Image: mikwatWell, our LearnScope journey has come to an end, but is the real journey just beginning? Let's take a moment to look back to see where we have been and how what we have learned might help us move forward.
The aim of this LearnScope program was for managers of RTOs across Queensland to gain an understanding of e-Learning, emerging trends and specific management issues relating to e-learning. To achieve this, individuals were to form a learning community sharing a 10 week facilitated face-to-face and online journey through a range of activities and discussions around e-Learning.
We started off on 17 July with a face-to-face induction. Almost a full quorum, lots of enthusiasm and a great opportunity for us to meet each other, to put faces to names. And perhaps to sort out whether this was a journey each of us wanted to take. There was an introduction to the communication tools we would be using - the blog, the wiki and virtual conferencing - and Sue Waters gave an excellent presentation in our first virtual conferencing session, on podcasting.
The emails started, the wiki was established and the blog was ready to go! And so, the online meetings began.
Our first session was about the benefits of e-learning for clients. Afterall, if there aren't any benefits why pursue e-learning? Between us we identified many. We also took the time to have a closer look at blogging and wikis so that reflection and collaboration could begin.
Michael Coghlan discussed emerging trends and issues in our second session. Networking and connecting are definitely on the radar, but not at the expense of some of what we already know. The options need to be available and the delivery blended to maximise learning.
Being aware of the trends and issues, we took the time to have a look at implementation strategies with Clint Smith. Clint introduced us to the outstanding Framework resource - Designing e-Learning which covers strategies, design and assessment.
For our fourth session, we had the privilege of having Nigel Paine joining us to explore leadership and e-learning, followed by an afternoon session with Jo Kay who introduced us to Second Life. Wow - what a buzz that day was!
Mobile Technologies was a special agenda item provided for us by Alex Hayes, who just never stops! Alex talked to us about the evolution of mobile technologies and drew together the stories of how mobile technologies are being used from practitioners from all over the world. Now SMS and mobiles really are the domain of the 'Net Gen', our younger students, and fast becoming that of more mature students. Go on, how many of us (grandparents included) text our children and grandchildren frequently!
Our last session was with Vicki Marchant who discussed with us the skills, issues and considerations related to staffing for e-learning.
All these sessions are recorded and available at on our Wiki Program.
So, did we achieve our aim?
Certainly the feedback from our last session where we took the time to reflect together, suggested that much was gained. That strategic perspective and the role of managers was achieved and a much better understanding of e-learning. That was the goal!
But, it is hard to meet everyone's expectations. Some wanted more on the 'tools' themselves, and others wanted to be even more strategic. From my perspective, and from the feedback of a couple of participants, the discussion and interaction between meetings was not achieved. Disappointing for those who wanted to engage more and explore some topics a little deeper.
I will admit to moments of despair wondering if any real learning was happening when only two participants took the time to reflect and share their thoughts on their learning.
Managers have a lot of priorities and their own learning often slips to last place as they deal with the day-to-day unexpected tasks to deal with, so certainly I understood the issue of 'time'. It is most unlikely also, that a new group will embark on discussion and open reflection until an amount of 'trust' is developed. So, the lack of interaction between meetings was not all that unexpected. If this was an enrolled course however, activities would have been developed to complete tasks together, perhaps as buddies or teams, and the expectations would have been different. Reflection and collaboration would most definitely have been expected.
I was delighted to hear that incidental learning has taken place. While our focus was not the tools, my strategy was to use some 'tools' that I felt might be useful in the workplace, to expose participants to them. I understand that a few blogs have been created and life is being made easier for some by using RSS. Remember, to have the time to learn you need to make life easier for yourself - reduce that email, navigate sites of interest better. RSS will do that so if you haven't had time yet, it is never too late.
Our wiki was not very collaborative. Apart from the discussion forum, all contributions were by me. This wiki will remain however, and can continue to have a life if you allow it to do so. YOU can contribute to it, use it as a resource and keep building it. It is a starting point at least.
And so, the next stage of the journey is just beginning. It is now over to you as a Manager of e-Learning to keep moving forward on the road ahead - Good Luck!.
Image: Michael.DK
