VET IT

Virtual Work Placement

VET IT Students Dive into the Future of Learning at Virtual Work Placement Week! Over 500 VET IT students from across NSW recently completed an inspiring week-long Virtual Work Placement, hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and featuring support from industry leaders like CommBank, IBM, and Accenture. A special shout-out and thank you also goes to Compact for generously supporting the students and providing a valuable physical space for collaboration during the week! The program, which ran from October 27–31, saw students participate in interactive seminars, workshops, and mentorship sessions focused on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI).The core challenge for the week was a compelling group project: "How can AI be implemented to provide personalised learning paths for students while ensuring teacher oversight and human connection?" Student Innovation in AI for Education The groups tackled this challenge with enthusiasm, exploring ideas like:

• AI/LLM Integrated Learning Trackers: Systems to provide actionable feedback to teachers for implementation.

• Setting Realistic Goals: Using AI to define achievable learning milestones for students.

• The Digital Diary Concept: Students documenting their coaching sessions, including time spent, success, and struggles. This data would feed an AI-integrated database to create a personalised learning path and suggested steps for the teacher.

Tech in Action To build their concepts, the students engaged with cutting-edge AWS technologies, including:

• AI System: Amazon Bedrock

• Database: Amazon Aurora

• User Interface: AWS Management Console and a hands-on workshop with AWS PartyRock

This initiative is helping inspire the next generation of tech innovators and address the projected shortfall of digital workers in Australia.

Garry Steman | Technological & Applied Studies/Vocational Education & Training