Latest Articles
What Did You Do During COVID? It's A Question You Can Expect To Be Asked
Covid has only highlighted the importance of using downtime to grow professionally or engage in something that helps grow skills. Employers are looking for people who can stand out from the crowd and this is how you do it.
We Revisit Painful Truth #8 As ASQA Cancels Qualifications
In the not-so-distant past, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) announced that it will cancel 432 Security and First Aid Qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued to 276 individuals. This rings true to Painful Truth #8. Just because you get it, doesn’t always mean you get to keep it.
The TAE Design Units: Questions We Ask To Assess The Required Knowledge
The Fortress Learning TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment uses the following questions to assess the Required Knowledge and some aspects of the Underpinning Skills of the two units of competency that form the Design Field.During the course, many of the actual questions are presented in tables which means that they might not make complete sense in this list. However, you will gain an appreciation for what is involved.
The Loophole That Will Undermine The Quality Of The TAE Certificate IV
The TAE Certificate IV cannot be trusted. It is common knowledge that holding one does not actually mean you have the skills and knowledge that it is meant to reflect. That’s why the powers that be have gone to a lot of effort to ensure that Trainers and Assessors are suitably skilled to make a professional contribution to the VET sector, with much of this aimed squarely at the poor quality of Certificate IV TAE courses.
The 10 Leadership Attributes Of A Trainer And Assessor
The role of a Trainer and Assessor requires efficiency, an eye for detail and, most importantly, the ability to lead students to success. Here are 10 leadership attributes of a Trainer and Assessor, with quotes from those who know the profession well.
TAE Certificate IV Face-To-Face Or Online Or Distance?
When it comes to choosing how you will do your own TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, the answer can get a bit complex, but it really just comes down to one thing.
Seeking Funding For Small Business Growth
Probably the greatest obstacle to small business growth is funding. Most small business owners start their businesses because they are true experts in their field. They decide to take the risk and open their business rather than continue working for others.
Quiz: Whats Your Service Personality Type?
The article presents a quiz to determine an individual's service personality type. It explores various personality types and how they can excel in different service-oriented roles.
Overly Prescriptive Units Of Competency
This article is an introduction and invitation to discuss the prescriptive nature of Australia’s units of competencies. It will share some thoughts about how overly prescriptive Units of Competency transpire as a barrier for a progressive national VET system.
Keep The Communication Lines Open
To a large part, training is all about communicating. You, as a trainer, have knowledge that your learners need. Somehow, you’ve got to communicate that knowledge to them, in such a way as they can understand it, grasp it and use it. Your communications task doesn’t end there however, you also have to communicate with all the stakeholders in that learning process.
Is There a Place For Training "Products" in a Service Sector?
A common complaint among TAE Certificate IV students is that it has far too much jargon and terminology. Many of those students find the qualification somewhat impenetrable because of that language, and this reduced the qualification’s effectiveness.
Improve Your Communication Skills With The Ladder Of Inference
When it comes to a classroom or workplace, that number is significantly less, but it only takes as little as two people for miscommunication to occur. Two people can share the same experience, but due to their own individual Ladder of Inference, they could draw two very different conclusions. This can lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings and conflict.
How Long Your Cert IV TAE Takes Depends On Marking Times
Asking how long it takes to complete the Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (TAE40116) is very much like asking how long is a piece of string. But, there is one thing more than others that has an incredible impact on how long it is going to take you to graduate.And it is something that is entirely out of your control and which may cause you to pull your hair out if you are not aware of it.
How And When to Upgrade Your TAE Diplomas - Dip VET And Dip TDD
The TAE Training Package that came out in April 2016 had a few changes. Understanding those changes is key to understanding how best to upgrade your TAE Diplomas, and when to do it. This article will introduce what has not changed, what has changed and what it all means. It will finish with some reasons why other people are upgrading, and some questions you may wish to ask yourself.
Here Be Dragons Advice From Cert IV TAE Students
In the olden days, “Here be Dragons” was used on maps to point out dangerous or unexplored territories. When it comes to the Cert IV TAE (and our other courses), there are a few dragons as well. So, just like the mariners of old relied on maps to find their way past obstacles, we too can learn from the people who have gone before us.
Effective Adult Class Size
The number of students in an adult classroom has been the centre of attention for researchers for a few years. There have been various manifolds in the perspectives of research regarding this subject. Some of the researchers suggest smaller class sizes are better whereas others deny the productivity of small classroom sizes and recommend larger classrooms are beneficial with multiple supporting rationales and shreds of evidence.
Design And Develop Training Programs – TAEDES401
Australia’s VET program is unique in that it provides a lot of resources to the trainer, specifically in defining what is needed in a training program, so that the learners can receive a certification for their knowledge in skills.
Courses Of Concern Create More Concerns
The move to have Courses of Concern is in itself concerning and makes the playing field anything but level. The TAE40116 is a course for concern but we feel there are solutions available for future TAE courses.
Characteristics Of A Good Teacher - What Students See
What are the important characteristics students look for in a good teacher? In most academic and industrial educational settings, the question is interesting but not particularly relevant since students rarely have the opportunity to select their own instructors.
Building a Question-Friendly Environment As A Trainer
Trial lawyers are often told never to ask a question to which they don't already know the answer. That might be true in the courtroom, but in the classroom, that mentality is one of many things teachers and trainers do to discourage a question-friendly environment. Intellectually, we all know the ability to ask questions is a critical learning component. Practically, creating an atmosphere that encourages refraining from questioning and answering does not take much.
Being Competent is the First Step in Gaining RPL for Your TAE Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
The aim of this article is to introduce 5 questions that you can ask yourself to determine if you could think about attaining your Certificate IV in Training & Assessment entirely by RPL.
Assessments Really Test 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.
Assessing Knowledge in VET?
Assessment faces many challenges; one, in particular, is that Assessment practices are typically designed by individuals without specialist test design skills. Another challenge is that such Assessment practices are then “Validated” by individuals who lack specific skills in test evaluation. The result is an impossibly wide variation in the relative quality of assessments across RTOs – With the consequence that there is wide variation in outcomes.
An Overview Of The Requirements Of The Dip VET & Dip TDD Units Of Competency
To help you make an informed decision, the following questions allow you to quickly self-assess your likelihood of gaining RPL for some or all of the units.
Asking Questions: Tools For Brain Based Learning
Although much of what we are now discovering about how the brain learns is new, the idea of asking questions as a way to keep students’ attention is not. Indeed, some teachers have been asking questions of their students for decades, even in the hallowed lecture halls of the world’s great universities.So why is there such discontent with much of what we call “higher learning?”Why are so many students so bored and so uninvolved in their own classroom instruction?
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
Ready to unlock your Training potential?
Book a free demo to see how our platform works and how our expert instructors can guide you to success.
Or get in touch with a course advisor today to discuss your goals and explore your options.