iDrill%20Down%20Under%20Case%20Study

=Project Title = =iDrill Down Under = =Executive Summary =

The iQTIm Player is a mobile assessment tool using the iPhone to perform assessments at the workplace, and to forward the outcome and additional evidence via e-mail. This mobile technology affords a flexible method of assessing in the workplace, providing evidence integrity and reducing paperwork for the assessors and students.

In this project, drilling industry endorsed assessments have been made available for use with the iQTIm Player to perform at-site assessments, creating efficient work flows for assessors. The flexibility of this mobile assessment model where validated assessments can be accessed at any time or place, ensures that students will experience a reliable, fair and effective assessment process.

This is now a new proven model for assessors in the drilling industry to carry out educationally-appropriate, time-effective and cost-effective assessment processes at site. It will contribute to an increase in the industry's ability to develop skilled and qualified drillers and supervisors.

=Background=

The Drilling industry involves the use of heavy machinery to break through the earth’s surface supporting the activities of a range of other complex industries directly employing a minimum of 40,000 personnel scattered throughout Australia. In-company qualified assessors can now access print based or electronic support in the use of the iQTIm Player when conducting mobile assessment, particularly relevant to those in isolated, rural and regional locations.

The project partnership was between Skills Institute and Virginia Hilliard, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Drilling Industry Training Committee (ADITC) who assists personnel in the industry, to better meet the requirements of its fatal risk control protocols by implementing competency based certification of personnel in drilling operations.

The learners targeted in this project are individuals in the drilling industry that have an interest in and need to acquire nationally-recognised qualifications and statements of attainment in order to tender for work, to meet certain regulatory requirements and to ensure safe and environmentally appropriate work practices. The project outcomes now provide learners with opportunities to be effectively assessed on-site allowing a range of their competencies to be captured electronically in every day work practices /situations as required by the industry and the industry’s assessment guidelines.

Project trials were successfully carried out in Tasmania by Spaulding Drillers and Boart Longyear - Camdale Branch. These experienced licensed industry assessors had an acute understanding of issues affecting the sector including high risk levels, isolated locations, etc. They concurred that mobile assessment is highly advantageous to their industry.

=What was done=

This short story video demonstrates the training of industry assessors and subsequent trials with employees. media type="youtube" key="aU_Au4sdjD8?fs=1" height="385" width="480" These drilling assessors can now effectively perform assessments with the iQTIm Player using validated industry endorsed assessment tools.

=Benefits experienced by=

This project has sparked renewed interest and a greater awareness in the use of the iQTIm Player within the Skills Institute. The provision of individual training and supporting online and print format resources is being applied to other Industry Skills Groups within the organisation, promoting mobile technology as an effective means of on-the-job assessing.

Project team members now provide a mentoring role for Skills Institute assessors in the uptake of this technology. As a result a new model is being embedded in the organisation where one iPhone per industry skills group will be loaded with relevant validated assessments, solely dedicated for use of the iQTIm Player. Assessments will be returned via email to a dedicated mailbox address and all teachers who perform workplace assessments will be provided with professional development to utilise mobile assessment as an integral part of their pedagogical skills.

The project has built on the Skills Institute teachers' capability to create customised, validated assessments for implementation with the iQTIm Player providing a flexible, effective means of on-the-job assessment in line with industry requirements.

On a larger scale the project has contributed to the embedding of mobile assessment technology into an industry which is in need of flexible options to mitigate impacts of distance and other isolating and costly issues.

=Lessons learnt=

This blog provides an anecdotal record of the development of the project recording milestones reached and meeting outcomes. The blog is accessible to all team members for comment on posts.

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Implementing change in processes such as those required by this project, replacing old familiar tried and tested procedures with new challenging ones can be threatening for any assessor. Building relationships and trust initially and providing the necessary support to ensure the success of this change is crucial. Where face to face contact was made with industry partners this was achievable.

The cultural shift to mobile technologies required remotely based assessors to adopt this innovative concept with minimal training and mentoring and this was a real challenge. As the support mechanisms such as a print based User Guide and dedicated iQTI Blog Site were not complete until the later stages of the project, it was difficult for remote based assessors to become proficient in the use of this technology.

The importance of early discussions and commitment from all parties is imperative in the success of a project. Making sure goals and outcomes are shared and agreed upon at the outset is pivotal. Ensuring all team members are strongly committed to what the project is trying to achieve will result in the likelihood of team members taking real ownership of it, ensuring its success.

=The results=

Learners targeted in this project need to acquire nationally-recognised qualifications in order to tender for work and to meet certain regulatory requirements. The use of the iQTIm Player in on-the-job assessment has provided a flexible assessment model where any assessment can be accessed at any time or place, ensuring that learners experience a reliable assessment process.

Professional development opportunities are now provided to assist existing assessors to utilise the technology via the User Guide and the iQTI Blog Site. They will form a mentoring structure to further this development. The opportunity to participate will be publicised through the ADITC network of registered drilling industry assessors and industry publications.

It will be necessary to drive the implementation of the iQTIm Player beyond the life of this project, maintaining the hardware and software, troubleshooting, training etc.

=Project Outputs= Skills Institute will utilise the mentoring expertise and iQTIm Player training resources they have gained to implement the use of mobile technologies in the organisation amongst diverse industry skills groups currently showing a strong interest in the concept. QTI Mobile Player User Guide. A print format specific for the Drilling Industry and a generic format to be hosted on a dedicated Blog Site [|www.iqti.wordpress.com]

[PDF 1.2MB]

Beyond this project it is envisaged that assessors nationally will become proficient users of the iQTIm Player by means of an assessor network mentoring structure. P rofessional development opportunities will be offered in the use of the technology and the iQTIm User Guide and blog site will provide additional support.

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=Framework connection=

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework funds and supports E-learning Innovations projects which aim to embed e-learning into the national training system by supporting and enabling innovation in training design and delivery, at the state and territory level.

The iPhone is revolutionising mobile delivery of content and assessment and will be ongoing in its application to the drilling industry. Within the Skills Institute the project has resulted in greater awareness and has built on teachers' capability to create customised, validated assessments for implementation with the iQTIm Player.

In engaging in this e-learning Innovations project, the following Framework products and resources were used: The wiki provided an accessible repository of all the information we might need from copyright information to workshop dates. It was also interesting to observe the progress and challenges of other project's through the discussion posts. The compulsory monthly discussion posts ensured frequent access to the wiki bringing an awareness of latest events.

=Acknowledgement=

This is a Tasmanian E-learning Innovations project output, developed by Skills Institute with seed funding from the Framework.

=For more information=

For more information on the Australian Flexible Learning Framework: Phone: 07 3307 4700 Email: enquiries@flexiblelearning.net.au Website: flexiblelearning.net.au