Applied Learning is a truly student centred approach to learning and teaching. Its principles focus on negotiating with the learner, building on their knowledge and experience and tailoring programs to their needs and interests to enable engagement and authentic learning and assessment.

What do young people say about learning and how can we listen and work from their observations to create a truly meaningful curriculum that uses Applied Learning pedagogy to answer this challenge?

The VALA 2011 Conference theme, Youth Voices, opens this question to the wider community and seeks a multitude of inspiring suggestions, conversations and discussions in its conference program. Our keynotes speakers will be looking at what students say and how one school responds to this with a tailored and rigorous program that is extremely successful.

We invite facilitators, educators, teachers, trainers and learners to share their experiences, insights and programs, small or large, with others in the learning community by delivering a workshop that supports this theme at the 2011VALA Conference.

To register your interest in running a workshop, please complete the form by December 17th.

VALA’s VCAL Induction PD day - 2011 date for your diary:

February 16th, 2011 at William Angliss Conference Centre- Melbourne

Are you a new VCAL teacher or coordinator? Not sure where to start?
Start here with VALA’s Induction Day 2011.
Workshops, resources and networking with experienced practitioners to help get your year off to a head start.
Look out for program and registration details

SAFE-T1 News

Lonely Parts Club animation – new resource for students by students

Lonely Parts Club is a claymation developed by a group of students from the Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE (NMIT). The students (VCAL Intermediate) had no previous experience or background in animation. What they produced is an engaging (and sometimes funny) animation about a serious subject – workplace safety.

See also the teacher resource, Animate and engage, which provides a step-by-step guide to creating simple animations.

2011 SAFE-T1 Small Grants

The SAFE-T1 project will be offering SMALL GRANTS again in 2011. The grants are for students who are developing a workplace health and safety resource and need a little help (some additional expertise, software or materials) to finish their resource / product.

Applications will be accepted from the beginning of the 2011 school year until Friday 8th April 2011 unless the money set aside for the 2011 Small Grants is expended earlier. Applications will be assessed (see the Guidelines and Conditions for criteria, etc) as they are received and the money will be available only until it has been used. Products must be completed by 23rd September 2011.

SAFE-T1 Teacher Feedback Survey

If you haven’t told us what you think about the SAFE-T1 website, now is your chance. You can take part in the SAFE-T1 Teacher Feedback Survey by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/safe-T1_teacher_feedback.

Other News

NEWS from the VCAA

VCAL Achievement Awards 2010

Know someone achieving great things in a VCAL program? Nominate them for the 2010 VCAL Achievement Awards .

2009 VCAL award winners The awards recognise the outstanding achievements of VCAL students, teachers and partner organisations that have contributed to the development and delivery of innovative VCAL programs.

Guidelines and nomination form are available on the VCAA website. Applications close Friday, 3 December 2010.

Themed VCAL programs

These programs focus learning in priority areas in the labour market and/or to job opportunities. They also enable the development of partnerships with industry and industry training providers. They assist students to choose future pathways such as apprenticeships, VET qualifications or employment.

Guidelines and application form are now available on the VCAA website .

Applications close on Friday 26 November 2010.

For further information contact Cornelia DeBrincat, Project Manager – VCAL on (03) 9651 4383 or email: debrincat.cornelia.c@edumail.vic.gov.au

Review of the VCAL Personal Development Skills Units

During 2011, the VCAL Personal Development Skills units will be reviewed for accreditation and proposed implementation in 2012.

The VCAA are setting up a panel to review the units and key stakeholder consultations will be held in 2010.

VALA will also be holding a consultation to gather the feedback of VALA members and other interested VCAL teachers.

$11 million in extra funding for disengaged youth

The money will be used to establish a secretariat within the Education Department to co-ordinate the links between schools and youth services. Welfare groups and educators have criticised the approach saying that the money will be spent on bureaucracy instead of directly reaching the programs that need it.

Interview with Education Minister Bronwyn Pike in The Age about the funding.

Radiance Consulting offering 15% discount on their ‘Boost’ service

The Boost service assists teachers with new information, ideas, and hands-on activities to inject creativity into existing lessons and programs.

Contact Tina Nikolovski 0413 997 891 info@radianceconsulting.com.au

Trade Training Centres

The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program aims to help address national skills shortages in traditional trades and emerging industries by improving trade training programs in secondary schools. The Australian Government has committed $2.5billion over 10 years to enable all secondary students to access vocational education through Trade Training Centres.

The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for School Education, officially announced the successful schools for Round Three on 4 November 2010.

Over $219 million in principle funding was authorised for Round Three.

Download the list of successful Round Three schools in Victoria:

Resources

Attitudes, intentions and participation in education: Year 12 and beyond

This briefing paper draws on findings from several Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) research reports. The paper looks at how student attitudes and engagement in the formative school years influence subsequent participation in post-compulsory education and training.

The paper is published by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER.

Australian vocational education and training statistics: VET in Schools 2009

Released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Australian vocational education and training statistics: VET in Schools 2009, provides a snapshot of the vocational education and training (VET) activity undertaken by senior secondary school students.

Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: VET in Schools 2009 can be downloaded from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2309.html

Professional development opportunities

VALBEC Regional forum • Innovative use of digital literacies in a community based history project

Thursday 25 November 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm

The Gordon, Geelong City campus, Library

In this presentation Kerrin Pryor will describe how Morrisons, an adult education provider in Melbourne’s east, used digital technology to engage learners with low literacy in the Mount Evelyn Community. Kerrin will explain how participants created a digital living history of the local football and netball clubs, which built on their knowledge and passion. Through the project, participants developed literacy skills which enhanced their employability and developed an increased connection with the community.

Cost: Free but booking is essential; preference to VALBEC members

RSVP info@valbec.org.au by November 23

Venue map and other details

Inquiry based learning workshops

Presented by Dr Adrian Bertoloni, the following workshops look at different aspects of inquiry based learning

Introduction to Practical Inquiry Based Learning

Brighton Beach - Thursday November 25th

Advanced Practical Inquiry Learning

Brighton Beach - Friday November 26th

For more information or to book contact Adrian on 0413 036 382 or email him at adrian@intuyuconsulting.com.au

Aque Dux Mini Conference

At Harvester Technical College, 76 Suffolk Rd Sunshine North 3020

Monday December 13th 9am-3.30pm

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided NO COST

This mini conference is for those interested in education for sustainability in upper secondary and TAFE sectors, with a particular emphasis on applied learning. It is intended to build a network of people who can continue to share ideas throughout 2011, building up to a bigger conference at the end of next year.

The program will include:

Discussion about research into methodologies for engaging young people in sustainability
Examples of projects and resources for VCAL programs including the Aque Dux project, Youth Eco-Challenge and Resource Smart AuSSI Vic
Professional Development and networking opportunities, including display of Melbourne Water’s ‘Stormwater Interactive Model’

RSVP: to Linda Mitchell, Assistant Principal and Aque Dux Project Manager, 8311 5501, 0458 978 159, lmitchell@harvestercollege.vic.edu.au

conVerge10 - Victorian e-learning conference

November 25 – 26, 2010 • Rydges Bell City Preston

Registration Page

6th International Drugs and Young People Conference - Making the Connections

2-4 May 2011 • Melbourne.

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