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2001 Conference
> OVERVIEW | ABSTRACTS &
PAPERS
2001 AVETRA
Conference
Research to Reality: Putting VET Research to Work
28-30 March 2001
Hilton Adelaide, Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Australia
Overview
Research to reality: putting VET research to work
reflected a major challenge facing VET research by the time
of the fourth Australian Vocational Education and Training
Research Association conference in Adelaide on 28-30 March
2001. Following previous AVETRA conferences on emerging interests
(Sydney), quality and diversity (Melbourne) and future research
/ research futures (Canberra), the Adelaide Conference Planning
Committee believed the time was ripe for exploring relationships
between research and practice. In particular, it was time
to probe what impact VET research might be having on practice,
and how VET practitioners could perceive themselves as researchers
and explore research possibilities in their work. Thus the
theme of putting VET research to work was deliberately worded.
It was to signify not only the close links between vocational
education and training and the world of work, but also the
desire of VET researchers to see their processes and products
of genuine assistance to end-users.
The conference provided the opportunity
to hear about the latest research being conducted in the VET
sector at universities, by national and state/territory agencies
and, most importantly, by VET providers and schools themselves.
It gave the sector the chance to support and recognise those
involved in VET research in all its forms. These people have
been building the sector’s capacity to reflect critically
on its policies and practices and improve all that the sector
does. The conference was about taking research and making
it live, breathe and be useful. And it was equally about providing
a forum for researchers to build networks and to be informative,
challenging and practical.
Collaboratively planned to link
in with the UNESCO/UNEVOC Conference - Vision to action: TVET
planning and real results for the 21st century (26-28 March)
- this AVETRA conference fulfilled a week of stimulating ideas
in beautiful Adelaide. The international flavour added a valuable
dimension, with contributors from such countries as Norway,
China, England, Germany, New Zealand, USA, France, Korea and
Samoa. The Conference was also multi-dimensional and cross-sectoral,
with participants including teachers and trainers in public
and private VET providers and schools; university VET researchers;
teacher educators; private consultants and researchers; representatives
from government departments; personnel from industry training
advisory bodies, enterprises and unions; and students.
The conference fielded a record
number of papers and poster sessions (around 100 on the Thursday
and Friday), plus a number of professional development workshops
on the Wednesday.
Day one was set aside for practical
activities and involved a range of workshops of interest to
VET practitioners and new and experienced researchers alike.
Five sessions based at either Glenunga International High
School or the University of South Australia (Underdale Campus)
included:
- VET in schools: the research and the practice (Kym Clayton,
Jan Edwards and Phil McKenzie)
- On-line delivery: doing good things on the net (Joan Cashion,
Phoebe Palmieri and Sarojni Choy)
- Better assessment outcomes: an interactive workshop
(Berwyn Clayton and Peter Thomson)
- Making workplace learning work: what the research says
and
how to make it happen (Susan Young)
- Information and information sources: getting the good
goss on
the sector (Sarah Hayman and David John).
In addition, an Australian Vocational
Education and Training Teacher Educators' Colloquium (AVTEC)
meeting was convened. AVTEC is a group of people involved
in the preparation and development of VET professionals in
Australia. Also, an AVETRA Executive meeting was held.
Days two and three were held at
the Hilton Adelaide and devoted to keynote speakers (Kaye
Bowman, Andy Smith, Brian Gilbertson, John Dawkins, Peter
Kirby), an international panel (Madeleine Woolley –
Chair, David Atchoarena, Kisung Lee, Yufeng Liu, Levaopolo
Tupae Esera) and presentations and posters from VET researchers
covering a wide range of research sub-themes, including:
1. translating research into practice
2. practitioners as researchers
3. forming and fostering research
partnerships
4. lifelong learning and continuous
and
recurrent VET
5. research for quality improvement
6. VET online
7. identifying new research directions.
The full text of the papers is available
at 2001 conference papers. They are indexed in alphabetical
order by author.
In addition copies of the papers
which were blind peer reviewed by two reviewers to comply
with the verification requirements for DETYA E1 conference
publications (full written paper refereed).
Themes
The conference sought to map and
describe research conducted by universities, TAFE Institutes,
other VET providers, Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABs),
private consultants, unions and teachers, trainers and students
to examine the implications of such diversity on:
- translating research into practice
- practitioners as researchers
- research partnerships
- lifelong learning, continuous and recurrent VET
- research for quality improvement
- VET online, new industries, science and technology
- identifying new research directions.
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