EDTAS 1204 Assignment 3: Applied research project and report

EDTAS 1204 Assignment 3: Applied research project and report

PART A: Research Report.

The benefits of online learning for adult learners in Vocational education.

Suggested topic:

Online learning benefits for adults in diploma of .. at .institute.

Introduction:

In this report I explore the benefits of vocational education in supporting lifelong learning and career development for adult learners. This also includes how VET facilitates continuous skill development, upskilling jobs roles/career, and personal development. The other important aspect of vocational education is the flexibility in studies which allows them to cater their life commitments, allow them to balance the work, family, and study time. Vocational education also provides practical experience which helps adult learners to gain the real-world hands-on training which is beneficial for their job ready skills or enhance their practice in their current role which can boost their confidence and clarity in their career for further growth. Nationally recognised Vocational qualifications also provide a pathway to the learners for further studies and employment opportunities.

During my teaching experience in vocational education with XXX institute where majority of learners were adult learners. I am always quires to evaluate that how effective these programs support the adult learners in their lifelong learning and career development. My initial approach was the observation of received benefits from the flexible learning and practical focus on vocational education. To gain the insight I conducted casual talks with adult learners on different occasions to understand their thoughts, benefits, challenges, and progress they have made during this learning journey.

Literature

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a huge demand of workload to be shifted online which includes studies as well. This didnt stop even after the phase has been passed. Many people found this style of flexibility beneficial to get their dreams come true without affecting their normal commitments. Thus, many vocational education providers now offer flexile delivery modes, such as online or part time courses to accommodate the adult learners to ensure the continuity in their learning. Some people received benefits of one study towards their further studies by Credit Transfers which encourage learners to gain more qualifications, e.g. students have completed Diploma in Mental Health, enrolled in Diploma In Alcohol and other drugs to enhance their knowledge in both fields and receive benefits of one qualification over the other.

Research question:

"How has online learning facilitated ongoing education for adult learners in the community services sector?"

Research method: In here my teacher suggested to use Qualitative methods:( interviews ) and add

The two methods which I used for my research were interviews and emailed questions. The interview method was chosen as a casual approach in group discussion and on individual level. This approach was beneficial as it provided an open environment where everyone felt comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences.

All individuals who were involved were professionals with considerable experience in the sector and currently working in the different areas of Community services.

The other key participant was the co-ordinator of the course of Diploma of Mental Health at XXX institute. I have asked her a set of questions regarding her experience at different level in different institutes including TAFE. She has an experience of more than 15years and have witnessed several phrases of the teaching with diverse people including the pandemic period of COVID-19. During the discussions with her I have found a valuable understanding of my research topic.

In addition to the interviews, I have reached out to a total of 12 students via email, 10 people replied with comprehensive set of answers, while a few others provided answers to only few selected questions.

Questions asked students: questions are good as per teachers verbal feedback

In what ways do you feel that online learning being helpful to study community services?

How online learning influenced your own learning management and stay motivated?

How do feel about the interaction with your peers and teacher?

How you think that online learning facilitates your practical skills development within the industry?

What are resources have been helpful in supporting your online learning?

What is your experience in balancing your study and other commitments?

Questions asked to co-ordinator:

As per your experience what is the biggest advantage of online learning for community services students?

What are the challenges you have notices that students face in the online learning?

How would you compare the students understanding and skill development?

How do ensure that students stay connected and motivated in an online class?

What steps do you take to ensure that students receive practical training for community services sector?

How do see the future of the online community services study in terms of delivery and support?

Findings:

As total of 10 students replied regarding their experience with online learning. Out of which 8 students are adult learners and working in the sector and 2 young are new to the sector.

80% students found that online learning helped a lot with their personal and work commitments. They said it was impossible for them to study further in their field of it wasnt online especially the flexibility they have got to manage their own time, study, and workload. Even though, they have shown some interest to join face to face occasionally.

100% students were satisfied with their self-paced/ own learning management is much better rather than in a race. 40% students didnt find any issue with self-motivation while 60% struggled sometimes.

Regarding interaction with peers and teacher, 80% agreed that they dont get enough chance to interact with their peers as much they could do face to face. However, they are satisfied what they as an individual receiving by prioritising their own other life commitments. With teacher interaction, 60% mentioned that they relied either via email or arrange a separate session depends on the topic they would like to discuss.

80% of this group found that as they are already in the field and study helped them to enhance their practical skills at work. They utilise resources and tools discussed in class and hence find its helpful utilising their extra time at home towards their further development. While 20% struggles to conduct stimulated assessments due to the lack of prior industry experience.

Finally, 100% students recorded full attendance, online quizzes, and discussion forums however there is decline has seen in the verbal discussions. 10% student mentioned that due young kids she couldnt talk much to avoid the disturbance but fully participate via written parts which is helpful for her to stay tuned.

The coordinator responses were not too far apart from the students finding. She also observed that there is mixed impact on students engagement. Some students are highly motivated due to the flexibility while others struggle. Very new students to the industry would lose interest online as they cant cope with self-motivation and study management.

She 100% agreed with advantage of online learning, particularly for the students who have other life commitments. Flexibility and self-faced are highly counted as major benefit, along with wider range of resources available as in online setting which may not be possible in traditional classroom setting.

Few challenges which she has identified and mentioned regarding lack of confidence to apply theoretical knowledge into practice. She found only 40% students who are industry experts would practice their skills at workplace other would require further practice in real world settings.

To ensure the students get practical training, community services require industrial training where local community organisations allow students to complete their work placements. She has shown some concern on the gap in students development of practical skills while online learning. The lack of in person simulations and hands on experience leaves some students less prepared.

She ensures, regular discussion forums, case studies and online group works has been organised regularly to keep their motivation and intersection.

As the co-ordinator lives and works from a remote area of Victoria where its very hard to join face to face classes due to the travel times plus people have other commitments. So, she sees a good future of community services studies. She condemns that online learning play a significant role particularly with the improvement in the technology where interactive tools become available. In community services particularly for young students or new to the sector students would take more benefits via hybrid learning where some occasional in-person sessions for practical components would be convenient.

Analysis:

After reaching to this point, its very clear to say that the online learning does play a pivotal role in adults who especially have family and work commitments. This option is a game changer for their lifestyle and hence provide them that chance to achieve their dream job and study area which they wouldnt be able achieve otherwise. As it has been noticed from both student and coordinator perspective that flexibility is the most significant benefit for the students. However, there are some challenges have been identified related to self-motivation, insuficient practical experience as barriers. This also sheds light the importance of teacher student interaction especially for the new students or have no prior industry experience. All these findings suggesting A blended approach is required towards this sector if the cohort is a mixer of learners which is the case mostly. Students also require a stronger support, more interactive case studies, resources, maintaining motivation and engagement and ensuring the success is possible by innovating online tools and utilise them towards maintain the learning online environment.

Conclusion:

As every individual has their own way of looking into the learning styles. Some students who have more commitments than the other and would like to continue their study or want gain further qualifications to gain either higher pay rate or position promotion, online learning is like a blessing for them. I would like to add one more thing here that majority of my adult students were women who supported the online learning environment. This cohort particularly belongs to the regional areas of Victoria, hence they found online learning as golden opportunity to enhance their dream work skills without disturbing their other routines. There is no doubt the need for a hybrid like setting for the disadvantaged students to fulfill their requirement in studies and gain the appropriate skills to utilise in work force and build their confidence to move toward with the career building dreams.

Reference:

Adnan, M. (2020). Online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Students perspectives. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 1(2), 4551. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.2020261309Croft, K. (Ed.). (2014). The little book of research. Skills for learning, Leeds Beckett University

Inkson, D., & Smith, E. (2001). Self paced learning: a student perspective. Australian Educational

Researcher, 28(1), 107128. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/ielapa.200111117

Kemmis, R. B., & Atkins, L. (2014). Teaching in the VET sector in Australia. In David Barlow Publishing eBooks. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/21944

National Centre for Vocational Education Research. (2003, January 1). Insights for delivering VET online. https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/publications/all-publications/insights-for-delivering-vet-online

PART B: Reflection

How you found doing this research project, including what went well, and what went badly;

I found this research both interesting and challenging. The students and coordinator were responsive and engaging which I felt went well. I have received valuable information from both ends which helped me to complete my research. However, the main challenge I faced is the time of the research, which was very close to the school term break due to which many students were occupied in their other commitments and hence couldnt involve in. y research.

What you would change next time you did a research project;

Next time, I would be more prepare in advance by setting the deadlines so that I can reach out to more diverse students with diverse nature of approaches. Moreover, I would design some other forms of research methos which could provide me more deeper insights.

How you will use what you found;

I believe these findings will be handy as a teachers perspective. I would share this with other teachers who are involved in online teaching to shape future teaching strategies in community services. The feedback received from students and coordinator will guide me in developing more engaging, flexible, and supportive learning resources. Also, I would advocate for more blended learning where possible or introduce more online tools to help students to conduct more and more practical based sessions to develop their practical skills.

What you learned from the process; and

The process taught me the difference between only collecting feedback which traditionally we do for any purpose to know the insights. This process of research encounters me to collect information in a structured way, analyse and report the conclusion. The process helped to know the students engagements in online learning in community services and how differently they are involved in this learning journey. Also. I found the importance of collaboration in completing of this research.

What you gained from doing your own research as opposed to reading other peoples research.

The best thing I gained is the satisfaction of doing something within your capacity and have a clarity of what exactly you are looking for. In own research you could tailor your needs and context. The direct interaction with students and coordinator provided me a deeper understanding of the online learning journey for adults from diverse nature of group. This process gave me the opportunity to enter such a process which I never experienced before enhancing my critical thinking, more hands-on problems to look for solutions and help to develop further strategies in my educational practice.

The criteria are outlined in assignment 3 (attached). In essence your assignment introduction does not relate to the title/topic, there is no real rationale discussed and it is hard to align this section with your project generally. There is no literature review at all in the project nor is there an appropriate discussion regarding your method which I see is qualitative. In addition, your research question needs to add your context, at the moment it is not an answerable question, answerable research questions were discussed at length in my tutorials.

You have provided some data which has been collected and reported and aligns to the question/topic, but in order to pass this assessment you will need to develop an appropriate literature review, discuss your method appropriately, provide an answerable research question, draw on the literature in your analysis and conclusion section