Recognising All Prior Learning Outcomes

Greetings from the Lifelong Learning Conference 2019, at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, where Professor Dr Patrick Werquin from Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (French Tertiary Research and Adult Education Institution) is talking on Recognition of Prior Leaning (RPL). He started  by suggesting the local Singaporeans talk to the Australian in the audience about RPL. I found this surprising, as RPL is a process I assumed would be in common use for vocational education, if not university academic studies, worldwide. 

Professor Werquin argued that human assessors, ideally at least three, were needed for each RPL. He suggested employers would not accept assessment carried out automatically online. I am not so sure this is the case. As an example, airline pilots are assessed, at least in part, based on their performance in a simulator. This allows the assessment of skills which cannot be tested in a real aircraft, as it would be too dangerous and expensive. Similarly, medical professionals are increasingly assessed on simulated patients.

Professor Werquin suggested RPL was a second chance for people who missed out on traditional education. That is one use, but I suggest there are others. As an example, I studied education at university first, and obtained a university qualification, then RPL for VET teaching. Universities are applying a form of RPL with the Higher Educaiton Academy, where applicants present evidence of their knowledge and experience of education, and this is then formally recognized.

Outcomes Based Vocational Training

Jonathan O ‘Brien,
General Assembly Singapore

Greetings from the Lifelong Learning Conference 2019, at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, where Jonathan O ‘Brien from General Assembly Singapore, talked on how they provide results based education. They use the Kirkpatrick Model to evaluate training, which as four levels (low to high): Reaction, Learning, Behavior, and Results. Traditional educators are used to measuring the first two of these, with a survey of student feedback on the a course, and the assessments of students. However, the last two are about how the graduate does their work better, back in the workplace. A vocational course which students like, and are able to pass, is no use if it doesn't get them a job, or improve the quality of their work in the job they have.

Learning in the Age of Digital Culture in Singapore

Dr Josephine Fleming,
University of Sydney

Greetings from the Lifelong Learning Conference 2019, at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. The first keynote is Dr Josephine Fleming, University of Sydney, on "Learning in the Age of Digital Culture: Challenges and Opportunities". Dr Fleming started with an anecdote about how as she went to use software in front of a room full of students it did not work, and the IT support staff said breezily "it is updating". The point of the story is that the tech is central to learning now, but can leave end users powerless. She distinguished between technologies for learning and those for learners. The former are for formal educational environments, and the latter driven by the learners. Some of the problems of educators trying to incorporate social media were then given (such as trying to grade Twitter posts).

Dr Fleming argues that technology should be for learners. But I don't agree. Technologies, from the human voice, through handwriting, the printing press, and the computer, started as novel, but then were incorporated into formal education. Digital technology offers opportunities for students to learn on their own, and in groups. However, if the community wants social and economic outcomes from education, at some point the tech will have to be tied to formal education systems. The approach I suggest, and have used at ANU, is to use the instution's edtech, which can be relatively inflexible and dull (such as Moodle), to set out what the student needs to do, then send them off into the digital (and real) world to do it, before they return to demonstrate they have gain the required skills and knowledge.

ps: I am on my way to TALE 2019, in Yogyakarta, to talk about how created a learning module for teaching students to write a job application.

Lifelong Learning Conference after ASCILITE in Singapore

On my way to Singapore for the Lifelong Learning Conference 2019, at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, just after ASCILITE. Speakers include Dr Josephine Fleming from University of Sydney. I have offered to speak, if there are any last minute cancellations (I am on my way to TALE 2019).

Programme

Conference Venue: Performing Arts Theatre

Topic: Building a Learning Organisation, Ms Yap Aye Wee, Head of Learning and Organisation Development, OCBC

Topic: SATS Journey in Building a Learning Culture, Ms Tai Siew Bee
Head, SATS Academy (Partnership), Human Capital, SATS Ltd

Topic: Tales from the Field: SME Innovation, Learning, and Organisational Culture

Dr Arthur Chia
Senior Researcher, Institute for Adult Learning (Centre for Work & Learning)

Topic: Bridging the Digital Divide for an Empowered Smart Nation

Ms Wong Shiow Pyng
Director, Digital Inclusion, Info-communications Media Development Authority

Topic: Champion Disability Inclusive Learning and Employment at your Workplace

Ms Winnie Lewis
Employer Consultancy, Employment & Employability, SGEnable

Topic: Inclusive Learning: Connecting Students  to Learn In and with the Community

Ms Meirlin Gunawan
Deputy Head, Centre for Experiential Learning – Office of Service-Learning & Community Engagement, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

8:30 – 8:55	Registration
9:00 – 9:15	Welcome and Opening Address – Lifelong Learning: A Way of Life Lifelong Learning Council (LLC) Chairman – Mr Tan Kay Yong
9:15 – 9:50	Keynote 1: Inclusion: A Principle for Lifelong Learning, Mr Raúl Valdés Cotera, Programme Manager of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
9:50 – 10:25	Keynote 2: Learning in the Age of Digital Culture: Challenges and Opportunities, Dr Josephine Fleming, Lecturer, Digital and Youth Culture, The University of Sydney
10:25 – 10:50	Coffee Break
10:50 – 12:00	Case Studies Session 1 (2 concurrent tracks with Track-based Q and A)
	Ground-Up Learning Track – Harnessing the power of community Venue: SR C.3.08/SR C.3.09	Enterprise Learning Track – Building Learning Communities Venue: SR C.3.10/SR C.3.11
	Topic: Building a Learning South West Community, Ms Margaret Heng, BBM, Council , Member, SkillsFuture Advice Functional Committee, South West Community Development Council (SWCDC)
	Topic: Learning to Create a Sustainable Culture  with Like-Minded Individuals, Ms Koo Hui Ying, Council Member, Ground-Up Initiative
	Topic: PODEX – The Story of Growing and Sustaining a Ground-Up, Volunteer-Run, Peer-Learning Community Mr Terence Quek Co-Founder of PODEX
	Topic: Bringing Learning Initiatives to the Community through the Power of Collaboration Mr Hazriq Idrus Founder, The Speaking Factory Pte Ltd
12:00 – 13:20	Lunch Break
13:20 – 14:30	Case Studies Session 2 (2 concurrent tracks with Track-based Q and A)
	Technology-Enabled Learning Track – Reaching Out to Community Venue: SR C.3.08/SR C.3.09	Inclusive Learning Track – Community Learning for all Venue: SR C.3.10/SR C.3.11
	Topic: A Case Study of How Udemy Reaches Out to the Community in Singapore Dr Michael Choy Director, Dioworks Learning Pte Ltd in partnership with Udemy
	Topic: The Missing Piece of Digital Transformation: Upskilling Tech Talent Mr Jonathan O ‘Brien Regional Admissions Director, General Assembly Singapore
Topic: Learn, Collaborate and Lead with Confidence in the Age of AI Dr. Alexandros Papaspyridis Tertiary Education Industry Director, Microsoft Asia
14:35 – 15:10	Keynote 3: Recognising All Prior Learning Outcomes: Do’s and Don’ts Professor Dr Patrick Werquin Professor, CNAM (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers) French Tertiary Research and Adult Education Institution, Paris, France
15:10 – 15:35	Coffee Break
15:35 – 16:10	Keynote 4: Lifelong Learning in Korea: A Case Study Dr Han Sik Shim National Institute of Lifelong Education (NILE), Korea
16:10 – 16:55	Panel Discussion – Community-based Lifelong Learning in Singapore: What's Next? Panelists: Mr Raúl Valdés Cotera, UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning Dr Josephine Fleming, University of Sydney Dr Yap Meen Sheng, Singapore University of Social Sciences Moderated by: Mr Terence Quek, PODEX
16:55	Conference End