Graduation Night October '09

Hi Chickens,
I am afraid that I have been neglecting my blog lately - not enough hours in the day! I have made time, however to put the graduation photos on. I look uniformly awful in all of them, but haven't got time to photoshop them so will have to go au naturelle (everyone else looks great). Huge Congratulations to all those who made the graduation, and the rest of you - I haven't given up hope that you will be at the next one.
Click here to view photos.
Where has the year gone? We will be counting the shopping days to Christmas soon.

Sorry it has been so long!

Hello Chickens,
well I have finally found time to update my blog. As the title says, sorry that it has been so long. Lots has happened since the last posting. The February group has finished classes and is now on the road to getting their certificates. There are a couple of contenders for first to the post. Mr. Salter is closest to finishing, but may be pipped at the post by one of the others. There are a few recalcitrants who need to extract the digit and get some folders in (you know who you are). Those who were at the BBQ had a good time and it was great to catch up outside class. Graduation for your group is currently scheduled for 14th of August, but I will have to reschedule as I will be in Alice Springs on that date. I will email you after another date is arranged. The April group is rocking and only has two classes left to go. They are in the midst of assessment and motoring towards the finish collecting as many ticks as possible on the way.

My Alice Springs Chickens (pictured above) will be seeing me again on 9th April and I am looking forward to going back there. Alice Springs was great and I was made to feel really welcome. I was even given a lift to the airport, thanks to Anita for your kind gesture. I hope I can arrange a dinner out with you before I leave this time, but it will have to be during the week as I fly out friday afternoon (couldn't arrange saturday flight unfortunately). You never know what you will see in the Alice - I have added a photo of an man taking his alpaca for a walk in the Todd Mall - just an average day in the red centre!

Now please make sure that any of you whatever group you are in calls me if you need help with assessment tasks. Don't stress out just send an email and I will be in touch. I will try to make more regular postings on the blog from now on. Things have settled down a bit now and hopefully will stay that way.
cheers, Mother Hen.

Our first TAA baby!

Massive congratulations to Bill and his wife on the arrival of Tyler Brayden Ojeda, weighing in at 3.8 Kg, on 16th April, 2009. All the staff and students at the academy send thier warmest wishes to you. Bill has achieved competency for this outstanding independent project and we are wondering if in his quest for 'continuous improvement' he will be aiming for twins next time!
To more serious matters, I would strongly urge those who have yet to hand in their Cluster One folders (group1)to make it a priority as it will get easier once you have completed this cluster.
For those in group 2 see if you can get yours in on time if at all possible. You know where to find me if you need any help.

Hello from Mother Hen

Hi Chickens,
well I now have two flocks to guide through the murky waters of TAA40104. Group 2 made a great start on Wednesday and have started accumulating ticks! Group 1 will be half way through after Monday (doesn't time fly when you are having fun), so are the big kids in the play ground now. I have as usual put all the requirements for next week onto the news forum and an email.

I thought that you might be interested in the review and reccomendations for the new model for the TAA40104 Cert IV the link is below:
http://www.ibsa.org.au/content/currentprojects/TAA40104_Review.html
You can register with ibsa and add your feedback to the review process if you like. I think that the more voices that are added to the feed back processes the better. I think that all the candidates who have done this course are eager to see changes made. You can also download a copy of the proposed new model and have a look at it. Ok, well have a good week end and see you all next week.

Day Three

Hi Chickens,
well I thought that I would give you a pretty picture this time to cheer you up before I give instructions for completing Cluster One assessment tasks. I have as usual put the information all over the place to try to ensure that everyone gets it. PLEASE contact me if you are having problems with anything - that is what I am here for.
For those students who have attended all classes and completed all the in-class assessment tasks you will need to:

• Complete the TAA Quiz 12 env
• 6 env Inclusivity 3rd Party report to be filled in and signed by a supervisor or other competent witness
• 10 env OHS 3rd Party report to be filled in and signed by a supervisor or other competent witness
• 15 env Working in VET 3rd Party report to be filled in and signed by a supervisor or other competent witness
• 14 env Workplace project to be completed as per instructions - if you check off the items (where applicable) on the check list provided you can't go far wrong.

The important things are to design a learning plan to meet the needs of a particular target group in consultation with anyone else involved and to contextualise the chosen unit/s or accredited courses you will be using to that target group.

I would suggest that you choose at least 2 units from a training package or accredited course for your learning plan, but you only need to contextualise one of them. It will save you a lot of time if you design a learning plan that you can the deliver and assess for assessment tasks in future clusters. If you are already carrying out training in the workplace see if you can fit this project in with that. If you do not have a practise environment then you will have to set up a simulation. Don't forget to include an OHS inspection of your prospective learning environment and an OHS briefing to learners in your learning plan to fulfill evidence requirements for the OHS unit. Your learning plan should also contain at least 2 session plans to fulfill evidence requirements for deliveries in Cluster 2.
But the good news is that you will be a quarter of the way through when you have done this and well on your way to completion. I also reckon that it becomes easier and more interestin from now on and starts to make more sense. Here ends the sandwich!!!!!

This is some information I got together for a previous student to help him get the most out of the delivery he did for his workplace project, It ocurred to me that others may be able to use this information as well.

Hope this makes sense and doesn’t look too overwhelming, but remember you are gathering evidence for nearly every unit in the course.

Cluster 2
You will need:

- delivery plan – include venue resources, learner records (enrolment forms), promotional information (anything announcing the course or publicizing it)

- Session plans (at least 2)

- Delivery (2 consecutive sessions, 1 for at least an hour and recorded)

- 3^rd party report from suitably qualified person

- Evaluations – student, observer and yours

- Journal – your reflections

Refer to checklist (they are combined on one list) in work place project folder Cluster 2)

Cluster 3

5. Develop teams and individuals through a Workbased learning projecf.

If you can add a component of learning on the job – practicing a skill – as well as the two deliveries you can gather evidence for this project as well. Refer to checklist 5.2 in Workbased learning Project folder in Cluster 3.

I suggest you do the coaching project in cluster 3 as a separate project as it is only one on one and relatively easy to organize.

Cluster 4

11.3 Workplace Assessment Observation Report (all templates required are in the cluster 4 folder)

You will need to do:

- an assessment plan

- design tools/methods

- conduct at least one assessment (2 showing different methods would be better eg. A questionnaire and a direct observation) Don’t forget you must have a list of answers!!!!

- Conduct assessment with an observer to witness

- Validate – you can do this by writing a report showing how your assessment methods collect evidence to meet all the critical evidence requirements of this unit.

Refer to checklist in Workplace Project folder Cluster 4.

Hope this is of assistance.

Edit | Delete

Day Two

PANICKING



Yes Chickens, if anyone is tempted to feel that way - stop now. You are all doing really well for this early stage of the course and I thought you guys did a fantastic job of the presentations on Monday afternoon. Everyone was really in the groove re the dreaded topic of 'contextualisation'.

I have put the revised training plan on Moodle. I thought it wasn't a bad idea to have it there for reference anyway. Those who missed class on Monday please note that the date of the last day of the course has changed due to difficulties arranging flights to Alice Springs for a course I am delivering there.

For the Day 3 assessment tasks you will need to print out the contents of the OHS_task folder and the Inclusivity_tasks folder. The 3rd party reports are not for the in-class activities, but you may have questions about them. The Workplace Project is an independent assessment task. It would be a very good idea to print out the instructions, read them and come to the next class ready to ask questions about them. All these documents are in the Assessment tasks_Cluster One folder. I have put the due date for the hand in of the the Cluster One assessment tasks on the Calender.

I have put this information on Moodle as well- so there can be no excuses for not getting it. Next week we will be quarter way through the course. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun.

Quote for the week 'The first step is half way on a thousand mile journey.' This gem comes from a chinese philosopher called Lao Tzu.

Day One for the Class of Feb 09

Hi Chickens,
Well I hope you guys weren't too overwhemed by your first plunge into the dangerous waters of VET. I promise you that soon all the Vet-speak will become second nature and the complex web of Vet organisations will become familiar, then everything will fall in place for you.

I have made an email folder and will shortly send out the first group email. If anyone doesn't get it please send me an email to carole.buck@dhrca.com and I will edit your address as necessary.

For day 2 Cert IV TAA you will need to print out the contents of the BTP_simulation folder and also 11 env_Use_TAAO4_T.P.v1.doc. You will find these in the Assessment Tasks_Cluster One folder on Moodle. You should also have a browse through the DES401B resource book to familiarise yourselves with the topic.

I have also put this information on the news forum in Moodle and also in the email so hopefully everyone will get the message.

See you all on the 23rd Feb, and remember, as Bette Midler once said:
'To be successful you don't need good looks or talent - all you need is enthusiasm.' It is my favourite quote.

Graduation Night

Hi Chickens,
well Graduation Night was a great night. We missed those who couldn't come, but the rest of us had a drink a two for them. I got home at 3am and was a little fragile for the entire next day, but it was worth it.
As I said on the night I am immensely proud of you guys for completing this course despite heaps of things going on in your lives - you all worked very hard and I know that Dave and Lois too will soon join the ranks of fully qualified trainers and experience that 'Oh What a Feeling' moment.
A HUGE THANK-YOU for the flowers, chockies and wine. The flowers are looking resplendent in my living room and I am trying to fend the kids off the chocolates. Thanks to Kelly for ferrying them home for me.
You're not students any more, but I hope you are all still friends.....don't lose touch. You know where I live.
Click here for a pictorial record of the event and please note John that I always keep my promises!

A photo finish!

Hi Chickens,
well it looks like a photo finish for second to the line. Suzy has taken first place, she did have the advantage of a credit for cluster 2 (never the less she worked hard). A big round of applause for Suzy. Vying for first to complete the 4 clusters are Venjie, Mark, Rebecca and Scott who all have three clusters handed in. I have to say that I have my money on Venjie as he has just handed in cluster 4 and although I haven't picked it up yet if it is up to his usual standard he is the hot favourite!

That was was the good news - now to the recalcitrants. Please guys if you need any help with anything don't hesitate to contact me and make a time to sit down and go through everything. I really don't mind and sometimes it can make all the difference and clarify what you need to do to complete. It is usually less than you think.

Remember what I said about handing your last folder in (bliss). Suzy and Venjie can back me up on that. So ring, email or send a carrier pigeon and I will be there for you.

I'm now looking forward to a flood of folders and communications!!!!!

The Class of April '08

Hi Guys,
I've finally found time to update the blog. Thanks to Kelly for the above portrait of the chickens (plus mother hen) celebrating the end of classes. It was a pity we didn't have the full crew for the photo, but if the missing persons forward me a photo I will photoshop you in. Mark thought you needed a name so I have dubbed you the Class of April '08.

Saturday night was great. Highlights of the evening being: - the Crepe Coach displaying his prowess, several amazing karoke performances and a display of belly skate boarding by the kids. The food was terrific thanks to all who contributed to the spread. Thanks also to Sashi and Sarah for a wonderful effort baby sitting.

Photos of the BBQ and last day in class have been posted on Venjie's and Mark's websites. I must say that if I had considered that possibility I may well have thought again about performing a rendition of Wild Thing (or at least toned down the performance). It was good to meet the partners and children who have also had to persevere through the period of the Cert IV training.

BIG PLANS have been made for post graduation celebrations so don't plan anything major for the following day.

Talking of graduation there are a few things to do to ensure that you are all there. Most of the cluster 1 folders are in, but several people (and you know who you are) have yet to email me documents to complete them. I am expecting that now that you are free of classes that everyone will have a bit more time to complete assessment tasks so I optimistically expect to be showered with folders in the near future. Anyone who needs help knows where to find me.

Please, please make a big effort to get everything handed in and get your lives back again. I promise you the feeling you get when you hand in your last assignment is better than ..........

There is such a thing as a FREE LUNCH!!!

Hi Guys,
Well only one more day to go in the course and the smell of celebration is in the air. Carole (the Director) has offered to shout us all lunch at the Office - I think most of you know the place, it's just down the road, so you can forget the sandwiches next week. Would you please email me to confirm if you can come so we can book and get the big table.

For those of you who couldn't make it to class yesterday, we have also organised a BBQ at my place on Saturday, the 28th of June kicking off some time between 6 to 7 pm. It is BYO drinks and chair, if you have a folding chair. Partners and kids are welcome (my daughter is a great baby sitter and will organise DVD's etc.). Mark has volunteered (in the military sense of the word) to put an entry on his blog where everyone can enter what they would like to bring in the way of food so we don't get a dozen salads. I will be putting on sausages, chops etc. and what ever else I decide to whip up on the day. I'm thinking of a large trifle for the sweet tooths and Mark is going to display his culinary expertise with the crepe maker. So be there or be square!

I suppose I ought to address the academic side of Cert. IV (it's not all beer and skittles). This week we did ASS402B. For those who missed it there was not much that we hadn't covered the previous week, but go through the unit and refresh your memory. To make up for the tasks we did in class, you will need to do the RPL_project from the assessment folder and answer the questions in the Q&A_Assess folder. We also started planning the Adapt a Course task in groups and have organised for those who were missing to be included in the groups. You should be recieving emails from a member of your group to include you in the loop. If you don't contact me and I will tell you what you need to bring in for next week. Please try to make it to class next week as we are doing 3 assessment tasks in an effort to make Cluster 4 a real doddle for everyone. Have a great week. I'll let you know if there is any more news before we meet again.

On the home run - Assessment

Well we are on the home straight and sprinting for the finish. This week we did ASS401B and ASS 403B. So everyone can now plan and organise assessment and develop assessment tools.

The highlight of the day was definitely Mark (AKA Mary) showing us his feminine side in a role play! We love your work Mark.

The class split into groups and designed an assessment plan and and developed an assessment tool for that wonderful RTO 'BTP'.
There were a variety of tools developed and all had their good points, but one of the most effective designs was the observation check list because the benchmark answers were embedded in the questions/topics and only a yes/no answer was required. We were also treated to a very spiffy assessment matrix. All in all I was very impressed with the work done and confident that everyone is gaining an understanding of assessment principles and procedures.

On another subject I recieved an email from Rebecca today, pointing out that the six hats exercise is on cluster 3 checklist, please ignore this as we did it in cluster 2. She also queried what exercise 3 in cluster 2 (Communication Skills activity roleplays) was - it was the change a light bulb, make a cup of coffee exercise that we did in class. Thought I'd pass this on for the edification of all.
Don't forget that next week we need the RPL folder printed out, also a validation report from the template folder and the Assess Q & A, so we can race through some more assesment tasks.

Can't think of anything else for the moment - I'm up to the neck in marking and computer problems. Oh yes I can. For those who haven't seen it go to Mark's blogg and check out the vegemite crepe making lesson he has recorded for his coaching project. There will be a prize of the liquid kind for anybody who can top that!!!!!!!!

Cluster 1 Assessment - some information

There has been some confusion about the Working in VET 3rd party report. It is in the VET folder, but is put with the Workplace Project in the check-list. I will have to fix this for next time.

Also please note that when contextualising your unit or accredited course you need to give me both versions (the original and the contextualised version) so that I can see what changes you have made.

Hope this helps.

Day 8 Del404B & BSCMN404A

Well we are on the home straight now, having finished cluster 3 and started on the Assessment section. It was great to have nearly all the class members in attendance yesterday and we have made a solid start in the area of assessing.

The designing of a knowledge assessment tool seemed to go down well - if the amount of laughter involved is to be used as a guide - and the criminal tendencies of class members were revealed as well!!

Although we tackled the subject in a light hearted way I believe that it effectively showed what works and what doesn't when designing different types of questions. The DVD also gave us a good over view of the assessment process and the steps necessary in that process, in Plain English. This contrasted starkly with some of the convoluted language we dealt with earlier in the day.

I have already put out a heartfelt plea for the class to print out and read through the assessment tasks for Cluster 4 during the next two weeks before our next session and I am doing so again because we will be doing a lot of assessment tasks in class and there are a lot of templates to be sorted through and attached to the various tasks. Being well prepared will make it a lot easier for you to get a large part of that folder done without using your valuable (and limited) free time outside of class, work and family committments.

Mark has as usual provided a record of proceedings and I hope everyone is checking out his blogg as there is some good stuff on it. I must say though that the video on ultra lights didn't persuade me to take up his offer of a ride in one!!!!

Gotta million things to do so will leave it here for the moment. I will update if there is any news to tell before the next session.

PS. This is some information I got together for Scott to help him get the most out of the delivery he is doing for his workplace project, It ocurred to me that others may be able to use this information as well.

Hope this makes sense and doesn’t look too overwhelming, but remember you are gathering evidence for nearly every unit in the course.

Cluster 2
You will need:

- delivery plan – include venue resources, learner records (enrolment forms), promotional information (anything announcing the course or publicizing it)

- Session plans (at least 2)

- Delivery (2 consecutive sessions, 1 for at least an hour and recorded)

- 3^rd party report from suitably qualified person

- Evaluations – student, observer and yours

- Journal – your reflections

Refer to checklist 5.1,5.2,5.3 (they are combined on one list) in work place project folder Cluster 2)

Cluster 3

5. Develop teams and individuals through a Workbased learning projecf.

If you can add a component of learning on the job – practicing a skill – as well as the two deliveries you can gather evidence for this project as well. Refer to checklist 5.2 in Workbased learning Project folder in Cluster 3.

I suggest you do the coaching project in cluster 3 as a separate project as it is only one on one and relatively easy to organize.

Cluster 4

11.3 Workplace Assessment Observation Report (all templates required are in the cluster 4 folder)

You will need to do:

- an assessment plan

- design tools/methods

- conduct at least one assessment (2 showing different methods would be better eg. A questionnaire and a direct observation) Don’t forget you must have a list of answers!!!!

- Conduct assessment with an observer to witness

- Validate – you can do this by writing a report showing how your assessment methods collect evidence to meet all the critical evidence requirements of this unit.

Refer to checklist 11 in Workplace Project folder Cluster 4.

Hope this is of assistance.

IMPORTANT DATES

Cluster 2 Hand in - 17/06/08
Cluster 3 Hand in - 24/06/08
Cluster 4 Hand in - 29/07/08

Graduation - 26th September, 2008

We have Started a Trend!

Last night at our staff meeting I showed the other trainers how to set up a blog and those who were not already familiar with blogger.com were amazed at how simple it was, so there will be a lot more blogging going on in other courses from now on.

DHRCA is also going to set up a moodle system with many more online resources for e-learning which is great news and will enable us to offer more effective support for absent students etc.

Mark is giving me some of his assessment material online - he has given me the link. This is an option that more of the group may wish to take up for future clusters and I am only too happy to accept assessment tasks in electronic version. I will still need class based tasks etc. in hard copy and the folders need to be signed in by administration for tracking purposes, but it cuts down the use of paper and reduces our class's carbon foot print, so consider it.

I am not exactly getting showered with cluster one assignments, but I'm sure I will be soon.

Day 7 - Facilitate Individual Learning DEL403B

Well, thanks to Venjie, we now have a lot of bloggs for this course. I hope to be able to use this one to share resources and allow those who have missed a class to see what they need to do to catch up.

Yesterday we concentrated on the differences between individual and group facilitation, both the advantageas and disadvantages. The main advantages we came up with were the flexibility in the pacing and delivery style which could be adapted to the learners specific needs. The main disadvantages were the lack of group interactions, the possibility of a personality clash and the restrictions on the type of activities possible in a one to one setting. I think the scales are evenly balanced.

In the afternoon we explored mind tools at the following sites;
www.inspiration.com
www.thebrain.com
http://www.mindtools.com/
Venjie also contributed the following site, where you can obtain a great mind mapping tool as a free download at http://freewareapp.com/

The class then did a work-based Learning scenario in groups. Those who missed class can find this in their cluster 3 folder. The groups analysed a scenario and the took turns role playing until they had all played the part of client, trainer and observer. They then presented a report to the class about the coaching methods they had come up with to suit their particular scenarios.
Those who missed this exercise may be able to set it up at home with family members or friends and write a little report to go in their cluster 3 folder.