Author: Michael Chalk

Indigenous Australian map.. inspiring & interactive use of google maps

Michael ChalkLeave a commentadult literacy, e-learning, innovation

Impressive use of google maps over at the ABC web site. Moira and i were discussing this map of indigenous Australian languages.. so i looked to find some copies online while she looked in the book-on-shelf style atlas. Snap! We got our results at the same time. Since i first viewed the map (large poster print), i’ve loved the way it gives a sense of how geography has shaped cultural and language groupings over many thousands of years. You can almost see the mountains, the desert, the rivers reflected in Read More …

What is “the blogroll”? Your links out..

Michael ChalkLeave a commentUncategorized

The other thing people in the blogging world do is link to each other. People wanted to know how they read and then link to each other’s blogs. Of course there’s always a million ways to do any one thing, isn’t there! You could: subscribe via an RSS reader (eg google reader) – more complicated. add a “friend connection” (via google friend connect) – easy enough. add links in your page via the Layout > Add a Gadget tool – direct on the page. We went for the 3rd option, Read More …

What is "the blogroll"? Your links out..

Michael ChalkLeave a commentUncategorised

The other thing people in the blogging world do is link to each other. People wanted to know how they read and then link to each other’s blogs. Of course there’s always a million ways to do any one thing, isn’t there! You could: subscribe via an RSS reader (eg google reader) – more complicated. add a “friend connection” (via google friend connect) – easy enough. add links in your page via the Layout > Add a Gadget tool – direct on the page. We went for the 3rd option, Read More …

23 Things – intro to blogging

Michael ChalkLeave a commentace, professional development

Ancy, Soheir and Megan all valiantly posted their first blog messages to the world. Well done all three of you !! After nearly 40 minutes of michael talking about this mythical “Web2” experience.. it was truly time for some hands-on activity. Interesting to read people’s first impressions of blogging: Ancy said she could see they might be useful in some professions for communication, Soheir said she would need to explore the tool before deciding if it could be useful, Megan’s first impression says the blog wouldn’t measure up to email Read More …

Green is for listening? The trauma of windows volume control..

Michael ChalkLeave a commentclassroom, how to, technology

So Tina, one of our amazing English teachers at PRACE, comes in with our box of headsets, “Same question i ask you every Monday.. green is for listening?” This is one of the things that used to drive me crazy when we were running our Can You Hear Us? projects.. (No, not Tina.. the computers!!) (Beware: Rant Approaching.) Most of the windows/pc boxes have a colour coding for the audio sockets (green for listening, pink for speaking), but many headsets use a different colour code for their plugs (orange or Read More …

Victorian e-learning innovations: mid-year sessions

Michael ChalkLeave a commentace, e-learning

i’ve just listened to the mid-year presentations for the Victorian e-learning innovations.. As well as our own “flexivet” project (flexible delivery in ACE), here are my highlights from all the interesting projects out there.. Lynne Gibb presents: Coonara Community House using collaborative wiki, flip camera and mp3 players to build up resources for learning cultural diversity. Martin Bride from OnTrack in the Wimmera region: delivering literacy at a distance via wiki, with volunteer literacy tutors (Certificate of General Education for Adults (CGEA). A hugely challenging idea, given how difficult it Read More …

Psst.. knowledge-worker? You have mad skills?

Michael Chalk2 Commentse-learning, professional development

Nancy White was spurred into action by Tony Karrer’s “big question” of the month: what skills do knowledge-workers (or “learning professionals”) need (as we head into the teenies). But Tony was disappointed that Nancy listed only 4 “meta skills”: self-awareness, generosity, humility, and willingness to risk. .. because Tony was looking for the technical details, the actual “how do i learn” skills. So Nancy wrote a second version, this time elaborating on the abilities to: scan and filter (manage the “river of information”), connect with other people, synthesise the streams Read More …

How stylish and strategic are you?

Michael ChalkLeave a commente-learning, how to

Most people enjoy getting some feedback on their inner “nature”.. some better idea of who they are in different contexts. Surely this is why horoscopes are so popular, as well as identity quizzes (huge on Facebook – eg “Which Buffy character are you?“). A symptom of our Western cultural heritage where self-knowledge is not explicitly taught, leaving people hungry for any basic clues to who they might be. For any kind of structured learning, self-knowledge can be vital to your effectiveness. i know that i learn best when i have Read More …

Running out of room? Try multiple desktops

Michael ChalkLeave a commenttechnology

Here’s an interesting idea.. if you’re running a dozen apps, from web to word, audio, visual and social networking.. and you need some thinking space.. you could: a) close some apps, walk away from the computer and take a break, or b) try a virtual multiple desktop program. Linux has always had this built in.. (along with their far superior “Start menu”) but i’ve never been busy enough in Linux to use it. i was browsing through this list of “40 awesome apps” which are all tiny downloads (2mb or Read More …