PebblePad’s Carole Hunter and Robert Vick reveal how this year’s conference speakers unpacked key Work Integrated Learning themes about preparing students for career success in a world of AI.
Earlier this month, PebblePad was proud to sponsor the conference of the Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN), the association for Australian professionals involved in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and collaborative education.
The conference brought together key stakeholders who work side by side to support student centred learning through high quality WIL experiences. As ACEN President Michael O’Connor noted, the 369 delegates not only represented educators from 39 Australian universities and seven international universities, but also their partners from industry, community and government sectors.
Defining skills
In the conference’s keynote, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, Jason Lodge, began by reminding us of a quote from the New York Times opinion columnist David Brooks: “In the age of AI, major in being human.” Lodge argued that learning to be both adaptive and abductive were clear priorities for today’s students.
He highlighted that evaluation and judgement were critical skills alongside creativity, critical thinking, conflict resolution and compassion. As educators, Lodge also encouraged us to listen to the words of UNSW Professor Cath Ellis and, “stop looking for evidence of cheating with AI and start looking for evidence of learning.”
Preparing students
Throughout the rest of the conference, there were incredible presentations from across the WIL community, demonstrating a range of approaches to prepare students for career success using both small and large scale initiatives – placement preparation; simulation labs; multidisciplinary projects; both student- and institution-initiated placements and internships; and industry projects and career/employability skills workshops.
Importantly, such presentations underlined again how there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ for using WIL to deliver employability skills for students. It was also affirming to know PebblePad is partnering with institutions that are using our eportfolio platform to support and add value to student centred learning within all of these contexts.
Developing narratives
Other conference themes included the need to help students start thinking about their professional narratives much earlier in their learning journey. Particularly important was creating more visibility and transparency over the placement experience, as well as using scaffolded learning and data to support the development of quality mentor-mentee relationships and ensuring more consistency across placement experiences.
One presentation that particularly resonated was by Siobhan Ryan, the speaker at the ‘Facilitate a Student Existential Crisis with WIL’ session. She focused on the need to help students during the learning journey to develop backup plans that help guide them through the successes, failures and realities of day-to-day work.
Bringing us together
How we can work together as a community to advance practice is always a key topic at these events, this time illustrated by Leoni Russell from the Executive team sharing results from ACEN’s research into institutional WIL Communities of Practice (CoPs). The focus on how we, as a broader community, can ensure CoPs move from being projects driven only by passion to those that are recognised, supported and accountable for improvements in practice was appreciated by all.
Of course, conferences aren’t just about what you see on stage. Just as invigorating were the many great conversations we were fortunate enough to have with both existing customers and those new to us. The passion was real, and the diverse ways in which the community is tackling challenges in the WIL space and helping their students navigate the transition into new professional roles was nothing short of inspirational.
Supporting journeys
Finally, this inclusive and community-focused approach to learning is why PebblePad wanted to sponsored ACEN 2024 in the first place. We understand how challenging it is to nurture and manage placements and internships that support strong connections between students, educators and practitioners in a transparent, timely and seamless way.
To address these complex issues, learning technologies such as highly customisable and adaptable platforms designed specifically for student centred learning are required to meet the multi-faceted needs of so many different disciplines, contexts and learning goals at scale. It’s here that PebblePad can become your technological partner, helping you meet and address your unique WIL needs now and in the future.
• Thanks to the Executive team for a fantastic community event and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.
