's page. Listen to the podcast of Scott and Judith talk about the process of putting their courses online!

http://annepaterson.podomatic.com/entry/2007-09-07T02_52_25-07_00

At //Jer////vis Bay Schoo//l we recently concluded computer training of teachers' aides (1.5 semesters). The participants received Certificate II (see photo below). We created a Blog for the participants to exchange ideas: http://ywca-computer-training.blogspot.com/ (soon to be taken down for privacy reasons). Attending //LearnScope// this year has introduced me to some emerging Internet technologies like //Wikis, Blogs, Flicker, RSS, YouTube, Podcasting, Virtual Worlds,// etc. that I believe will play a major role in future and will have to be included in most computer training sessions. I am sure that in a few years time most distance education organisations will utilise virtual worlds in their training. They are not only fun to use - they introduce rich sensory immersive experiences, real-life simulation and role-play, use of scenarios and opportunities for communication. The possibilities of the Internet use in computer training are almost boundless and IT trainers like myself benefit from learning about the evolving Internet tools.
 * Alice Messerer - YWCA IT Trainer, SER**

This team can be very proud of themselves for being able to see the fruit of their enthusiasm and skill!