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 ..........