electro-textual

Looking back over 2007, it was an extraordinary year, but i rarely had the energy to write here at all. I’d intended to use this place for reflecting on my research readings. i ended up just writing the thesis instead.

One of the best projects in years was “Access ACE“, an investigation into flexible learning in Adult Community Education (ACE). Josie Rose managed somehow to negotiate with all of the regional and central managers at ACFE (the Adult Community Further Education board), and win them over to see the potential benefits for “a clever use of ICT” in ACE.

With the help of Delia Bradshaw, Josie brought in educators from around Victoria, to conduct their own research projects in the classroom.

So that’s the context. There’s plenty more information on these wonderful projects.

The reason i’m writing is because i just found a piece written by me, earlier in the year .. about Hopes and Fears for flexible learning in ACE. This was part of a wider discussion amongst educators and stakeholders.

This is a good time of year to regenerate your dreams for the future, so i’m glad i found this right now .. my favourite lines in the piece?

Hopes

• our teaching and learning community intranet is linked from the local library computers, via desktop and CD; we run blended e-learning sessions through local libraries;
• digital storytelling projects across Reservoir provide local residents with a way to share their stories and connect with each other, bringing laughter and tears into public places;

Fears

• We end up with multiple competing systems, eg moodle, outlook, wordpress, mediawiki, and lack the technical expertise to string them all together;
• I can’t get the message across;

But the best were my ..

Crazy Dreams

• small community providers can find a way to access world markets, and boost their income streams through publishing;
• ace providers join forces to create a broadcasting network, with TV and radio online, where adult learners may discover the joys of using technology to connect with people around the world;
• ace providers join forces to negotiate a super broadband deal across the nation;
• a data projector in every room, and laptops for every student becomes the norm for ACE providers across the state;

Yes i still have these crazy dreams .. and more!

A very funny take-off of Amy Winehouse, here we have Amy Brickhouse singing about the Wii.

Why did they call it a Wii? (Oh, of course, it’s wireless and the (ii) represents two people standing, waving their arms in 3D space.)

i wonder how long before we’ll get wii-based games in the classroom? They could suit some people better, because of the different physicality – you’re really bodily involved in the game (from what i gather .. never touched one. What a dullard.)

Must confess i’m waiting for the day when we put on virtual reality gloves, and join the multiple-input computer. Sure, wireless keyboards, tablets and Wii-gadgets are a good start ..

Did everyone see Johnny Chung Lee’s remarkable hack to make the Wii recognise fingers moving in space? (More details, more ideas at his site.)

That reminds me, must see if i can persuade workplace to buy a wireless graphic tablet this year.

i thought this was a joke video at first. You know, the web is broken, and you can fix it from your own work station. No, i hadn’t thought what the punchline might be, which is why i watched the video. An engaging, well-told three-minute overview of how you can fix web sites that you don’t like, using Greasemonkey, a plugin for firefox.

i’ve had the plugin for ages, but never known what to do with it; always seemed too technical, even for me. But this quick flick shows you how to
a) make myspace palatable
b) find plugin scripts for your plugin

Maybe i’ll give it another go.