Required Web-based Functionality
The purpose of this information is to inform the development of vocational education and training (VET) Standard Operating Environments (SOEs) that can support the e-learning functionality required by teachers and trainers. VET organisations may provide this functionality through the use of any tool that meets the needs of their learners and teachers - example tools are provided for each functional requirement as a guide only.
Where possible, software tools selected for use by teachers and trainers should be compliant with the VET sector's e-standards.
A review and update was undertaken in late 2010.
| Access to national VET teaching and training resources |
| VET practitioners require access to the teaching and training resources available through the VET sector’s national network of learning object repositories. |
| Example tools |
Licence |
Notes |
| LORN (Opens in new window) |
F |
Install as desktop short-cut and/or add to search toolbar in web browser. |
| Access to digital resources to support teaching and training |
| Practitioners require the ability to access supporting digital resources that are available online. |
| Example tools |
Licence |
Notes |
| TeacherTube (Opens in new window) |
F |
Video-based educational resources that can be viewed online, or downloaded for use in class or personal viewing. |
| YouTube (Opens in new window) |
CNC |
Video-based resources that can be viewed online and commented on. |
| Google Maps (Opens in new window) |
CNC |
Web services that include interactive mapping, satellite and terrain imagery. |
| Access to social, collaborative communication and content creation tools |
| Practitioners require the ability to communicate, collaborate and create content online using web-based applications and tools |
| Example tools |
Licence |
Notes |
| Blogger (Opens in new window) |
CNC |
Blogs are commonly used in education for topic discussion by a learning group or as a reflective journal as a group. |
| Edublogs (Opens in new window) |
F |
| Delicious (Opens in new window) |
CNC |
Social bookmarking tools are used by individuals or learning groups to collate, manage and rate links to web-based resources. |
| Wikispaces (Opens in new window) |
CNC/C |
Wikis are commonly used for group documentation or assignment work. |
| Flickr (Opens in new window) |
CNC |
Images can be shared within an online community or private groups. |
| Picasa Web Albums (Opens in new window) |
CNC |
| YouTube (Opens in new window) |
CNC |
Videos can be uploaded and shared with the online community, or topic-based and private channels. |
| Access to digital resources to support teaching and training |
| Practitioners require the ability to access supporting digital resources that are available online. |
| Example tools |
Licence |
Notes |
| Adobe Connect (Opens in new window) |
C |
Use virtual classroom software to connect remote teachers, trainers and students. |
| Centra (Opens in new window) |
C |
| Elluminate Live! (Opens in new window) |
C |
| Horizon Wimba Live Classroom (Opens in new window) |
C |
| IDL React (Opens in new window) |
C |
| Second Life(Opens in new window) |
C |
Virtual world tools can be used to deliver immersive alternate reality experiences and support collaboration in online workshops, training, demonstrations, seminars, professional development and meetings. |
| Skype (Opens in new window) |
C |
Make video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files. |
| Access to digital resources to support teaching and training |
| Practitioners require the ability to access supporting digital resources that are available online. |
| Example tools |
Licence |
Notes |
| Survey Monkey (Opens in new window) |
CNC/C |
Surveys can be conducted for research. Teachers and trainers can also use these tools for evaluating session, or collating data. |
| Hot Potatoes (Opens in new window) |
F |
Quizzes can be created offline then delivered via the web or through a learning management system. |
