An online learning solution for training volunteer mentors of newly arrived skilled migrants and refugees. Developed by Sydney Community College and funded by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework

2. The project An online learning solution for training volunteer mentors of newly arrived skilled migrants and refugees. Completion of the program will lead to the attainment of TAAASS404B Facilitate Individual Learning from the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

3. Three phases Development Training and assessment Evaluation

4. Development: The team Frank Storey Project Mgr Ruby Maddon RMP Coord Jackie Williamson Project Coord Marina Chadiloff e-facilitator Ann Brady e-learning advisor

5. Development: learning strategies Self-paced Independent Reading Listening Observing Reflecting Quizzes Case studies Peer support network Practical tasks

6. Development: assessment Online activities Peer support network (forum) Practical work-based assessment

7. Development: content What’s in it for me?

8. Development: content What is mentoring?

9. Development: content The characteristics of a mentor

10. Development: content Your mentoring relationship

11. Development: content The change curve

12. Development: content Setting goals

13. Development: content How to structure a mentoring session

14. Development: content Four stage model

15. Development: content Learning styles

16. Development: content The nuts and bolts

17. Development: content Competencies

18. Development: content Expert speakers

19. Development: content Listening

20. Development: content Questioning

21. Development: content Building rapport

22. Development: platform

23. Development: technologies Forums (Moodle) FLV player (video) Audacity (audio) Quiz (Moodle) Quiz (Hot Potatoes) Documentation (PDF) Documentation (Word)

24. Training and assessment One face to face meeting

25. Training and assessment Complete all online activities within seven days Approximately 4-6 hours of study 9 participants Peer support Work-based task

26. Evaluation: results 66.7% of participants completed all the activities 22.2% partially completed the activities 66.7% likely to be eligible for a Statement of attainment The forum was the most popular part of the program One mentor dropped out

27. Evaluation: benefits - RTO Ability to provide low cost self paced training for mentors of SMMP and RMP Increase skills and knowledge of mentors Ensures a standardised level of information and knowledge about mentoring Addresses the expectations and requirements of a nationally recognised unit of competency at the Certificate IV level Provide a better service to mentees Provide opportunities for mentors to connect and collaborate with each other Program can be offered to SMMP and RMP mentors from other organisations - potential link to a new market Another trainer who is familiar with Moodle and has e-facilitation skills

28. Evaluation: benefits - facilitator Gained skills in and knowledge about e-facilitation Became familiar with Moodle as a learning management platform This program was the focus of a mentoring relationship for the facilitator and has been invaluable as a practical application of e-facilitation Use this experience and previous learning experience as evidence towards the unit of competency in e-learning TAADEL501B

29. Evaluation: benefits - learners Better skilled Connected with peers Learn at their convenience Eligible for a statement of attainment Ongoing support provided by other mentors

30. Challenges: design Trying to stay within the 3 hour What to include and what to leave out of the content How to make it self paced but keep it interesting How to provide adequate pre-online instructions Marking and grading of responses to case study/ short answer activities

31. Challenges: facilitation Learning curve in the marking process Coming to grips with the forum and how to use it Asked people to create a profile and picture but no one did

32. Challenges: learners Overcoming technical issues Staying motivated Learners need variety to stay engaged Volunteers for refugees have different needs to volunteers for skilled migrants

33. Where to now? MentorMe will be offered free of charge to all new volunteer mentors from the RMP or SMMP as a self-paced online program.

34. Where to now? A learner guide will be made available to all participants and completion of the online component will be a pre-requisite to be matched with a mentor.

35. Where to now? Participants will be given the option to undertake the assessment tasks and a fee will be charged to cover the cost of the assessor.

36. Where to now? The forum will be ongoing and has been offered to all mentors participating in either SMMP or RMP. If the forum is to be successful it is likely to need a facilitator to welcome new members and to encourage ongoing discussions, particularly in the early stages of development.