This year's Getting Connected 09 online conference will focus on developing online connections between vocational education and training (VET) practitioners, and using eLearning to engage learners.

At the conference, participants will:

• find out how to use online groups to network and build connections with learners, industry, and other teachers and trainers
• learn about tools that can help to access, create, and share eLearning resources online quickly and easily.

Eight live webconferencing sessions over two days include sessions on how to use online social networking tools such as Facebook, Ning, Twitter, and Delicious to create connections and share knowledge and resources with other teachers and trainers in the participants' industries.

The conference is also an opportunity to network informally with other VET professionals and special conference guests.


Upcoming e-Gems session on Monday, 22 June at 12:30 - 1:30pm AEST

The e-Gems series of webconferencing sessions are unique learning and networking opportunities for people working in the vocational education and training (VET) and business sectors. Participants must have access to headphones and a microphone and have installed and configured the Elluminate webconferencing software beforehand. Session access opens one hour before the scheduled time and requires no registration.

This month's topic is: Using the QTImPlayer for effective and efficient workplace training and assessment

In the current economic environment, the QTImPlayer mobile device is enabling training providers to provide more effective and flexible training and assessment, while also increasing efficiencies. The device allows teachers and trainers to remotely assess learners on the job, and eliminates the need for paper work and the double entry of data. It recently received the Best Mobile Learning Solution award at the 2009 IMS Global Learning Impact Awards.

This session will provide a step-by-step introduction to using the QTImPlayer for mobile-workplace assessment. Presenter of the topic is Peter Higgs, the Tasmanian Polytechnic's Manager of Learning Technology. Peter has led the redevelopment of the QTImPlayer since 2007, with funding and support from the Framework.