Kicking off 2013 with blended learning and exciting pathways

From new learning technologies to exciting pathways, Kangan Institute provides its students with the best chance at achieving their study goals. Blended learning is one of the latest things that students can look forward to - this approach combines face-to-face, online and practical skills development. This means that students will have independent access to knowledge and content, direct access to trainers online, more time for hands-on work in the classroom or workshop and be able to complete assignments, gain feedback and progress through the required theory training at their own pace.

For particularly motivated students, they may even be able to complete units in a shorter timeframe! Study areas across the Institute have embraced the blended learning charge with style. The aviation department, for instance, introduced the use of iPads for certain training programs in 2012. Students were each provided with their own tablet and had access to "live quizzes" to measure knowledge levels on the fly, study tools such as PDF highlighters in text, writing sticky notes on the go, inserting animation as well as language translation to facilitate their learning. Michael Heffey, manager of the aviation, engineering and security department, said that feedback from students has been positive so far.

"With the push to increase our Lean centred e-learning capability, the climate is right for transferring everyone to blended learning and we believe the iPads are an effective tool to utilise," he said. To top it all off, Kangan Institute students can also access exciting pathways into Victoria's largest universities, ensuring that the transition from TAFE to higher education is smooth and stress-free.

Pathways ensure that each course completed can provide credit towards the next level up or into a related field. New pathway agreements are being set up all the time across a wide range of disciplines including health and nursing, business, fashion, IT and more. The latest Deakin at Your Doorstep initiative with Deakin University, for instance, will allow students to complete a Kangan Institute diploma along with an Associate Degree of Arts, Business and Sciences (delivered at Craigieburn) within two years and offers pathways into a range of Deakin bachelor degrees.

Our students may also access pathways into the Bachelor of Applied Management delivered at Kangan Institute's Broadmeadows campus in partnership with the Federation University Australia. Several Kangan Institute advanced diplomas offer direct entry into the final year of the program, enabling students to complete their tertiary studies all at the one campus.

Kangan Institute offers more than 300 nationally-accredited courses across six campuses in central and northern Melbourne. Many new programs are set for 2013, such as VCE, VCAL and hair and beauty qualifications at Richmond campus as well as certificate IV qualifications in mental health and alcohol and other drugs at Broadmeadows campus.