Welcome to the first edition of the Knowledge Tree - the e-journal in Flexible Learning in VET.

Through this e-journal we aim to:

• provide a platform for sharing new ideas in flexible learning and leadership
• keep learning leaders and practitioners up to date
• promote the practice of flexible learning and leadership
• facilitate flexible learning leader networking on a national and international basis.

We want to showcase people who lead in any sector. We encourage you to express what you think, to outline the issues you face and the solutions you've found. We want to encourage high level, informed debate in flexible learning.

The genesis of this e-journal developed from a desire to capture the experiences of those involved in the Flexible Learning Leaders program. Interest in what we're learning and how we access, organise, build, use and communicate knowledge, to increase the capacity for accessible and educationally sound flexible learning in Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET), continues to filter through various online communities.

However, there has also been a broader lack of accessible practitioner and leader publishing on flexible learning in Australian VET. What have we been learning through our practice? Many have found themselves leading where they expected to be learning.

So, we've encouraged contributions from, and provided for, a range of interest groups and styles. We have interviews, storytelling, updates from the swirling vortices around the country, personal conference summaries, as well as critiques and peer reviewed articles.

We've attempted to create a cross sector space where we can engage in learning and reflection with flexible learning practitioners in business, higher education and the schooling sector, as we expect there is much to learn through such exchange.

There is something here for the paddlers, waders, skimmers, surface feeders, and shallow and deep water divers among you.

I expect you'll fish this pool as you do any other, but I strongly encourage you to create a few eddies in the discussions and push the debate on issues facing the elearning leadership community.

What are my recommendations in our first edition?
The Peer Reviewed Articles focus on digital repositories for learning objects, accessibility in design of online learning environments and the use of a mentoring model to implement change to online delivery (in a VET in Schools context). These were chosen because they are topical issues currently facing the VET community.

The evolution of the Flexible Learning Leaders program was an ideal contribution for our inaugural edition.

I think we've broken new ground with the intriguing digital story telling. (Well done Frank and Linda!)

You'll also find the interviews on issues of accessibility and learning objects very informing and the critiques on the teachers' role, self assessment and digital divide are also tempting ….if you like whirlpools!

We are looking at ways to build knowledge through discussion and collaboration, through linking with the Virtual Learning Community to make this happen. During NET*Working 2002, why not post your thoughts to our discussion topics?

Come on in….you never know what we might create out of the flotsam!