Skills Institute

Thursday, 15 December 2011 - 11:32am

The Skills Institute is driving innovation in Tasmania’s education and training landscape through a new Mobile Training Centre (MTC), a nationally funded project, set to visit three National Broadband Network Stage 1 sites around the State in February.

The MTC will capitalise on the roll-out of the NBN in Tasmania to trial the provision of accessible training solutions of apprentices, trainees and employers in remote locations.

Skills Institute specialists in educational technology, Janet Fearns and Steve Omant, said the project could help revolutionise apprenticeship training in the workplace, where in many cases training expertise was limited and access to computers was often non-existent.

“The MTC will visit the three stage 1 NBN areas in Tasmania – Smithton, Scottsdale and Midway Point – providing the opportunity for remote facilitation in a virtual classroom environment in areas such as horticulture, hospitality, human services and natural resources,” Ms Fearns said.

“Equipped with 15 computers, it will provide a model for an alternative training strategy, particularly for remote and small workplaces that often find it hard to function without their apprentices when they are required to attend training on campus.”

Mr Omant said the virtual classroom would open the door to a host of new educational possibilities.

“Making use of the stage 1 NBN sites around the State by means of a virtual classroom will allow simultaneous audio and video streaming to enable live questioning and feedback, virtual blackboards, workplace simulations and live linkups with industry experts,” Mr Omant said.

“The NBN will address common problems such as internet drop outs, poor video resolution and intermittent audio.

“We believe this mobile NBN training model has the potential to showcase a new VET training strategy across the Nation and improve the VET sector generally through responsiveness and flexibility to address workforce development needs.”

The MTC project was assisted by funding approved for the National VET E-Learning Strategy 2012-2015 to stimulate innovative approaches to increase participation in training and improve the skill levels of the Australian workforce.

The strategy provides incentives and support for VET providers to use the new NBN system to improve and extend training opportunities, while furthering Australian Government policy objectives for greater participation and enhanced workforce skills.