About the VECO Project

Project Components

• VocEd Coordinator Mailing List (voced-coord)
• Coordinator Identified and managed Mailing Lists
• Archives of lists
• Professional Development, Training and Support for VocEd Coordinators
• Coordinator Resource Library

VocEd Coordinator Mailing List (voced-coord)

The main community building tool for the VECO community is the VocEd Coordinator email list (called voced-coord). This acts as a forum for coordinators, workplace supervisors, teachers and others involved in school-industry programs to communicate, share ideas and be a resource for each other. This mailing list provides a vehicle to build a community of those who work within and across structured workplace learning programs. The list is open to anyone interested in VET in schools generally.

Coordinator Identified and Managed Email Lists

From time to time the need for further communities within and beyond VECO of coordinators, employers, workplace supervisors, teachers and students will be identified as Workplace Learning Coordinators use communication technologies more in their roles. These might be related to delivering courses in specific industry areas or people working on specific projects.

As these needs are identified, email lists can be created and managed by participating workplace learning coordinators. The VECO Project Officer supports these email lists and the people coordinating them with advice and answers to questions, as well as a small pool of release time available which can be allocated where it is required to support those undertaking the coordination and management of mailing lists and projects.

As these mailing lists grow they are referenced in the Aussie SchoolHouse Mailing List registry. This is a World Wide Web based central registry of Australian educational mailing lists. It provides an easy access point for all who want to find out more and participate.

Archives

An important part of building VocEd Coordinators Online is that we record the stories and history of the project as it happens. This allows the creation of a substantial resource for coordinators, workplace supervisors, teachers and others as they use the site. In most cases, all of the email that occurs on mailing lists surrounding the VocEd Online project is archived through World Wide Web pages on the Aussie SchoolHouse web site. These archives can be searched and reviewed by those interested in this area.

Professional Development, Training and Support for Coordinators

A pilot workshop program delivering professional development, training and logistical support for an initial group of Workplace Learning Coordinators was implemented during 1997. Some of these coordinators have become project leaders, developing resources for the programs they work in, supporting their colleagues and undertaking program evaluation. The workshop program will be continued in 1998 to areas of highest need.

Ongoing support is available through the various list communities and the resources that are developed and published on the VECO website as well as by direct contact with the VECO Project Officer.

Coordinator Resource Library

To support coordinators in the sharing of teaching and program management resources, strategies and ideas, a Workplace Learning Coordinators Resource Library has been created on the VECO website.

This database provides ways for coordinators to share what they have developed and learnt with other coordinators. Importantly the tools to allow participants to easily post and find resources in the forum have been developed. The forum is moderated, ensuring that the quality of material available is high. The contents of this forum will be coordinator generated or recommended materials and resources. This is seen by the ASTF and Aussie SchoolHouse as being a "grass roots" area, where coordinators, workplace supervisors and teachers can publish and share.

First published April 24, 1997. Last modified August 14, 1999.