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How E-learning Can Unlock Your Employee Development
In this new age of digitisation and remote working, many companies are choosing to upskill and train their employees through e-learning, instead of via in-person meetings, to meet them where they are. This less traditional training method allows employees to learn anywhere at any time, on whatever devices they like, giving them more control over their professional development. It also brings about many benefits for the business itself.
How Long Does It Take to Complete the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment?
Before we get into why it is difficult to provide a specific timeframe for completing the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, we want to provide some context as to why this question is a popular one. The predecessors of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment were known to have been delivered within a very short almost unrealistic time frame, some in a few days, some in just a couple of weeks. But with the introduction of TAE16 (replacing TAE10) the industry’s feedback to the regulator was that longer, more in-depth training was required as trainers were not completing the course with the depth and breadth of skills and knowledge required to do the job.
How Does Fortress Learning Respond to the Challenges of Online Learning?
One thing our staff like to do is to listen. It’s a skill we look for when recruiting our people. We like to listen because that tells us if our students are succeeding, and we want to know that for the simple reason that if they don’t succeed, then neither do we.Since we started delivering the TAA Cert IV online in 2009, we have listened to thousands of students.
Honestly, the Trainers Were Amazing
Every now and then, a graduating student writes a Review that we believe really captures what we try to do. Instead of them ending up hidden among the others, we will share them with you, and try to explain why we think they are so appropriate.
How and When to Upgrade Your Certificate IV TAE
The following information will outline the difference between adding the two core units to your existing TAE40110 Certificate IV or going the whole hog and upgrading to the new TAE40116 Certificate IV Training and Assessment.
Highly Motivated and Extremely Organised: is Online Learning Right for You?
Every now and then, a graduating student writes a review that we believe really captures what we try to do. Instead of them ending up hidden among the others, we will share them with you, and try to explain why we think they are so appropriate.
Give Me a Little Feedback
Feedback is one of the greatest quality tools ever invented. Think about it a moment; who knows better whether you are meeting the customer’s quality expectations than the customer themselves. So, their feedback is essentially a quality control report, telling you how well you are meeting the only quality specification that matters… that of the customer.
Frequently Asked Questions About the New TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
With the endorsement of the new TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment by the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) on 8 November 2022 and endorsed by Skills Ministers on 18 November 2022, there are lots of questions being asked, chief among these are;What happens now?Do I need to do anything about this?
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fortress Learning Dip VET/TDD Program
Everything you needed to know about the Diploma VET/TDD Program and more.
Getting Your Network on
“Networking” is one of the business buzzwords of today. This word originated with the idea of connecting computers together in a “local area network” so that they could communicate with one another. Today, the whole world is networked together through the Internet.
Genuine
Every now and then, a graduating student writes a review that we believe really captures what we try to do. Instead of them ending up hidden among the others, we will share them with you, and try to explain why we think they are so appropriate.
Fun Games to Boost Learner Engagement
Learner engagement: sounds easy enough, but in reality, sometimes engaging a class can prove to be an uphill battle.Whether you have just started your lesson, just resumed class after a break, or if things are starting to get out of control, you need to have some strategies in place to get things back on track.
Four Techniques to Help You Learn
Believe it or not, hearing is not learning. Neither is reading. In order to learn, you need to create connections in your brain between the old stuff you know and the new stuff you’re learning.
Frustrating, But Necessary
Every now and then, a TAE Diploma student writes a Review that we believe really captures what Fortress Learning tries to do. Instead of them ending up hidden among the others, we will share them with you, and try to explain why we think they are so appropriate.
Fixing the Cert IV TAE Can Be Done With Instruments Less Blunt Than TAEASS502
I write to disagree with what Bryan West (previous owner and founder of Fortress Learning) wrote about the merits of ASS502 (In defence of TAEASS502-the single unit that might help the VET industry regain its confidence), but not with what he felt. I rely on historical data and my own (current) views on what was not fixed with Certificate IV TAE.
Feel the Power With the Small Stuff!
Silence… Pause… Predictability… While these three things may sound like the character traits of your 90-year-old Grandfather, they can prove to be very powerful when used in the classroom. The three episodes below are from Fortress Learning’s series on teaching micro-skills called The Small Stuff.
Financial Caps in VET Compared With HECS for University
After the travesty that was the VET Fee-Help scheme and the ‘shonky providers’ publicity that went along with that (whereby all RTOs – good and bad – were lumped into one ‘shonky’ basket) – the government introduced the ill-conceived and almost unworkable VET Student Loan scheme (VSL).
Expectations Associated With Assessment
There’s probably no surprise that someone would bring up Assessment as a challenge in VET sooner or later. Audit results show it as a number one issue, anecdotal evidence shows it as a number one issue, and the number of forums, webinars and other PD offerings available and dedicated to explaining assessment-related concepts show it as a number one issue.
Eleven Tricks for Effective Powerpoint Presentations
It seems like everyone is using PowerPoint and other presentation software these days. Where schoolchildren used to write reports on things, now they create a presentation instead. Salesmen use presentations to show off their products’ benefits, and of course, trainers use them to train their learners. Even with so many people using PowerPoint presentations, it’s amazing how few people can put a really good presentation together. Here are 11 points on how to make your presentations stand out.
Encourage Learner Participation
Any trainer who’s been in the business for a while can tell which learners are going to do well on their assessment and which ones are going to struggle. The winners all follow a similar pattern, while the losers follow a much different pattern. A lot of the difference between the two is how much they participate in the learning process.
Entitlement And The Erosion of Standards
Erosion of quality training and assessment practices at the front line occurs due to various reasons. Certain trends are developing. These have been observed over a period of time and have also been discussed with a number of colleagues operating in enterprise RTOs.
Embracing the Unknown to Effect Change
When it comes to VET, we enter a touchy territory. Not because of VET for VET’s sake, but because of the numerous happenings in the sector right now. Change is afoot. And if there’s one thing that most humans are reluctant to embrace, that is change.
Do We Need to Re-think the Role of Trainers and Assessors?
When you look at each iteration of the Certificate IV, it is based upon the previous version with additions, consolidations and revisions. It’s a bit like re-inventing the wheel by giving it different coloured spokes. Wouldn’t it be more to the point to actually find out what trainers and assessors need to do and then design the qualifications to match?
Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out: Tracey’s Experience
Why did this particular testimonial catch our attention? Tracey made 4 points in her testimonial that we would like to expand on...
Do You Recognise Competency When You See It?
When you see someone performing their work, can you tell if they are competent or not? If someone is highly competent in their work, most of us can recognise it right off. We don’t recognise it so much by what they do, or even by how they do it, we recognise it by their attitude. When they display an attitude like they know what they’re doing, we assume they do, but when they act unsure of themselves, we doubt that they know what they’re talking about.
What are you looking for?
The new qualification TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment was a very challenging course. I have been in the VET sector for almost 30 years and have gone through many of the qualification upgrades. This new one was no "give me". The assistance I got from the FL team was amazing. I was supported every step of the way. A fantastic learning and development experience. Thank you
Roger Crowhurst
Thanks to Jane for her support all the way. I definitely had trouble interpreting academic speak as I am from a trade background. With Jane's help I found it easier to understand and ultimately got through.
Stephen Armao
Fortress learning provided quality service, resources and training, from the enrolment process with Jonathon who had exceptional Customer service skills to the Trainer Deb Thomas who held my hand through the upgrade process. I am very happy to have selected and committed to Fortress learning and would highly recommend anyone considering to upgrade their qualifications or begin their training to go with their training organisation. Thanks again Deb for your time, knowledge and skills.
Caterina
From the very first phone call, Fortress Learning had fantastic communication and straightforward processes. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing to go through the RPL and credit transfer process. They made the whole process so simple and stress free. Emails were normally responded to on the same day, and the giant portfolio I submitted was reviewed and marked within the week. Thank you to Jon, Odeza, Emma and everyone else involved.
Alison L
I’m not a person who takes to technology and computers easily, I never gained an education through high school. Thanks to Deb and the team at Fortress, I was able to get my qualification to start my dream job, training and assessing apprentices. I would like to thank everyone at Fortress for helping and guiding me along the way, I will be forever grateful!
Adam D
I had a great experience doing my TAE through Fortress. Very clear tasks with videos to give guidance and instructions on the tasks. Trainers very responsive and willing to help! Marking done within 4 days. Thank you very much!
Susanna C
Fortress made my RPL really easy. Advised me exactly what I needed to provide as evidence to reach my desired outcome. Quick assessment of my skills and experience to finalise my upgrade. Thanks Fortress team.
Steve D
Quality TAE RPL assessment is difficult. That's why lesser RTOs avoid it. I tried to negotiate a realistic RPL pathway with two other well-known TAE providers before settling on Fortress. I'm an experienced TAE assessor myself; I was impressed by their commitment to rigorously observing the standards while being flexible enough to capture genuine evidence. I was not only impressed with the service they provided me, I am confident that any colleague or potential employee of mine that is certified through Fortress genuinely has met the standards (and not just benefitted from the "tick and flick" approach of some providers). I have no association with Fortress but I would recommend them to any TAE professional seeking to upgrade their qualifications.
Sean Kelly
I recently completed my Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Training and Assessment Education (TAE) through Fortress Learning, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the process was seamless and well-organized. The support team was incredibly responsive and helpful, guiding me through each step with patience and clarity. The assessors at Fortress Learning are highly knowledgeable and provided valuable feedback that was both constructive and encouraging. Their expertise in the TAE field is evident, and their dedication to helping students succeed is truly commendable. What stood out the most was their tailored approach to my RPL application. They recognized my prior experience and skills, ensuring that the assessment process was relevant and fair. The resources provided were comprehensive and greatly aided in my understanding of the requirements. Overall, Fortress Learning has exceeded my expectations with its professional and supportive approach. I highly recommend their RPL services to anyone seeking to advance their TAE qualifications. Thank you, Fortress Learning, for an outstanding educational experience!
Brendan
The TAE workload was boulderous and daunting, but trainer Deb Thomas assisted me throughout. Her explanations untangled jargon and simplified arduous assessment tasks. Her incredible support enabled me to complete the TAE. THANK YOU!!! Although I primarily teach in a degree course, areas covered such as "reasonable adjustment" will assist with my Higher Ed work. I recommend Fortress to anyone contemplating a TAE: the service was both excellent and comprehensive.
Robyn
This course has made me a better Trainer and Assessor in many ways. The research project was intense, but very rewarding, I intend to implement many of the strategies I have learned throughout the course. The training staff at Fortress were fantastic and very supportive all the way, they did not hesitate to help me when it was needed. Many thanks to Fortress, especially Jane MacIntosh.
Nick Congiusta
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