5 Digital Literacy professional development strategies

Good article from Campus Technology http://campustechnology.com/articles/2012/08/07/five-digital-literacy-professional-development-strategies.aspx.
Even in our web-connected world, the value of librarians cannot be overestimated.

elearning learning

 Didn't mind some of the articles from http://www.elearninglearning.com/

Metacognition

Not a bad article on metacognition: http://theelearningcoach.com/learning/metacognition-and-learning/

Innovating Pedagogy

Report from the Open University on "Innovating Pedagogy": http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/innovating/
Well worth a read.

Digital Directions Magazine

Some good articles to be found in http://dd.edweek.org/nxtbooks/epe/dd_2012springsummer/

Is blended learning better than other froms of delivery?

Is blended learning better than other froms of delivery? Gerry White from DERN has highlighted a report on blended learning: http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf  that indicates it has advantages for students. It is also indicates the lack of research into this question.

Learning choices

May be worth looking at: http://www.learningchoices.org.au/learning-choices-a-map-for-the-future.html (Report on flexible learning programs by Dusseldorp Skills Forum)

It's not just about technology

It's not just about technology - metatrends in learning technology: http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2012/03/21/New-NMC-Metatrends-List.aspx

Digital Content Workshops 1-2 March 2012

From these 2 days there's been significant learnings, such as:
Why e-learning? (Terese Morgan)
• Skills shortage in VET sector
• Competition from other sectors (e.g. schools, universities)
• Client demand
• Engaging students
• The world is turning

Francis’ Kneebone runs a free 2-day workshop on various learning technology tools if we can arrange 10 participants.

Colleen suggests we use Clive Shepherd's concept of the Learning Architect – learning can be experiential, on-demand, non-formal, formal; we don’t do learning – just set up architecture.

Development of resources needs to be flexible enough in different circumstances – the learning experience is more important than resources. Emphasis will be different for different learners.

Often just want to “do” but often better to plan and research first such as from:
Counterparts from other Institutes
• Fellow participants
• Online research
• Library staff
• Websites such as Australian Flexible Learning Framework

There are lots of useful tools including:
* Screencastomatic for screen casting
* Video Toolbox for refromatting videos

eAssessment Breakfast

Went to an excellent breakfast session put on by QVDC this morning.

Some of the dot point notes I took are below

Kerry, eLearning Coordinator, Beaudesert SHS
As PD for teachers got ICT certificate program 2010
Use EdStudio

As EC:
• Got like-minded teachers together (& have professional conversations)
• Work with IT teams
• Built PD network/Plan
• Mentoring
Included as part of computers for teachers program 2010.
Using:
• learning place (poor several years ago, but much better),
• flipcams,
• iPADs (c/f Kedron SHS), used for learning support & for deaf student
• podcasting
• EdStudio (Virtual Classrooms)
• 1:1 computers for students (3G, locked down, given for 3 years,supported)
Skills of teachers
• Large percentage not tech-savvy
• JIT PD (only when technology ready to go)
• External companies (e.g. Learning Innovation Centre, Learning Place[Online])
• Smart Classroom ICT certificate, Digital pedagogy etc
• Mandatory PD for teachers (30 hours required)
• Leading departments: Science, Mathematics (e.g. Mathletics), Arts (e.g. vodcasts), Manual Arts (e.g. digital forms,vodcasting,rotoscoping), SOSE
• Demonstrated how do teaching (used simple tools such as clock widgets for staying on task, to Prezi)
• Collaboration and places for teachers to talk
eAssessment
• Blog – for discussion assignment (required teaching appropriate use)
• Mathletics
 
Zachery (school captain)
• Chemistry - online area where students can access powerpoints, homework & homework guides, assignments + assignment dropbox (drafts), online textbooks
• Have “scrolled to a new page”
Josh (student)
• Cert III Fitness – all activities & notes online
• Cert II IT – all activities & notes online
• Maths – assignment online
Jessica (student)
• Has looked at Uni, and noticed everyone had laptop (including lecturer)
“Wow. University is a lot more technology-based than I thought”
• Has laptop with information accessible
• Wants online textbook
• Wants programs such as CS5
Demands
• 1:1 smart classroom
• iPAD trials
• Gaming in learning (e.g. SIMS)
• Student Film Fest 2012
• Student ICT expectations – what students expected to learn (Smart classrooms)