Gee writing grant and funding applications can really take it out of you. The process of getting together the project team, coming up with the project concepts and putting it all into a format that will win the grant is both a skill and an art that is just the tip of the project iceberg. Then when you get the news that you have won the grant you think that all that work has finally paid off. Well let’s not talk about pay just yet…. and if you have won a grant before you know that the real work is still to come.

I have had a great start to the year with the news that We-Learn, in conjunction with BJ Network Consulting Australia, Brightcookie and eLearning Catalyst won a grant from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) to develop a Toolbox for the Asset Maintenance Training Package, we call the project Squeak eClean. My role is Project Manager and so far it has been a very interesting experience to say the least. We have delivered our Proof of Concept and are now awaiting feedback from the National Reference Group before moving on to the next phase of the project. I have to pass on my huge congratulations and thanks to the team especially Catriona Ward from eLearning Catalyst who is providing the instructional design for the project and also to Damien Walsh from BJ’s who is working like a trooper on the content. Between the two of them they have done the bulk of the work to now and still have a lot in front of them. Their work quality is to be comended. Leo and the folks at Brightcookie are now dilligently working on the technical cogs that sits behind the Toolbox content and I have no doubt that the final product will be extremely useful to RTO’s delivering Certificate II and III in Cleaning throughout the country for many years to come.

The Framework have also released their 2010 Innovations projects and I am happy to announce that We-Learn will be managing the Video-Line Project for Subrosa Solutions. Video-Line will be integrating Streamfolio into Moodle to allow for use of video technology for RPL, assessment and enrolment. The exciting project will further embed e-learning at Subrosa and take innovative use of video in education to a new level, firmly placing Subrosa at the head of innovative RTO’s in the security sector.

As these two projects unfold I will be providing the occasional update on tools we are using and systems and procedures as a way of sharing our experiences. I hope you will join me and share these updates via your social media tool of choice.

So now the announcements are done, I better get back to it.

I know it was quite some time ago now (November 12 and 13, 2009 to be precise) but Edayz09 was a huge part of my year and provided me with masses of learning opportunities that will help me and my business well into the future. This week I have been doubting the effort I put in over that time and wondering if I would ever see any real return on investment for the time and money I put into the event. Of course it was just a pessimistic moment of self doubt but I thought it might be a good idea to take stock of the what I did for the event and what I gained and give back a little something to the community as penance for my self doubt. (more on that later)

Edayz, for those of you who do not know, is THE e-learning conference for South Australia. Like many of these events it is the product of the hard work of a few dedicated people led by the amazing and talented Marlene Manto. I was lucky enough to be on the working committee in ’09 and this gave me a first hand look into the inner workings of the event. As a participant at a conference you never get a picture of the scale of these things. The planning (as far as the working committee is concerned) for Edayz09 started in February last year and lasted all the way through to our final Edayz wrap up meeting in December. Each of the members of the working committee took on different jobs throughout the year and all their efforts culminated in what was reported to be a thoroughly successful event. The working committee was not your typical sit around a talk type committee. We were active in the entire decision making process and were given quite a long leash in completing our tasks. For this reason my experience was invaluable.

So if everything was so valuable and successful what was my gripe? Well, We-Learn was a sponsor for the event and I was getting a little despondent that I was getting no solid returns on my investment of time and money. I had flyers in the conference bags, I presented two sessions, I networked, I sweated (it was bloody hot in Adelaide across those two days) and I have received not one call from “company xyz” to say “we saw you at edayz and we want you to be part of our 2 million dollar project”.  Yes I know, a very short sighted and narrow minded feeling given the other things I have gained both professionally and personally out of the experience. I must confess I did do a small amount of paid work on the Edayz09 website and for this I am grateful. But really my gains have been far greater than can be calculated or attributed to tangible ROI. The biggest gains have been the alliances and friendships formed with the members of the committee, the learning I achieved, and overall increase in visibility of my personal brand (which at this point in time is intrinsically linked with my business brand).

The experience of contributing to such a huge undertaking as edayz will be something I will have forever. The lessons I learned will continue to benefit me and my clients for the rest of my working life and perhaps beyond. So, much like e-learning itself, trying to put a ROI on my time and efforts for edayz is so intangible that the energy expended in such a calculation would be, and in fact was, a complete waste. I have read many articles about ROI for e-learning and learning in general but I am yet to be convinced it is possible to acheive a figure that is meaningful in any way (I will probably get shot for that statement).  ROI for learning is all about intangibles. Sure you can put dollar figures on this and that but attempting to calculate a figure that actually means something is in my opinion futile.

So having said that, to make amends for wasting my own time in attempting to validate what was obviously a hugely beneficial experience, I am making available the Moodle theme I designed for the Edayz site, based on the Central Blue theme. I make no promises or assurances that it will work for you and if you download it and use it and it breaks your Moodle I hold no responsibility for the consequences. Having said that you can see a working version of it at the Edayz09 site and a screen pic of it below.

edayz moodle theme

click above to download the edayz09 moodle theme

By the way, kudos to Kerry J for her nomination for an Edublog award for the awesome work she did for Edayz creating the podcasts and videos. If you havn’t done so already you should listen to Professor Martin Westwell’s Friday Keynote as well a host of others by going here.

2009 was a big year for me. I finally went out on my own and started my own business after being made redundant. At times it has been a struggle but largely the sailing has been smooth. I thought I would get 2010 off to a positive start by reflecting on the successes of 2009 and at the same time give some link love to some of my clients who have supported me so well over the last six months.

Subrosa Solutions

The projects at Subrosa, a registered Training Organisation (RTO) in Hindley Street focussing on Security, are both interesting and challenging. My role here has largely been instructional design but I spend a lot of time having to think outside of the box because Monika is so innovative in her thinking. Subrosa have been involved with e-learning for quite a few years now and for this reason they are always thinking of new ways to implement their ideas.
This year we will be looking at expanding on the successes of 2009 by extending the Moodle courses (Certificate II in Security Operations and Certificate III in Investigative Services) with more Articulate learning objects, Youtubes, and Moodle activities. We will be taking a very close look at e-assessment (in an innovative way that I need to be a little hush-hush about) and also working on streamlining the Subrosa suite of web offerings.
Please contact Subrosa to learn more about their Training and Investigations solutions.

Smith and Georg

Dave and Linda are the key people with whom I work at Smith and Georg, a RTO situated in Forreston in the Adelaide Hills. Smith and Georg won an Innovations Grant in 2009 and I was the e-learning consultant for their project. My role was predominantly focussed on mentoring the team through the hurdles of installing, developing and populating their own Moodle installation.
The ChemNet project proved to be an extremely valuable learning experience for all involved with Professional Development being one of the major outcomes. The course, which contains plenty of video and dynamic learning objects, is still being developed and is undergoing some student trials now but it is looking like being the best online Chemical Certification course in Australia.
If you know someone who is needs Chemical Certification send them over to Smith and Georg.

Quality Automotive Training

Tom from Quality Automotive Training, a RTO in Adelaide’s South, decided to make the move into e-learning this year and have jumped ahead in leaps and bounds. Initially brought on board to install and develop their Moodle installation, I later took on the role of mentoring them through the processes of DIY Moodle. Barry at QAT has taken to his new extended role of e-learning course developer with absolute passion. Aided by the use of objects from LORN, the courses are looking polished and engaging and will be huge for their VET in Schools students.
Please contact Quality Automotive Training to learn more about their training solutions.