WF Associates Integrated Course Structure:

When students undertake training they want to know that there is a pathway to the future.  The WF Associates courses have been designed in a holistic manner.  Not only has our experience been in the classroom working with students from many different organisations and backgrounds, but we have also undertaken considerable research and personal development to ensure that the course structure and delivery methods are the best that they can be.

Choose from the course features on the panel on the left for more details about the WF Associates courses or read the diagram below for a visual representation of the course structure.

This page has been written for Registered Training Organisations (RTO's) looking for courses for their students or for employers in organisations that are considering courses for their employees.  If you are a student and reading this page for your personal interest then welcome and we hope you will find the philosophy of our approach interesting.

You will find that many of the points are interlinked to help highlight the concepts and underlying ideas.

Training Schema

The WF Associates courses build upon a foundation with each being considered as a super-set of the previous.  From the foundation of project and business management there are two main streams supported at a post-graduate level (project management and sales management).  The justification for this archictecture is the simple observation that organisations either want to sell the products and services they produce or implement the products or services that are produced.  If you want more details on any of the courses then click on the course name and you will be linked to the location for details about that specific course.

Accelerated Learning

The concept of accelerated learning, in a competency based environment, means that when a student is capable of demonstrating a workplace skill then they are recognized as competent and encouraged to quickly move to the next task.  This means that students develop at their own pace and can accelerate their learning and skills development faster than they might in a conventional classroom.

Accelerated learning means that the course and learning structure must be developed to cater for individual needs and the course support systems should reward the development of a portfolio of competencies.  Students therefore need to also study within a blended learning system that takes advantage of multiple technologies and delivery mechanisms.  Students as a result work either individually or collectively using whichever learning methodology (ILT, WBT, OJT or ST - see below for definitions) is most appropriate for them. 

Blended Learning

Every person, every organisation, and every challenge is different. A well-designed blended learning solution can introduce skills and knowledge as they are needed and reinforce those skills and knowledge over a longer time period. WF Associates will analyse your unique situation, study your desired outcomes, and create a learning solution that matches the right blend of training methods for you. The result is a blended learning solution that delivers increased effectiveness, productivity, revenue, quality, satisfaction, and retention for accelerated learning outcomes is will be structured to the ways your employees or students learn and to the complexity of the information that is being taught.

Why Use WF Associates for Your Blended Learning Solutions?

There is no substitute for experience and focus. As a specialist in blended learning solutions, WF Associates has the ability to deliver the tools and content development expertise you need for effective knowledge transfer with the right combination of world-class training strategies.  We can ensure that your blended learning solution is developed strategically and consistently. Our passion keeps us innovative and strategic in everything we do, and our ability to be a provider of training ensures consistency of vision, every step of the way.

Instructor Led Training (ILT)

A traditional and still important feature of the blended learning is instructor led training.  This is a structured method of training that is delivered face-to-face and offers a high degree of interaction, flexibility, and hands-on learning.  WF Associates ILT is provided in multiple forums including:

• Traditional classroom
• Virtual online classroom
• Online mentoring

Web Based Training (WBT)

Our web based training solutions (also known as computer-based training) provide a cost-customizable method that allows students to learn at their own pace, anytime, anywhere they have access to either your Intranet or the Internet.  Our WBT is integrated into our learning management systems (LMS) approach that allows reflective and self-paced tools that can be built into the web-based training such as:

• Chat
• Instant messaging
• Threaded discussions
• Online mentoring

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

Sometimes instructor led or web based training is impractical or access to computers is limited, in this situation on-the-job training becomes the preferred method of delivering needed skills.  WF Associates solutions range from corporate consulting to one-on-one mentoring.

Simulation Training (ST)

Frequently in technical environments, simulation training helps improve performance in troubleshooting, diagnostic, emergency, and other scenarios, without endangering people, equipment, your business processes, or most importantly, your customers.  WF Associates will design and develop for you simulations that include:

• Real time full-scope simulators
• Part-task simulators
• Game-based simulations

Built into our pre-packages courses in business management, project management and sales management are simulations that developed practical skills in students to accelerate learning for fast outcomes.

Benefits of Blending Learning

Blended learning combines the social benefits of classroom training with the individualized benefits of online learning. In addition, it costs less to implement than 100% instructor led training, provides greater flexibility, and because of the ability to access web-based courses for just-in-time learning blended learning improves retention and sustains performance over a longer time period.

Degree Pathways and Entry to Post Graduate Courses

The diagram below shows how students can progress through and around higher education in a different way to the traditional school to vocational education and training (VET) or school to university route. The key point to notice is how a student might move from school to VET to university and back to VET.  In this respect the vocational programs offered in the VET sector are at the same academic level to those in the university sector.  The difference is that the VET program focuses on workplace and employment outcomes and competencies, as opposed to the university focus on academic theory.

Through the recognition of prior learning (RPL) and recognition of current competency (RCC) mechanism then the pathway of a student can be accelerated as a consequence of their recognition of prior learning.  A feature of the new framework where your knowledge and experience counts and may reduce the completion time of a program of study.

e-Learning

The cost benefits of e-learning need little expansion, but is e-learning right for your organisation? How can you ensure an effective e-learning initiative the first time around?  Regardless of whether you have some experience with e-learning or are a novice, our e-learning programmes have the answers. As your partner, WF Associates will apply our real world experience to your vision and planning processes, yielding a detailed roadmap encompassing a true end-to-end analysis and integration plan for e-learning.

We jointly examine your organisation from every angle to create a clear picture of your learning needs and identify possible barriers to e-learning success. Our strict adherence to best practices ensures an objective analysis, and provides reliable information needed to make prudent decisions affecting the entire initiative, including the critical Learning Management System (LMS) selection process.

e-Learning Vision and Planning

A functional, cost-effective e-learning solution is the end-result of extensive planning and prudent decision making. Decisions related to the Learning Management System (LMS) are of particular importance. WF Associates vision and planning process provides the information you need to a successful e-learning initiative. The vision and planning process includes a series of assessments, including:

• Integrated IT Infrastructure Assessment
  • Determines the appropriate IT configuration required for a successful e-learning solution.
• Cultural Readiness Assessment
  • Determines your organisation's readiness to accept change and an on-line learning initiative.
• High-Level Training Business Needs Assessment
  • Includes an analysis of your targeted learners, including job and skills assessment.
  • We review the competencies needed, and identify performance gaps requiring attention.

The documentation resulting from these assessments provides the information needed in the critical LMS selection phase.

Recognition of Prior Learning / Recognition of Current Competence (RPL/RCC)

Accelerated learning, competency based learning and the necessity to cater for different individuals needs means that recognizing the unique contribution of prior learning and current competence of each individual is important.  Your busy employees should be focused on developing new skills not rehashing old ones. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The recognition of prior learning process means that individuals may receive credit for their knowledge and skills through recognition of prior learning (RPL).  Simply upon completion of a short process that quantifies their previous study, which may be formal or informal training and education, for example industry training, school, college or adult education classes; competency can be identified. This reinforces the means of accelerating the learning towards the development of new and expanded skills and outcomes.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC)

Assessment of current competency may include identifying skills and achievements from either :

• Work experience (paid and unpaid);  or
• Life experience (for example leisure pursuits or voluntary work)

The RPL/RCC Process

In order to recognize RPL or RCC, your WF Associates assessor must be confident that your candidates are currently competent. Evidence used for assessment may take a variety of forms and could include certification, references from past employers, work samples, testimonials from clients and challenge testing. The important requirement is that evidence that is collected must be :

• valid (or relevant) – evidence must focus on the broad range of knowledge and skills specified for competency standards;
• sufficient – they must collect enough evidence to satisfy assessors that they are competent across all aspects of the unit(s) of competency;
• current – assessors must be satisfied that their experience is recent and your knowledge is up-to-date;
• authentic – assessors must be satisfied that the evidence that submitted relates to them and not some other person.

Through the RPL/RCC process you are confident of the capabilities of your employees and their abilities to deliver your corporate strategic goals.

Self-Assessment

Your skills, interests, personality, and values play an important role in your career choice. Find out what effect they have and learn about the various self assessment tools, also called career assessment tools, that help with the career planning process.

Self assessment is the first step of the career planning process. It is the process of gathering information about yourself in order to make an informed career decision.

A self assessment process should not only look at your academic skills, but should include your values, interests, and personality.

In addition to determining what you're good at, a skills assessment also helps you figure out what you could be doing. The skills you use in your career should combine academic and personal characteristics.

You can use the results of this skills assessment to make some changes by measuring the skills you need for a particular career.

• Follow the diagram for a representation of the process we use in helping you with your self-assessment.
• Then click on the link below to enter the Learning Management System and undertake a self-assessment.

Student Attributes

Knowledge of the field of study

• A comprehensive and well-founded knowledge of the field of study.
• All of the course objectives combined will lead to a comprehensive foundation in the field of business management.
• A comprehensive understanding of the course content will be assessed through various assessment instruments throughout the course.

Effective communication

• The ability to collect, analyse and organize information and ideas and to convey those ideas clearly and fluently, in both written and spoken forms.
• Satisfactory performance on assessment will require clear communication of understanding of all aspects of this course. This skill will be developed through preparation of class questions and case study.
• The ability to engage effectively and appropriately with information and communication technologies. Where appropriate, course materials include the use of electronic spreadsheets to summarize and analyse financial data.

Independence and creativity

• The ability to work and learn independently.
• Effective preparation is the key to success in this course. This preparation can be done either individually or in groups. All assessment, however, is individual assessment and will require the ability to work independently.
• Internet quizzes are to be completed independently outside of class time.
• The ability to identify problems, create solutions, innovate and improve current practices.
• Class preparation will give practice in the skill of identifying the problem and the appropriate method of solution.

Critical judgment

• The ability to define and analyse problems.
• Class preparation will give practice in the skill of identifying the problem and the appropriate method of solution.
• The ability to evaluate opinions, make decisions and to reflect critically on the justifications for decisions.
• The ability to critically evaluate statements based on theory will be developed in lectures and will be assessed in examinations.

Tailoring Course Material

All of the WF Associates course are highly modular and lend themselves to being tailored according to an organisations needs.  There are many reasons for tailoring, including :

• Building your mission, values, strategies and goals into the course material.  The benefit is that your employees (the students) will work on real organisational material and impact more effectively in achieving your goals.  This is particularly true with the Advanced Diploma of Business Management course.
• Incorporating your standard operating procedures and project templates into the project management courses.  The benefit is that all staff become intimately familiar with the processes that you have adopted in the project and program management environment.  Thus eliminating mistakes and enabling projects to be performed much more effectively and with less risk.

If you ar interested in the benefits of tailoring or would like to know more details of anything on this page please contact WF Associates by competing the following form: