VE Design Team – 2019 Wrap up

For the last five months I have had the pleasure of working in the VE Design Team as a Project Coordinator. During this time, I have gained a holistic overview of what it takes to run a project, and how many moving parts must come together to ensure its success.

As my secondment comes to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the team. Taking pride in your work is something I value greatly, and I am proud of the exceptional work that we delivered across a number of varied and highly-nuanced projects.

Before I get too sentimental, here is everything the VEDT has achieved in 2019.

Media Communications

Designed to support the program transition for the Diploma of Interactive Media, the VEDT provided a digital uplift of two units of competency. These units provided training for students wanting to improve their understanding of online platforms and how best to engage with them.

Emble

Senior Multimedia Designer, Oliver Lorraine-Wedd led VEDT’s collaboration with RMIT Studios Digital Media Team and RMIT Online to develop the Canvas authoring tool, Emble. Emble is a course building tool created to enhance page design keeping with RMIT’s templates and is ideal for users without a working knowledge of HTML and CSS. It’s made huge benefits to our workflow, Oliver wrote about it earlier in the year – his insights are here.

HR Compliance

The VEDT provided support to the LMS Champions as they redesigned and built eleven HR compliance education modules to improve the learning experience of RMIT staff. This project was an RMIT Studios collaboration.

Interior Design

This project provided digital uplift to seven units of competency for the Diploma of Interior Design. The innovative, online learning materials will be implemented by the School of VE Design and Social Context in 2020. Project Lead Jack Dunstan, wrote about the journey to build these units here.  Senior Multimedia Designer Claire Tao built some fantastic original content for this course (pictured).

C4DE – CNC Project Credentials and AR App

There was a recognised shortage of computer numerical control (CNC) machine operators in Australia and limited training offerings for entry to the position. In response, the VEDT commenced this project in June 2018, creating a series of micro-credentials focused on the specific training requirements of CNC machine operations, as well as an AR app with four experiences to support the learning. This work was completed by the Centre for Digital Enterprise (C4DE) as part of the Industry 4.0 Skills Training Project.

C4DE – Aged care tools and pedagogical strategy. Simulated electronic documents

Working with respective industry partners to develop learning materials, VEDT developed an electronic tool replicating digital workplace forms from the industry, that could be used within the Certificate III in Individual Support program, along with other aged care training, to support digital literacy. This tool was accompanied by a guide highlighting the pedagogical strategy of embedding the digital forms throughout the delivery of the qualification. This project was a sub-project of the Centre for Digital Enterprise (C4DE) – Industry 4.0 Skills Training Project.

FSSI – Certificate III in Individual Support

This project involved developing five industry-driven curriculum products, four of which became micro-credentials. The project then looked at how these could be embedded within the Certificate III in Individual Support for students completing both the ageing and disability streams. Commencing in 2018, the VEDT built five short course/micro-credentials, two VR products and a suite of other products to support the full qualification delivery. This included implementation guides, facilitator guides, supervisor guides, session plans, handouts, PowerPoints, assessments and digital content. Claire Tao drove the key design decisions for the SCORM package design, she wrote about it earlier in the year here.

Base Comps

Launching earlier this year, Base Comps is a suite of units teaching key competencies for teaching staff to use in their programs. These base competencies are highly customisable, designed to be contextualised depending on the industry and student cohort. Two units, ‘Work with diverse people’ and ‘Make a presentation’ are available now on Canvas Commons. Seven more are set to be released at the beginning of 2020.

Library Catalogue

The VEDT developed a system to tag and catalogue digital assets generated by our team for inclusion in Library collections at RMIT. Our team builds original digital assets for RMIT’s course delivery every day, we’re keen for these to get greater use outside their initial delivery.

Writing and Editing

This project developed a clustered course, Write for online and multimedia content, to prepare students to pursue work in the communication industry, particularly freelance and in-house writing and editing roles. The clustered course was built in Canvas for blended delivery as part of the Certificate IV in Writing and Editing program.

Canvas Shells

Senior Multimedia Designer, Claire Tao participated in a cross-unit collaboration to develop a standardised template for single unit courses in Canvas for VE programs. The template is aligned to the 14 elements and VE compliance requirements.

Nursing

This project provides digital uplift to eleven units of competency for the Diploma of Nursing. Built into Canvas, the content includes interactive learning activities designed to support students in their learning journey.

LLN

In collaboration with the Library, SVEHS and VBE, the VEDT developed two courses on Canvas. Both courses applied LLN principles and utilised available support and tools. A teacher tutorial overlays both courses, explaining why supports, scaffolds and tools were used and how teachers can recreate this in their own Canvas shells.

Women’s Health Victoria

Co-designed with Women’s Health Victoria, the VEDT developed vocational training courses that provided individuals with the skills and knowledge around gender equity theories, frameworks and regulatory environments. A virtual workplace was designed to provide students with a realistic work environment to apply concepts covered in the courses.

Bagwan Health

As part of the Education Portfolio’s Pitch Tank initiative, the VEDT created Bagwan Health, a virtual complex health care facility that provides a broad range of services. The simulated environment of the hospital can be embedded into Canvas. Students will be able to experience online workplace activities that align with their assessments and units of competency. RMIT teachers and course coordinators can learn more about the project here

Lead VE – L&T Staff credentials

This project aims to develop digital and blended courses as professional development for staff that align with RMIT’s focus on learning and teaching. This includes four digital credentials for teachers focusing on program design and assessment development and a fifth credential for VE Leaders on leading these practices within their program areas. The pilot is underway for the first of our Lead VE creds.

Certificate II in Plumbing

With the aim of preparing students for a digital future, this project developed digital workplace documentation for Safe Work Method Statements and 18 units of competency. The team also reviewed mapping for assessments and converted content and assessments to Canvas.

VE Design Expert Panel Series

In addition to our other projects, the VEDT ran a series of expert panel sessions on a variety of different topics including:

• Accessible learning design
• i4.0 and emerging technologies
• Practical and sustainable technology solutions
• Mobile first design
• Gamification

We would once again like to thank our industry experts for sharing their knowledge with the RMIT community. The success of the panel series would not have been possible without their contribution.

I also want to acknowledge the other, equally significant, achievements of the VE Design Team in 2019, including their commitment to professional and personal growth and continuous improvement of our processes and systems. They have shown tremendous resilience through uncertainty and change, and practiced kindness and understanding along the way.

Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. Thank you for your patience, your support and for making me laugh. And, of course, thank you for all your hard work this year. What an incredible team. Now it’s time for a well-deserved break.