http://fortresslearning.com.au Welcome to Fortress Learning Sat, 19 May 2012 08:33:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=248 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/john-burkhardt/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/john-burkhardt/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 04:18:37 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4353 Read More.. ]]>
Name: John Burkhardt Occupation: Business Development Coach Location: Sunshine Coast, Qld Family: Married with 5 children and neurotic dog Interests/ Hobbies Dancesport, Learning, supporting Ministry Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? To learn the training and assessment principles. The TAE qualification continued to appear in most of the roles I am assisting with or contracting to. Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? I researched my options online and was after an e-based solution which was cost effective. Fortress Learning fitted my criteria. How long did it take you to do it? Well, I started and then stopped as I was coaching a business fulltime and then came back to it months later. I then did the majority of the content within a few weeks. Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? I had some RPL components signed off and picked up the rest of it through the exercises. This suited my position and experience. How painful was the RPL process? No Pain. I was fortunate to have kept the resources required and had some great Trainers who had seen me deliver sessions etc. What worked for you? The online delivery in bite size chunks worked well. The use of the text, videos and examples was useful in clarifying the content and what was expected. What didn’t work for you? Me taking my sweet time! What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? Set a regular time to do the course each week. Make sure it is uninterrupted time of about 2-3 hours and it will get done quickly and at a suitable pace.
Make sure you follow the system and don’t jump ahead. Is there anything else you’d like to include? Thank you to Bryan, Cecilia and all the team for their support and constant regular feedback. DATE: 03 May 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/john-burkhardt/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/alyson-pyrah/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/alyson-pyrah/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 04:07:30 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4350 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Alyson Pyrah Occupation: Distance Education Lecturer – Advanced Diploma in Nutritional Medicine and Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Location: Sydney Family: Partner Interests/ Hobbies Gym, walking, swimming, kayaking, cycling, hiking, travelling, culture, reading, researching Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? To move into teaching and educating others in an area I am so passionate about – health & wellness Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? It was recommended by my colleagues How long did it take you to do it? 6 weeks Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? A combination of RPL and completing the assessment tasks requested on my PLP How painful was the RPL process? The RPL process was very easy to understand and complete What worked for you? I enjoyed the short answer questions as they were very clear and a good way of learning the material to achieve the learning outcomes What didn’t work for you? Understanding the standard of work the was required and the length at which a question was to be answered, however once you have completed your first assessment and received feedback it really helps to see where you need to improve and where you did well
I had a few technical issues with accessing the assessment examples however the team at Fortress were quick to respond and rectify the problem in order for me to continue my studies What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? Complete the PLP survey, plan your study time available each week and stick to it. Try not to set a number of questions in the short answer questions you would like to complete per study period but rather an amount of time you have to study that day/evening otherwise you may set yourself up to fail and this is not effective or very motivational in your plea to success Is there anything else you’d like to include? I would like to say how ironic I found it getting a job as a distance education lecturer and concurrently undertaking a course via distance/online. I can tell you that it is not an easy task trying to juggle life, work and study however the team at Fortress have made it a pleasant experience and I would like to thank them for all their ongoing help and support during my course, especially Bryan and Cecilia, you were extremely efficient and replied to all my queries very quickly which made a great deal of difference to my learning experience DATE: 11 May 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/alyson-pyrah/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/mukesh-kishnani/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/mukesh-kishnani/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 03:29:10 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4334 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Mukesh Kishnani Occupation: Owner & Director of management consulting and auditing company. Location: Sydney, NSW Family: Wife & two beautiful daughters Interests/ Hobbies Cricket, travel, exploring new ventures and places, cooking, gardening & brics & bracs…. Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? TAE need was accidental for me as one of my clients highlighted that I have a great potential for training although I have delivered some training in the past. This client offered me the opportunity to deliver training for them provided I complete my Cert IV in TAE. That’s when my TAE journey started.
. Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? The client I mentioned above had a Fortress Learning flyer on his desk and I grabbed this flyer as a starting point. I compared other RTOs but somehow when I first spoke to Fortress Learning, I felt much more confident and comfortable with them. The staff was very courteous and helpful. How long did it take you to do it? Although I enrolled myself in April 2011 and completed the course in April 2012, in terms of actual time it took me about 4 weeks to complete the study & assignments. Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? I had few assignments that were recognised as RPL based on my past training delivery. Thanks to Bryan for helping me recognise this.
. How painful was the RPL process? RPL process was very easy with Bryan being so helpful.
. What worked for you? I enjoyed every bit of this course, the wiki structure, co-operation from Fortress Learning staff, the assignments and the whole experience of on-line learning. What didn’t work for you? When I enrolled for the course, I also purchased the electronic pdf course material & learning plan which I realised was waste of money and effort (cost of course material does not provide much value). I thought based on the initial survey, I’ll get the personalised learning plan suited to my profile, however what I got was an empty template of the plan. I found wiki more user friendly as compared to the pdf course material. What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? The course has been well structured with the use of technology.
. Is there anything else you’d like to include? Keep up the excellent work Bryan and team at Fortress Learning. DATE: 27 April 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/mukesh-kishnani/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/alex-little/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/alex-little/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 03:23:16 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4330 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Alex Little Occupation: Senior Clinical Social Worker and Part-time TAFE teacher. B.Arts, BSW(Hons). Location: Sydney, NSW Family: Husband and 2 children Interests/ Hobbies Reading, writing, piano, gardening, keeping fit and spending time with my family. Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? I was interested in moving from my role as a Senior Social Worker in Health, to a Part-time Teaching position in Community Services at TAFE. Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? I needed the flexibility of studying online and it was recommended to me as an affordable option.. How long did it take you to do it? I finished the course 12 months after enrolling, but probably spent 6 months focusing on it due to family/life circumstances Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? A combination. I submitted all of the Short Answer Questions, and then managed to obtain RPL for the remainder of the course. How painful was the RPL process? Not painful at all. What worked for you? I am a working mother of two young children so finding time to study proved to be difficult. I managed to study by grabbing time either late at night or on weekends, which worked perfectly for me. What didn’t work for you? Looking at the mound of assignments on my Dashboard and feeling a little overwhelmed! Once I’d broken these down into achievable sections within the task, I was able to feel as though I was making progress. What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? I would advise spending the time on obtaining RPL – it’s definitely worthwhile gaining credit for any relevant skills or past experience. And if life gets in the way to just keep persevering. Is there anything else you’d like to include? Bryan and his staff at Fortress Learning were amazing – they were attentive and available whenever approached, responsive to any requests, and focused on individual learning. The marked assignments were returned so swiftly that for me it was an incentive to get moving on the next one! I would highly recommend this course to anyone considering it. DATE: 27th April 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/alex-little/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/bernie-crowe/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/bernie-crowe/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 03:17:23 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4326 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Bernie Crowe Occupation: Learning Consultant and Business owner Location: Melbourne Family: Married with one child Interests/ Hobbies Walking the dog, TV soaps(the good ones) and spending time with family and friends Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? Update qualification to match current work Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? Had the most efficient and were interested in helping with RPL. How long did it take you to do it? 4 months as I kept putting off doing it! It actually only took a couple of days to sort when I started Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? RPL How painful was the RPL process? not at all What worked for you? I could do it when I was ready and its was easy to follow as instructions were clear to follow What didn’t work for you? nothing What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? Perfect for an RPL process Is there anything else you’d like to include? Thankyou DATE:30/4/2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/bernie-crowe/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/tessa-marshall/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/tessa-marshall/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 03:08:07 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4323
Name: Tessa Marshall Occupation: Coach and Trainer Location: Sydney Family: *** Interests/ Hobbies *** Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? to meet client requirements Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? online and inexpensive. How long did it take you to do it? one year Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? Full course How painful was the RPL process? *** What worked for you? The online format and freedom to fit it around my schedule What didn’t work for you? the repetitiveness What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? Ensure you are self-driven and roster in time to do a portion every week Is there anything else you’d like to include? Very satisfied with the process DATE:28/4/2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/05/tessa-marshall/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/marisa-gallo/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/marisa-gallo/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:58:10 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4302 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Marisa Gallo Occupation: TAFE Teacher Location: Blacktown College NSW Family: Married, two girls Interests/ Hobbies Snow skiing, travelling, handcrafts, walking long distances (Camino, Spain) Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? to maintain my professional currency Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? Was recommended by a friend How long did it take you to do it? A few hours to gather evidence of my professional competency Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? RPL How painful was the RPL process? Painless, this was because I had completed my TAA in the last two years and I use what I learned on a daily basis What worked for you? The simple step-by-step instructions and checklist. What didn’t work for you? Nothing, an ideal process for professionals working in the field What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? Do it! Is there anything else you’d like to include? Thank you for processing my application in such a speedy manner DATE: 23 April 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/marisa-gallo/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/sharon-hislop/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/sharon-hislop/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:51:06 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4298 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Sharon Hislop Occupation: Teacher Consultant Location: Sydney Family: Married, 3 children Interests/ Hobbies Architecture, History, Travel Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? A requirement of my workplace Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? I had heard good reports about the RPL process available How long did it take you to do it? About two weeks Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? RPL How painful was the RPL process? Not painful at all. The evidence was not hard to gather. Waiting for documentation from third parties was the longest part of the process. What worked for you? Having a clear, doable process available. What didn’t work for you? Everything was fine. What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? I’ve already recommended this pathway to colleagues in a similar situation to myself. Is there anything else you’d like to include? Fortress Learning provided a clear, succinct process with a minimum of fuss. DATE: 23 April 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/sharon-hislop/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/nora-colazzo/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/nora-colazzo/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:32:26 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4288 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Nora Colazzo Occupation: Trainer and eLearning Mentor Location: South Western Institute of TAFE Family: Married, mum of 2 kids Interests/ Hobbies Design software, computers and all matters eLearning. I have a passion for teaching others. With my free time, I love to bake amazing and fun cakes and love sport. Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? It was a requirement of my employment with TAFE Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? The price was right and it rated higher than other learning institutions in my view. How long did it take you to do it? 3 months but only because I was really busy. It should have taken 1 day to do it really. Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? I only did the RPL How painful was the RPL process? Whilst I appreciate the necessity for it, the third party reports are time consuming and the it was a pain in the neck to find a JP that would verify my signature for the declaration. Well worth it thought! What worked for you? The clear and efficient information that was handed to me by Fortress. The team is so approachable and very professional. I got a really good feeling with them. Loved the internet site. What didn’t work for you? Nothing comes to mind. It was all positive. What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? Make a plan, don’t procrastinate and stick to it. Is there anything else you’d like to include? Would love to have the Diploma option for study. Perhaps in the future. I highly recommend studying with Fortress. My husband is new to the Cert IV and has enrolled in this training too. DATE: Friday, 20 April 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/nora-colazzo/feed/ 0 http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/susan-nemeth/ http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/susan-nemeth/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:13:38 +0000 Eunice M. http://fortresslearning.com.au/?p=4284 Read More.. ]]>
Name: Sue N Occupation: Part time teacher Location: SWSI TAFE NSW Family: One gorgeous adult child Interests/ Hobbies Gardening, reading, relaxing Why did you want to do the TAA/TAE Cert IV? Needed to remain current – a part of job requirement to stay employed. Why did you choose to do the TAE with Fortress Learning? Affordability – cheaper than that being offered in NSW.
Word of mouth – recommended by a colleague as being attentive, professional, courteous and efficient. Her exact words, “they bent over backwards to help me”. What better recommendation! How long did it take you to do it? Just under a week – have been teaching for ten years. Did you do the full course, RPL, or a combination? RPL How painful was the RPL process? Not at all! What worked for you? The supportive staff and in particular Bryan West – fantastic service. What didn’t work for you? N/A What advice would you give to others considering studying this course in this way? Just do it! Is there anything else you’d like to include? This process was very painless with the support of Bryan West. He was attentive, courteous, professional, efficient and most of all, very approachable and a focused listener. Brilliant service! What an extraordinary, accommodating person. DATE: Friday, 20 April 2012 ]]> http://fortresslearning.com.au/2012/04/susan-nemeth/feed/ 0