networks

Various networks are available and willing to assist you to engage with your community, or to assist you to develop skills and knowledge in using online tools for e-learning. Here are some of them.

E-learn Community (Adult Learning Australia), a group for participants (including schools, universities, vocational training providers, Local Learning and Employment Networks, and Neighbourhood Houses) in the E-Learning Creative Community Partnerships Project.

Learning Communities Catalyst is a community support website which:

· explains the notion of learning communities to novices and sceptics
· is a reservoir for information and links to relevant places
· provides case studies of good practice
· includes ‘toolkits’ for those getting started (eg doing an audit of the community, establishing partnerships, seeking sponsorship, evaluation)
· facilitates discussion and debate
· allows nascent communities a space on the web – with lots of help for those daunted by the web.

Neighbourhood House Associations are community established centres designed to develop greater community interaction within local areas. Click to view the Neighbourhood House Association's (peak body) web site.

Networks of the Australian Flexible Learning Community has a general e-learning community forum in EdNA , but also provides funding to other networks including, for example:

Digital Storytelling Network - This is a network of vocational and adult educators who seek to expand digital storytelling (DST) a captivating tool for capturing and weaving images, music narrative and voice together (Rule 2005), and as an e-learning strategy, for building learning materials; communicating with networks and displaying portfolios. This is the place to discuss, learn, explore and implement your digital storytelling techniques and applications. You need to create an account and log in to access the network space.

Mentoring

Many of the Flexible Learning Leaders have experience in adult and community education settings and can provide mentoring to community groups wishing to commence e-learning. Click to find an Adult and Community Education (ACE) leader.