Background

The University of Canberra, a leading educational institution in Australia, was selected to lead a national initiative to increase disability awareness in schools. Partnering with education agencies across the country, the university sought to deliver comprehensive training to school staff on their legal responsibilities under the Disability Standards for Education and the Disability Discrimination Act.

Challenges

The University of Canberra faced several key challenges in delivering this program:

• Reaching a potential learner base of 300,000 educators across both rural and urban areas of Australia.
• Offering training that could be accessed via low-bandwidth internet connections, ensuring that educators in remote areas could participate.
• Providing a customizable platform for each of the ten participating education agencies, allowing them to deliver content in their own branded environment.
• Meeting diverse reporting and accountability requirements, allowing each agency to generate customized reports on user engagement and progress.

Solution

Edvanta implemented the Totara Learn platform as the backbone of this e-learning program, offering a flexible and scalable solution. Key features included:

• Cloud-Based Hosting: Totara Learn provided a centralized platform with customizable branding for each education agency, ensuring consistency while allowing for unique organizational needs.
• Customizable Course Offerings: Each agency could select and configure the courses they offered, adjusting their landing pages, advice, and content based on their specific requirements.
• Comprehensive Reporting Tools: The platform allowed each agency to track learner engagement, generate detailed reports, and monitor progress to ensure accountability and compliance.
• Accessibility for All Learners: The platform’s design ensured that even users with limited internet bandwidth could access the learning content, maximizing the program's reach across rural and urban regions.
• Responsive Feedback Mechanism: The University of Canberra used the platform’s reporting features to monitor user feedback and continuously improve the training experience.

Results

The e-learning program delivered significant and measurable results:

• 140,000 Registered Learners: The platform enrolled over 140,000 educators, significantly surpassing initial expectations.
• 95% Understanding of Content: Analysis of user data revealed that participants achieved a 95% comprehension rate of the material covered, with the biggest gains seen among those with little prior experience in supporting students with disabilities.
• Improved Attitudes: Learners who completed the training demonstrated a positive shift in attitudes towards making adjustments for students with disabilities.
• Impactful Conversations: The program fostered better-informed discussions between educators, administrators, students, and parents, leading to more inclusive school environments across Australia.
• Scalable and Cost-Effective: By utilizing e-learning, the University of Canberra was able to provide training at scale, reducing the costs associated with traditional face-to-face sessions.

Conclusion

The University of Canberra’s disability awareness training, powered by Totara Learn, provided a scalable, cost-effective solution for educating school staff across Australia. The program not only achieved widespread engagement but also drove meaningful improvements in the way educators understand and support students with disabilities. With over 140,000 learners engaged and a 95% content comprehension rate, the project exemplifies the power of e-learning in promoting inclusive education.