eLearningWatchJuly2016

G’day
Still nice and warm (most of the time) on this side of the globe even though it’s supposed to be winter.Rain does get in the way! Not complaining , long may it last.
Over the past few months, I’ve noticed a lot more articles and information on designing learning experiences. In my travels on the knowledge trails I came across the following quote:
‘It could well be that faculty members of the twenty-first century college or university will find it necessary to set aside their roles as teachers and instead become designers of learning experiences, processes, and environments’.
James Duderstadt, The Future of the University in the Digital Age 1999, p.9.
It seems the concept has been around a little longer than some (who claim ownership) may think. Matters not who started the movement, it’s the real shift in thinking and action that’s important.
In the posting this month there are links to online course design, a computational engine,learning,teaching and technology,course design, effective practice in further educational skills,DNA from the beginning, learning styles questionnaire,citation analysis software,Engaging interactions for elearning, free teaching resources,eLearning Provision, Participation and Performance.
conferences and the odd one out
1.An ebook : Emerging Perspectives on learning teaching and technology. An excellent and very comprehensive ‘book’ with a wide range of useful resources and information, I was particularly interested in the section on Adult learning. I like the way the author has presented four different theories of adult learning, simple yet informative. Well worth the time to peruse all the sections.

http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Main_Page

http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Adult_Learning

2.Online course Design Guide from MIT Office of Educational Innovation and Technology in collaboration with NMC (New Media Consortium)[Creative Commons Attribution License].
This is a pretty comprehensive online guide with perhaps all you need to think about when designing and implementing your online course.
Extract from the introduction: ‘Each section of the guide contains critical information, recommendations, examples, checklists, and resources for further exploration to create and deliver effective online learning experiences’.

http://dltoolkit.mit.edu

And in a not too dissimilar vein:
A Self-Directed Guide to Designing Courses for Significant Learning: L. Dee Fink, PhD
Director, Instructional Development Program University of Oklahoma

http://tinyurl.com/zmschsm

3. The evolution of FELTAG: a glimpse at effective practice in UK further education and skills. An interesting report providing information on the use of technology in learning and teaching and practical examples of effective technology enhanced practice.UK focus, but much of what is highlighted could be anywhere that is supporting learning with technology.

http://go.alt.ac.uk/264MY5e

4.WolframAlpha, the computational Knowledge engine. It’s a long while since I’ve used this engine. I remember when it was first launched and wondered then where it would go. Well , its certainly come of age and worth bookmarking in your favourites.

http://www.wolframalpha.com

5.Here’s a useful piece of free software for academics climbing the ladder of success: Publish or Perish, a citation analysis software program.
Extract from the site: ‘Are you applying for tenure, promotion or a new job? Do you want to include evidence of the impact of your research? Is your work cited in journals which are not ISI listed? Then you might want to try Publish or Perish, designed to help individual academics to present their case for research impact to its best advantage’.

http://www.harzing.com/resources/publish-or-perish

6.Engaging interactions for elearning: 25 ways to keep learners Awake and Intrigued. This book was created some years ago but much of what is in it can be adapted to make good use of the latest in learning technology and learning environments

http://tinyurl.com/jkybfje

and in a similar vein: Adult Learning Techniques

http://tinyurl.com/zoh9pmg

7. Explore what are considered by someone to be the 50 Best Free Teacher Resources of the Decade So far. I’m reasonably sure you will recognise some and even use them;others may be new to you and worth exploring. I hadn’t heard of ‘crash courses’’ before so had a look. Quite intriguing and potentially very useful for the ‘older’ person who wants to learn more in a relaxing way.

http://www.fusionyearbooks.com/blog/free-teacher-resources/

8. New report on elearning: eLearning Provision, Participation and Performance.
This report compares provision, participation, and student performance in courses delivered by elearning methods with courses that do not use elearning. This is analysed at a system, sub-sector, and field of study level, as well as by ethnicity, age, full-time, part-time, and extramural status’.Has some very interesting outcomes. Worth perusing.

http://tinyurl.com/zntrx3v

9. DNA from the beginning: An animated primer of 75 experiments that made modern genetics: An excellent educational resource as well as an information source on the nature of DNA. Very topical and an extremely well crafted site.

http://www.dnaftb.org

10. Something to keep you occupied for five minutes with perhaps a useful outcome. Don’t believe in ‘learning styles’ myself. Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire.by Barbara A. Soloman Richard M. Felder.North Carolina State University

http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html

11. Conferences
11.1 ascilite 2016
The ascilite2016 conference will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 28 to 30 November 2016. The conference is being hosted by the University of South Australia.Make a note of the dates.

http://2016conference.ascilite.org

Call for submissions is open:

http://2016conference.ascilite.org/program-2/submissions/

11.2 ALT Annual Conference 2016: Connect, Collaborate, Create: Registration now open.
The 2016 Annual Conference of the Association for Learning Technology will take place at Warwick University, 6 to 8 September 2016.The conference provides an international platform for Learning Technology research, practice and policy work from across sectors. Confirmed speakers include Josie Fraser, Ian Livingstone CBE and Lia Commissar.
The ‘Early Bird’ deadline for the 23rd Annual Conference of the Association for Learning Technology has been extended to 14 July 2016.
Early bird registration offers a significant discount across all conference fees. ALT members are also entitled to a further 20% discount on attendance.
To book please visit:

http://go.alt.ac.uk/2016altcReg

11.3 Innovate and Educate:Teaching and Learning Conference ANZ will be held in Sydney from the 28 to 31 August 2016. Education leaders, educators, course designers, system administrators and eLearning managers who partner and innovate with different Learning Management Systems such as Blackboard Learn, Enterprise Moodle and Moodlerooms, from across Australia and New Zealand will come together to share their knowledge and expertise in the field of online teaching and learning.
Find out more and register:

http://experience.blackboard.com/TLC-Sydney/

12. Odd one out: As it is 400 years since Shakespeare death I thought it might be good to revise your knowledge of his works. especially those that involve some sort of input. Give it a go and save a few for your colleagues when they displease you .

http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/Shaker/index.html?

That’s it until we have some august company to deal with..
Richard
Richard Elliott
The Eternal Macademic
Auckland
New Zealand

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