Introduction
Leo works as the Manager, IT Strategy in TAFE NSW - Sydney Institute. His 2002 Flexible
Learning Project reviewed best practice strategies for e-learning, and developed an e-learning
implementation model to support Sydney Institute's strategic planning.

This article summarises the outcomes of Leo's project. You can access the full resport by
selecting the link at the top of this article. To find out what Leo is currently involved in,
select the link at the bottom of this article entitled - 'Leo's 2003 Update'.

Professional Development Goals
• To analyse and review the current best practice strategies for
implementing e-learning, specifically in the VET sector
• To develop an e-learning implementation model that can be utilised to
support strategic planning for Sydney Institute of TAFE

Strategies
In-depth research of best practice models and strategies through analysis of
international research, papers and conferences

Outcomes
• Development of an e-learning framework or “eFrame” with which to:
- analyse an institution’s readiness and/or capability to undertake elearning
delivery
- enable an institution to determine strategies to ensure the effective
delivery of quality e-learning
• Development of an eFrame change management model to:
- incorporate into the eFrame model
- to implement change
• Incorporation of strategies into the Sydney Institute’s strategic planning,
and specifically into the ICT Strategic Plan 2003 – 2006

Learning & implications
Summary of learning
Major change has been caused by:
- lifelong learning
- globalisation
- more vocal client driven demand
- ability to seek training across physical
boundaries
- people
- content development
- regulatory restrictions

Implementation of these e-learning focus areas need to be addressed at three levels:
- senior management
- head teacher/middle management
- second wave practitioner (see section 3 of report)

While most countries have similar approaches to e-learning, the key philosophy
missing in the Australian context is the concept of lifelong learning and the linking of
communities

Implications for Sydney Institute
Recommendations for Sydney Institute include:
• INFRASTRUCTURE
• Bandwidth and internet service access (including expansion and design for
merging)
• Enabling technologies (planning for personal digital assistant access, wireless
network linking, video-streaming and video conferencing_)
PEOPLE
• Learning pedagogy (justifying move to e-learning)
• Student learning (researching learning styles, levels and delivery modes)
• Best pedagogical practice
• Mode of e-learning delivery (developing capacity to provide ‘less blended’ modes
to move into international and interstate markets)
• Educational technical support (integrating educational and technical perspectives)
• Virtual learning communities, communities of practice and lifelong
learning (positioning to be part of a key future market)
• Digital Divide (continuing to develop specific linked access centres)
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
• Cost, quality assurance and standards (balancing in-house and commercial
development)
• Knowledge management (integrating future developments in e-learning into
knowledge management strategies)
REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS –
Balancing development needs with protection in areas of:
• Security and privacy
• Intellectual property
Legal issues

The future
The Future for TAFE over the next two years is difficult to clarify. However,
there will be constant change, for example:
- the globalisation of education, including VET, and the associated
increased competition
- the privatization of education and a move to "user pay"
- the advent of educational enabling technologies that will make current
practices obsolete
- the expansion of the digital divide both globally and internally
- blended eLearning becoming the "norm" in VET education

Developments in the area of eLearning, for example:
- the eLearning concept finally being realized for what it really is - a "myth"
- the merging of eLearning and Learning so that we will have "Learning".
This will be based on the realisation that all learning needs to utilize the
latest technology to support the student and that the latest technology
invariably will incorporate access through the internet.

'Leo's 2003 Update'
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/leaders/fl_leaders/fll02/updates/update_darby.pdf