2007 - August
Yours In Training
 |
August 2007 |
Freecall 1800 2 TRAIN (1800 2 87246) www.mrwed.com.au |
In This Issue
Training News: The Outcomes focus of AQTF 2007
MRWED News: MRWED honoured as Q400 Queensland Business
Training Tip: Getting yourself published
Website of the Month: www.productiontrax.com
Training Game: $20 Game
Also...
Training News: The Outcomes focus of AQTF 2007
Since the last edition of Yours in Training, we have had a lot of emails about the new Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) standards introduced in July this year and questions about the implications of the voluntary “Excellence Criteria” to be introduced from 1 January 2008. In response to this, we have tried to provide some answers in the explanations below:
As of July 1, 2007, Australian RTOs should be compliant against AQTF 2007.
Under AQTF 2007, there are three “essential standards” for registration:
Standard 1 The RTO provides quality training and assessment across all of its operations.
Standard 2 The RTO adheres to principles of access and equity and maximises outcomes for its clients.
Standard 3 Management systems are responsive to the needs of clients, staff and stakeholders, and the environment in which the RTO operates.
Put simply, these standards relate to how we deliver training and assessment, how we care for customers and generally how we run our training businesses.
There is also a voluntary fourth “Excellence” standard which RTOs can choose to meet which is measured by an independent panel. The auditing of this standard will be use-pay and will be conducted separately to audits undertaken by the state training authorities.
The excellence rating will provide RTOs with a distinct marketing advantage and will enable them to quantify their outcomes and highlight their relative educational leadership in their sector. Under this criteria, “outcomes” could include successful job placement after training, student acquisition of skill sets as well as the rate of student completion compared to enrolments.
For more information and publications check out the following links:
- AQTF 2007 Essential Standards for Registration
This document contains the AQTF 2007 requirements for RTOs. - AQTF 2007 Users’ Guide to the Essential Standards for Registration
This guide supports the understanding and application of the AQTF 2007 Essential Standards for Registration. - AQTF 2007 Standards for State and Territory Registering bodies
These standards apply to the STAs responsible for RTOs.
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MRWED News: MRWED honoured as Top 400 Queensland Business
The Queensland Business Review annually lists the top 400 privately owned businesses in Queensland and this year MRWED was honoured to be added to the list.
The Q400 annual book and list was unveiled on Thursday August 23 at the Queensland Conservatorium, Southbank during the Q400 Business Summit opened by Premier Peter Beattie.
Described by Premier Peter Beattie as "unquestionably one of the key business events of the year," the Q400 Business Summit is a unique program that provides public recognition of the achievements of Queensland’s local business heroes – the owners of the state’s leading home-grown enterprises.
Now entering its fifth year, the Q400 comprises a prestigious listing of the state's top 400 privately owned companies and MRWED is proud to be included in 2007.
Additional information can be found at Q400 website. (www.q400.com.au)
Training Tip: Getting yourself published
More and more, education institutions are asking for staff to contribute to their professional development through scholarly activities such as conducting research, presenting papers at conferences or having articles accepted for publication. The question we get a lot from our students is “how do we get ourselves published, the first time?”
Here are some hints:
- There are a plethora of online journals, magazines and newsletters with editors screaming out for content (and if you would like to be a propose an article for Yours in Training!, we would thankfully consider your submission). So find publications that you think support your article, anecdote, teaching resource etc and send your submission to as many as you can find online. Once you are accepted to one, it is so much easier to grab the attention of another publication. You could use phrases such as “author of…” or “as seen in…” to promote yourself. This also looks good in a résumé.
- If this doesn’t work at first, you might want to look at the publications a little closer and see what you are competing with. If your submission is similar to what already exists, the publication will most likely try to avoid duplication. Therefore, try to offer them something new or a different slant on an existing issue.
- Finally, if you are not experiencing the success you desire, set up your own online newsletter or blog. There are many people that have commenced successful publishing ventures starting with their own newsletter or blog. A good local example is Ross Dawson. www.rossdawsonblog.com
Website of the Month: www.ProductionTrax.com
MRWED is presently developing an online version of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and as part of this journey we have been producing video and podcasting content. During the development process we were searching for cost effective music and sound effects options and came across ProductionTrax.com.
ProductionTrax.com, is a Web site owned and maintained by One Light Music Productions Inc. and according to the company, is dedicated to providing "superior-quality, royalty-free music and sound effects intended for use in film, television and interactive media on an on-demand basis."
The thing I like about this site is that each selection comes with either a non-profit license or a commercial license. The Web site boasts plenty of selections suitable for most budgets. Tunes can be downloaded in MP3 or FLAC audio file formats or, users can opt to have a CD mailed to them.
Training Game: $20 Game
I'm sure that you have handled a $20 note recently. Did you pay attention to the note? Do you remember whose portrait is on this note?
Here's a quick jolt that emphasises the importance of mindfulness.
Pair up participants. Ask each participant to find a partner and sit (or stand) facing each other. If one participant is left over, you become the partner.
Show the money. Ask each pair of partners to produce a $20 note. If any of the pairs cannot find a $20 note, lend them one or ask them to use any other denomination. Ask the partners to hold a single note by its opposite corners so that each participant can see only one side.
Begin questioning. Ask partners to take turns asking questions about the side of the note they can see.
SAMPLES: How many times is the number 20 printed on my side? How many times is the word “twenty” spelled out on my side? How many digits does the serial number have? What building is shown on my side? How many windows do you see in the building? Which direction is John Flynn facing in the portrait? Complete this sentence found on my side of the bill: This Australian note is legal tender….
As soon as one partner asks the question, the other partner must give an immediate answer. Correct answers earn a point. Incorrect answers or no answers earn no points. The questioner should immediately give the correct answer.
Switch partners. Stop the question-and-answer activity after a few minutes. Ask participants to walk around and find a new partner. (They can also switch to the other side of the bill, if they want). As before, ask the partners to sit or stand facing each other and hold the $20 note in such a way that they can see only one side.
Continue questioning. Ask the partners to use the same procedure as before for asking questions, answering, and scoring points. Conclude the round after about 2 minutes.
Conduct a quick debrief. Ask participants to discuss how familiarity breeds indifference. What do we take for granted in our work? What are the dangers of ignoring familiar objects and people? What could we gain by paying attention to these objects and people?
Good luck with using this in your next training!
Next Issue
In the next issue of Yours in Training! we look at perception games and review a trainer resource sharing website. Until then, let the training gods be with you.
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If you have any questions, suggestions or issues to be discussed on the Yours in Training! Ezine then please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it us or call our Client Relations Team on Freecall 1800 2 TRAIN (1800 2 87246).
Happy training!
Marc Ratcliffe
Principal – MRWED
