Welcome to the fourth edition of the Knowledge Tree – the e-Journal of Flexible Learning in Vocational Education and Training (VET). Read on for the latest e-learning practice, research and opinion in Australia.

View our Feature Interview with Janina Gawler, the new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian National Training Authority. Hear her clear perspective on vocational education and training.

Find out how Open Source products like moodle can help you! Michael Chalk's interest in Open Source systems and learning management platforms led him to interview Australians, Martin Dougiamis (developer of moodle) and Marty Cielens (user of moodle) as part of his Flexible Learning Leader research in 2003.

Alison Gotts outlines new approaches to e-learning professional development (Diploma in E-learning) in the context of the last ten years of flexible learning innovation in vocational education and training.

View Nola Campbell in discussion with Janice Anderson and Elizabeth McPherson on Role Playing and Open Source.

Read peer reviewed articles on leading edge practice in online teaching and learning including:

'Blogging to Learn' - Anne Bartlett-Bragg describes the phenomena of blogging, the process of blogging and how it can be used to enhance learning.

'Online adventures in the global world of e-learning – the musings of 3 ‘armchair’ cultural explorers' - Louise Housden, Frankie Forsyth and Christine Bateman discuss cross cultural issues in e-moderation through reflection on their experiences e-convening in international e-moderation courses. Gilly Salmon introduces this article.

'Watch this space: Developing a music/education partnership' - Dawn Bennett, Flexible Learning Leader funded in 2003, surfaces the pivotal role communities of practice (CoP) can play in ensuring that education and industry groups plan, teach and assess in partnership as she describes the establishment of the Australian Music Network CoP.

‘Real Time, Real Young, Real Smart. The use of the Internet for real time teaching with 5 to 8 year olds.' - Megan Hastie and Dr. Allan Palmer provide an inspired and refreshing insight into the possibilities for using information and communication technologies (Netmeeting) for individualised direct instruction in real time with young children. They describe highly motivated students, higher levels of cognitive function, enhanced memorisation of new concepts and an increase in attention span.

'Developing the Diploma in Human Resources (HR) Toolbox' - Barry Reeves, Sheevaun Gallacher and Kate Robinson describe the experience of developing an online learning resource, which integrates reusable learning objects with a case study, and piloting of one unit in the Toolbox with enrolled students.

Read Frank Bate's critique of the discussion paper ‘e-Learning: emerging issues and key trends’ by Dr John Eklund, Margaret Kay and Helen M. Lynch, developed to inform the decision making of the Australian Flexible Learning Advisory Group. Frank finds a number of problematic points, particularly the forecasted ‘limited applicability in VET [of the learning object model]’ (Eklund Kay et al.:30). The original paper is provided together with the Frank’s critique. What do you think?

Update on the Applied Research projects funded under the Policy and Research program of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework with Project Manager Kate Fannon.

Follow up the New Practices research projects and hear from:

Tim Hand, Peter Higgs and Sam Meredith about a Rights Enabled Digital Learning Object Exchange

Steve Fisher on an XML tools suite for peer to peer learning environments

Check out the Special Features segment which outlines some highlights of the NET*Working 2003 conference.

View recent activities in Australian States and Territories. Reporters from Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania fill us in.

We hope you enjoy our selection of stories about innovative practice.

2004 Call for Contributions! We have 2 editions planned in 2004 and we are registered with the Department of Education Science and Training (DEST)! If you wish to contribute, view our guidelines and review criteria at http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/knowledgetree/edition04/html/submit.html