Survey Results 2007

The 2007 E-learning Benchmarking Project has conducted the third annual national surveys of the uptake and use of e-learning by vocational education and training (VET) providers, VET teachers and trainers, VET students, and employers with employees undertaking accredited training.

The surveys ran in July and August 2007 captured information on the use of e-learning in all TAFE institutes, private and enterprise training providers, adult and community education (ACE) providers and VET in Schools providers.

The 2007 surveys show use of technology in vocational education and training (VET) has quadrupled in three years since the first benchmarking survey in 2005. The 2005 survey revealed 6-8% of VET activity involved technology, which rose to 17% in 2006 and now 29% in 2007. This could be in the form of computer-based learning resources, online course activities, using the internet, mobile or voice technologies, or online enrolment and assessment.

The 2007 E-learning Benchmarking Survey of registered training organisations (RTOs) indicates the uptake of e-learning in TAFE institutes and VET in Schools providers is higher than among other training providers. The survey also reveals 57% of RTOs now use e-learning in some part of their training delivery, up from 49% in 2006.

The surveys show 68% of VET teachers and trainers now use online resources, 64% accept electronic submission of students’ work and 17% use web 2.0 or social networking technologies.

VET clients continue to see e-learning as delivering flexibility in VET training and developing information and communication technology skills.

• 82% of VET students and 80% of employers said that e-learning is a more flexible learning option for students.
  
• 81% of students and 82% of employers said that e-learning increased students’ computer skills.
  
• 70% of students and 68% of employers said that all people in the workplace need good computer skills.

Access the 2007 report and the full results for each survey through the links in the left hand navigation bar. The results for each of the 2007 student, teacher/trainer, RTO and employer surveys have also been published.

Analysis of the survey results by state and territory shows some variation in the levels of uptake, and a fairly consistent response from students and teachers to the use of e-learning around the country. Access the state and territory results and comparisons with the national figures through the link in the left hand navigation bar. Analysis of the results for different types of training organisations (for example, TAFE institutes, schools, community-based providers, and industry and government providers) is also accessible.

Additional analysis benchmarks teacher and student results by age, gender, location and other demographic characteristics.

Additional research papers

Additional analysis of the results from the 2007 E-learning Benchmarking Surveys has been undertaken to explore issues related to factors that are influencing the uptake of e-learning across the VET system.

• Research Paper No. 1
  Assisting training organisations to get started in and mainstream e-learning
  
  
• Research Paper No. 2
  The role of employers in encouraging e-learning and flexible training delivery
  
  
• Research Paper No. 3
  Attitudes to e-learning by industry sector