Blended Approach
Community Services Training & Development Centre offers courses via Blended E-Learning or Distant Learning for those students who prefer this mode and/or find it difficult to attend weekly face-face sessions (due to distance and work/family commitments).
E-Learning
What is Blended E-Learning and How Does It Work?
A blend of a face to face workshop with online learning will:
- Provide greater flexibility for learners
- Broaden the reach to accommodate geographically dispersed and time poor learners.
- Foster collaboration and capture knowledge
- Support informal learning
- Be more cost effective
- Assist individuals and organisations to become next-generation ready
An integrated approach to learning and assessment activities will assist participants to focus on the sequence of 4 tasks that are inherent in all care work:
Observing and monitoring diligently
Analysing and reflecting against personal knowledge, regulations and client information
Taking appropriate action confidently
Sharing and capturing new knowledge gained
As well as growing their OATS, participants will be engaged in activities that are designed to further develop their skills in dealing with conflict, managing difficult clients, working collaboratively, problem solving, planning and organising work tasks, learning, self-management and using technology.
DELIVERY METHODOLOGY
This learning program will run over 12 to 14 weeks and involve:
- A 2-day face-face workshop
- Sitting in front of a computer and participating in weekly 2 hour online tutorial using Web-conferencing
- Weekly use of a Moodle site to access and share resources
- Use of Wiki sites to foster team collaboration
- Use of SmallPRINT/Catapult E’Learning online training resource materials
ASSESSMENT
- Comprehensive report of a work-based case-study using a pro-forma
- Observation in simulated work-environments
- Third party feedback (supervisor and peers)
- Written assignment tasks outside of tutorial times
- Online reflective journal
- Participation in face-face and online forums
Structure:
E-Learning tool |
What is it and how does it work? |
Why do we use it? |
Web conferencing
|
Students connect via a web site on their home/work computers. Real time talk using microphone and speaker. Whiteboard, document sharing and web-safari features. |
To reduce feelings of isolation and to provide group interaction and team tasks. Sessions can be recorded to students’ desktops. No travel requirement. |
Moodle Site
|
A web site that contains lots of additional resources for students to access. It also provides forums to facilitate quick and efficient communication | Students get quick answers to their questions. Students can communicate with each other 24/7
Direct links to resources increases study efficiency. |
Wiki Spaces
|
Teams work together to produce documents online. Everyone has editing rights. | Encourages students to work collaboratively on tasks and to share resources. Great for case studies |
smallPRINT Online
|
A series of online study guides with different types of assessment tasks. Self-paced materials | For a back up ‘text’, self-paced learning and part of our overall assessment strategy. |
Eligibility Criteria
Have access to a computer
Have a reliable internet connection – recommend broadband or ADLS as our experience shows that dial up internet has a tendency to drop out during the tutorials
Computer operating requirements – Windows (2000, 2003, XP or Vista)
- Internet browser – internet explorer 6 or 7, Firefox 2.0 or higher
- Adobe Acrobat Reader – version 6 or higher
- Java – version 1.5 or higher
Need access to an email account
Basic work processing and internet search skills
PC headset and microphone
Own or have access to a printer to print of materials
