DAY 2 - Australian Council for Educational Research

NALLNAC 2015 Programme
DAY 2: Morning - 15 May 2015
9.15 - 10.00
Keynote - Investing in the future: Equipping workers through foundation skills
Anthony Kittel: CEO and Managing Director of REDARC Electronics and one of the National Foundation Skills Strategy Project Workplace
Champions.
10.00 - 10.30
Morning Tea
10.30 -12.15
Breakouts
Stream 1
90min workshop
45min presentation
45min presentation
Assessment practices
What is FSAT?
10.30 -12.15
The development and
implementation of the
Foundation Skills
Assessment Tool(FSAT)
Martin Burdis & Dave Tout
The new online Foundation Skills Assessment Tool, commissioned by the Australian Government and designed to assess an
individual’s foundation skill levels? The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) won the contract to develop the
comprehensive Foundation Skills Assessment Tool to identify and assess an individual’s foundation skill levels. The FSAT will be
based around the theoretical underpinnings of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) and the Core Skills for Work
Developmental Framework (CSWF). Why was FSAT developed and what will it support us to do? Will FSAT be useful or will it
be yet another imposition? Hear a bit about the FSAT story, and what it could mean for you and your work. Nearing
completion, this presentation will offer insights and information about not only what is included in FSAT, but how such
assessment tools are developed so they are valid and reliable and how some skills can be assessed online using computer
adaptive features to target the assessment appropriately.
LLN Lessons for Assessment
in VET
2.30 -4.15
Juliette Mendolovits &
Dave Tout
Stream 2
Working with VET Trainers
10.30 -11.15
Embedding LLN in VET
Training
Panel discussion with:
Jen Zhao, Linda Are &
others
The session will be a facilitated conversation where delegates can understand the effect on VET teachers of moves to embed
LLN in VET teaching. We will explore the implications for learners and for policy implementation.
11.30 -12.15
SIHHCLS201A + TAELLN411
+ FSKNUM08 = A simple
sum for a VET teacher?
Dr Carolyn Johnstone
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2.30 -4.15
Within VET Training,
where are the
opportunities to EMBED
(Explore Moments to
Bring Explicit LLN
Development)?
Ann Leske & Chèmene
Sinson
Stream 3
10.30 -12.15
Lessons for disengaged
youth: a fresh start
Carla Harvey, Boystown
Introduction (6 minutes) - Recent LLN initiatives in VET; the VET teachers; developing teachers’ skills
Video Clips 1 (7.5 minutes) – A chance to hear from VET teachers
Explanation of activity (2 minutes) – Handouts to be distributed and whole group ‘shout out’
Video Clips (7.5 minutes) – Repeat of the VET teachers
Group activity (10 minutes) – Structured discussion of what delegates heard and understood from the VET teachers
Q&A (7 minutes) - Opportunity to raise questions about the role of the VET teacher, the support they need and the
manager’s role in implementing LLN policy.
Conclusion (5 minutes) – Presenter review of the session, with implications for future management of changes to LLN
policy implementation
This workshop aims to help VET and LLN practitioners Explore Moments to Bring Explicit LLN Development seamlessly into
vocational teaching and learning. The session will focus on how to recognise and act on small moments of opportunity
within vocational training to develop learners’ core skills, whether in workplace, classroom or technology-assisted
learning environments. The interactive workshop will embrace strategies suitable for class-based face to face, as well
technology assisted approaches. Participants will be encouraged to share ideas and strategies as we consider variables
such as; does the support strategy support Adult learning or an LLN skill development, and which learners to support.
The session will interest VET and LLN practitioners alike, both experienced and new to their field. This includes RTO
managers who provide guidance to their teaching team, as well as LLN and VET teachers interested in practical
suggestions to incorporate LLN skill and knowledge development within vocational instruction. This workshop is also
useful to people enrolled in TAE LLN units of competence.
Youth programs
This workshop will explore reasons why learners disengaged from classrooms, as well as practical ways to motivate and engage
learners.
1. Understanding why students disengage
2. Developing learner resilience
3. Building positive classroom relationships
4. Practical student engagement activities
BoysTown is a registered charity which specialises in helping disadvantaged young people who are at risk of social exclusion.
BoysTown provides a range of youth counselling, family support and employment support services across Australia. Our
services are located in some of the most disadvantaged Australian communities. Many of the young people receiving
BoysTown services have low levels of literacy and numeracy skills. This inhibits their life and work opportunities. BoysTown
employs trained educators to develop customised support to young people to assist them to improve their functional literacy
and numeracy skills. This work is supported by volunteer mentors in some of our sites that provide further support to young
people in improving their LLN skills. These programs are integrated with our employment and school reengagement programs
such our Youth Engagement Program and Flipside.
2.30 -3
Stories from Red Dirt
Country – Novice
Practitioners 4 Novice
Learners
Ros Bauer
Stream 4
10.30 -11.15
Sound Systems - A
phonemically-based
approach to adult
literacy at the Glenorchy
LINC
Rosalie Martin &
Andrea McMahon
Ros Bauer will facilitate a session with two practitioners new to the field, who are both working in a remote NT community.
This will be an interview style, ‘on the couch’ presentation with Dave Bauer (youth worker) and Rebecca Toll (transition
pathways) talking about they engage learners in the respective roles. This session will also provide an opportunity to discuss
their work in supporting the Foundation Skills and Warlpiri literacy of learners; as well as an opportunity for workshop
participants to suggest some strategies they feel would support Dave and Rebecca in their work.
Adult programs
Literacy is language placed upon a page or screen using a code based upon the spoken speech sounds – the phonemes. For
persons experiencing impairment in the processing of language and its phonemic structure, either through
neurodevelopmental predisposition or through reduced stimulation and experience, then the efficient learning of the skills of
literacy must include specific interventions for these deficits. Speech pathologists have skills in the assessment and treatment
of these neurologically-based learning impairments and bring evidence-based approaches which can partner harmoniously
with the approaches of adult literacy teachers for the support of these clients.
A speech pathologist was embedded within the existing Glenorchy LINC literacy service to work alongside the Literacy
Coordinators, observe and learn from their practice, and explore ways to enhance the use of language and phonemic
processing strategies within their practice for clients who exhibited significant gaps in these skills. The speech pathologist
worked closely with the Literacy Coordinators, five clients and their volunteer tutors to demonstrate and model the application
of a suite of assessment skills, teaching strategies and resources, along with intensive training and mentoring.
The results and learnings were overwhelmingly empowering and positive – described as the ‘missing piece’ in the adult literacy
puzzle.
11.30 -12.15
2.30 -4.15
Foundation Skills
Assessment within ACE
Delivery
Paul Mulroney & Allison
Harker
Sharing Understandings
on Foundation Skills: A
NSW Community of
Practice
Kath Hinton & Anita
Roberts
Stream 5
10.30 -11.15
Quality assessments:
practice and perspectives
Dr. Josie Misko, NCVER
The presentation will detail the significance and purpose of targeting Foundation Skills in ACE delivery. It will address the
requirement for ACE practitioners to interpret learners' demonstration of Foundation Skills within ACE Foundation Skills are
not as standardised as they are within specific, vocational qualifications which align to industry standards and workplace
requirements. ACE is broad in its range of delivery and vocational content is secondary to Foundation Skills development. As a
result there is a need for ACE practitioners to be able to interpret learners' comprehension and demonstration of Foundation
Skills to enable effective practice, mastery and assessment of the Foundation Skills embedded within their delivery.
The presentation will address the above content, specifically:
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what are Foundation Skills
continuous assessment of Foundation Skills within ACE deliver - practice, mastery and assessment
documentation of assessment of Foundation Skills
practitioner skills associated with assessment of Foundation Skills within ACE delivery
The implementation of Smart and Skilled Reforms in VET for NSW brings challenges for the foundation skills
workforce, echoing the experiences of practitioners in other jurisdictions. With support from the National
Foundation Skills Strategy Project, Kath Hinton is leading initiatives in NSW to share, develop and strategise
approaches for making the cultural and financial shifts required to move from ‘free to fee’.
This presentation will share the NSW experience and approaches for embedding foundation skills into all VET
delivery, building workforce capability and resilience, and strengthening existing partnerships for growth.
Research
The issue of quality in assessments has implications for the credibility of qualifications and the competence of graduates who
hold them. This study investigates quality in assessments (including recognition of prior learning) by speaking with practitioners
and students about assessment practices used in public and private RTOs delivering Certificates III and above qualifications in
electro-technology, aged care, and business administration. It finds that although practitioners understand the need for
validity, fairness, and consistency in making judgements they are challenged by a range of theoretical and practical issues. The
terms validation and moderation provide some confusion and close employer involvement in external assessment and
validation is difficult to achieve. Other challenges include: customising and pitching assessment items to the right level;
achieving consistency among assessors; keeping abreast of regulatory requirements and addressing issues of student
motivation, preparation and level of language, literacy and numeracy skills . Nevertheless students in the study as well as those
responding to the national Student Outcomes Survey say they are satisfied with their assessment experiences, and believe
their assessment is a fair test of skills, and a good test of what has been taught. The research suggests a stronger emphasis on
professional development for trainers and assessors.
The main purpose of this NCVER funded research is to provide insights into the capacity of the VET workforce in relation to
addressing workplace numeracy skills needs with a focus on the process manufacturing industries. It is a small study, the first of
its kind in Australia, and it raises questions and highlights areas of limited understanding and needing further research.
11.30 -12.15
Seeking the N in LLN
Tina Berghella
This report is important because numeracy skills are a key driver of economic growth and yet nearly eight million Australian
adults lack the numeracy skills to cope with everyday life and work. The VET sector is one part of the solution, but it is
acknowledged that the VET workforce may be limited by its own skills gaps and skills shortages.
Based on the findings, it appears that there is a mismatch between the understandings, qualifications, skills and experience of
VET practitioners and what is needed to address workplace numeracy skills needs.
2.30 -4.15
Assessing Core Skills for
Work
Sue Goodwin & Kate
Perkins
Stream 6
10.30 -11.15
The Tasmanian Adult
Literacy Action Plan 2010
– 2015
Jennifer Dunbabin &
Philippa McLean
11.30 -12.15
TBC
12.15 - 1.00
Lunch and exhibition
Policy and programs
Tasmania is the first state to put in place an action plan to improve adult language, literacy and numeracy levels. In response to
2006 Adult Language and Life Skills survey results, the Tasmanian Government developed and implemented the Tasmanian
Adult Literacy Action Plan 2010 - 2015. It is now in its fifth year of operation. In this session you will be given an outline of the
Action Plan, insight into how the various actions that form the plan have progressed, what has been learnt, and some possible
next steps. Under one of their grants, Skills Tasmania commissioned Escalier McLean to investigate the feasibility of using the
ACSF in a finer grained way to capture progress that wasn’t registering with the current measure. This workshop will also
outline this research, and share the outcomes of the project and will allow time for discussion about the feasibility of using the
ACSF in this way, and for those who see the possibilities, to canvass how they envisage it could work.
2.30 -4.15
Assessing Core Skills for
Work
Sue Goodwin & Kate
Perkins
DAY 2: Afternoon - 15 May 2015
1.00- 2.00
Panel - Employer views on pre-training assessment:
Chair: Michael Taylor, AiG.
Speakers: Kim Moore, Unitywater & Ro Coroneos, Community and Social Stratgey, Barangaroo South
Breakouts Stream 1
2.00 - 3.45
Stories from Red Dirt
Country – Novice
practitioners 4 novice
learners
Ros Bauer, Bec and Dave
2.00 - 3.45
45min presentation
Assessment practices
Working with VET Trainers
This workshop aims to help VET and LLN practitioners Explore Moments to Bring Explicit LLN Development seamlessly into
vocational teaching and learning. The session will focus on how to recognise and act on small moments of opportunity within
Within VET training, where vocational training to develop learners’ core skills, whether in workplace, classroom or technology-assisted learning
environments. The interactive workshop will embrace strategies suitable for class-based face to face, as well technology
are the opportunities to
EMBED (Explore Moments assisted approaches. Participants will be encouraged to share ideas and strategies as we consider variables such as; does the
support strategy support Adult learning or an LLN skill development, and which learners to support.
to Bring Explicit LLN
The session will interest VET and LLN practitioners alike, both experienced and new to their field. This includes RTO
Development)?
Ann Leske & Chemène
managers who provide guidance to their teaching team, as well as LLN and VET teachers interested in practical suggestions
Sinson
to incorporate LLN skill and knowledge development within vocational instruction. This workshop is also useful to people
enrolled in TAE LLN units of competence.
Stream 3
2.00 - 3.45
45min presentation
TBC
Stream 2
2.00 - 3.45
90min workshop
Stream 4
Youth programs
Ros Bauer will facilitate a session with two practitioners new to the field, who are both working in a remote NT community.
This will be an interview style, ‘on the couch’ presentation with Dave Bauer (youth worker) and Rebecca Toll (transition
pathways) talking about they engage learners in the respective roles. This session will also provide an opportunity to discuss
their work in supporting the Foundation Skills and Warlpiri literacy of learners; as well as an opportunity for workshop
participants to suggest some strategies they feel would support Dave and Rebecca in their work.
Adult programs
TBC
Stream 5 & 6
2.00 - 3.45
3.45 - 4.30
Assessing Core Skills for
Work
Sue Goodwin & Kate
Perkins
Panel and summing up
End Conference
Research, Policy & Programs
TBC