Innovate and Integrate

Marie Jasinski's research "Innovate and Integrate: Embedding Innovative Practice" conducted on behalf of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework has recently been released.

This report is a 'must read' for any organisation or individual wanting to pursue and embed innovative practice. And there are practical tools to support you.

Carol McCullogh is bringing introductory workshops to all States and Territories on behalf of the Framework so watch out for the dates for your workshop.

Marie Jasinski is well known throughout the VET community in Australia, as well as internationally, for her innovative practice. I, and many others, have learned so much from her over the years and I personally want to thank Marie for yet another outstanding contribution to VET and the wider education community.

Mobile Technologies in Learning

Last week Alex Hayes, NSW LearnScope Project Officer, innovator, occasional philosopher and artist, and probably much more (my descriptives and not necessarily Alex's) inspired us with his presentation on Mobile Technologies.

Alex took us through the last two years of the evolution of m-Learning referring to 'the romantic' definition -

“… M-learning is the exciting art of using mobile technologies to enhance the learning experience. Mobile phones, PDAs, Pocket PCs and the Internet can be blended to engage and motivate learners, any time and anywhere. …” (m-learning.org : accessed 22 August 2007)

What was particularly inspiring was how Alex invited users of m-Learning to tell their story with their responses forming the core of the presentation. Responses were international, from the different education sectors, from managers and practitioners, from teachers of literacy and the trades. One response which hit home for me was Graeme Wegner's (Primary School Teacher, e-learning coordinator and edu-blogger):

"M-learning is something that students are doing with or without their teachers. Only if we decide to get involved can we have any impact on that learning. Education can no longer afford to ignore the impact mobile technology has on our students and their lives. If we ask them to switch it off, then we turn off the relevance to the rest of their life………”

Reflections

Hi everyone

This is the first time I have visited a blog but had a couple of minutes spare and thought it time to put "pen" to paper.

I have enjoyed our Elluminate sessions. It is a wonderful interative tool and fairly easy to get the hang of.

The process of meeting at the same time and place via this style of medium has highlighted a few problems for me personally.

Yes Val, time is the major difficulty. I have set aside the session times but it can still be difficult to (a) be there on time! and (b) do nothing else for two hours in the middle of the day.

I would have really enjoyed learning some new technology. Even if I was not able to actually experience it but I would like to know more about using various technologies and tools eg uploading videos; how to facilitate an online session; how to make the learning interactive. I was sorry that I was unable to be present for the Second Life presentation.

I realise that I am able to explore some of these items myself in my own time (when I have some!!) and will do so. Thanks for all the suggested links.

One point I have noticed though is that there are problems with having a conversation when we are all on-line. It is okay when someone has the microphone but very difficult to have continuity of communication. I also find this with the typed points. It can be easy to lose the plot of what is being discussed or to have a point you wish to make missed all together.

What do others think?

Judy

Reflecting on Readiness ...

Last Thursday was a real buzz for me having both Nigel Paine's presentation on Managers Supporting e-Learning, and then an Introduction to Second Life with Jo Kay. You can see what resonated for me on my other Blog post, and I would LOVE to hear what resonated for you.

This post is more about my reflections on readiness. I've been pondering this a lot lately, noting Gerry's comments in our blog and discussion forum and noting the lack of comments from nearly everyone else. Even noting the less than overwhelming participation in our f/nightly online meetings although I have been pleased with the interaction in the meetings themselves. And so far only Gerry has reflected on the program to-date noting, among other things, how disappointed she has been in the lack of interaction between participants. What went wrong? Have I thrown too much at you, overwhelmed you, or are you just not ready? Perhaps it is a time issue - I am very aware of the different demands on a Manager's work time. Often your own PD is put aside to deal with putting those fires out,


Image: MonkeyMyshkin's







or getting ready to 'fly' in other directions.

Image: sretneva

My strategy has been to expose you to a variety of online communication tools, web 2.0 tools if you like, so that you are informed as managers as to what they are and how they might be used both in a business sense and for learning. To use the e-tools to learn about e-learning per se. Of course they're not all the tools and there's a lot more to e-learning than web 2.0, as Gerry says, but they are part of the emerging trend. Our meetings were intended to be about the bigger picture - the benefits, the trends, design and implementation, the role of managers, and staffing (still to come).

Why am I linking this to readiness you might well ask? Well, I am possibly way of track but one of the things that did resonate for me last week was that I was 'ready' to learn about something new. I had been exposed to Second Life before but was busy taking everything else in. This time I listened and I allowed myself to learn. Thus the reason for me asking if all of this has been a bit too overwhelming; too much to learn.

What could have been done differently? This is important as it is a lesson that you as Managers need to be aware of when implementing e-Learning and supporting your staff, the facilitators of e-Learning. Gerry has made suggestions. What do others think?

Mid-Program Reflection

image: Arnold Pouteau's Contemplation

We are actually over half way in our 10 week program, so it is definitely time to take stock and reflect on how things are going, and how they could improve. Here are four questions to get you started, but please feel free to add anything else:

1. What has been the most significant learning for you so far, from the QLD Managers in e-Learning program?

2. How have you applied in your workplace, what you have been learning to-date?

3. On a scale of 1-5 please rate your experience as a participant in the QLD Managers in e-Learning LearnScope program to-date. (1 being a very negative experience and 5 a very positive experience).

4. What needs to change in the remainder of the program for your experience to be better?