G’day
only five weeks to go to the ascilite 2009 conference and already the registrations are up on last year. Make sure you don’t miss out. Registrations close on November 16th.
I’ve just got back from tripping around the South Island being part of a series of symposia on effective practice with elearning with Dr Sue Bennett from Wollongong as the Keynote presenter. Excellent participation and feedback from the centres. There’s a lot going on in elearning around the country and some really passionate people doing it . We finished off in Hamilton at Wintec with a great turnout and an even better day of activities. Not sure I want to do five planes in two days again. Even if flying over the southern Alps in a 10 seater was something special. You might like to contribute to the ongoing debate and access some of the resources Create a login from this page:
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/communities/e-learning-education-and-training
This edition of elearningWatch provides links to another useful range of website which hopefully will be of interest to you. For those of you in NZ there is an invitation to have PebblePad demonstrate their product. PebblePad are one of the sponsors of ascilite 2009 and the experts are here so why not take advantage of their offer?. Also included in this posting is information on a new online journal, access to elearning resource downloads, project management and elearning tips, a couple of interesting papers on elearning, open eduction resources and courseware, instructional design tips,conferences and the odd one(s) out.
There might be a Watch in December, depends on how ascilite 2009 goes.
Until then, enjoy the learning
1. For those of you in New Zealand:Free PebblePad demonstrations and workshops
Much more powerful and flexible than ‘just’ an eportfolio, PebblePad is the most widely used personal learning system in UK universities. It is also the system chosen by an increasing number of professional bodies to support their members professional development.
We are in New Zealand for the Ascilite conference and would like to extend our stay to visit any institutions with an interest in using PebblePad.
To arrange a demonstration and/or workshop please contact.
2. AJEL . The Asian Journal on Education and Learning.
This is a new web-based open access journal. If you would like to contribute to the on-going education debate with us, AJEL is now ready with the first issue for 2010.
Please visit the journal web site.
3. Start e-learning: is a consultancy for elearning. It provides a range of resources for downloading. There is a range of useful information some of which you may have seen already, but its worth perusing the site for maybe something new to you
Extract from the site:
‘These downloads provide an array of information about elearning technology, web-based training, processes, and techniques’.
http://www.start-elearning.com/downloads.php
4. The Rapid elearning Blog: The Project Management Tip You Can’t Ignore
This ‘article’ is useful, interesting, amusing and thought provoking. It highlights some of the issues we are all faced with and is a good for the mind. Are you really in control of those emails?
http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/the-project-management-tip-you-cant-ignore/
There’s lots of other stuff on the site which provides some good information. If you find some extra time, have a look at 50 practical tips and tricks to build better elearning:
http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/50-practical-tips-tricks-to-build-better-e-learning/
5. Extending e-possibilities by Mark Nichols.
This is one of a number of publications in the Eprimer series written by Mark Nichols and published under the auspices of Ako Aotearoa in New Zealand. It’s an excellent and comprehensive paper covering a wide range of issues and well worth reading. Click on the Link to .pdf – Extending e-possibilities on the following page:
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/project/eprimer-series/resources/pages/extending-e-possibilities
6. 10 Instructional Design Tips for e-Learning Development.
Maybe some of this stuff is obvious. However, sometimes the obvious falls between the cracks so its good to be reminded. A simple but useful guide.
http://www.syberworks.com/articles/10-instructional-design-tips.htm
7. The elearning Grid.
I haven’t seen this one before. Initial exploration discovered some interesting links and useful resources. Explore for yourself.
Extract from the site
‘What is e-Learning Grid?
e-Learning Grid is positioned to be a one-stop-hub for the growing community of e-Learning practitioners. Online communities are formed on the three pillars of Information, Collaboration and Transaction. The e-Learning Grid has designed a 6Cs model to cater all the community needs based on these three pillars’.
8. OpenOCW :
Is an OpenCourseWare site where anyone can contribute courses on any topic.
There isn’t a huge amount here but there might be something for you. All courses can be downloaded and reused.
9. Criteria for Evaluating the Quality of Online Courses
This is a downloadable article [pdf format] written by Clayton R. Wright from the Grant MacEwan College Edmonton, Alberta.
Some sensible guidelines in this one.
http://elearning.typepad.com/thelearnedman/ID/evaluatingcourses.pdf
10. OpenEducational Resources Grapevine
Extract from the site
‘OER Grapevine’s mission is to promote discussion and cooperation among projects relating to open educational resources (OER)’. A great idea and we need more of them! Plenty to keep you occupied and much to explore.
http://oergrapevine.org/OER_projects
This one was of interest to me. There’s bound to be at least one that you will find useful.
http://oergrapevine.org/OER_projects#Cardionetworks
11. Conferences
11.1
ASCILITE 2009: “Same Places, Different Spaces” AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: DECEMBER 6- 9th.
http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/auckland09/
Jointly hosted by The University of Auckland and AUT University in Auckland.
This has to be the preeminent conference on computers and technology in learning in tertiary education in the asia pacific region, and one that’s not to be missed!
Registration closes: November 16th 2009
Join your colleagues from all over the world for a really friendly and inspiring experience!
Online Registration link :
https://www.conferenceregistrations.auckland.ac.nz/ei/getdemo.ei?id=144&s=_2SW0O5BWA
11.2
The fourth JISC international online conference: Thriving, not just surviving!
24-27 November 2009.
Innovating e-Learning 2009 is a simply an unmissable conference experience.
Theme 1: Finding the way focuses on exploring guiding principles for technology-enhanced learning and teaching.
Theme 2: Meeting the challenge looks at the integration of technology-mediated practice under specific agendas: meeting the needs of employers, delivering learning on a global scale, developing sustainable and external-facing strategies for curriculum development.
Online registration is now available
Find out more and register now at
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elpconference09
Twitter tag – JISCEL09
11.3
The 2010 ALT Conference: “Into something rich and strange” – making
sense of the sea-change
Nottingham, UK, 7-9 September 2010.
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2010/
with links to conference flyer and sponsorship and exhibition prospectus.
Key dates are as follows.
1. Proposals for inclusion in the programme will be accepted between 30
November 2009 and 15 February 2010.
2. Bookings will open in early May.
3. Presenters’ booking deadline: 28 June 2010.
4. Earlybird booking deadline: 5 July 2010.
5. Bookings close: 13 August 2010.
“[taken from the] ALT Digest, a fortnightly publication from the Association for
Learning Technology (ALT).
12. Odd one(s) out
Earth from the air: Some excellent photography here. It should be of interest to all the family.
http://earthfromtheair.co.uk//content/view/13/28/
This next one might keep the kids and you engaged in some learning for a change. There’s some really good animation and information simply explained in the health courses. There a loads of courses in all sorts of subjects to explore and have fun learning. It’s even got some exercises to test your knowledge.
I think there’s more here for the grown-ups!
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/index.html
Simple but nicely explained:
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/Courses/Liquid_Animation/Body_Parts/Hearing/index.html
—
Richard Elliott
Director
elearningWatch Ltd
Auckland
New Zealand
‘Learning in the Driver’s seat, Technology turning the wheels’