An evaluation of the Frontline Management Initiative Toolbox

Introduction
The objective of the McMillan Staff Development LearnScope project ‘Understanding Toolboxes’ was to find out how the Frontline Management Initiative Toolbox works. This report details how this Toolbox works, the advantages and disadvantages of this Toolbox, and a checklist for purchasing other Toolboxes.

How does this Toolbox work?
The Frontline Management Initiative Toolbox is a comprehensive system to support the online delivery of the Certificate IV in Frontline Management program. This Toolbox consists of a Student Management System (SMS), and learning materials.

The Student Management System (SMS)
The SMS is used to manage the delivery of the program. It has the ability to record student details and competency in a database, enrol students, email students, create reports, create certificates, create a student’s training plan and record employee details in a database. It can also be used to participate in live chat and post notices on a bulletin board. The SMS is installed on several computers at the Registered Training Organisation, and also at the student’s computer.

The Learning materials
The learning materials consist of courseware, case studies, tutorial activities, workplace activities, exploratory activities, collaboration activities, assessment activities, self assessment facilities, an evidence guide, and information on the performance criteria and the units of competency. The learning materials have to be loaded onto the Registered Training Organisation’s web site.

The Toolbox’s training and assessment strategy is as follows:

1. Each unit has a self assessment facility in the learning materials.
2. Each unit requires the student to undertake a self assessment to determine if development and learning or recognition of current competence is needed.
3. Students who are competent contact the Registered Training Organisation to apply for recognition of current competency in the particular unit. Students who are not yet competent undertake the development and learning offered in the learning materials for the particular unit - when students complete the learning and development they undertake the self assessment process again.
4. The recognition of current competence process involves students submitting evidence to their assessor for assessment. The learning materials contain specific guidelines on evidence. Students who undertake the development and learning offered in the learning materials will develop a portfolio of evidence through completing the prescribed activities and exercises.

The advantages of this Toolbox

1. The Toolbox is extremely cost effective.
2. The learning materials contain many valuable resources, and with minor adjustment can be used to supplement and add value to existing training programs.
3. The SMS is fantastic value for RTOs that lack the facilities to manage the delivery of training programs. At extremely low cost and effort these organisations can purchase all the important facilities and procedures to deliver the Certificate IV in Frontline Management program.

The disadvantages of this Toolbox

1. The learning materials are not accompanied by adequate documentation. Guidelines on the learning and assessment strategies employed are severely inadequate. It is even unclear what the learning materials actually contain. Directions and procedures for assessors and students are also inadequate. Providers intending to offer this program will need to thoroughly study the learning materials to develop their own guidelines, strategies, directions and procedures.
2. Some features within the learning materials are incomplete. For example, a search function displays the following message when used: ‘this function is under construction’.
3. The structure of the learning materials is not logical. Individual units are not clearly defined - the units seem to run into each other. There is a high risk students will get lost in the learning materials and become confused and frustrated.
4. The learning materials can be altered, but experience in HTML or a HTML editor like Dreamweaver is required.
5. The Student Management System (SMS) is hard to install and administer without information technology skills.
6. The SMS is not appropriate for all Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). Those RTOs who have the administrative facilities and procedures to manage the delivery of training programs will only duplicate their efforts by using the SMS. For example, if RTOs have a student database or enrolment procedures.

In conclusion, the Frontline Management Initiative Toolbox is not adequate to offer to clients without substantial investigation, and some customisation.
 
Lessons learned – a checklist for purchasing other Toolboxes
Before purchasing a Toolbox investigate the questions below. To answer these questions you’ll need to get your hands on a free copy of the particular Toolbox you are interested in, and ask the organisation selling the Toolbox some questions.

1. Does the Toolbox come with documentation that clearly explains how to install and use the Student Management System (SMS)? The SMS is also known as ‘Tools’.
2. Are the learning materials of good quality? Is the information and language easy to understand? Are the activities relevant? Do the learning materials deliver the particular qualification appropriately?
3. Does the Toolbox come with documentation that clearly explains the assessment process? Do students complete activities for assessment? What are the activities, and where are the instructions for these activities? Can students apply for recognition of current competency? Are the assessment activities relevant to the qualification?
4. Does the Toolbox come with documentation that clearly details what is in the learning materials? What resources, activities, and assessment activities are offered in each unit? A lot of detail is needed here – as training providers we need to know page-by-page what we are offering to students, so we can support the delivery of the program.
5. Are the guidelines and instructions that exist for the students clear? Will the student know how the assessment process works? Will they know how to use the learning materials? Will they know how to get help?
6. Is it easy to navigate through the learning materials? Is it easy to find the information you require? Is there a search facility?
7. There are many other issues – keep your eyes open! For example, this Toolbox refers to a textbook that the student must purchase, but this information is not readily available – you have to wade through obscure parts of the learning materials to discover this.

Conclusion
In conclusion, in the opinion of the ‘Understanding Toolboxes’ project team, this Toolbox is flawed, but it is extremely cost efficient, and contains many valuable resources to add value to existing training programs.