Wednesday, September 27, 2006

FLNW#8 - LMS's Structured learning and Networking Groups in a Diverse World

This video was taken at John Eyles house on the 24th September and relates to the discussion around Northtec's Certificate in eLearning Design and Development. and the current discussion in the FLNW google group Networking groups in the diverse world.

Teemu with respect to learners who may not be comfortable with being put in an open networked online learning environment:

"I want to live my quiet life in my little hut and I'm happy there"

"Its exactly the same thing as a person who says please don't take my picture as it takes my soul. You don't have any counter argument to that. If I have the belief that it takes my soul then you should respect that."

 

I have no  philosophical treatise to add to the discussion all that I can say is as I read between the lines of the FLNW conversation I sense and hear the  individual human voice asking for respect recognition and consideration of their and their communities individualities and rightt to choose to set themselves apart from the nature of the unstoppable all consuming roar and hive of open networked electronic communication...

I expect the conversation to continue in FLNW google group...

 

Video learning objects

The FLNW event, what can I say enjoyed immensely learnt heaps and made some great friends along the way. The ripples of the event will follow check it out...http://flnw.wikispaces.com

I have a heap of video that I recorded, interviews with educators and gurus and some stuff we did for fun, stuff to go up over next couple of days...

I'm now back at work where we're looking at creating 'video learning objects' through TAFE online. Using Quicktime pro  we will be looking at  creating a clickable contextual video with a number of hotspots  linking to other sub videos or websites around the given subject area. http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/interactivity/

This video provides a bit of context for further discussion...

Sunday, September 24, 2006

FLNW #7 - Stephen Downes - Intellectual property, copyright, digital rights

Northland conference, 22nd September

http://flnw.wikispaces.com/northland 

FLNW #7 - Dr Andrew Higgins - Access & Equity - cultural and ethical - New teacher roles

22nd September 2006

The FLNW trip ended up in Northland to discuss the networked learning model, organisedb Stanley Frielick from Northtec. I have just looked at the FLNW google group, which has this feedback on the unconference format. :-)

"Hi Stanley I'd like to say thank you for helping organise such an amazing day. Afterwards I said ... when we met in the carpark that I'd never been to something so apparently disorganised and yet so successful. It was weird and wonderful - so wonderful that instead of disappearing to catch up on a mind-boggling backlog of work as I'd intended, I ended up staying as long as
I could. I'm a beginner in all this stuff, so I can only imagine how much all the local experts got out of the visiting ones. And it was great to see outsiders there too - an example of cooperation that's inspirational too. Thank you to all the people who organised it - including the great food-providors."

NorthTec Staff Member

During the day I interviewed a number of attendees around emerging themes, Dr Andrew Higgins a nd Stephen Downes being the highlights of the day. I think to date the FLNW discussion has been passionate and articulate in framing the networked learning model in the context of learning for the sake of learning, Andrew brings an educational organisation perpective not discuused to date...

The conversation will continue in the http://flnw.wikispaces.com/emergent+themes

It's the 24th September internet acccess has been sporadic along the trip, we're now all hooking up to John Eyles home network...

Thursday, September 21, 2006

FLNW #6 Insights from a range of teachers on the Future of Learning...

Libraries
...in a networked world... from our meeting with about 60 teachers from Christchurch College of Education.


Bakery

Selena Chan - http://mportfolios.blogspot.com

Selena drops great Web 2.0 tools to use with mobile devices...

FLNW #5 New ways to publish on demand, Lulu.com the FLNW book


Day 2 On the train (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluetrain) from Dunedin Taieri gorge railway, the FLNW spent 4 hours networking and sharing ideas with each other. In this video Leigh talks about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulu.com, and publishing on demand with a CD and book of the outcomes with media; photos, video, podcasts and blogspots (in additon to a free downloadable PDF from http://flnw.wikispaces.com... :-) Don't forget to check out the photos on http://flickr.com, search on the FLNW tag...

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

FLNW #4 Web 2.0 and networking with business



Tired with little sleep, but still inspired with the conversations and people I have met.


I had a great day here's a video of me tired and cranky at the end of a busy successful day evangelising Web 2.0 and networked learning, meeting some people from the Dunedin Business community, 28days training for the Real Estate Industy and http://silkbody.co.nz.

I've be looking for an alternative to text blogging and using the built in apple isight on my laptop to blog, it's more honest and spontaneous. I like the way this post reflects my body language and how tired I am (sleep was lacking for the past few days), it's me evolving to more real communication. This form of video blogging will start to become more common, especially when PC laptops get web cams and video with mobile devices becomes more cost effective. Having a threaded conversation of video posts could be the breakthrough in looking to engaging the greater majority with the networked model i.e. those who are perhaps not comfortable with the work time and nature of text blogging .




Talking about how we can use technology for communicating about our product.

Heres a 'silk' video we created with David and Emily we created using imovie and my camera...a quick and fun process...

FLNW #3 The conference is on the money

Some observations from the journey over to Dunedin New Zealand on what is going on in the mainstream press with Web 2.0 and social software, how it's affecting organisations and the way they work...the FLNW conference is on the money, we'll be talking about all things Web 2.0 ad networked learning...

http://flnw.wikispaces.com

Monday, September 18, 2006

RefrigerationED Teacher Network



Recently Les Tasker and i ran a networked learning PD workshop showing Refrigeration Trades Teachers how to start networking and sharing resources using http://Wikispaces.com, http://Gmail.com, http://Flickr.com, and htpp://del.icio.us as well as using video in the workshop. Check out http://refrigerationed.wikispaces.com

However it seemed using video with students in the workshop for formative assessment and resources most struck a cord with the group. Here's an interview with Glen Campbell an innovative teacher on using Video and new technologies in the classroom


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After some planning and scripting the team went through the process of creating video resources and and uploading to blip.tv. Here's an example from Bruce.


http://Blip.tv
is great in that when uploading the video you can cross post to other common Web 2.0 tools for your Network. For example in one hit you can post the video to blip.tv, post a link in del.icio.us, a photo of the video in flickr and a blog post for context. I've only just come across blip.tv through the TALO google group and will be using it as a key tool in professional development from now on. Cross posting saves time and will alleviate the frustration many networked learning PD participants of having to jump between Web 2.0 accounts to post information to the network. Yes Blip.tv rocks thanks Leigh for putting me onto it...

Check out http://glencampbells.wikispaces.com and how he has translated his networked PD into successfull learning outcomes for his students, in the space of two weeks!

'...my own knowledge and experience is limited to 41years, and the wealth of knowledge/experience/eyes/ears/humour that is out there is unlimited.'
Glen Campbell

I like the way Glen has imaginatively started to translate what he learnt to the curriculum for example using dfilm to link to a learning outcome, and most ahem coolly ;-) get his refrigeration students successfully using video to learn. Yes Glen Campbell rocks!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

FLNW #2 A taste of Wollongong

A short video of Wollongong NSW to show FLNW participants where I and JoKay are travelling from.

FLNW #1 Saying Hello - The day before 'The Future of Learning in a Networked World'

Planning my video diary

I'm attending the Future of Learning in a Networked World conference tommorow in Dunedin New Zealand, (http://flnw.wikispaces.com) and am looking at using video instead of text. The FLNW group will keep a video diary of the trip cross posting to blogs, del.icio.us flickr and the FLNW map http://communitywalk.com/map/18879

I won't be able to make the Marae but am sure it will be well documented :-)
, looking forward to catching up...

To start two vids from me:

I- One - What I hope to bring and gain from the conference

2- A taste of Wollongong NSW where I'm travelling from...

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Networking the family: figuring out how to use mobile phones to share stuff

A moment I want to share, the family figuring out how to bluetooth each other a funny video. We all had regular mobiles with a camera and bluetooth, many where unfamiliar how they worked, but with some playing the desire to learn and some pointers on recording video and using bluetooth to connect with each other and share files we successfully figured it out. After 30mins we where networking with each other, easy!

Networking using the mobiles many students all ready have to teach and learn can be easily done in the classroom! Just try/do it with students perhaps even ask a colleague techie friend family member for help!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

But seriously...this incredible universe of knowledge out there




Some choice exerpts from Al Gore, I want to hightlight and share, he was interviewed by Andrew Denton last night on the ABC. He spoke of the threat of climate change (Also in 'TED talks' video above).

What he said directly relates to the potentialities and importance of openly sharing knowledge to address problems collectively through the networked learning model...

ANDREW DENTON: How do we break that? How do we break that nexus between corporate interests and the way political decisions are made?


AL GORE: Well, I think that focusing on the role of money in politics is part of it. But I think that it's really addressing one of the symptoms rather than the cure. I think that the larger challenge is to democratise the dominant medium, and fortunately, there are now new affordable digital video cameras and laptop editing systems, and young people particularly are learning how to use them. I have started a new television network called 'Current TV', and it's on cable and satellite in 30 million homes in the US, and you can get a training course. We give a free training course to anybody in the world on how to make television. Then they stream the TV to us on the Internet, we post it, and let people vote on what they think the most compelling material is. Now, 30 per cent of our programming is made by the viewers. And if individuals in a nation or in a society are empowered to take part in the conversation, the key is having a meritocracy of ideas so that the people who are part of the conversation themselves decide which of the contributions from all these individuals merit more attention rather than less.

__________

Example from http://youtube.com:

__________

AL GORE: (Laughs) That's truly ENOUGH ROPE! But seriously... The Internet allows individuals to get into contact with this incredible universe of knowledge out there, and it allows individuals to take part in the conversation. It has been that individuals find like-minded groups, and that's not entirely bad, but the Internet has not become a main public forum. With television, it is possible for individuals to contribute short-form, non-fiction essays, if you will - here's what I see in my world. Make it creative. The essays attracted an audience depending upon the excellence of the prose, the style of the writing as well as the quality of the ideas and in that same way, these televised expressions have to be compelling and attract their own audience, and as they do, what it can happen is the television medium can be the forum that it was intended to be so that we can once again have a conversation of democracy that is not dominated by Exxon Mobil financing these insipid ads for the virtues of carbon dioxide, but rather, individuals can make their own case...

AL GORE: It can seem to move very slowly, but when we aren't noticing it, it can cross a tipping point and then shift into an entirely different gear and move with incredible speed. We have done that in our democracies in the past. We are close to doing that in reaction to the climate crisis. We will cross that tipping point when enough people internalise the truth of our situation. We have to disenthrall ourselves from the propaganda, from the advertising, from the falsehoods, from the illusions, and we have to see the reality of this new relationship we have to the earth...

and each other...

Friday, September 01, 2006

Networked Professional Development - Collaborate with our peers and everyone can get more work done with less effort

Mlearning - Using pdas and mobiles in the workplace

It's Sunday afternoon, I'm enjoying a glass of wine and preparing a session plan for another networked learning workshop tomorrow on my PDA. Just to demonstrate the full use of this little gadget & to see how user friendly it is. I will be applying the use of this technology for for the group of refrigeration trades teachers I'm preparing for tomorrow. We will be exploring the use of PDA's & mobiles in the workshop-teaching environment...

I'm also been invited to set up a forum for September for Web2.0 'newbies' as part of the EDNA groups 2006 community forum on 'Cool Web 2.0 tools'.

'We have been on a vertical learning curve using internet tools unheard of in the civilised world. There is so much information to absorb that the brain is now mush and open for extraterestial infiltration.'Refrigeration teacher

One teacher wrote on his blog :-) after two days of intensive Web2.0 Networked Learning PD, using the Web2.0 tools to go on and network with his colleagues & build his own 'Personal Learning Environment' (PLE). This can only be encouraging, as we have come a long way in just 12months.

This time last year at the The Learning Powerhouse - Conference on VET Teaching and Learning Pedagogy September 2005 I did a presentation on networked professional development. I thought I'd lost the podcast of the session but was pleased to recently find it on the ICVET site. Listening to it a year later I'm publishing it for interested 'newbies' to web 2.0 (Like me at the time, my learning never ends) who have not made the transition to using Web2.0 technology in day to day teaching with some PD strategies for coping...


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Note: In the 2005 podcast I talk about teachersmart and smartconvert, we now talk about teacherconnect professional development, a team based approach using a variety of Web 2.0 technologies...

'Lets really focus on the benefits of networking because thats where it's at, networking will allow us to share capabilities ideas and project work. It will allow us to share resources even physical work spaces once the culture and internet connections are in place. The increase in shared knowledge and skills will be exponential as soon as that process gets started. The wonderful thing about networked professional development is it promotes something I see lacking , something I joke about; working together, networking promotes team environments and fosters a commitment to work towards the same goals for the benefit of all, thats somewhere where we have to get to...' Steven Parker - 'Empowerment Through Technology' ICVET Presentation September 2005

In relation to Professional Development the gist of the 'Empowerment Through Technology' podcast is the same as a previous post Open Networked and Hands On (replace the word student with teacher...;-)