Back to the future: new models, new connections
May 30th, 2007 by robynjay
Alex, Lynne, Donna and I are off to Adelaide for our half yearly national LearnScope meet. High on our agenda this time is Framework 2008 and how we can inform process and directions. It’s an important responsibility amid a current climate of Canberra-based discourse around ‘industry engagement’.
Some of you will already know that this sits uncomfortably with me, so the outcomes of our work tomorrow are important on a personal level. This discomfort has led to some interesting discussions here at ICVET amongst the Framework team.
[image: nswlearnscope]
I think what bothers me is a sense that the notion of ‘industry’ currently bandied about is an incredibly narrow, city-based and traditional one. Goodness the term ‘firm’ is even being used. What’s a FIRM!
[image: savinca]
If we are to head down an ‘industry engagement’ track then we need a common and agreed upon definition of what it is we are talking about; would a senior bureaucrat in Canberra define ‘industry’ in the same way as a community worker in Coonamble I wonder?
If a big business, management driven, top-down, factory based or centralised concept is accepted then I have strong concerns. What I’ve been trying to encourage is a bottom up view of industry; perhaps even thinking of industry as a verb rather than a noun. If we can start thinking of individuals, in communities, distributed in all contexts as being in industry, being industrious in all its various forms then we can begin to identify some exciting, albeit challenging, futures for Framework08.
We’re excited here at NSW LearnScope to be working on a State-wide project for later in the year which will attempt to reach reps from distributed community-based ‘industries’ that often currently slip through the cracks of Framework project silos. Our challenge is to explore how to address the learning needs of individuals supported by small agencies who are learning in isolation, in the field, in the home - think home-based Family Daycare, volunteer bushfire brigades, landcare, meals on wheels, corner shop owners, artists etc.
[image: mundoo]
How do we address their technology and e-learning needs? We’ve got a few interesting models under our hats we’re considering, and it’d be exciting to think that we could leave Adelaide with some recommendations and innovative models that might meet both COAG agendas, AND the needs of individuals. We’ll keep you informed.