Tom Worthington's Profile

Summary

Experience

• Educational Technology Consultant

  Tomw Communicaitons Pty Ltd

  January 2017 – Present (1 month)Canberra

  Independent educational technology consultant, advising on e-learning and blended learning for university and vocational education. Tom specializes in the effective use of learning management and e-portfolio systems, for work integrated learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, group work and peer assessment.

• 

  Tutor for ANU TechLauncher Program

  Australian National University

  August 2016 – Present (5 months)Canberra, Australia
  Tutor three software engineering teams in project management for the ANU TechLauncher Program.

• 

  ACS e-Learning Special Interest Group Convenor

  Australian Computer Society

  July 2014 – Present (2 years 6 months)Canberra, Australia
  Run discussion of on-line learning issues in Canberra.

• Researcher

  ANU Energy Change Institute

  October 2012 – Present (4 years 3 months)
  IT products and services represent one of the fastest areas of energy demand and greenhouse gas emission growth, of any sector, nationally and internationally. Research and courses are conducted in ICT and Sustainability which focus on energy efficiency. Work in this area shows how, through energy efficiency, energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions can be significantly reduced over time.

• Researcher

  ANU Climate Change Institute

  January 2012 – Present (5 years)Canberra, Australia
  Work on the human dimensions of climate change, mitigation through reduction in energy use with ICT. Teach ICT Sustainability to postgraduate students of the Australian National University, around the world, via e-learning.

• Member of the International Review Board

  International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association

  January 2012 – Present (5 years)
  Member of the Member of the International Review Board for publications of the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association.

• 

  Member

  Sahana Software Foundation

  2010 – Present (6 years)
  Initial member of the Sahana Software Foundation, 10 February 2010. Previously provided advice on user interface design for \disaster management systems.

• 

  Adjunct Senior Lecturer

  Australian National University

  July 2008 – Present (8 years 6 months)
  Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology teaching the design of web sites and use of e-commerce systems.

• On Line Opinion's Editorial Advisory Board

  The National Forum

  2002 – Present (14 years)

• Director

  TomW Communications Pty Ltd

  June 1999 – Present (17 years 7 months)

• 

  Tutor in New Technology Alignment

  Australian Computer Society

  November 2014 – November 2015 (1 year 1 month)Canberra, Australia
  Tutor the Australian Computer Society's on-line distance course in New Technology Alignment (NTA), from the ACS Virtual College. Also offered through Open Universities Australia (OUA).

• 

  Online Tutor

  Australian Computer Society

  March 2014 – November 2015 (1 year 9 months)Canberra, Australia
  Tutor the Australian Computer Society's on-line distance course in "Business Analysis" (BUAN).

• Working Group Member

  Open Knowledge Foundation Australian Chapter

  September 2012 – November 2014 (2 years 3 months)
  The goal of OKFN Au is to provide an upside down umbrella mechanism to support, promote and bring together the diverse communities interested in open data and open knowledge from around Australia, but it is in early stages and is a bit of an experiment. As such, our initial working group is a large but loosely knit band of travellers interested in different aspects of open knowledge and representing a number of different communities and interests.

• Mentor

  Innovation ACT

  September 2013 – November 2013 (3 months)Canberra, Australia
  Mentored a team of Australian National University students competing in the Innovation ACT competition. One team member was named "Entrepreneur of the Year".

• Member of the SPEF-R Redevelopment Steering Committee

  University of Queensland

  October 2012 – September 2013 (1 year)
  As a member of the Student Practice Evaluation Form – Revised Edition (SPEF-R) On-line Redevelopment Steering Committee, I provided advice on conversion of the system from paper to web based format. The SPEF-R is used to evaluate students on occupational therapy professional practice placements in hospitals. The new web based version needed to be usable on the mobile devices doctors use.

• 

  Member of the ACS Cyber Task Force

  Australian Computer Society

  September 2011 – February 2012 (6 months)
  The ACS Cyber Task Force, in association with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), is consulting the ICT industry on minimizing cyber risks for a government white paper to be issued in early 2012.

• 

  Member of the Telecommunications Board

  Australian Computer Society

  October 2006 – February 2012 (5 years 5 months)
  Board member and past director. See board for details: https://www.acs.org.au/tb/

• 

  Visiting Scientist

  CSIRO

  September 2009 – September 2011 (2 years 1 month)
  Visiting Scientist, Mining Robotics ICT, at the CSIRO ICT Centre in Canberra, working with CSIRO staff and facilities on ICT research projects.

• Project Managment Committee Member

  Sahana Disaster Management System

  2005 – February 2011 (6 years)

• 

  Member

  Engineers Without Borders Australia

  February 2008 – June 2010 (2 years 5 months)
  Joined recently. Hope to be involved in computer related projects.

• Council Member

  Standards Australia

  1997 – 2010 (13 years)
  Representing the Australian Computer Society.

• 

  Chair of the Scholarly Publishing Committee

  Australian Computer Society

  2005 – 2009 (4 years)

• 

  Director of the Professional Development Board

  Australian Computer Society

  2006 – December 2008 (2 years)
  Oversee postgraduate education for IT professionals using short courses and online systems.

• 

  Visiting Fellow

  The Australian National University

  1999 – 2007 (8 years)
  Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology teaching the design of web sites and use of e-commerce systems.

• Member of the Defence Common Operating Environment Project Team

  Department of Defence

  June 1999 – July 1999 (2 months)
  Senior Information Technology Officer, Grade B, Communications, Information Policy and Plans Branch, Department of Defence: Advise on Internet technologies and products for the Defence Common Operating Environment. Prepare policy on Internet, intranet and web use.

• Director Technical Issues, Defence IS Y2K Project Office

  department of defecne

  December 1998 – June 1999 (7 months)
  Senior Information Technology Officer, Grade B, Member of the Defence Information Systems Year 2000 Project Management Office, Department of Defence: Assist with planning of re-mediation of Defence Information Systems for the Year 2000 Problem.

• Special Adviser, Defence Internet/Intranet Policy

  Department of Defence

  July 1997 – December 1998 (1 year 6 months)
  ("Manager Defence Internet/Intranet Policy" until 5 January 1998)
  (Senior Information Technology Officer, Grade B). Information Policy and Plans Branch, Department of Defence: Prepare policy on Internet and intranet use. Co-ordinate Defence input to interdepartmental Internet implementation. Manage the Corporate Information Program Home Page.

• Manager Defence Information Management Architecture

  Department of Defence

  December 1996 – June 1997 (7 months)
  (Senior Information Technology Officer, Grade B). Information Management Branch, Department of Defence: Prepare the Defence Business Model and Information Systems Architecture, in consultation with defence and other agency staff.

• 

  President

  Australian Computer Society

  1996 – 1997 (1 year)

• Defence Web Master & Senior Policy Adviser, Information Management Strategic Plans

  Department of Defence

  October 1994 – December 1996 (2 years 3 months)
  (Senior Information Technology Officer, Grade B). Information Management and Communications Engineering Branch, Department of Defence: Prepare the Defence Information Management Strategic Plan. Prepare Defence policy on Internet information services. Co-ordinate Defence input to interdepartmental Internet implementation. From March 1995: manage the Defence Home Page and Minister for Defence Home Page as Defence Web Master (until May 1997).

• Senior Policy Adviser - Data Administration Standards

  Headquarters Australian Defence Force (HQADF)

  September 1990 – October 1994 (4 years 2 months)
  (Senior Information Technology Officer, Grade B). Corporate Management Branch: Provide technical leadership to develop data administration policies for the Defence Department. Represent Defence at the Information Exchange Steering Committees on Open Systems and Industry Development.

• Administrative Services Officer, Class 8

  Headquarters Australian Defence Force (HQADF)

  February 1990 – September 1990 (8 months)
  On secondment to provide advice and assistance on IT policy for Defence. Provided advice on restructuring the Defence Manpower Support Redevelopment Project and incorporation of Unix into the Defence computing environment.

• Information Systems Administrator

  Commonwealth Ombudsman

  September 1986 – February 1990 (3 years 6 months)
  Administrative Services Officer, Class 8: Responsible for all ADP activities of the office using contracted programming and facilities support staff. Implemented office automation for tracking complaints and word processing on national Convergent Technologies multi-processor network. Preparation of strategic plan and budget.

• Computer Systems Officer Grade 3

  Commonwealth Schools Commission

  May 1986 – September 1986 (5 months)
  Commonwealth Schools Commission: Supervise five staff for analysis, design, programming, testing and maintenance of computer and manual systems for the Department's administrative and statistical activities. Maintenance and extension of the Non Government Schools Database (with computer centre DBA personnel) to enable payments to schools of $1,500M annually. Programming in SAS (Statistical Analysis System) and NATURAL (database interrogation language) on an IBM compatible main frame. Planning, programming and installation of WANG PCs, minicomputer and word processors.

Volunteer Experience & Causes

• 

  ACS e-Learning Special Interest Group Convenor

  Australian Computer Society

  July 2014Education
  Run discussion of on-line learning issues in Canberra. See: http://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/search/label/ACS%20e-Learning%20Special%20Interest%20Group

• 

  Member

  Sahana Software Foundation

  February 2010Disaster and Humanitarian Relief
  Foundation member of the Sahana Software Foundation, 10 February 2010. Sahana is a free open source software developed in response to the December 2004 Tsunami. I provided advice on user interface design for disaster management system: http://www.tomw.net.au/2005/wd/sahana.html

• On Line Opinion's Editorial Advisory Board The National Forum

  National Forum

  March 2002Civil Rights and Social Action
  Editorial Advisory Board: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/display.asp?page=eab

• Working Group Member

  Open Knowledge Foundation Australian Chapter

  September 2012 – November 2014 (2 years 3 months)Civil Rights and Social Action
  The goal of OKFN Au is to provide an upside down umbrella mechanism to support, promote and bring together the diverse communities interested in open data and open knowledge from around Australia, but it is in early stages and is a bit of an experiment. As such, our initial working group is a large but loosely knit band of travelers interested in different aspects of open knowledge and representing a number of different communities and interests. http://au.okfn.org/

• Mentor

  Innovation ACT

  September 2013 – November 2013 (3 months)Economic Empowerment
  Mentored a team of Australian National University students competing in the Innovation ACT competition. One team member was named "Entrepreneur of the Year". http://www.innovationact.org/

• Mentor

  Innovation ACT

  2015Education
  Mentored award winning "Team 101 Tutotra" in the Innovation ACT competition: "Our value proposition is reducing learning and language barriers for international students." http://www.innovationact.org/team/?id=101

• Program Committee Member

  International Conference on Computer Science & Education

  October 2015Science and Technology
  The 11th International Conference on Computer Science & Education will be held August 23-25, 2016, in Nagoya University, Japan. http://ieee-iccse.org/

• Mentor

  Innovation ACT

  September 2016Economic Empowerment
  Mentor for the Plexus team in the Innovation ACT competition: "... our online platform connecting students and alumni based on their work profile, their language preference and their field of study ... " http://www.innovationact.org/teams/plexus/

Certifications

• Certified Professional

  Australian Computer Society

• 

  Certificate IV in Training and Assesment (TAE40110), Vocational Education

  Canberra Institute of Technology

  August 2013 – Present

• 

  Graduate Certificate in Higher Education

  Australian National University

  July 2013 – Present

Courses

• Canberra Institute of Technology

  • Plan, Organize and Facilitate Learning in the Workplace (TAEDEL402A)
  • Make Presentation (BSBCMM401A)
  • Assess Competence (TAEASS402B)
  • Provide Work Skills Instruction (TAEDEL301A)
  • Plan Assessment Activities and Processes (TAEASS401B)
  • Plan Organize and Deliver Group-Based Learning (TAEDEL401A)
  • Design Develop Learning Programs (TAEDES401A)
  • Use Training Packages and Accredited Courses to Meet Current Needs (TAEDES402A)

• The Australian National University

  • Assessment, Evaluation & Learning (USQ) (EDU5713)
  • Online Pedagogy in Practice (USQ) (EDU8114)
  • Research Supervision (EDUC8004)
  • Enhancing Your Academic Practice (EDUC8001)

• Athabasca University

  • Introduction to Distance Education (MDDE 601)
  • Research Methods in Distance Education (MDDE 602)
  • Foundations of Instructional Design (MDDE 603)
  • Instructional Design in Distance Education (MDDE 604)
  • Planning & Management in Distance Education (MDDE 605)
  • Openness in Education (MDDE 622)
  • Introduction to Mobile Learning (MDDE 623)
  • International Issues in in Open and Distance Learning (MDDE 614)
  • Program Evaluation in DE (MDDE 617)
  • E-Portfolio (MDDE 694)
  • Survey of Current Ed Tech Apps (MDDE 610)

• KILN Incubator

  • Customer Validation
  • Business Model Generation
  • Product Development Workshop

Projects

• Workshop on the Use of Technology for Museums of the Pacific Islands Region

  July 2005 – July 2005
  I ran a workshop on the use of technology for museums of the Pacific islands region in Apia, Samoa in 2005. The emphasis of the workshop was on the skills needed for construction of a web site for each museum. However, broader use of the Internet was discussed, particularly the use of web search engines as a research tool and the effective use of e-mail for collaboration between museum staff.

  Team members:

  • Tom Worthington,
  • Professor Amareswar Galla

• Information Technology Enterprise in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia

  2000 – 2000
  This project aimed to attract call/contact centres, and other small to medium size IT enterprises to the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

  Team members:

  • Tom Worthington,
  • Mark Pitts-Hill

• Expert Witness Statement on the Accessibility of the Sydney Olympic Web Site

  August 2000 – August 2000
  Report on the accessibility of the Sydney Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (SOCOG) Website for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

  Team members:

  • Tom Worthington,
  • Simon Moran

• Macromedia Accessibility Solutions for Australia

  Starting February 2002
  Australian accessibility information for the Macromedia Accessibility Resource Center for use by web developers.

  Team members:

  • Tom Worthington

• Randon Hacks of Kindness

  Starting June 2014
  Judge for the Sydney RHoK 2013 and 2014 competition.

  Team members:

  • Tom Worthington

Publications

• ICT Sustainability: Assessment and Strategies for a Low Carbon Future

  Tomw Communications Pty, Limited

  2011
  ICT Sustainability is about how to assess, and reduce, the carbon footprint and materials used with computers and telecommunications. These are the notes for an award winning course on strategies for reducing the environmental impact of computers and how to use the Internet to make business more energy efficient.

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington

• A Green Computing Professional Education Course Online

  7th International Conference on Computer Science & Education (ICCSE) published by IEEE

  2012
  Sustainable ICT Courses are being introduced at the vocational training level and more rarely at undergraduate and graduate levels. This paper reports on a graduate level Sustainable ICT Course run for the first time in 2009, as part of a global professional training program. The same course has been run at an Australian university and later adapted for North America by a Canadian university. The course had enrolments from industry based participants from both private and public sector organisation, as well as full time university students, with corporate Green ICT strategies being produced as course assignments. This paper discusses the student population and presents the course structure and assessment. An empirical evaluation of student responses, conducted at the end of the course, has yet to be completed, but some impressions of the differences in responses from graduate students and external participants is presented. (Presentation notes and formal published conference paper are available).

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington

• Synchronizing Asynchronous Learning

  8th International Conference on Computer Science & Education (ICCSE) Published by IEEE

  2013
  On-line learning uses the terms synchronous and asynchronous to describe tools and learning activities. This research looks into the origins of these terms, their use today and asks if these are the correct terms to use and if the use of these terms has held up the development of better tools and techniques. It is proposed that the use of syncronisation of asynchronous learning is particularly applicable to address issues with large scale e-learning, such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Presentation notes and formal conference paper available.

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington

• Net Traveller: Exploring the Networked Nation

  Australian Computer Society

  1999
  This book is about how the Internet and the World Wide Web became a part of my everyday life - for business and pleasure. It consists of edited versions of web pages and other on-line documents prepared during my last five years working and living on-line.
  
  During this technological tourist's trip I became one of the many people with a small part in helping set the direction of the Internet, rather than just being swept along on a wave of uncritical enthusiasm for technology. With foreword by Senator Kate Lundy.

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington

• Guidelines for Use Of The Internet By Defence Personnel

  Australian Department of Defence

  March 1996
  First guidelines issued for the use of the Internet by Defence personnel.

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington

• Interim Guidelines for Establishing a WEB Information Service in the Department of Defence

  Australian Department of Defence

  November 1995
  First guidelines on creating web sites in the Department of Defence.

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington,
  • BRIG Neil Horn

• Vision for a Networked Nation: The Public Interest in Network Services

  Australian Computer Society

  May 1994
  Proposed policy for the use of the Internet in Australia, later adopted by the Australian Government, as "Networking the Nation".

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington,
  • Roger Clarke

• Chinese and Australian students learning to work together online proposal to expand the New Colombo Plan to the online environment

  9th International Conference on Computer Science & Education, IEEE

  August 2014
  The Australian Government's “New Colombo Plan” provides $100m funding for Australian university students to undertake part of their studies at universities in the Indo-Pacific region, to foster greater cultural understanding, technical and business links between Australia and the region. The aims of the origins and aims of the original and new Colombo Plans are compared and the option of to teach Australian and Chinese students together on-line, to meet the plan's aims are explored.

  Authors:

  • Tom Worthington

• Time-shifted learning: merging synchronous and asynchronous techniques for e-learning

  10th International Conference on Computer Science & Education, IEEE

  2015
  E-learning techniques are usually classified into two broad categories: synchronous and asynchronous. The core question of this research is how to combine synchronous and asynchronous techniques in e-learning software, so it can have a stronger connection with constructivist education. The benefits and drawbacks of existing e-learning software is looked at broadly. Three popular e-learning packages used at the Australian National University are investigated: Adobe Connect (synchronous), Moodle and edX (asynchronous). The results of a brief survey of edX students is reported. Using the results of this work a team of students at the ANU Research School of Computer Science is now implementing enhanced asynchronous software to be plugged into Moodle and other asynchronous e-learning packages.

  Authors:

  • Hao Wu,
  • Tom Worthington

Education

• 

  Athabasca University

  Master’s Degree, Education (Distance Education)

  2013 – 2017
  Courses completed:
  MDDE 601 Introduction to Distance Education and Training
  MDDE 602 - Research Methods in Distance Education
  MDDE 603 - Foundations of Instructional Design
  MDDE 604 - Instructional Design in Distance Education
  MDDE 605 - Planning and Management in Distance Education
  MDDE 622 - Openness in Education
  MDDE 623 - Introduction to Mobile Learning
  MDDE 614 - International Issues
  MDDE 617 - Program Evaluation in DE
  MDDE 694 - E-Portfolio
  MDDE 610 - Survey of Current Ed Tech Apps

  Capstone e-Portfolio
  About studies

• KILN Incubator

  Lean Startup Workshop Series

  2016 – 2016
  KILN Incubator's program of workshops for start-ups, adapted for the ANU Technology Transfer Office, to applying lean startup methodology to a research projects. With market validation and customer development, business model generation, product development and selling to early customers.

• Canberra Institute of Technology

  Certificate IV in Training and Assesment (TAE40110), Vocational Education

  2013 – 2013
  Courses:
  PSPGOV415A Provide Workplace Coaching
  TAEDEL402A Plan, Organize and Facilitate Learning in the Workplace
  BSBCMM401A Make Presentation
  TAEASS402B Assess Competence
  TAEDEL301A Provide Work Skills Instruction
  TAEASS401B Plan Assessment Activities and Processes
  TAEDEL401A Plan Organize and Deliver Group-Based Learning
  TAEDES401A Design Develop Learning Programs
  TAEDES402A Use Training Packages and Accredited Courses to Meet Current Needs

• 

  The Australian National University

  Graduate Certificate, Higher Education/Higher Education Administration

  2011 – 2013
  Courses:
  
  EDU5713 Assessment, Evaluation & Learning (USQ)
  EDU8114 Online Pedagogy in Practice (USQ)
  EDUC8004 Research Supervision
  EDUC8001 Enhancing Your Academic Practice
  
  Details: http://blog.tomw.net.au/2011/08/tertiary-teaching-for-research-led.html

• Canberra Institute of Technology

  Certificate in Audio-Visual Video, Audio-Visual Video Production

  1990 – 1990
  Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110), Vocational Education

Interests

• information technology
• web design
• e-commerce
• architecture
• environmental design
• energy and water saving technology
• smart buildings
• Internet policy
• travel writing
• Higher Education
• Vocational Education
• University Education
• Higher Education Whisperer

Organizations

• Australian Computer Society

  Canberra Branch Executive Member

  Starting March 1984

• International Association for Mobile Learning

  Member

  Starting October 2016
  The International Association for Mobile Learning (IAmLearn) promotes research, development and application of mobile and contextual learning: http://iamlearn.org/

Honors & Awards

• ICT Higher Educator of the Year - Gold Digital Disruptor Award 2015

  Australian Computer Society

  November 2015
  A Gold Award from the Australian Computer Society was presented to Tom Worthington on 17 November 2015, for design of the open access on-line course "ICT Sustainability". Course: http://www.tomw.net.au/ict_sustainability/ Award: http://reimagination16.acs.org.au/digital-disruptors-awards2015/

• Additional Honors & Awards

  Fellow of the Australian Computer Society for contribution to the development of public Internet policy (1999)
  Honorary Life Member of the Australian Computer Society (2002)
  ACS Canberra ICT Award for Education 2010 (for the Green Information Technology Strategies Course)