G’day
summer continues to amaze us in NZ and having to do some actual work seems an intrusion. However, someone has to put food on the plate.
I noticed (and read) the recent review of JISC in the UK.
In essence it applauds the extensive and valuable work of JISC and its close association with the practitioners and innovators of ICT use in education. This is great.
I for one believe that JISC is a gem, a model of quality, expertise and vision. From this side of the world the view of the material it produces is one of a rich smorgasbord of information, guides, resources, innovation and advice, all evidence based. Let’s hope the outcomes of the review serve to strengthen its position as a world leader, and a very cooperative, collaborative one at that.
In this posting there is a guide to mobile learning, language for quality,free ebooks, JISCInfonet resource list,social media and Web2.0, a google custom search engine, report on online learning from the UK, anatomy site, opinion on online learning, internet course design and digital library evaluation, conferences and the odd one out.
For NZlanders mark your diary for the NZ Sharefest in July. Submit a paper or a workshop, round table or interactive session.
As I was completing this edition, sadly, Christchurch suffered another blow with the recent devastating earthquake. The community is very strong and our thoughts are with the people as they struggle to come to terms with the future of their city.
CU in April
1. Mobile Touch: A guide to implementing Mobile E-Learning in Your Organisation guide from the Australian Flexible learning Framework.
The title says it all. Worth reading. Click on the link from the site below.
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/content/developing-resources-mobile-learning
2.European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training:
A common language for quality, Cedefop’s new glossary of terms on quality in education and training.
http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/articles/17695.aspx
3. Free eBooks on elearning available from The International Association for Distance Learning .
There are eight ebooks available for download. Saves searching the Web and there is some very useful stuff embedded within them.
http://www.iadl.org.uk/FreeeBooks.htm
4.JISC Infonet: infoKits and Resources (A to Z).
Whilst I endeavour to keep up to date and review the never ending production line of JISC Infonet, several escape under the radar. This site provides a list of all the infokits. Some really useful resources .and must be at least one you can use.
http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits
5.Social Media and Web 2.0 for learning: Under construction but worth watching and waiting and learning. Already some interesting slides have been posted. Includes links to workshop activities on various social media.
http://socialweblearning.blogspot.com/
6. JURN: A Google Custom Search Engine(CSE).
An interesting and useful way of focusing your search in specific areas.
7.Collaborate to compete: Seizing the opportunity of online learning for UK higher education
Report to HEFCE by the Online Learning Task Force January 2011.
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2011/11_01/11_01.pdf
8.Think anatomy
A really excellent comprehensive resource for those involved in the teaching of biological and health sciences.
9.An opinion piece: Online learning is not learning online.
Some interesting considerations, but do the comments highlight anything new?
http://plpnetwork.com/2011/02/16/online-learning-is-not-learning-online/
10. NETnet’s Guide to Internet Course Design and Development
A very useful resource. Some links are out of date but there’s some really interesting and sensible stuff peppered throughout the guide.
http://www.netnet.org/instructors/PDF%20files/Internet%20Guide0304.pdf
11. Evaluating Digital Libraries: A user friendly Guide
this guide was also produced a few years ago but it is still very useful in todays climate of digital mediated student learning environments. Produced by Thom Reeves and associates is a well structured guide with many useful pieces of information.
http://www.dpc.ucar.edu/projects/evalbook/index.html
12. Conferences
11.1 ascilite 2011, Changing demands, changing
directions will be held at Wrest Point Casino, Hobart, Tasmania Australia,
4-7 December 2011.
ascilite 2011 has three sub-themes:
Equity of experience
Engagement
Evidence-based practice
For more information about ascilite 2011 visit the website at:
http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/hobart11/
11.2 ALT-C 2011. Thriving in a colder and more challenging climate.
The 18th international conference of the Association for Learning Technology will be held at the University of Leeds, UK, 6-8 September 2011.
NOTE
Key dates
The deadline to submit proposals has been extended to Wednesday, 2 March 2011.
Presenters’ registration deadline 27 June 2011
Earlybird registration deadline 4 July 2011
Registrations close on 12 August 2011
Full details from:
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2011/
13. NZ happenings
SharEfest 2011 will be held in Hamilton on July 11- 12th. Prof Thom Reeves from the University of Georgia, Altlanta will be the keynote presenter and workshop facilitator. Many thanks to Ascilite for being a contributing sponsor again this year.
First call for submissions to be made in this month (March),
Second call for submissions in April
Final Call for submissions in June.
Mark the dates in your diary AND aim to be there. Last year was an unqualified success
13.1 My namesake and his erudite team at URBANVOYAGE has developed some excellent 3D tools for education and training. He and his team are keen to contribute to the development of interactive materials and resources which bring education and training alive. Have a look at what they do and contact Richard for more information He will be at the NZ Sharefest this year
14. Odd one out: PEN
Create a simple text based Web page instantly and share your thoughts ,ideas ,suggestions work, with the world. Easy and potentially very useful.
Richard Elliott
The Eternal Macademic
Auckland
New Zealand