E-learning co-ordinator Kevin Dawson accepts the award from Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
AN innovative educational program at the Upper Yarra Community House has taken out a top gong in the Victorian Learn Local Awards.
The Yarra Junction-based community house blended traditional learning with new technologies that had students of all ages using iPads and other technology in an aged care course.
UYCH executive officer Sally Brennan said winning the award around innovation was the most exciting part, “because it means you’re on the cutting edge of what’s needed.”
The community house had students completing their aged care certificate who were overwhelmed with the use of new technology in their roles.
The UYCH team developed a unique delivery strategy using blogs, Twitter, flip cameras and iPads within a unit focused on caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
UYCH Information and Communications Technology manager Thom Baselier said many courses were technology driven, “but technology needs to serve the business solution, not the other way around.”
“Thirty per cent of students had never used an iPad…neither had the teacher,” he said.
“The biggest award was the compliments from the students afterwards.”
Mr Baselier, along with e-learning co-ordinator Kevin Dawson and community services and training co-ordinator Alison Forbes, put the program together in three months with the help of e-learning Victoria funding.
After such success, they plan to role the unit out again in October.
Ms Brennan said embedding iPads in aged care was just the beginning.
“We want to demystify it for people and use learning programs to assist in that,” she said.
Little fingers will also be joining the iPad revolution, with the $10,000 prize award from Learn Local being put towards iPads for four-year-old kinder at the UYCH Children’s Centre.
Ms Brennan said technology was in nearly every aspect of work these days, including the health care industry.
“These industries become incredibly computerised, with the use of palm pilots to take client observations,” she said.
“We have a very high employment rate in all our aged care programs and it’s important our students are familiar, comfortable and confident with new technology.”
Ninety to 100 per cent of students in the UYCH aged care program go into full-time work or continue with further study.
Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall announced the 2011 Learn Local award winners on Tuesday 6 September.
Find out more about e-Learning at the Upper Yarra Community House at www.uych.vic.edu.au
