Eric Wilson, an IT journalist and software developer, spoke about some of the possibilities offered by various software solutions. He said that the private sector can get away with small simulations and games because they only need to address only small pieces of information and some basic quizzing rather than the scale of VET and our sectors's compliance requirements. He advocated materials that allowed both a sequential and random access pathway - for those in business, they need random access to access just-in-time materials, but these could also be built into a more ordered pathway for those with more to learn.
The Opportunities for VET as seen by Eric were:
- Small business is the greatest opportunity - time is everything (so if I can figure this one out we're made!!)
- Keep business benefits in mind eg "Do this course and you’ll be so efficient you and your employees will have more time."
- There is a real challenge going from the general to the specific.
Eric argued that VET should develop resources that address the specific context of the workplace, with the view in mind that when replacement staff are employed then the business can use the resources again. The resources would also feed into a 'commonwealth of resources', ie niche curriculum development.
This would enable VET to provide specific resources at a specific time to businesses once the stocks build up.
Chunking has advantages for employer, but some disadvantages for learner - eg learners only learn what is needed for their role, learners don't tend to get recognition for it, learners can end up not being skilled enough for moving employers.