Podcast: Making Blended Learning Work in VET More and more RTOs in Australia are looking at online learning or blended learning as an effective delivery method. In this podcast, Genna-Leigh (Circulus Education) discussed the topic with Sophie Lanham (Futurum) and drew out conclusion on best practice in implementing blended learning. Podcast recorded by Circulus Education. www.circulus.com.au

1. MAKING
BLENDED
LEARNING
WORK IN VET
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET

2. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Welcome!
Génna-Leigh Adamiec
Head Program Manager, Circulus Education
Working in VET for 6+ years
genna@circulus.com.au
Sophie Lanham
National Operations Manager, Futurum
Helping RTOs of all sizes for 15 years
lanhamconsulting@gmail.com

3. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
What is blended learning?

4. Blended Learning (Or Flipped Learning)
• A combination of
face-to-face and
online learning &
teaching.
• Students do their
reading at home
(online) and spend
time in class
collaborating with
their trainer and
peers.
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
F2F
learning
Online
learning

5. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
There are many degrees of blended learning:

6. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Why should RTOs
consider blended
learning?

7. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET

8. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Compliance concerns in BL

9. Compliance In Blended Learning
3 big questions that most
RTOs have:
• How do I meet all the
compliance
requirements? -> not
sure -> fall back on
paper (easy option)
• Cost: how much is it
going to cost me?
• Knowledge: what skills
are required?
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET

10. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET

11. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Online or blended learning?

12. Introducing Online Learning Into RTOs
• With fully online courses or blended courses, students
may not get all the support and guidance that they
need. RTOs often underestimate the amount of tech
support and responsive trainers required.
• Must start with the big picture (what is it? Why am I
doing it?) then break down into bite-sized projects
(what is my first target?)
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET

13. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
7 Steps to
Successful
Implementation of
Blended Learning

14. • A change in the strategic direction
• Senior management support + training for staff
• A clear structure and processes: how would this look when we
implement it, do we have the audit capacity, is our staff capable,
in what ways will blended learning help our students?
• Think about the industry: what technologies are being used?
What skills would be needed?
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Plan from the start
(or you are losing money!)

15. TIPS:
• Get experts involved
early if you need help
• Embrace technology!
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET

16. • Systematically take baby steps,
improve and learn from your mistakes
• Small successes lead to the
motivation and knowledge to do more
and more
• If possible, test your blended learning
course on a small group of users or a
small course, before rolling it out to
the entire RTO.
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
One target at a time

17. • Discuss with trainers, assessors,
admin, maybe even with your
students, about which gaps
blended learning could bridge
• Have internal “ambassadors” to
advocate for the transformation:
your Training Manager, Head
Trainer,..
• Have channels & feedback loops
with which students could give
feedback
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Involve staff and students
throughout the process

18. • Online & offline components need to work together to push
students ahead in their learning journey
• Set clear expectations for students even in from the pre-
enrollment process
• Pinpoint the learning outcomes -> identify activities that support
those goals: what can we do online? what should be done during
class time?
• All activities should be assessed for knowledge acquisition at the
end of the course.
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Set clear learning goals

19. • Think about what kind of teaching materials and resources you
already have, and what you need to develop from scratch.
• Use engaging content (videos, short quizzes, chat rooms, ..)
• Online content is different from offline traditional content
• What kind of access your students and staff will require in order
to learn? (internet access, software download, ..)
• Put the right staff with the right skills set in the right place!
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Have the right type of resources

20. • You need digital resources, virtual learning environments that work.
• Think about your current workflows: do they still work with blended
learning? Can you eliminate non value adding tasks?
• Training for students and staff is critical – think about your PD.
• Who does the training? Identify accountability and people: who
owns what.
-> the right processes are what make a compliant training course.
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Systems & workflows

21. • Watch the data: student progress, trainer workload, how much
students are reading and doing, drop-out rate, engagement rate..
• Are we achieving our learning goals? How do students feel? Are
they getting a memorable and rewarding experience for them?
• How can we improve even further?
• Assess performance regularly
• Watch the e-learning standards, requirements, legislation. Stay
informed by attending webinars etc about blended learning.
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET
Monitor, refine, repeat

22. PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET

23. Virtual learning is not a matter of when, but how.
We need to be more and more
comfortable with using technologies to
engage and train students.
PODCAST: Making Blended Learning Work in VET