LearnScope is a national professional development project focusing on the application of new learning technologies to achieve more flexible learning in VET in the transition to the information economy.

LearnScope History
Australia's National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training for 1998 - 2003, A Bridge to the Future, recognised that there are major forces for change impacting on the clients of the VET system and on Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) providing training. Forces for change include the growth in global markets, accompanied by intensified international competition, and the impact of new information and communication technologies.

These factors have generated increasing demands for flexible, convenient and accessible training - and teachers and trainers need to take on new roles such as online course developers, facilitators and providers of online support.

LearnScope was established in 1998 as a major national program of professional development to support the development of skills for these new roles outlined in Australia'.

LearnScope was an important element of the National Flexible Delivery Action Plan that sought to prepare VET practitioners to participate in and contribute to the transformation of VET delivery. It did this by supporting vocational education and training practitioners to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes they require to apply new learning technologies for flexible learning and delivery. LearnScope adopted a culture of learning by establishing work based learning teams operating with the support of facilitators and mentors.

In August 1999, ANTA CEOs endorsed Flexible Learning for the Information Economy: A Framework for National Collaboration in Vocational Education and Training 2000 - 2004, now known as the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.

In acknowledgment of the importance of the professional development of staff working in the VET sector, LearnScope received prominence within Goal One of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework. Goal One, titled Creative, Capable People, aims to build a critical mass of VET staff who are able to use flexible learning approaches to accelerate Australia's transition to the information economy.

How does LearnScope operate?
Each year, funding is provided by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) to teams within registered training organisations in the vocational education and training sector to undertake work-based programs focussed on their professional development in the area of flexible delivery and online delivery.

Through a competitive application process, registered training organisations apply for funding. Successful teams undertake their professional development using guiding principles informed by work-based learning methodology including:

• development centred on skills used and needed in the workplace
• the project is planned and purposeful
• the learning strategies include activities which are experiential, contextualised and conscious
• the team is guided by a learning facilitator
• the project adopts a collaborative team approach
• the project is linked to the organisation's plans.

Teams are expected to share their learning and experiences with a national learning community through the Australian Flexible Learning Community.

How is LearnScope managed?

State and Territory Managers:  Each State and Territory Authority nominates a LearnScope management team and provides a State/Territory Project Plan to ANTA to form the basis of a Letter of Agreement between ANTA and the State/Territory Training Authority.

The LearnScope State and Territory Management team:

• Market and promote LearnScope at State/Territory level;
• Manage and monitor the selection of State/Territory LearnScope projects according to nationally consistent objectives, guidelines and selection processes;
• Provide support and guidance to LearnScope project teams throughout the application and project management process;
• Actively encourage the use of the Australian Flexible Learning Community by LearnScope project teams through the maintenance of relevant sections under the guidance of the National LearnScope Coordinator;
• Develop interim and final reports to be provided to ANTA and to the National LearnScope Steering Committee;
• Develop and maintain links with other professional development activities within the State/Territory and with relevant Framework projects through the State/Territory FLAG member; and
• Participate in national evaluation activities.

In undertaking these tasks, the LearnScope Management teams maintain close consultation with the LearnScope National Coordinator and their State/Territory LearnScope Steering Committee representative.

National LearnScope Coordination
State and Territory Authorities are supported in their communication, promotion, education and Australian Flexible Learning Community activities by a national LearnScope Coordination team.

The specific functions undertaken by the LearnScope National Coordinator includes:

• Coordinating the production of LearnScope guidelines, application form and national advertising each year;
• Coordinating and supporting the National LearnScope Steering Committee in relation to their role in the guidance of the national coordination project;
• Participating in the refinements and expansion of the Australian Flexible Learning Community to provide opportunities for e-learning and community building;
• Supplying generic marketing and promotional materials for use by States and Territories and undertaking marketing and promotion activities for LearnScope within the broader context of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework;
• Assisting State/Territory management teams with participation in, and promotion of, the Australian Flexible Learning Community;
• Providing guidance, assistance and support as required to State and Territory LearnScope Managers in managing and promoting LearnScope within their jurisdictions;
• Participating in the national evaluation of LearnScope;
• Developing and maintaining links between the LearnScope program and other projects within the Australian Flexible Learning Framework; and
• Encouraging and disseminating information and networking opportunities relating to national and international interest in new learning technologies and flexible delivery.