elearningWatchNovember2013

G’day
well the 6th Annual NZ Shar-E-Fest and regional symposia went like a dream. Grainne Conole was an excellent keynote and workshop presenter from way down in dunedin to way up in Whagarei; the feedback was nothing but positive. All in all around 600 people had the opportunity to listen and interact with Grainne and a range of presenters at other venues.Learning Design and Mooc’s were high on the agenda. All of the presenters were quite inspiring and doing lots of great things for their students. It was interesting to note the rise and rise of the iPad as a very flexible tool to enhance the learning experience for the students at all levels of the education system. I don’t understand why some people have a blind spot when it comes to the value of tablet like devices in the student learning environment. Maybe they should borrow our guide dog puppy to help them see the benefits:-) Now it’s onto planning for next year and creating some presentations. My latest is ‘Herd of Mooc’s ? followed by ” If MOOC’s are the answer, what was the Question?”
In this posting there are links to iPads, augmented reality, digital library, learning outcomes, learning design, Mooc’s. learning, PhD supervision,Blooms taxonomy, conferences and the odd one out.
It must be nearly Christmas all the shops are full of it! Gets earlier every year.
Until December really arrives, bye for now:-)
1.Principles of Backward Design: A bit different to some of the stuff on learning design I have been listening to over the past few weeks. Equally valid and alternative approach to the design of your courses.

http://www.wku.edu/library/dlps/infolit/documents/designing_lesson_plans_using_backward_design.pdf

2. So you want to take a MOOC. Nice overview of MOOC’s with some related links.

http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2013/10/11/want-take-mooc/

3.Learning and Leading with Technology: A step by step Guide to Personalise Learning.
An interesting article which examines the place of the learner in the classroom and how voice and choice for the learner can be attained. The rest of the journal has some more articles worth perusing.

http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201305?folio=34#pg1

4. From the elearningGuild: 158 Tips on mLearning: From Planning to Implementation.
There are some useful and interesting comments on the book at:

http://www.upsidelearning.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/17/top-21-tips-for-mobile-learning/

The book is a free download. You will have to create an account to access it, however it is worth while if you are keen on developing your mLearning initiatives and keeping in touch with developments at the Guild.

http://www.elearningguild.com/publications/?id=35

5. From the British Columbia Institute of Technology: Writing Learning Outcomes. Don’t think you can get enough advice on how to write learning Outcomes. This article adds to the mix and is a useful resource:

https://helpdesk.bcit.ca/fsr/teach/courseprep/htoutcomes.pdf

6.Michael Allen’s e-Learning Library: Designing Successful e-Learning
Forget What You Know About Instructional Design and Do Something Interesting
A very useful book with lots of information and advice on elearning design. Nicely put together and a good reference. Lots to read and absorb.

http://www.ukmc.lt/mokymas/_common_/_media/310/Designing_Successful_e-Learning.pdf

7.The Digital Library of America. Millions of links to an ever increasing range of resources. You can search for something you know about or use the timeline of map to identify what’s available. I used the map to locate some information on New Zealand. Click on the orange dots. You could spend ages here finding useful resources.

http://dp.la/map

and if you into searching for useful history resources have a look at the latest from the Khan
academy:
‘Smarthistory at Khan Academy is the leading open educational resource for art history. We make high-quality introductory art history content freely available to anyone, anywhere’.

http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org

8. Blooms Taxonomy with matching Apps. An interesting approach to matching apps with the various elements of Blooms Taxonomy. Have a wander around the ‘teachingwithyouripad’ Wiki whilst you are there.It’s a work in progress with some useful information and links to a wide range of iPad sites.

http://teachwithyouripad.wikispaces.com/Blooms+Taxonomy+with+Apps

9.Two guys and some iPads: Augmented reality.
If you are interested in Augmented reality this site is worth perusing for ideas and developments. Explore the tags to get some onsite into how AR is being used.

http://www.twoguysandsomeipads.com

10.10 Truths a PhD supervisor will never tell you.
There are some real home truths here. Well worth the read and maybe reminiscing.

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/features/10-truths-a-phd-supervisor-will-never-tell-you/2005513.fullarticle

11. Conferences
11.1 ascilite 2013
The 30th ascilite conference . This year it will be held at Macquarie University on the 1st – 4th December
For more details and to keep in touch go to:

http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney13/

11.2 Advanced notice: altc2014 Riding Giants: How to innovate and educate ahead of the wave
The 21st annual conference of the Association for Learning Technology 1-3 September 2014, Warwick, UK.
Put the date in your diary. More details to follow soon.
12. The odd one out
It seems ‘Googling’ has become part of everyday life and I’m not sure what we would do without it. Google are always producing guides and information on how to search more effectively and the site below certainly helps to focus on what you are looking for.
Search skills a little rusty? is a good starting point.

http://www.google.com/insidesearch/tipstricks/

That’s it for now
CU in December
Richard
Richard Elliott
The Eternal Macademic
Auckland
New Zealand