Keith came to Canberra for a tour of schools with Interactive Whiteboards,  discuss Virtual Worlds in VET and to meet a IWB specialist to discuss the implementation of IWB’s in the VET sector.

He is leading a team that is developing resources for a new ‘Technology Centre’ at Chisholm TAFE.  This centre will be a show case of Teaching and Learning Technologies and will include Web 2.0 technologies such as Interactive Whiteboards and Virtual Worlds.

Aaron is also looking at the possibility of using an Interactive Whiteboard at Fyshwick Heavy Metals section.  So it was fortuitous that Keith is interested in them as well.  Aaron arranged a meeting with Peter Kent at the Center for Teaching and Learning.  Peter was one of the people who implemented IWBs into classrooms at Richardson Primary School.

Peter, Aaron and Keith discussed the implementation of IWB’s into the VET sector.  What was most interesting was the fact that Quality Teaching influenced outcomes over and above technology.  The IWB is just technology and can become an amplifier of good and bad teaching practice.  In the VET sector, the technology can be used as another form of engagement with students and content.  Married with other innovative technology, such as video eye glasses, IWB’s make excellent broadcast teaching tools.

The VET sector does not necessarily have any unique or special requirements when it comes to IWB’s.  What has been learned and developed in school environments is applicable to VET as well.

Keith is also investigating the implementation of virtual worlds in VET and has agreed to be part of a Reference Group for the EduVersal Studios trial (if it gets funded, and a scaled down version if no funding happens).

As a Reference Group, Chisholm TAFE can inform the project about the possibilities of implementing this technology into an organisation that has not experienced virtual worlds before.   They can also provide valuable feedback on content and delivery of courses in virtual worlds.