Xtreme Design

Two teaching centres – Two campuses – One course

Two teaching centres serving different industries and with different client groups

Automotive Transport and Engineering is based at Elgar Campus and delivers trades skills in vehicle servicing, welding, fitting and turning, warehousing, transport and industrial rigging.

Media Design and Arts is based at Whitehorse Campus and delivers industry-focused vocational training in graphic arts, design, multimedia, interior design and decoration, fashion, furniture design, ceramics and visual arts.

Two campuses with diverse student populations and very different campus cultures

Elgar Campus focuses on industrial training from cookery to cabinet making, hairdressing to brick laying. Many of the students are apprentices gaining skills for their current or future careers.

Whitehorse Campus houses training in the cultural industries including music and multimedia, fashion and dance and has a very different student population and campus culture.

One course with students studying design, automotive and engineering skills

Students gained knowledge of engineering skills, welding, technical drawing, CAD and automotive servicing in the Centre for Automotive Transport and Engineering; the Centre for Media, Design and Arts delivered the teamwork and communication skills, design processes, freehand drawing, and digital illustration.

The result was ‘xtreme design’ a collaboration of two teaching centres and a group of students that experienced a broad range of skills, work environments and cultures.

The innovation

This concept challenged the Institute’s structures, cultures and staff.

The staff from the two teaching centres came together, learned each other’s operations and took a giant step away from their comfort zone.

This collaboration was the basis for the success of the ‘xtreme design’.

One course – One project – One car

No traditional classes, and no teachers making the decisions.

Every activity centred on one project — the restoration of a 1971 Holden Premier for use in the Variety Club Bash.

Every learning activity and assessment task was part of the restoration project.

The students made all the decisions. The teaching staff took on the role of mentors and facilitators. Students worked in teams to design the paintwork and rebuild the car to set specifications, building their skills and knowledge in the various disciplines along the way.

The students took ownership of their own learning. They learned more than the in-demand trade and design skills that were the meat of this course; they developed a strong understanding of workplace values such as teamwork and communications. As a result, their career opportunities have widened.

The innovation

Traditionally, courses comprise a number of subjects, running concurrently with periodic assessment along the way. Not with this course. This time we had to programme the project and not a series of classes. At the outset there was a focus on the design portions rather than the practical aspects of the work. As the project progressed, with the design work done, more emphasis was placed on the workshop activities, mirroring the rhythms of any restoration project.

A framework was put in place with critical timelines for the project and students were formed into teams. From then on, the students made all the decisions and teachers assisted their implementation. Each learning activity steered the project through the planned framework based on the students’ decisions.

More courses – More students – More cars

A business model as old as business itself:

• Start with the fundamentals
• Add value with design and customise for purpose
• Start over with benefits in pocket

The next group to take on the project create the vehicle interiors, designing and customising for safety, practicality and comfort.

The completed car will be sold for use in the Variety Club Bash. Being seen in the Bash, the car will generate sponsorship and other income for the charitable purposes of the Variety Club of Victoria.

Review of the course structure and delivery by both staff and students forms part of a continuous improvement process. The xtreme design is now a dual-qualification, with Certificate II in Automotive Vehicle Servicing.

‘xtreme design’ is proving to be incredibly popular — from 10 students in the pilot, to more than 40 in 2006.

The innovation

The sale of the car will finance the purchase of another vehicle for use in future courses, which will also be sold allowing the cycle to continue. The sale price is expected to be around $10,000.

The dual-qualification in automotive vehicle servicing allows students to commence an automotive apprenticeship with a 1-year time reduction and year-2 salary.

Innovative training. Financially sustainable. Charitable ends.