VET elearn 2008 - Speakers

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Jonathan Finkelstein

Founder and Executive Producer of LearningTimes

Session: Chasing ~~squirrels~~ possums and learning online

Biography: Jonathan Finkelstein is founder and Executive Producer of LearningTimes. He works closely with educational institutions, museums, libraries and other organisations to grow and maintain online learning communities and to foster human interaction, professional development and learning online. His recent book, Learning in Real Time, translates his many years of experience facilitating real time online learning into a practical resource guide for anyone facilitating or teaching online. He is also a contributor to a book by museum leaders entitled The Digital Museum and moderates online learning events for thousands of busy professionals with myriad backgrounds, most weeks. Jonathan, who is host of The Real Time Minute and producer of several other podcasts, is a Certified Synchronous Training Professional (CSTP) and graduated with honours from Harvard University.

Dr Karen Becker

Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Queensland University of Technology

Session: Letting go of what we know: the importance of unlearning

Biography: Dr Karen Becker is an acknowledged expert in the area of unlearning and has published over 25 peer-reviewed articles relating to her research which has been conducted in both industry and education. Her exceptional use of multi-modal teaching approaches saw her awarded a Carrick Institute Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2007. Prior to joining the tertiary education sector, Karen spent 12 years in workforce development roles in industry. Karen has broad experience in academia having worked at different universities in both Business and Education Faculties. Karen has been involved in innovative online learning delivery to both distance and internal students, and her research focuses on the attraction, retention and development of people in the workplace. Karen’s PhD research focused on unlearning and management of organisational change; a challenge often faced by those attempting to implement learning technologies into workplaces.

Facilitator

Michael Hall

Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET)

QLD and NT Executive Officer

Session: Mr Michael Hall is a member of the Queensland E-learning Innovations Advisory Group will be the Chairperson for the day’s proceedings. He will also deliver the summary and learnings from the day’s proceedings during the closing address.

Biography: Michael Hall has worked for the Queensland branch of ACPET since 2002. ACPET is Australia’s peak industry body for over 1,100 independent providers of post-compulsory education and training for domestic and overseas students, delivering VET, higher education, secondary schooling and English language courses. Michael’s role as ACPET QLD and NT Executive Officer is that of an advocate for the growing private education and training sector, and in ensuring that practitioners have access to relevant, current and supportive services to assist in attaining the best possible outcomes for their students and their organisations. Michael is passionate about promoting a collegiate, cooperative and responsive education and training sector to maximise opportunities for students, industry, teachers and trainers. Michael has a Bachelor of Arts (University of Queensland) and a Bachelor of Business (Queensland University of Technology).

Speakers

Janine Schubert

Queensland Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG) Representative

Session: Official welcome and overview of the Australian Flexible Learning
Framework.
Biography: Janine Schubert is the Queensland Representative for FLAG, the Framework’s managing body. Janine Schubert is also the Director of Product
Services for the Department of Education, Training and the Arts in Queensland. She is responsible for the development and maintenance of products and for the
development and implementation of staff capability strategies for the Queensland VET sector; as well as providing leadership on the strategic direction in the
management, delivery and responsiveness of products and services for TAFE Queensland and the Queensland VET sector.

Michael Coghlan

E-learning Facilitator for TAFE SA and independent E-learning Consultant (NewLearning.com)

Session: Engaging the crowd - Tools for tracking live events

Biography: Michael Coghlan was teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) when he decided to become a volunteer online ESL teacher in 1997. He is a founding member of the Webheads online community. Michael is an E-learning Facilitator for TAFE South Australia and works as an independent E-learning Consultant (NewLearning.com). He was also a facilitator for the Australian Flexible Learning Community from 2000-2004. He has designed and delivered online courses in ESL, e-moderation and using online technologies. He has written widely on e-learning, and has presented at several national and international conferences. His interests include networked learning, the role of social software in learning, and the impact of the internet on society.

Mark Harris

Educational Leader, Southbank Institute of Technology

Session: Should I stay? Or should I go?

Biography: Mark Harris is an Educational Leader at Southbank Institute of Technology. He has 13 years experience in the VET sector, and an additional seven years experience in higher education. Mark holds a Master of Human Resource Management and was awarded the Griffith University Academic Excellence Award in 2005. Mark’s professional interests include life-based learning and capability development, knowledge sharing and the ageing workforce.

Allison Miller

Business Manager for the E-portfolios – Managing Learner Information

Session: E-portfolios – Managing your information

Biography: Allison has previously worked as the South Australian

E-learning Innovations Coordinator, and the Manager for the Inclusive E-learning (Youth) Project, both for the Framework; as well as the
E-Learning Development Coordinator for TAFE SA. She has several years experience as a lecturer/facilitator with TAFE SA in areas of business finance, administration and small business management.

Brad Beach

Manager Innovation, GippsTAFE

Session: Virtual worlds – What is all the fuss about?

Biography: Brad Beach has been involved in the field of e-learning for over 10 years and has responsibility for embedding the use of
e-learning within GippsTAFE. In 2008, GippsTAFE will generate approximately $5.5 million by providing e-learning solutions to over 4,000 students from across Australia and internationally. In addition to receiving Victoria’s Outstanding VET Trainer of the Year Award (2004), he is considered to be an Australian leader in flexible learning technologies and is often called upon to provide consultancy services for industry and other educational providers.

Queensland E-learning Innovations Projects Showcase

Francis Kneebone

Training Manager, SU QLD – Vocational Training

SU QLD (Scripture Union Queensland) – iListen

Session: Tools 2.0

Biography: Francis is a blogger (neovet.blogspot.com), Registered Training Organisation Manager for SU Qld and
e-learning enthusiast. He has a passion for developing
e-learning solutions for the vocational education and training (VET) sector and online training solutions for the workplace.

Garry Hargreaves

National Online Learning Specialist

Workstar

Session: Assessing responsible rural safety management

Biography: Garry has extensive experience managing multimedia and online learning projects and ensuring delivery of client-focused solutions. He has over 20 years experience in the fields of information technology, education, multimedia and online learning. Garry continues to serve as a judge on the prestigious Global Brandon-Hall Excellence in Learning Awards.

Jacky Keeling

Instructional Designer

SkillsTech Australia – Gas project

Session: Now we're cooking with gas

Biography: Jacky Keeling has 16 years experience as both an educator and instructional designer in the VET sector. During her time as a teacher, Jacky's interest led her to deliver training in a more flexible way. She developed and delivered information technology programs online and was involved in the design and development of e-learning programs across a broad range of training areas. Jacky was also instrumental in the design and development of two Flexible Learning Toolboxes. In recent years, Jacky has turned her attentions to instructional design in the e-learning environment, and has developed an online program designed specifically for teachers to build capability in delivering e-learning. Jacky is the lead Instructional Designer for the E-learning Gas Skills for a Green and Sustainable Future project which is funded by the Framework.

Des Harms

Project Manager Education Development, SkillsTech Australia

SkillsTech Australia – Sustainability project

Session: Blended learning model for sustainability training

Biography: Des Harms has been working in the VET sector for 16 years. During his time in the training industry he has filled many roles and undertaken a range of activities including; teaching, resource development, online learning development, curriculum development, educational research, policy development, consulting and project management. For the past two years Des has been developing policies and implementing projects based on actions from the Queensland Skills Plan (QSP).