AS031

=AS031 Glass Processing E-learning Project (LMF30611)=

Background
Glass processing and glazing is listed as a priority industry sector in the Skills Australia Skilled Occupations List 2011 and also included in the skills priority listing and skills development strategies of the following state governments – Queensland, NSW, Tasmania (refer Industry Training Demand Profile - Furnishings report), Victoria, Western Australia (711113 Glass production machine operator (glass processor) is listed as a “Priority” occupation). The need for increased access to training in this sector is further highlighted by the recently released Environmental Scan 2011 by Manufacturing Skills Australia.

This project will allow access to learning for glass processing apprentices and trainees on a 24hr as required basis – this will be supported by on the job learning activities that can then be evidenced by the use of video, photos and other evidence that can be uploaded into an e-learning student management system for assessment purposes

Lead organisation
Improvement Tools (Qld) Pty Ltd T/A The Improve Group

Project Summary

 * How will the project improve learner access to improve employment outcomes?**

This project will develop and trial e-learning content for the LMF20411 and LMF30611 Certificate II and III in Glass and Glazing training qualifications and focus on the core units, plus glass processing specific units (Group B units). This is to enable an increased uptake of qualifications in this sector of the glass industry sector. Many companies have not trained their staff under the old LMF20402 and 30602 training packages due to the need to provide glazing specific unit training under the old packages. The development of e-learning specific training will also include the use of mobile learning applications (e-reader, mobile phone technologies) to support learners. The project will be trialled with the support of Queensland based glass processers and the Australian Glass and Glazing Association (as the industry peak body). Upon completion training material will be made available to other RTO’s via the e-learning toolbox repository. In total 24 units of competency will be developed.


 * How does this project align to the jurisdictional and national priorities?**

Glass processing and glazing is listed as a priority industry sector in the Skills Australia Skilled Occupations List 2011 and also included in the skills priority listing and skills development strategies of the following state governments – Queensland, NSW, Tasmania (refer Industry Training Demand Profile - Furnishings report), Victoria, Western Australia (711113 Glass production machine operator (glass processor) is listed as a “Priority” occupation). The need for increased access to training in this sector is further highlighted by the recently released Environmental Scan 2011 by Manufacturing Skills Australia.

This project will allow access to learning for glass processing apprentices and trainees on a 24hr as required basis – this will be supported by on the job learning activities that can then be evidenced by the use of video, photos and other evidence that can be uploaded into an e-learning student management system for assessment purposes.

Consultation with stakeholders
The Australian Glass and Glazing Association (AGGA) – Industry Peak Body, the AGGA will identify suitable glass processing to participate in the project. Patrick Gavaghan (National Training Manager) will ensure that industry partners meet project requirements and commitment to the project outcomes. Patrick will also promote the project and its outcomes, at State and national conferences in the Glass industry. He will also work with Training providers to incorporate the outcomes into delivery strategies for both metropolitan and regional Apprentices giving them the flexibility on training delivery that is not available at the moment.
 * Australian Flexible Learning Framework – Terese Morgan - e-Learning Co-ordinator, Queensland, liaison with Qld based e-learning RTO program
 * Access to Skills- Business Manager, Janice Calcei – confirmation of project suitability for funding
 * Access to Skills- Project Manager, Diane McLaren – confirmation of project suitability for funding
 * National Glass, Zillmere, Qld – provide access to glass processing plants to develop training content, provide participants to trial e-learning formats
 * Viridian Glass, Tingalpa, Qld – provide access to glass processing plants to develop training content, provide participants to trial e-learning formats, provide access to supervisory and technical expertise
 * 1st Glass Australia Pty Ltd, Hemmant, Qld – provide access to glass processing plants to develop training content, provide participants to trial e-learning formats, provide access to supervisory and technical expertise
 * Manufacturing Skills Australia, Sydney, NSW – Nick Juniper, Workforce Development Officer (industry advocacy)

Meetings have been held with Qld based glass processors and the Glass and Aluminium Association of Queensland on Wednesday 14th December 2011 Intended outcomes from your project

What do you hope to achieve with the funding?

 * Increased uptake of training within the glass processing sector
 * Development of e-learning training resource for use by other industry RTO’s
 * Promotion of e-learning and blended learning within the glass processing sector by the national body (Australian Glass and Glazing Association) at their national conference and industry newsletters

Actual Outcomes resulting from this project
Moodle 2.1 is the Learning Management System used for the Certificate III in Glass and Glazing (Glass Processing) course. Moodle was chosen as we have used it in the past with a previous project and found it highly customisable to our needs and fairly easy to use.



**1. Content Collection for the (LMF30602) Certificate III in Glass and Glazing: **
The material used to develop the content in the selected units was extracted directly from companies that are consider experts in the field. These Industry Partners, assisted us in gathering all the material necessary, from photos, videos, interviews with a broad range of glass experts to Standard Operation Procedures and Internal Methodologies Documents. The extraction of this material was a very time consuming process, however was a key element in the development of the learning tool and ensuring a high quality output. 

**2. Development of selected units for the (LMF30602) Certificate III in Glass and Glazing: **
Once the material was collected. our internal team of glass and industry experts started developing the units selected for the Certificate. The production of the units took place by using a project management technique called "Sprints" based on the ** Agile software development ** methodologies. Each sprint was preceded by a planning meeting, where the tasks for the sprint are identified and an estimated commitment for the sprint goal is made, and followed by a review or retrospective meeting, where the progress is reviewed and lessons for the next sprint are identified.

**3. e-Learning Tool/ Learning Management System for the Certificate III in Glass and Glazing (Glass Processing) course**
Finally, after the material was created it was adapted to an on-line version suitable for Moodle. When adapting the content and assessments to an on-line environment such as Moodle, many considerations were taken. First we tried to create a system that was interactive and engaging for the participants by using some of the tools and possibilities that Moodle has available. The inclusion of videos, voiceover, activities and different alternatives to assess students was used carefully to keep the participants interested and motivated in the program. Second, the system was designed considering our target participants and the different computers skills they might have. Therefore, we aim to create a system that's very intuitive and easy to use and have multiple possibilities of use (e.i. you can navigate using a computer mouse or a with the touch-screen computers provided)

4- Industry Engagement/ Placement
With the assistance of glass companies 1st Glass, Viridian, National Glass and City Glass, raw content for each of the glass processing units were obtained from their work processes. This content (audio/visual) was then used to create learning content which was in turn converted to Lessons within Moodle.

All-in-one PCs were bought and installed at each of the test companies' workplaces to facilitate the access of participants to Moodle. The early collaboration with the industry facilitated the whole process of development and also validation and control of the units under development. Several "Test Participants" contributed with important feedback that help us to get the correct level of depth in content, the appropriated flow in and between units and the general look and feel of the system.



Industry Results

 * 5 x Qld companies engaged


 * Major national company engaged


 * WA company piloting e-learning system


 * Upskilling in-house Trainers under RTO-Industry auspicing arrangements


 * TAFE’s and Enterprise RTO’s waiting on release of material


 * National body is promoting program to membership base


 * Request to develop glazing units for balance of qualification

Sustainability of project outcomes
The outcomes from this project will be shared with other industry RTO’s by making the content developed available through the Flexible Learning Toolbox Repository. The Australian Glass and Glazing Association will promote the project and training outcomes via industry conferences, newsletters and other communications. The Improve Group will promote the LMF packages to industry upon completion of the content and testing for delivery Australia wide.

The Australian Glass and Glazing Association and The Improve Group will be available to showcase the project to industry as per the contract requirements. Acknowledgement

This is a an Access to Skills project output, developed by The Improve Group, Australian Glass and Glazing Association, Viridian Glass, National Glass and 1st Glass Australia with seed funding from the National VET e-learning strategy.

For more information
For more information on The Improve Group

Bob Carter Managing Director Email: bob.carter@improvegroup.com.au Telephone number: 07 3488 2143  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting <span class="skype_pnh_text_span">07 3488 2143  <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype_highlighting   <span class="skype_pnh_container"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common"><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">07 3488 2143   <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype_highlighting Website: [|www.improvegroup.com.au]

For more information on the Access to Skills program:

Phone: (08) 9229 5200 (08) 9229 5200 Email: accesstoskills@dtwd.wa.gov.au Website: www.flexiblelearning.net.au