electro-textual

Another course in online facilitation from Gipps Tafe. Missed this opportunity last year, and i want to make up for it this time around. No it’s not really about synchronicity, rather synchronous online facilitation skills (ie / live, same-time web conferencing sessions).

Jonathan Finkelstein is good. He’s one of the real pioneers in this multi-venue seminar facilitation caper.

But the first round of the course clashes with the ACE e-learning showcase.

“Following on from Jonathan Finkelstein’s highly successful visit to Australia in 2008 GippsTAFE is pleased to announce in collaboration with Learning Times the opportunity for Australian educators to participate in the highly acclaimed Certified Synchronous Training Program (CSTP).”

Post script: i ended up doing the course in September ’09 – it was informative and fun.  i would highly recommend it to anyone interested in facilitating synchronous online events. Jonathan is full of useful knowledge and strategies, he’s very engaging and charming; plus he has good support from a couple of local colleagues while he runs the course from New York City (Malcolm Jolly and Michael Coghlan in this case).

Links:

• The course page at Gipps TAFE.
• Here’s their ’09 brochure in PDF format: finkelstein-cstpsemone09emailversion 124kb.
• For further information contact Malcolm Jolly malcolmj[at]gippstafe.vic.edu.au, (03) 5120 4532

photo credit: Jeff Cushner

Our adult education co-ordinator at PRACE is looking to develop a flexible learning unit for the certificate ii in information technology – ie self-paced with support.

i’ve had a thought to do some kind of blended digital imaging course using web applications and social software. However Robyn Jay says the Cert’s in IT are far too desktop-bound for that, and that we’re better off looking at communications skills or a media unit.

i think we’re going to try and run it past the curriculum managers anyway (because we don’t have those multimedia certificates on our scope).

So here’s a call for help: do you know of anyone delivering the Cert I or II in IT on a flexible learning basis? Or do you know of a good set of resources (on CD or web) that can be used to teach the certificate?

thanks ;-]

Postscript: Maybe (seeking permission now) we can use some of the resources from the old RMIT Learnlinks learning network (Learnlinks), or from the microsoft “unlimited potential” project, or the Truvision toolbox (thanks Chris Sutton).

i’m surprised there isn’t a toolbox exactly tailored to certificate ii in ICT. Maybe it’s just too dull and dry. All those Watsonia and Data Discovery manuals are too expensive for our learners.

Double Postscript: here’s the set of notes i drew up for Ancy with an idea of gathering existing free tutorials (i wonder if i should be keeping this private.)

photo credit: Posini jauna

Via amazing Rose inside the Australian flexible learning framework, a video with Top Ten Tips for success in e-learning innovations. (See my viewing notes further down the page.)

Great to see Dora and Josie first up, and then Georgina coming in second, followed by Brad and Vanessa. All visionaries with the practical genius to get things done.

Top Ten Tips for your E-learning Innovations Project in 2009 from E-learning Innovations on Vimeo.

“Successful 2008 project participants share their advice on how to approach your 2009 Australian Flexible Learning Framework E-learning Innovations project. Applications open now until 5 March 2009.”

Oh look they included a soundbite from me too .. clearly i need guidance on talking to a video camera. Must be the nerves.

Update: here are the notes i took while watching the video:

1) Focus on a genuine need: find a problem that needs solving; get the objective in one paragraph, and make sure your partners agree with that;

2) embed genuine solutions: look at your returns on investment, and strategic ways of embedding the e-learning .. if partnering with business, make sure you make their needs central to the plan;

3) build on strong relationships: don’t start from scratch, work with existing projects and partners .. take them further; partnership is about relationship; you’ll need lots of trust and respect in your partnerships; keep communication close;

4) put learners at the centre: be really clear with all your stakeholders, ask students where they want to go and listen to their response; find innovative solutions to meet the needs of multiple people with full-time demands;

5) use what’s already there: eg networks and stakeholders; build on past projects; eg “innovate & integrate” from Marie Jasinski;

6) apply sound educational design: Gipps Tafe finds existing products and customises with a facilitation model to embed; choose products that suit the medium; trial new products with end-users from the very beginning, and tailor it along the way; look for the best of both worlds, eg scenario-based learning with competence touchstones;

7) plan: for time, people, stakeholders; start early in preparation and equipment; change can be scary; clear in goals and rationale, especially considering end users; have a really strong team, especially manager and facilitator;

keep it simple: some things take longer than you think they will; “consider everything possible up front”;  “start small, and choose a technology that’s easily accessible” (Josie); simple and straightforward, time-saving;

9) ask for help: draw on your networks;

10) apply now, only got until 5th march.

Funding Links:

• Victorian government: multimedia Victoria has a bucket of spending cash;
• Australian Flexible Learning Framework also has some innovation money.

Maria asked me about places to recycle old computers.

By coincidence, i visited the Darebin recycling place the other day .. and it’s really close to central Reservoir. The Byteback scheme in Reservoir takes computer that are really broken and not worth fixing, (more about Byteback Victoria here)

If you think your computer might be useful to someone else, there are a few different schemes:

• GreenPC refurbish old computers for people without much cash,
• Business 2 community recyclers do something very similar (in Thomastown),
• Computer Bank Victoria has a page on how to recycle your computer .. they also refurbish old machines for people with health care cards.

Computer bank say they have recycled machines for as low as $15!

Reminds me of a  learning resource i stumbled on a couple of years back, about the other end of the  computer recycling journey, which i wrote about here: ‘how to buy a computer, for abe students’.

photo credit: ((april))

photo credit: Renan_Birck

Closer by the minute, the “E-Learning Showcase ’09: Celebrating good practice in e-learning in ACE” is looking terrific already.

The theme of the day is “Yes we can“, and it’s all about finding the easiest ways to give your students more flexible options for learning. Multimedia, group writing, social networking .. online resources for your classroom.

With Delia Bradshaw giving her perspective on “The Power of e”, and Michael Coghlan on “Tools and technologies for forming communities: Yes We Can” .. it’s going to be an inspiring day.

Friday 20th March in Melbourne, at William Angliss Inst. overlooking the lovely Flagstaff Gardens, minutes walk from Flagstaff Station. Only $82.50 registration, deadline now extended to the 13th March.

Get your program on the on the site wiki / wibsite: eshowcase.acfe.vic.edu.au/

i’ll be presenting one session based on the Can You Hear Us? project, and another with Lynne Gibb the wiki magician from Coonara community house.
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Also you can join the ACE e-learning network over at acenetwork.ning.com/

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photo credit: gptraveler