APS Learning Quality Framework

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Contents

Purpose of the APS Learning Quality Framework

We are in the middle of a technological revolution that is altering the way we live, work and relate to one another.

Formal learning through workshops and eLearning is no longer enough to provide the level of responsiveness and adaptation needed in the environment of constant change outlined in the APS Workforce Strategy 2025. There is abundant opportunity to learn from our work and others every day, which must be leveraged to drive APS performance. Encouraging a culture of continuous individual and organisational investment in learning, sharing of learning resources, and partnering across the APS will be crucial. Our people will need not only to develop new skills but stay open to new ideas and new ways of working.

Supporting people to learn at the current pace of change experienced across the APS requires us to shift the approach. The Learning Quality Framework and Design Standards will build capability to develop, share and distribute learning experiences for a highly capable and future-ready APS.

7 ways the APS Learning Quality Framework enables future learning

Fuelling a culture of learning Empowering leaders, managers and individuals through developing the mindsets and tools needed to drive workplace learning.
Enhancing user experience and accessibility by design Increasing access to learning content through mobile devices and well-designed learning portals.
Practitioner led learning Experts guiding the learner with professional and applied knowledge and practical tools.
Efficiency and innovation in learning approaches Selecting the most appropriate learning experiences which target and engage users, including strategic and purposeful ways to effect performance impact.
Applying the continuous learning model Learning design activates all elements of the APS continuous learning model to achieve performance support.
Learning in the flow of work Learning increasingly happens in the flow of work by providing content that is accessible at the point of need and motivation

Embed the continuous learning model across the APS

Learning design considers the range of potential learning experiences and methods to meet an identified need for more efficient and effective capability development.

 

The APS Learning and Development Strategy Principles underpin the APS Learning Quality Framework

The APS Continuous Learning Model guides decision-making when using the Learning Quality Framework to determine the most appropriate approach.

The APS Learning and Development Strategy Principles
We take every opportunity to learn from our work and others every day We share responsibility for learning between individuals, managers and leaders
We optimise technology to enable access to high quality learning and support for everyone, anywhere, anytime We create efficiencies by developing common solutions that scale and adapt
Our learning initiatives are inclusive, accessible and focused on user needs We align our learning experiences to organisational strategy and demonstrate its effectiveness and performance impact
The Continuous Learning Model
The APS Continuous Learning Model guides decision-making when using the Learning Quality Framework to determine the most appropriate approach.
An illustration of the Continuous Learning Model. 4 coloured hexagons, purple, pink, orange and green, with the 4 Continuous Learning Model areas written on them. Work, People, Courses, Resources.
APS Learning Quality Framework Standards
An orange square with rounded corners there is a white check mark in the centre with the word purposeful underneath in white
A blue square with rounded corners it features a simply drawn human face in white with long hair and the word user-centric underneath
A purple square with rounded corners featuring an illustration of a cog in white with a series of arrows forming a circle around it. Underneath it says adaptable
A green square with round corners, it has a white speech bubble in the middle with a green exclamation mark in the centre of that. Underneath there is the word Impactful in white.
Purposeful User-centric Adaptable Impactful

Benefits of the Learning Quality Framework to the APS

  • Supporting the development of a high performing, future-ready APS workforce
  • Providing access to high quality and relevant learning opportunities anywhere, anytime
  • Empowering APS managers, leaders and business areas to invest in the development of their people through a range of approaches
  • Guiding investment in and sharing of learning experience in the most effective and efficient way
  • Translating the APS Learning and Development Strategy into practical tools for application

Specifically, the Learning Quality Framework assists by:

Two humans stand facing each other as if in conversation. On the left is a person in a business suit. On the right is a person holding a blue folder in a fuchsia garment
Senior leaders

Ensuring that learning experiences are of high quality, aligned to organisational strategy, and are cultural tools for continuous learning.
A small version of the Australian Government Logo featuring the coat of arms with the words Australian Government directly underneath
Agency business teams Supporting and enabling employees to build technical and specialist skills and knowledge.
An illustration of two people seated at a table while a third stands. They appear to be in a meeting.
Agency L&D teams

Giving practical guidance for identifying, building and distributing learning experiences, both for sophisticated L&D teams, as well those with less resources.
Orange text on a dark background reading APS Professions
APS professions Offering a consistent approach to provision of quality learning experiences across the professions to deepen capability in specific disciplines.
Three logos including one for Australian National University's Crawford School, one for the Australian Human Resources Institute and one for the Australian Computer Society
External partners Understanding the expectations of the APS when partnering to design, develop and deliver learning experiences.
The logo for the Diplomatic Academy it features a geometric round logo on the left side with the words Diplomatic Academy written in grey on the right side
Specialist hubs Increasing the reach of learning experiences designed to develop specialist capabilities.
The logo for the Australian Public Service Academy
APS Academy Supporting the APS to provide stewardship of the quality of learning through a clearly defined and consistent approach to the selection and provision of learning experiences.
An illustration of two people. One is bearded and wearing an orange top. The word Individuals is placed beneath them. The other person has long hair and wears a fuchsia top. They have the word Managers beneath them.
Individuals, teams and managers Ensuring access to consistently high quality, impactful learning, wherever and whenever they need it.

The APS Learning Quality Framework

The APS Learning Quality Framework is a model for assessing, building and distributing learning initiatives. Detail on how learning initiatives are analysed is outlined in the Design Standard Guidelines below.

Design standard
An orange square with rounded corners there is a white check mark in the centre with the word purposeful underneath in white
A blue square with rounded corners it features a simply drawn human face in white with long hair and the word user-centric underneath
A purple square with rounded corners featuring an illustration of a cog in white with a series of arrows forming a circle around it. Underneath it says adaptable
A green square with round corners, it has a white speech bubble in the middle with a green exclamation mark in the centre of that. Underneath there is the word Impactful in white.
The capability need is diagnosed and informs the learning solution Design is inclusive, relevant and supports continuous learning Design can be shared, scaled up and leverages technology to create efficiencies Design incorporates a mix of innovative and engaging learning methods
Actions

The learning design...

- Is driven by business need (for example, responds to business analysis, capability, future growth, organisational priorities)

- Is relevant to the work environment

- Includes an evaluation strategy

The learning design...

- Is inclusive for people with diverse backgrounds, abilities, locations, work contexts, and learning needs

- Is curated, integrated and can reach everyone anywhere, anytime

- Provides for self-determined learning

The learning design....

- Is universal and provides space and time for individual/team/agency contextualisation

- Delivers value with flexibility and efficiency

- Leverages technology to enable access to continuous learning experiences at the point of need

The learning design....

- Is innovative, social and provides for application and continuous reinforcement of learning

- Leverages opportunities for learning in the flow of work

- Engages managers and teams as active contributors to the learning experience

- Optimises the use of resources and people for knowledge sharing
Outcomes

The learning experience...

- Aligns to government and organisational strategy, supports work performance, and the outcomes are measured.

The learning experience...

- Utilises the most relevant, flexible, targeted and accessible learning methods (work, people, courses, resources).

The learning experience...

- Can be shared, repurposed or scaled for greater efficiency in learning investment across the APS.

The learning experience...

- Demonstrates good design in individual, team and business outcomes.

- Fosters a workplace learning culture.

Summary of the design standard guides

An orange square with rounded corners there is a white check mark in the centre with the word purposeful underneath in white
  • The learning need is informed by the organisational strategy
  • The learning need is informed by data
  • The learning need is defined
  • The purpose of the learning is clearly stated
  • There is a plan to measure effectiveness or impact or both.
Purposeful
A blue square with rounded corners it features a simply drawn human face in white with long hair and the word user-centric underneath
  • The type of learning experience is integrated and relevant to the work of the organisation
  • The learning experience is available at the point of motivation or need or both
  • The learning experience is inclusive by design (equitable across the diversity of individuals and their needs – ability, literacy, location, role, language, background)
  • Supports self-determined and continuous learning.
User-centric
A purple square with rounded corners featuring an illustration of a cog in white with a series of arrows forming a circle around it. Underneath it says adaptable
  • Harnesses existing learning experiences
  • The learning experience is scalable and sharable wherever possible
  • Investment is commensurate with the outcome required and maintenance of the learning experience
  • Employs technology appropriate for achieving the learning outcome.
Adaptable
A green square with round corners, it has a white speech bubble in the middle with a green exclamation mark in the centre of that. Underneath there is the word Impactful in white.

Impactful
  • Learning design leverages opportunities for learning in the flow of work
  • Encourages learning with and through people
  • Engages teams, managers, and leaders in the learning experience
  • The learning experience is innovative and captivating to all users
  • The learning experience enables reflection and application
  • Learning effectiveness is measured
  • Learning impact is measured.

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