Need for an LMS?

Darcy More’s post  on 10 things schools can do to facilitate  implementation of L4L, makes the comment that Moodle for schools is a key strategy. The DET  learning tools applications admittedly have been a little slow to emerge (blog only now in Beta), Wiki due trial for Term 3 and eBackpack to be announced shortly. However I’m confident they will provide the basis for a true eLearning platform-one that will challenge the need (for schools at least) in using LMS solutions.  Yes the use of Moodle has recieved significant interest in schools however the question we need to ask is how are they using Moodle?  I suspect that most NSW schools are using Moodle simjply as a web publishing tool- to publish and store & retrieve resources. Only the  DE/CAP  schools, I’d argue are in anyway significantly utilising Moodle as a LMS- ie tracking student learning experiences, monitoring assessment work, creating collaborative and  shared resources and integrating  all facets of  online learning. LAMS on the other hand- has the potential to offer something different- based on learning design principles. Again its uptake seems restricted to the DE schools in this State.

 

Blogs in the institution

On the eve of trialling blogs in NSW DET, I’m wondering after many years of using traditional communications tools (forums, emails, listservs) , what the uptake will be. The use of traditional CMCs has been largely confined to teachers administrative and PD activities. Use of the tools in teaching and learning in the school sector has been probably undertaken as an adjunct to the use of an LMS such as Moodle, and only of any significance in the Distance Ed arena.

 

IWBs on a budget

Johny Lee blows away some  overheads in these two IWB demos, lets never assume we need to rely on the big end players to play…or learn

 

 

Connected classrooms

Recently started working with NSW DET Connected Classrooms Program with a visit to one of the schools consequently equipped with the suite of interactive whiteboards & video conference equipment. Sitting in a classroom built in the 1800’s now with state of the art online gear- the divide btween the two centuries clearly laid bare- and hopefully with it C18 teaching practice.  With now over 200 Video conference facilities installed across NSW – (ncl. my old country school at Inverell)- there was a genuine sense of celebration among educationalists and equipment vendors in the room. Backed by a largescale map of NSW – it was the perfect backdrop for an impromptu celebration. Knowing what is underpinning the hardware- access to great resources- and what is to come in the program- (learning tools )-  the time has arrived where State Education in NSW will truly embrace a genuine digital revolution- based not on tech driven silver bullets but real  commitment to appropriate pedagogical practice associated with the initiatives. 

 

More Shift happens

I know these are popular at the moment but this latest version is neat

 

 

 

Tools of the trade

New breed of Web 2 learning tools are appearing such as XTimeline (thanks Chris O’Neal). These I’d call conceptual mapping tools- rather than cognitive tools.  Xtimeline is a collaborative widget for creating, sharing & ranking timelines. I’d be interested in what other ‘visual Wikis’ exist -too many collaborative tools lack focus/specific purpose and only provide an environment for dialogue and transfer. These new breed of tools may well point the way for more meaningful joint construction, assisting teachers in specific conceptual tasks. The creation of such shells reminds me of ‘open’ learning objects’- a concept worth revisiting in relation to these products.

 

Appreciative Enquiry

Reading more on AI recently (methodology for  looking at the health of an organisation).The general philosophy of seeking what is good – positive values in an organisation and the Appreciative Inquiry cycle of Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny can be applied to a number of  other situations. Analysis for example of strengths and weaknesses of a product or application might also be better undertaken using this approach rather than classic SWOT or problem based analysis. 

 

Alan Levine-being there…

Alan’s presentation on behalf of the AFLF group in Sydney, was a whirlwind trip of Web 2 offerings. After a number of these events-its time to act on how we as educators/administrators can knock down -or at least provide gates in the walled gardens that surround our formal education environment. Alan’s visual metaphors of walls were very effective- maybe we need to adorn our offices with some of our own images. His (attribution) use of the term ‘permeable’ is also interesting in the context of providing access through these walls.