ACFEB LLN project ars workshop 1 slides
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This document outlines an action research project involving multiple local learning and opportunity (LLO) organizations. The project aims to investigate the business case for LLOs providing workplace-based training in literacy and numeracy skills. It involves four stages: 1) assessing LLO training capacity, 2) identifying local businesses' training needs, 3) securing a training contract with a business, and 4) implementing and evaluating the training. LLOs will receive support through workshops and mentors. The goal is to strengthen LLOs' ability to provide flexible workplace training and deepen understanding of business needs to improve worker skills.
ACFEB LLN project ars workshop 1 slides
- 1. ACFE Board Literacy and Numeracy Flagship Project Workshop 1, 5 June 2014 Action Research Veronica Volkoff
- 2. What is Action Research? Characteristics: involves reflective engagement with one’s own professional practice. participants become researchers of their own practice as co-researchers in the collaborative enquiry (Dewar & Sharp 2013); to be effective, action research requires collaboration between all participants, including stakeholders. achievement of the action research outcomes of a collegial group through the critically examined action of individual group members (Kemmis & McTaggart 1998). conscious problematising, planned and deliberate enquiry, collaborative engagement with colleagues and informants/stakeholders and ongoing careful documentation and recording (Wadsworth 1998). Outcomes: Action research simultaneously assists in specific problem-solving and expands knowledge … Action research aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation AND to the goals of social science … Action research must aim at action AND research AND enhance the competence of the respective actors … (Hult & Lennung 1980).
- 3. Investigate business case for LLO provision of workplace based foundation skills training LLO LLO LLO LLO LLO LLO SME SME SME SME SME SME Shared LL context LLO local environment/context Manage ment Work teams Individual learners CAE Project support Action Research support Workplace Training Mentor support 4 project workshops – for guidance, collaborative planning & development, knowledge sharing. LLO LLO SME
- 4. Research Ethics Action research, in common with all research, requires consideration of research ethics: Honesty (honesty in all communication, including reporting) Integrity (sincerity, consistency, keeping promises and agreements) Respect for intellectual property (always acknowledge the data, methods, findings and writing of others) Carefulness (keeping timely and good records of communication, processes, instruments, data, and checking accuracy) Openness (sharing ideas, tools, data, resources, results, learning …) Confidentiality (protect confidential communications with and data about individuals, protect any commercial in confidence data gathered from enterprises) Respect for colleagues – both in own context and in stakeholder organisations Human ‘subjects’ protection – protect human dignity, privacy, autonomy – especially when dealing with potentially vulnerable people. (Resnick 2011, ARC 2007)
- 5. Action Research Support Role Guide and support participants in developing, implementing and reviewing the effectiveness of the techniques of the action research they undertake (e.g. understanding the action research process, consideration of research ethics, survey development, data collection and analysis, analysing and interpreting research findings, documenting and reporting) Facilitate among participants, knowledge sharing and collaborative development of research and documentation templates Provide ongoing support for participants through scheduled LLO on- site visits and telephone, email and WikiFcontact Facilitate staged participant documentation and reporting and collate participant generated reports and any additional evidence produced Assist LLO participants to develop presentations of their project component and to contribute to showcase presentations.
- 6. Enabling Conditions ACFE Board Flagship Project Gov’t policy, funding, targets CAE project funding and support Action research support and workplace training mentor Drivers and context Design concept e.g. Economic environment Policy Importance of foundation skills for employment and productivity … Collaborative action research project with metropolitan and regional LLOs to investigate business case for LLO workplace delivery of L&N programs Architecture Action research framework for collaborative LLO engagement including support from Action Research Specialist, Workplace Training Mentor, CAE staff, LLO colleagues, LLO networks, SME management and staff. Stage 1: LLO workplace foundation skills training capacity identification including: prior experience, existing relevant resources, gaps, enablers, networks, collaborative relationships … Stage 2: Local SMEs’ foundation skills training needs and opportunities identification including: economic context, industry growth or contraction, employee characteristics … Stage 3: LLO engagement with local SMEs to promote understanding of how foundation skills development needs of workers can be met through LLO targeted programs and to secure at least 1 training contract. Support Workshop 1 Workshop 2 Workshop 3 Stage 4: LLO SME workers’ learning needs identification, design and development of flexible workplace training program, implementation and evaluation … Workshop 4 Collegial Showcase and Reporting Stage: Shared reflections and discussion of experiences, evaluations, documentation and reporting, leading to report compilation … FEEDBACKLOOPS WORKPLACE TRAININGMENTOR ACTIONRESEARCH SUPPORT EMPLOYER GROUPS LLO NETWORK LOCAL GOV’T AGENCI ES Questions To what extent was the project design congruent with LLO and SME contexts and needs? To what extent has LLO capacity to provide flexible workplace foundation skills programs strengthened? What new skills, networks, resources, has LLO developed? To what extent has LLO understanding of local SMEs’ foundation skills development needs deepened? To what extent has SME managers’ understanding of how LLOs can assist with worker foundation skills development grown? To what extent did workplace training improve worker foundation skills? What were the key challenges, barriers, enablers and outcomes?
- 7. Project Timeline Week1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2-Jun 9-Jun 16-Jun 23-Jun 30-Jun 7-Jul 14-Jul 21-Jul 28-Jul 4-Aug 11-Aug 18-Aug 25-Aug 1-Sep 8-Sep 15-Sep 22-Sep 29-Sep 6-Oct 13-Oct 20-Oct 27-Oct 3-Nov 10-Nov 17-Nov 24-Nov 1-Dec WORKSHOP 1 5-Jun Stage 1 - Research LLO workplace L&N training capacity Develop LLO's baseline capacity/experience in engaging with local business/industry organisations, identifying needs, designing flexible, relevant workplace based training to improve worker foundation skills. Document and present findings during Workshop 2. Stage 2 - Identify and document local SME training needs and opportunities. Complete a scan of local SMEs to estblish needs for L&N education and training and current gaps in provision. Develop database of potential SMEs clients of LLO. Document and present findings during Workshop 2 Action Research Specialist & Workplace Training Mentor together visit all participating LLOs to provide support and guidance Action research support through telephone and email contact and Wiki Workplace training support through telephone and email contact and Wiki WORKSHOP 2 10-Jul Stage 3 - Contact local SMEs and secure at least 1 L&N workplace training contract. LLOs contact at least 3 local SMEs to investigate workplace based L&N training needs and opportunities resulting in at least 1 contract for training design and delivery. Document processes, outcomes, reflections and learning to present to colleagues during Workshop 3. Action research support through telephone and email contact and Wiki Workplace training support through on-site visits to LLOs, telephone, email and Wiki WORKSHOP 3 14-Aug Stage 4 - Implement workplace based L&N skills development training. Design, develop appropriate teaching and learning resources, deliver flexible workplace based L&N training for workers in at least 1 local SME. Document processes, outcomes, evaluation, reflections and learning to present to colleagues during Workshop 4. Action Research Specialist visits to all participating LLOs to provide support and guidance, plus telephone, email and Wiki Workplace Training Mentor visits to all participating LLOs to provide support and guidance, plus telephone, email and Wiki WORKSHOP 4 - Collegial showcase 27-Nov FINAL REPORTING STAGE - LLOs complete final report component, compile all components, edit and submit their project reports. DUE 1- Dec Project Stages and Tasks
- 8. In summary Collaborative project – we are all engaged in a shared endeavour! Focus not only on the specific outcomes of your action research but on the multiple outcomes of our collegial project ‘journey’ – including your learning arising from your research practice, reflection, analysis and documentation and your showcase to promote learning for all LLOs. Design involves staged report development, so disciplined ongoing documentation is critically important!
- 9. Key dates Workshop 2: Thursday 10 July Workshop 3: Thursday 14 August Workshop 4: Project Collegial Showcase: Thursday 27 November. Project Action Research Specialist details Veronica Volkoff Email: vvolkoff@unimelb.edu.au Tel: 0408 622 886