This exchange is based on a question asked in the General Forum of the Community.

Q:  I've just read an interesting article (see attachment) describing different models for online learning. What particularly interested me was the idea of buffet learning. Is anyone aware of VET or tertiary institutes in Australia trialling this very student-centred model?

http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0352.pdf

A:  This link you provided from Educause 2003, was an excellent one, thanks. I too read it with interest and noted the other models described there, including:

• the Supplemental Model;
• the Replacement Model;
• the Emporium Model;
• the Fully Online Model and,
• the Buffet Model.

I do not know of any Australian institutes trialling the Buffet Model, but I did a little digging in the snow at Google and came up with these global links and materials you may find of interest:

... The Buffet Model • Course Redesign Exercise Scenario • from the Centre for Instructional Design and Development (CIDD) at George Washington University ....
http://www.cidd.gwu.edu/workshops/workshop_handouts_for_CIDD_website/SIWI_ID_lunch_excersise.pdf

Apparently one can take a course in Resdesigning Courses at the CIDD. Worth a browse at:
http://www.cidd.gwu.edu/workshops/

The Learning Marketspace - April 1, 2002
... The essence of the buffet model is that it enables mass customization, offering students a variety of ways to learn within a single course. ...
www.center.rpi.edu/LForum/LM/Apr02.html
[ from www.center.rpi.edu ]

Perhaps others may like to read the article and see if there are any similarities between their 'models' of learning and the Buffet Model. Come back and share your thoughts on this one!

I wonder how many other 'models' of learning there are and how we can make use of some of the 'lessons learned' from those who have implemented them.