Focus on the Group!

The 2009 group is now beginning to take shape. A list of members displayed below:

• Dawn and Leanne from The Centre at Benalla
• Jill from the King Valley Learning Exchange and the Myrtelford Neighbourhood House
• Christine from the Benalla office of ACFE Hume
• Sue the tutor for the ACE Development of Executive Personnel Training (ADEPT)
• Jemma from the Volunteer Resource Bureau

Continuing are: Yvonne from the Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre and Yvonne from the Yarrawonga Neighbourhood House

Focus on You!

Please take a minute or so to complete this little survey. I'd like to find out more about your e-potentials for 2009.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cFcyaU9qWHlxd3YtalhKYW0tWXIzUmc6MA..

Focus on Funding!

January is the time to keep your eye out for the funding opportunities coming from a variety of sources. Two big ones so far, that I know of include:
1. $7 million ways to embed e-learning - http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/home/op/edit/pid/592/
2. Multi Media Victoria - http://www.mmv.vic.gov.au/CollaborativeInternetInnovationFund
To prepare adequately for writing a proposal, an expression of interest or a business case you could:

1. take a journey over to the land of innovate and integrate - especially the new interactivities - that help you step through the process of identifying where you’re at with exploring, implementing or embedding innovative practices in elearning.
   http://www.learningsolutions.caryloliver.com/I&I/index_I&I.htm
2. take a trip to the fascinating world of web 2.0 and find out what others are doing with web 2.0 tools - you’ll be able to structure your trip by selecting the ‘Your Guide’ function at:
   http://socialelearning.flexiblelearning.net.au/
3. join a network or two and rub shoulders (virtually) with other e-learning focussed groups - you’ll be able to connect with individuals or special interest groups at either of these two networks:
   http://e-learning-project-connect.ning.com/
   http://digifolios.ning.com/

Start by considering your e-opportunities and select the ones that will solve a pedagogical issue, or provide a time-saving strategy or enable a wider cohort of participants in your programs.
http://www.learningsolutions.caryloliver.com/I&I/RealityCheck.htm
Establish a team of e-learning project explorers and enable them to create a vision, a model and ROI benefits by using a set of questions and tasks from the Four Phase Strategy: http://www.learningsolutions.caryloliver.com/I&I/FourPhase1.htm
Move on to establishing a workable partnership with strategic stakeholders and start a steady pattern of communication, perhaps a wiki space for collaboration and the use of Googledocs to share conversations and documents.
Establish a set of guidelines and milestones for your project team and ensure that the ‘driver’, ‘elearning champion’, or other ‘change agent’ has the time, the support and the credibility to maintain the process of preparation for applying for the funds.
Above all allow an appropriate length of time for the development of your team approach and to ensure that you can meet the deadlines stipulated by the funding bodies.
You may need to attend a ‘briefing’ to get more information and to ask those critical questions about the funding - so allow for that too. Check out any of the supporting documentation and samples provided by the funding body and analyse some of the models used by previous successful applicants.
Good Luck!