Learning Communities Conference

1
Learning Communities Conference

• An overview from
• Cheryl Robertson
• Pip Hankin
• Fiona Ellis

2
Some points from keynote addressesCouncillor
Paul Bell

• Local government must become involved to build
  successful learning communities
• There needs to be some partnerships and awareness
  of learning communities built between us and
  local government
• Does TCO need to address local council meetings
  to make local government aware of OACs and
  current services on offer?
• There is a need to get the linkages between
  learning, industry and local government services.
  Working together to create the learning place.
  Can local government be the enabler?
• Local government can provide linkages such as
  libraries, online access centres and training and
  education
• Local governments also need to address skills
  shortages at a regional level
• Key questions Do we need to form these linkages
  with local government to help push funding needs
  and policy before elections?

3
Vanessa LittleGM Learning Community Hume City
Council

• During her fact finding and visits learned that
  the UK now has 30 learning communities
• The UK national government provides lots of
  resources. Unfortunately, theres lots of
  accountability and are heavily regulated. They
  have a strong focus on family learning as does
  British Columbia in Canada
• The OECD Literacy reports indicate that Canada
  have 42 of their population that are
  functionally illiterate similar for Australia
• Social inclusion is linked to learning and
  learning communities
• Libraries the anchor for the community in Canada
  and this resonated with Hume. Now have built the
  first library for the Broadmeadows area, NSW
• Funding issues continue in Oz
• Key points
• Local governments need to be educated about what
  a learning community is and what it means to them
  
• Local governments need to provide sponsorship
• Supportive partnerships are needed between the
  council structure, libraries and education
• Learning communities need to be cross-cultural
• Libraries need to embrace LCs. If not, there
  could be a change/threat to their current
  operations

4
Bernard Salt - KPMGAuthor of The Big Shift The
Big Picture

• West coast of Tassie the big losers in population
  movement
• Sorell the only area of growth
• Mainly in the ages of 18-24 who are attracted to
  the cities
• Selling, marketing and managing are the current
  top 10 positions
• 25 000 jobs were created in call centres from
  1996-2001
• The top job shrinkage was in the secretary but
  Pas have had some growth with the change to
  managing for their managers. Secretaries are
  almost obsolete
• Bank workers also lost 25 000 positions

5
Bernard Salt KPMG contd

• Key points
• The uptake of technology has had an impact with
  the shift of jobs
• There is a need for ongoing skill building, job
  changes and shifts
• Jobs lifespan is now about 10 years approximately
• In 2008 people will be looking forward to 24
  years of retirement
• The years that Gen X will spend as adults is from
  30-55
• Baby boomers are going to ensure that theres a
  demand for education services from here on in
  until peaking around 2012 140 000 per year
• Gen Ys are not anchored to their native nation or
  country of birth. For Oz HECS can be a barrier
  for males (in particular) to stay in Oz

6
Elaine Henry CEO, The Smith Family A social
enterprise approach to learning

• Learning for life programs that are
  co-located- they facilitate systems integrations
  working within the community or in extended
  schools
• The Smith Family is currently working in over 70
  communities
• See learning or schools as the hub of the
  community
• 1 increase in literacy at the lower levels
  translates to a 2.5 increase in productivity or
  a 1.5 increase in GDP
• Have programs such as- C4C, Communities for
  Children- Lets read kids and parents, sees
  parents start reading to children from age of
  3 months- Unlimited Potential Program- FAST/
  Kindy FAST
• TSF main aim is to enhance literacy skills

7
Prof Margaret SteinbergHarnessing the new
demographic Older people and learning communities

• Key points
• More recognition of informal learning
• U3A now online
• The cost of dementia since 2003 is 6.6 billion
• Lifelong learning is now a survival issue
• The need to develop 2 sets of skills-
  foundation skills with literacy and numeracy-
  information, communication and technology
• Ongoing skills development can help to offset the
  huge costs of dementia

8
Beth Worrall, Microsoft GlobalDigital literacy
and the Microsoft learning experience

• Technology literacy programs funded by Unlimited
  Potential
• Microsoft cash grants programs and donates
  technology each year
• Unlimited Potential digital curriculum can
  download for free off the internet. Word format
  information that can be self-paced or teacher led
• Digital curriculum currently has 5 modules
  Computer basics, Computer Security, Multimedia
• Partnered with The Smith Family and also with
  Australian Seniors Computer Club Assoc.
• See the need for upskilling and not just IT for
  ITs sake
• Has a refurbishment program
• Important to harness the fields of fascination
  eg. Digital media projects for young ppl
  Genealogy projects for seniors Scrapbooking,
  home budgeting aid in the preservation of
  culture and language for the indigenous AND IT
  and job skills training
• Key points
• Unlimited Potential Program digital literacy
  curriculum www.microsoftunlimitedpotential.com.au
  
• Not just about IT UP centres are key community
  hubs delivering on social inclusion and
  connectedness
• Hardware still a huge issue for most community
  centres
• MVPs most valuable professional program could
  some TCO Coordinators and staff gain this?

9
Dr Kaye BowmanEvaluation determinants of
success of LCs

• How do we know we are succeeding?
• What are we trying to achieve? A community in
  which the majority of the population is involved
  in learning
• What are the outcomes of success?Identity,
  Human, Social, Institutional, Economic, Natural
• What are the determinants of success?The
  Learning business 5 Ps (ANTA Learning Communities
  Project)Performance, Participation, Partnering,
  Promoting, Planning
• What performance indicators offer insights?The
  Learning Business Indicators Planning,
  Participative, Promotion, Partnering,
  Participation, Performance
• Some interesting reading
• Building learning communities, NCVER Allison
  (has indicators of the business of learning and
  outcomes
• Creating synergies, NCVER Waterhouse (local
  government involvement in Victoria)
• July Communique, COAG indicators

10
Lea Giles-Peters, State Lib QLDthe role of
libraries in supporting learning commnunitites

• Were digital immigrants rather than natives
  which also continues to be a challenge for the
  elearning arena
• Need to overcome the digital divide the
  challenges of distance
• The need to support new literacies not just the
  traditional but also information and digital
  literacy
• Continue to support learning and look for
  learning opportunities for example, they are
  using Karaoke to encourage reading in the
  indigenousOnline literature festivalSummer
  reading clubs for kids
• Libraries must become knowledge centres the
  supporter so that others can DO
• www.slq.qld.gov.au

11
Workshop Central TAFE WACommunity and Adult
Education in TAFE, a new script

• Recognised that they had lost their community
  focus and identity
• Now have partnerships in ACE and other
  organisations- City of Perth (increase in inner
  city living)- State Library library learning-
  Ellenbrook new community 15k from Perth- Dept
  of Employment, Consumer
• The circumstances were serendipitious
  combination of accident and wisdom in recognising
  the significance of a discovery
• The need to build relationships with other
  organisations identifying high-value
  relationships and investing in them
• The ongoing need to make those relationships
  effective
• Implementing collaborative technologies in
  external relationships super computing/iVEC,
  Elluminate, WebCT etc.

12
Workshop Shire of MeltonA local governments
approach to provision of lifelong learning

• Lifelong learning supported by the Community
  Learning Plan which is formed for 3 years
• Their Community Learning Board made up of a
  diverse mix of their community council manages
  selection process
• Council provides access to facilities and
  supports local learning providers
• Cross sectoral partnerships of school not
  territorial
• Council supports achievements eg. Sponsors a
  short story competition
• Running a broad range of activities from getting
  kids ready for school, early intervention for at
  risk or potentially at risk kids in council
  provided venues
• Council sees itself as and honest broker with
  no vested interest
• Issues learning directory 4 times per year

13
Workshop Building a learning city in China A
case study of Yiwu

• City of 1.6 million building the largest
  learning society in the world
• Shanghai the first in 1999 now 60 cities in
  China
• Their 9 key concepts are- Humanity-oriented
  ideas (equity and harmony in all aspects-
  Education for all- Lifelong learning system-
  Human resources capacity building- Ability to
  learn- Innovation- Competition and
  collaboration- Sustainable development- City
  civilisation
• www.chinafairs.org
• Spending 10million over the next 5 years in Yiwu
  to provide free training to public particularly
  unemployed
• Local government important- use of various
  educational resources all schools for free-
  flexible modes of delivery and customised
  education and training
• 10 population involved in training
• Integrating the formal and informal
• Trying to provide a suitable entrance point for
  anyone

14
Workshop Building a learning city in China A
case study of Yiwu

• City of 1.6 million building the largest
  learning society in the world
• Shanghai the first in 1999 now 60 cities in
  China
• Their 9 key concepts are- Humanity-oriented
  ideas (equity and harmony in all aspects-
  Education for all- Lifelong learning system-
  Human resources capacity building- Ability to
  learn- Innovation- Competition and
  collaboration- Sustainable development- City
  civilisation
• www.chinafairs.org
• Spending 10million over the next 5 years in Yiwu
  to provide free training to public particularly
  unemployed
• Local government important- use of various
  educational resources all schools for free-
  flexible modes of delivery and customised
  education and training
• 10 population involved in training
• Integrating the formal and informal
• Trying to provide a suitable entrance point for
  anyone

15
Workshop ALA, Josie Rose Mary Hannan,
E-learning creative community partnerships a
catalyst for change?

• Access to bandwidth and technology
• Need to get the mix right blended learning
• Toolbox contributions objects that can be
  downloaded, adapted and used for free
• Learning Platforms the need for a freeware
  system that also needs to be user-friendly for
  teachers and clients
• E-learn pilots need to move beyond the pilot
  stage to become mainstream
• There needs to be quality control with a system
  of excellence
• needed and government input is needed
• Educating the government of the benefits of
  e-learning

16
Workshop Uni of QLDThe computer tutors role in
community health and learning

• All clients are over-50s
• Mostly 11 computer training sessions
• Uses volunteer tutors of mixed ages and cultures
• Teaches a range of software
• Has specific projects eg family trees and
  website development
• Access to other tutors who are able to teach
  advanced applications as needed
• Have delivered over 8 000 lessons 11 in the past
  10 years
• Mainstream computer training is too fast for them
• Recognised IT as a tool against social isolation
• Definite linkages between gaining IT skills and
  the increase in health in the older person
• Some older people dont necessarily have the
  ability for input into education policies
• IT reduces the isolation and stress of older
  people

17
Workshop Moving on UPUnlocking e-learning
potential

• Access to computers is not indicative of how
  meaningful that usage is
• 75 participants surveyed had accessed computers
  in the last 12 months however, 50 of those
  were still unable to feel comfortable with the
  Internet and email
• Use computers as a means to fight isolation and
  to build self-confidence
• Using IT to build community connectedness
• Form partnerships but clarify and focus on the
  expectations
• Motivation to learning was the most common
  barrier
• Their conclusion was that the Unlimited Potential
  Program increased digital literacy and social
  inclusion
• 2 out of 3 people would go on to share their
  skills with others
• Go to www.thesmithfamily.com.au to see reports
  online, IT takes a community to bridge a divide
  and Technology enabled inclusion