Survey Results 2008

In 2008 the Framework’s Benchmarking and Research business activity conducted the fourth annual national surveys of the uptake and use of e-learning by vocational education and training (VET) providers, VET teachers and trainers, and VET students.

The surveys, run in July and August 2008, 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 2008 surveys of registered training organisations (RTOs) show that 36% of all VET activity now formally involves e-learning (on average across all states/territories and provider types). This continues an upward trend which has seen e-learning grow from around 3-4% of all VET activity in RTOs in 2003-2004.

The survey of VET students, teachers and trainers indicate that e-learning approaches are now mainstream in VET teaching, communication and assessment. Eighty-eight percent of VET teachers and 91% of VET students now say that their VET experience includes at least some online access to and downloading of learning materials and resources, remote and/or classroom use of multimedia interactive learning resources, electronic submission of work, online assessment, and/or even the use of web 2.0, mobile and voice technologies.

Fifty-eight percent of nearly 600 RTOs participating in the 2008 E-learning Benchmarking Survey reported that they delivered some units involving e-learning. Sixty-nine percent of RTOs provide their VET clients with access to at least some e-business services (eg online information, online enrolment, online payments and forms), and those that do offer these services are expanding their range of e-business options.

Thousands of VET students and VET teachers and trainers participated in the 2008 surveys. Overall, students’ and teachers/ trainers’ attitudes toward, and experiences of e-learning in VET, demonstrate an underpinning acceptance and expectation of e-learning, often as part of a blended learning experience.

• 94% of VET students say that they would like at least ‘a little’ e-learning in their course. While 33% of students would like ‘a lot’ of e-learning; 46% see ‘some’ e-learning as a preferred mix.
• 47% of students said that e-learning was a factor in their choice of training provider, with 53% saying that e-learning influenced their choice of course. The flexibility of when and where learning takes place is very important to students looking to upgrade skills while continuing to work, students seeking to re-enter the workforce and remote learners.
• 62% of students said that e-learning increased their confidence and computer skill levels.
• 33% of students thought e-learning and the computer skills they had acquired had already improved their employment outcomes, and 65% said that e-learning will in the future help them to get a better job, a promotion or more responsibility in their job.
• 71% of VET teachers/trainers said that ‘the e-learning resources I access have enhanced my teaching’ (vs 56% in 2007).
• More than half of the teachers/trainers surveyed said that ‘the use of e-learning has improved learning outcomes for my students’.

Access the 2008 report and the full results for each survey through the links in the left hand navigation bar. The results for each of the 2008 student, teacher/trainer and RTO 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/trainers 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/trainer and student results by age, gender, location and other demographic characteristics.

View the 2008 national E-learning Benchmarking and Research results launch. (Movie may take a few minutes to load - 16:30mins 37Mb)