eLearning @ the Illawarra Institute

DEANZ Conference 2010 … Quality connections means REAL relationships with our students!

A key message from the conference for me was that the student must be the focus; that we need to LISTEN to our learners; LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. We instinctively know that we must listen, but it is hard to let go of the perception that we are the experts, that we are there to ‘teach’, that technology is a distraction or doesn’t work, that ‘bad’ things might happen. 

 Liz Burge identified equitable access and respect/responsiveness – a culture of care – as a key to success in elearning. She says that “What really sways is learning to appeal to the emotion”.

 Ben Kehrwald’s work on social presence, and the case studies presented by keynote speaker Sir Mason Durie, tell us that developing personal relationships with students, being ‘present’ and accessible to them and having a “good fit with individual learner’s lifestyles” (Niki Davis) are the keys to successful outcomes! Te Kura increased completion rates from 63% to 89% by changing their approach to be more connected with individual students and integrating and personalising the curriculum.

 Julie Willem’s work on equity and educational disadvantage gives us a tool to identify individual learner needs – understanding learner backgrounds and context can assist with ensuring our support services and funding are appropriately targeted.

 The Learning-centred design (LCD) approach I presented at the conference gives a framework within which these principles can be applied. My aim is to integrate the ideas from the conference, and broader learning theories, into the LCD matrix as an academic development tool… so watch out for that.

 Here’s a challenge: find a simple technology that will personalise learning for your students and use it!!

• Work with the technology until you are comfortable with the basics
• Find an expert who can mentor you or a buddy who is willing to take the risk with you
• Once the technology monster has been tamed, focus on your role in facilitating learning
• Develop strategies to build relationships with your students, as well as enabling peer learning relationships
• Develop your students’ ability to learn independently, to problem solve, to collaborate.
• As you work with your students, LISTEN to their comments, adjust and refine your processes.

 If you decide to take up this challenge and would be interested in participating in a community of practice, then post a comment and we can start something up!

The DEANZ Conference was a fantastic experience! It wasn’t just a conference, it was a cultural experience – the Te Papa was an awesome venue, and Marcus a great MC and cultural representative. The delegates were friendly and there for a bit of fun too! I met up with colleagues from past Flexible Learning Leader days (Wanda) and Webqem (Gavin & John) and met lots of new people – especially Julie, Tehmina, Ashwini, Gayle, Sefa, Ardis, Michael and Heather.

Briki – the adventure continues

A while back  a team at CLI in partnership with OTEN and TAFE teachers from SWSI carried out an ‘action learning’ project on using mediawiki to create a briki, a wikipedia-like site for Building and Construction teachers. It was hosted on wikieducator.org and as such was an open site with creative commons by share alike attribution. We built it with some seed contributions from 2 Building and Construction teachers. We built it, and although they said they would come, they didn’t!

 Anecdotal research (ringing them up and asking them) revealed amongst other things that being on an open public site was a deterrent to sharing content (also a lack of computers, internet connection speed, available time and skill, and fear of other competitors internal and external taking advantage of the content).

 We are now taking one tiny step back but hopefully then two steps forward by migrating the briki to an open TAFE NSW branded Resource Wiki hosted by Illawarra Institute. This time we will further populate the Briki with links to relevant resources including TAFE NSW resources for which users will need a DET log on.  I welcome any resource suggestions.

I am  working with Steven Parker from the Illawarra Teaching and Learning Initiatives, George Dragovic, Head teacher, Building and Construction, North Wollongong campus and two head teachers from Hunter and New England.

We met last Tuesday at the Illawarra Teaching and Learning Initiatives at North Wollongong campus to discuss:

• George using Moodle for his Building and Construction students–George is looking for a random generator of quiz questions from a back end database (Paul Wray at CLI has developed one for welding and hopes to create more for other vocational areas. .
• Resources George would be happy to share on the briki–over the years George and his teachers have refined several booklets for various units published as pdfs. he sends out each reiteration of these booklets to all Building and Construction faculties around the state with the proviso that they will not be supplied with the next edition unless they provide him of a critique of current one. Quality is very important to George, more of that later.
• Resources George would like from the Illawarra Teaching and Learning Initiatives and possibly from us at CLI–I told George about CLI’s new TAFE engagement model and he was very interested to know how he could put his hand up for

1. high quality production of short demo videos.
2. capability building for his teachers to think before they point a camera when they make their own videos. I told him about Capture (could not find it when searching the LRR under that title).  I think George will use the same model with his teacher generated videos as he has with his booklets, carrying out reiterations each year until they cant get any better!

• How the briki could integrate with his moodle courses.

 After our meeting we went to George’s building workshop, a large hangar-like space set up for a brick-laying course. George is an inspiring teacher and leader. Currently his Building and Construction students, along with students from electronics, sign painting, carpentry, welding and many more are building a large computer. Harvey Norman has provided a large plasma screen. The keys are cut down from bricks – that gives you a sense of the size of the keyboard. Each key will be connected to a switch and all will be connected to a laptop/motherboard/ that make it a real computer. It will get lots of publicity for the campus and each key will be sponsored by a local business! In the past George, his teachers and Wollongong campus students have built a 16 ft replica of a galleon in bricks and a comfy lounge area again in bricks not leather!

 Back to Quality: George has a lot of local industry engagement and he wants to make sure if they see any of the faculty’s resources that are quality resources. An interesting perspective in the use-generated world we are moving in. I don’t think he minds if his teachers make demo videos but he wants to make sure they know what they are doing before they do.

With Steven Parker’s help  I am currently migrating the Briki content to the new site. Have a look but http://openwiki.illawarra.det.win/wiki/index.php?title=Category:CPC_-_Construction,_Plumbing_and_Services Keep in mind that we are having a few and very fixable problems with the layout. Early days.

Learning is Not a Spectator Sport

Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much by sitting in class listening to teachers, memorizing prepackaged assignments and spitting out answers. They must talk about what they are doing, write about it, relate it to past experienced, apply it to their daily lives. They must make what they learn part of themselves. (Chickering & Gamson, 1987)

This quote was used in a recent workshop on Learning-centred and Outcomes-based Teaching (Dr Diane Salter from University of Hong Kong). It also made me think about the work of Cathy Moore (eLearning Blueprint or click on image below to check out a great powerpoint with design tips). 

Dr Salter emphasised that we need to focus on what and how our learners LEARN rather than on what we teach. She pointed out the need to align Outcomes, Learning Activities and Assessment in a Learning-Centred model:

Outcomes: What you want your students to learn – write learning outcomes as active statements that make the change in behaviour of the learner explicit and clear, eg. identify or discuss instead of ‘know about’

Learning Activities: How you want your students to learn – what activities will they DO, eg discuss case studies, do a task, projects, problem-based learning activities. Learning activities should provide the students with opportunities to practice (formative), prepare them for final assessment and achieve the learning outcomes/performance criteria.

Assessment: How you will judge how well the students have learned, achieved competency or changed behaviour. The assessment methods should align with the learning outcomes and the learning activities. Assessment can be formative (practice, stages, quizzes) and/or summative.

If we consider the alignment of these 3 elements, and the tips in Cathy Moore’s Blueprint we can design educationally sound and engaging learning sequences for our students.

Another way to look at this is the T5 Model developed at the University of Hong Kong, CETL:

Tasks (Learning Activities)
Tutoring (Feedback and Discussion)                           TEACHER
Teamwork (Collaboration)                                            OWNERSHIP
Reflection (Diary, Blog, Work Log)
——————————————————————————
Topics (Course Resources
Tools (Resources/SocialNetworking/Repositories)    RE-USABLE

How might you change your thinking and approach to designing learning sequences and activities and assessment for your students now?

The role of management in facilitating change within a learning organisation – George Siemens

Podcast: Play in new window

Some years ago I spoke to George Siemens a leading theorist on the implications of technology and societal trends on learning and knowledge and key note speaker at both the education.au global conference and elearning06, (sponsored by the TAFE NSW management association).

3 years later his observations and insight into the changing roles of management in a learning organisation hold all the more weight. Have a listen…

‘I think most educators do have the desire to be excellent instructors that’s why we got into this field in the first place some of us aren’t here because we’re hoping to get rich we have a genuine passionate commitment to students. It’s the role of managers to create an environment where that natural desire that teachers have to deliver excellent level of instruction can be nurtured. That requires removing barriers it does require building skills and extending an instructor competence so they can do the things that they want to do. That’s why I refer to an ecology being created by management so that instructors can do what they want to do I am quite convinced if management plays a role of removing rather that becoming barriers then the people hired by the organisation in the first place will be well capable in achieving the objectives that are required’

In this interview he asserts that changing the work habits of an individual is a secondary trait to changing the working ecology of an educational organisation. What are the barriers to change? The many pressures on teachers? – What is the role of management in facilitating change? -How can management remove barriers and create a work ecology that encourages an emasse spirit of innovation and experimentation by teachers? Have a listen…(40min)

‘Steven Parker- How could you sell this idea to management to really allow teaches the time to get together and start having conversations about their pedagogy their ways of working and using new technologies?

G- That’s a good question I’m not sure if you can sell it to management. One of the point s that I’ve been making recently when I talk about learning and technologies and I’m talking at a higher education level is that it’s not the trends that are out there, its not the people like you that are agitating for change in an organisation, or people like me that go out and talk to others about making change, that’s not really where its going to happen. I think where it will happen is where an educator or administrator gets it and I’m afraid that the only way they are going to get it is when a students start walking with their feet let me give you an example’

Learning Activity Wizards – Take your teaching to a new level!

The Learning Activity Wizards enable teachers and others without specialist knowledge in web interactive development to create, store and share their own standards-compliant interactive media, for use in teaching and learning contexts.

Stanley Yip from the Center for Learning Innovation took a group of teachers through the DET learning activity wizards (LAW).  LAW is available from https://portal.det.nsw.edu.au, just log on with your DET username and pasword and look for it under ‘ MyApplications’

Click here for a recording of Stan’s presentation.

Here is what  Caterina Sgangarella had to say about the presentation.

I was impressed with Stan’s presentation.  We as teachers should use interactive educational techonologies.The process of learning in the classroom has to change.  Students today respond to technologies. Technology is part of their every day life. 

 

 I can see that:

• Student attendance would improve
• They would be motivated
• Learn at their own pace
• Student comprehension would be increased
• Job placement would be improved

 

I definitely would promote it.  I am already thinking of how I can develop an interactive tool for bookkeeping!

ISO and AQTF overview

 

This overview covers the following it was current as at the 3rd June 2009. 

• What governs us at TAFE?
• About ISO – International Standards Organisation
• The ISO 9001:2008 Standards
• Audits – why we need them? Who, When Where?
• AQTF – Australian Quality Training Framework
• Activity – Navigating the intranet (Quality Site & QMS)

Click here for the: Recording

Click here for the: Powerpoint

A TALE of how to find resources the quick & easy way

Have you ever wondered where do I find teaching resources? Do I have to really re-invent the wheel and create these print and online resources? Surely someone has alredy done the hard work? Who can I ask does a resources exist for my subject area? Who can help!

Rory OBrien from the Center for Learning Innovation answered these questions and more at his Time2Share session on the Teaching and Learning Exchange.

Rory walked a  group of head teachers, librarians and staff step by step through the features of TALE. Watch the recording and you’ll learn how to:

• Search and locate online  and print resources, from educational word documents, online activities, audio and video to whole online toolbox courses.
• Contact a person who can tell you straight whether a resources exists.
• Set up custom alerts to automatically  inform YOU when a new resource is available on your subject area.
• How to download and view online resources and more…

Recording

Introduction to TALE – an online workshop exploring TaLe – the Teaching and Learning exchange

If you have any questions from the session comment to the blog or contact Rory OBrien through Outlook.

Resources

• Working with TALE resources.doc
• TaLe_and_other_resources.doc
• Search with TaLe and LRR Ill May 09.ppt

Thanks Rory great presentation.

Time2Share

Next weeks session on the 27 May 3.30 – 4.30  is from Leonie Gerathy on CLAMS Support and Online Resources This session will provide a general overview of CLAMS, the Help Function, initial security set up and the ICONs in use.

Tell your colleagues, come to the training or watch this blog for the recording after the event.

Contact the TLI if you have any subject areas you would like covered in Time2Share.

Time2Share: Carpentry Vodcasting Instructional Video

On May the 7th Time2Share focused on Vodcasting. Video podcast (sometimes shortened to vodcast) is a term used for on demand video clips that can be utilised in teaching and learning.

Steven Parker from the Teaching and Learning Initiatives team covered:

• What Vodcasting is
• A variety of options for recording instructional video
• How to publish instructional video to the internet using the Institute blog http://iiblogs.net
• How students can subscribe and download instructional videos to their computer and iPod then use in the workshop for direction

A team from Carpentry attended and they discussed the potential usefulness of online video for their distance learners who may not be able to come to campus. Instead instructional videos like the one above can be made available online, the video could even be used as part of a portfolio of evidence, wearable point of view camera’s in safety glasses were discussed this enables the students to have their hands free while carrying out the task and recording to video. The next step in the learning process would be one teacher from Carpentry trialling the technology with the support of Teaching and Learning Intiatives and then showcasing to colleagues how Vodcasting could be incorporated within the faculty day to day working practice.

Recording : Introduction to Vodcasting presentation.

Resources: http://tinyurl.com/iipodcastingvodcasting

Next week’s Time2Share focuses onthe TALE Teaching and Learning Exchange for finding resources.

Podcasting in action with Illawarra Institute Staff

Podcast: Play in new window

On May 7th 2009 Teachers at the Illawarra Institute staff got some hands on experience in podcasting to use as an additional tool in their communication.

The Podcasting training enabled the learners to create an  audio or video file, upload the recording to the internet from which students can subscribe and download to their computer. Students can then listen to or watch the file right away on their computer or synchronise onto  mp3 player or iPod to listen to on the move.

Charlie Higgs, Brian Weaver and Jayne Bachelor delivered the 3 hour session.  Michael Coutts-Trotter the Director General of the NSW Department of Education  also shared his thoughts and raised some important questions on the use of  technology in teaching and learning.

The event was a great success. Susan Gronow, Manager of Organisational Learning and Development put her new found skills to use and provides some positive feedback on the event in the podcast above .

Contact the Teaching and Learning Initiatives team for more information on how YOU can incorporate podcasting or vodcasting  into your working practice, come along to the next online Vodcasting training session on Wednesday 13th May.

Video podcast (sometimes shortened to vodcast) is a term used for on demand video clips that can be utilised in teaching and learning.

April 2009 Technology Camp : Follow up, Catch!

Podcast: Play in new window

 

The OL&D Team conducted our second ever Technology Camp for the Strategy & Development team and some keen teachers yesterday. Thanks to everyone for coming along and participating to make it a productive day.

 The day was organised along the lines of an Open Conference and started with a game of beach volleyball during which everyone introduced themselves and we talked about the various types of technologies. Jayne captured this for us in a Wordle http://wordle.net and we used this to identify the top 5 technologies of interest to the group. We also shared our knowledge of key categories of technologies:  social networking, collaboration tools, communication tools, web conferencing and resource development tools.

We then organised into sessions that covered: Wikispaces, Adobe Presenter, Sharepoint – MySite, Adobe Connect – Hosting a conference, Podcasting, Captivate, Voki and Bridgit. Some of these sessions were led by OL&D staff,  others were independent groups and resource-based activities and we all shared our knowledge and experience.

One of the key points of discussion when the whole group came together was the use of technology in teaching and the imperative to be ready for the students coming from schools in a year or two having used a wireless netbook and a range of software applications. We emphasised that it isn’t just about the technology – it is about how we design the learning so that students are actively engaged in research, project-based learning and collaborative learning – it’s student-centred and we facilitate/guide.

The students will be able to teach us about the technology and how to use the tools and we shouldn’t be afraid of that!

Here are some pics from the day and the link to the Learnspace iiwiki with resources to follow-up on activities is below. Add your comment here and provide feedback on the Camp or add to the discussion on the future of technology in learning…

Hey, also check out the Time2Share program for Term 2 on the Learnspace wiki (http://learnspace.iiwiki.edu.au).  Our first session for the Term will be on podcasting, so  come along next Wed 29 April at 3.30pm by clicking on this link: http://webconf.det.nsw.edu.au/iitrain.

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