Brisbane (AU), September 2009 - A recent report predicts that online education will expand by 24% this financial year - more than twice as quickly as any other industry in Australia! The report, from business information analysts IBISWorld, forecasts that online education will be one of Australia's major growth industries over the next twelve months, as learners increasingly demand education and training that is flexible, engaging, and up to the minute.
With learning rapidly evolving beyond textbooks and the traditional confines of the classroom, eLearning is enabling vocational education and training (VET) providers to keep pace with learner expectations for greater choice and control over when and where learning occurs. eLearning also enhances the process of knowledge acquisition on the job by providing an overall richer learning experience, more engaging tools for learning, and a more collaborative approach to learning.
The shift towards eLearning is already well underway, with teachers and trainers adopting a wide range of technologies to foster learning, including:
Digital games - Education Queensland recently declared that digital games are the 'way of the future' for learning and is offering instruction for schoolteachers on how to use Wiis, Playstations and the Nintendo DS as classroom learning tools. Kangan Batman TAFE is also currently trialling the Nintendo Wii as a tool for VET learners in the trades to practice applying surface coatings to furniture.
Social networking tools - Interactive and user driven web 2.0 technologies are making it easier than ever for the VET system to share knowledge, experience, and learning resources. Several Victorian training providers are currently trialling the use of social networking sites YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to create collaborative online learning spaces that encourage peer support and interaction.
Virtual worlds - Virtual worlds provide engaging and flexible hands-on learning. Last year, the Canberra Institute of Technology developed a trial virtual world to enable nursing students to experiment and explore activities, interact with their teachers, trainers and peers, and review their actions and experiences - all in a safe, online environment.
In light of these advancements, many VET practitioners are looking towards the future and wondering how emerging technologies will continue to shape the VET system. Two VET eLearning 'champions' - Tony Ryan and Dheeraj Chowdhury - have given their predictions on this topic in an interview on the website of the Flexible Learning Framework.
