eLearningWatch August2015

G’day
well apart from the high winds and persistent rain, the weather has been very good.This month it seems Augmented Reality is adding a new dimension to learning and there are some useful developments especially in science related subjects. Anti-social media is causing a few problems with the kids next door. It appears taking tablets is not the same as it used to be; three times a day doesn’t solve attention deficit for homework.
As well as all the excitement next door, I’ve been looking at various approaches to research in preparation for a short train the trainer courses using a self reflective framework; all very interesting. Determining effective ways of evaluating online course structure, quality and design has also been a demanding project, but it’s well under way. Potatoes were the last thing on my mind and I’ve got the first crop planted.
In this posting there are links to research methods,digital media kit, augmented reality, blended synchronous learning, online course check list,open media, QR codes, creating conference posters, a pile of LMS demos,qualification frameworks, Conferences, a request for assistance and the odd one out
Until September dawns, that’s it.
1. The gentle Guide to Research Methods: What a volume! This is written in simple language and identifies the perils, pitfalls and promises of research. It provides some very useful information and help. Lots of pages to peruse but certainly worth the effort.

http://tinyurl.com/nkvakoy

AND if you are dead keen on learning more, nicely structured:
A Guide to Using Qualitative Research Methodology:

http://tinyurl.com/o79f3yy

2.The Blended Synchronous Learning Handbook: Now here is a book form the Aussies that is worth reading and digesting (not literally). There are some good ‘feet on the ground’ people that have contributed to its pages; some you may know personally. They have often been seen at ascilite. The book consists of seven case studies all of which provide useful insights into the world of Blended Synchronous Learning. Nicely done and presented.

https://blendsync.org/handbook

3.Enhancing Presentations for the Multimedia generation. A JISC Digital Media infoKit, well worth exploring and keeping as a useful resource:

http://tinyurl.com/qyjmx5o

4.Guide to Augmented Reality: If you are interested or using AR, this article provides some very useful insights into its history and use. Bookmark for part 2.

http://www.intelligenthq.com/technology/little-guide-to-augmented-reality/

5.SREB Checklist for Evaluating Online Courses:Southern Regional Education Board.
Written a few years ago but I think the format and questions are still relevant. You could add your own questions to bring it up to date. Note pdf download.

http://publications.sreb.org/2006/06T06_Checklist_for_Evaluating-Online-Courses.pdf

and to complement the above, peruse the following article which I think provides some useful tips and comments.
How ‘Good’ is Your Online Course? Five Steps to Assess Course Quality: Some useful links to other resources associated with the topic:

https://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/tag/quality-standards-for-online-courses/

6.From the JISC stable a Report: Open Media Classes at Coventry University: Final Evaluation Report 2015
This is a very useful and thought provoking report. The background to the document is well worth the effort to read carefully and follow some of the interesting links.Having said that, so are the findings and outcomes. I also liked the ‘activity theory triangle’, its content and context.The whole report has been very carefully crafted and designed; it’s obvious a lot of work has gone into it.

http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/6069/1/JR0041_OPEN_EDUCATION_REPORT_V3.pdf

7. All about QR codes. I hadn’t realised that QR codes have been around since 1994. This site provides a wealth of information on their history creation and various ways of using them.

http://www.onlineqrlab.com/resource-guide-on-qr-codes.php

You can create for free from:

http://qrcode.kaywa.com

8.Designing conference posters: Here is a really useful site providing lots of guidance for the creation of poster for conferences. A range of templates provides some options and there is a list of do’s and don’ts.

http://colinpurrington.com/tips/poster-design

9.Learning Management System Demos: The apparent top 50 of them. Some are familiar some I’ve never heard of which is not surprising considering the size of the market and the Web.Lots have a corporate focus.
Demos created by learning management system vendors. No sales pitch. No sales angle whatsoever. Take a look at their product and if interested click to learn more.

http://www.lmsdemos.com

10.Global inventory of regional and national qualifications frameworks
Volume I: Thematic Chapters. Note: pdf download
Qualification frameworks are used in many countries and this booklet examines, evaluates and compares them. The inventory showcases 86 countries and examines how learning outcomes of all types of learning, formal, non-formal and informal, are being integrated into regional and national qualifications frameworks. New Zealand gets mentioned several times.

http://www.cedefophttp://tinyurl.com/p8jsd5v

11. Conferences for 2015
11.1 ALT Annual Conference 2015: Shaping the future of learning together
The 22nd annual conference of the Association for Learning Technology, 8 to 10 September 2015, University of Manchester, UK
Download the Flyer:

http://tinyurl.com/koakamg

OR Register to attend:

https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/register?id=127&reset=1

11.2 Ascilite 32nd conference. Perth, Western Australia.
Globally Connected, Digitally Enabled: November 30th to Dec 3rd 2015.
Website:

http://www.2015conference.ascilite.org

11.3 8th Annual New Zealand Shar-E-fest: 28th and 29th September 2015.
The organising committee is delighted to announce that

Ako Aotearoa, the National Centre for tertiary Teaching Excellence

, is a GOLD sponsor for the event. The NZ Ministry of Education Tertiary eLearning reference Group will hold their meeting around the same time as the Shar-E-Fest and some of the members will be attending the Shar-E-Fest.
We are very pleased to announced that adjunct Associate Professor Rob Phillips from Murdoch University, Western Australia has accepted our invitation to to be the Keynote speaker and workshop presenter for the 8th Annual NZ SharEFest. Rob will also present at The Open Polytechnic, AUT University, The Auckland University and Northtec
For the first time, the Sharefest keynote and other presentations will be live streamed to an audience at Otago Polytechnic. Otago Polytechnic will also provide some presentations for the event which will be live streamed to Hamilton.(Thanks to Becca Black, the Manager of OP online at Otago Polytechnic for the collaboration.
Shar-E-Fest 2015 information:

http://wordpress.isle.ac.nz/shar-e-fest-2015/

The SECOND call for submissions has been released:

http://wordpress.isle.ac.nz/submission-process/

11.4 DEANZ conference 2016
First Call for Submissions has been released.
Conference dates: 17th-20th April 2016
Conference Venue: The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
THEME: There and back: Charting flexible pathways in open, mobile and distance education
DEANZ2016 conference website:

http://conference.deanz.org.nz/

Early Bird Registration:

http://conference.deanz.org.nz/registration-of-interest/

If you are interested in taking the opportunity to be a sponsor of the event, please contact me.
12.0 Request for help from Alan Levine
Alan is doing another round of Amazing,True Stories of Openness for a keynote at the K12 Online Conference in mid October; he seeks your help with new stories.
If you are dead keen (which you must be I’m sure) got to
Call for stories post:

http://cogdogblog.com/2015/07/21/call-for-stories/

Or go to the video and form at:

http://stories.cogdogblog.com/call/

Inundate the lad with volumes of stories.
13.0 The odd out:The original proposal by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 for a global hypertext system to eventually be known as the world wide web.

http://www.w3.org/History/1989/proposal.html

Richard
Richard Elliott
The Eternal Macademic
Auckland, New Zealand

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