Author: Michael Chalk

Help: can we "flexibilise" certificate ii in IT?

Michael ChalkLeave a commentace, e-learning, technology

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 Read More …

Top 10 Tips – planning innovation (update)

Michael ChalkLeave a commente-learning, how to, innovation

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 Read More …

Recycle your old box

Michael ChalkLeave a commenthow to, technology

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 Read More …

ACE e-learning showcase: "yes we can"

Michael ChalkLeave a commentace

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 Read More …

digital literacies ..book arrives

Michael ChalkLeave a commentadult literacy, professional development, research

Very exciting news for me: a book landed on my doorstep. “Digital Literacies” edited by Colin Lankshear and Michele Knobel. Lynne and Sarah from Valbec’s “Fine Print” very kindly asked me to review it. The introduction sets out their agenda: Colin and Michele were looking for writers who would expound upon the notion of digital literacies as social practice, because: there is a huge diversity of understandings of “digital literacy”, which has an impact on policy around digital literacy; socio-cultural perspectives on “literacy as practice” are strong and useful, in Read More …

Workshop at Converge (Can You Hear Us?)

Michael ChalkLeave a commentace, e-learning, innovation, professional development

Reflections on the session for Can You Hear Us? .. at the Converge08 e-learning conference (5Dec). The workshop went reasonably well. Really interesting people in the room, and many of the people there had used some kind of audio technologies .. including Skype, language laboratory setup, Wimba voice boards. i came up with a kind of jigsaw / find your partner activity, that i think went well and was fun. (Each person opens a wiki page with instructions for what to do. Eg some people have to wink .. and Read More …

a literacy class goes well

Michael ChalkLeave a commentace, adult literacy, classroom

We’ve been studying the local shops and businesses. The other day, students used (digital) cameras to photograph some of the shops. We brainstormed a huge list of all the shops in the area. Then people wrote short descriptive pieces about some of the shops. They could work in ms publisher, powerpoint or on paper. As a group, we created texts on the big screen in powerpoint, and then added audio to the powerpoint slides. Most of the learners were not game to put their voice on record, so i recorded Read More …

Pacific Black Box film chosen for festival

Michael ChalkLeave a commentcommunity, innovation, technology

One of the films made during Georgia’s Pacific Black Box project .. has been selected for screening in the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. Good work ;-] Georgie (formerly with PRACE VCAL) went to Bougainville and the Carteret Islands earlier in the year to teach people how to use digital storytelling so they could bring the world into their lives .. You can see some of their films over on the blogspot. ( PS: holdthepress: the film won an award! from community prophets. Brilliant. ) Here’s one about the Read More …

Live session between classes

Michael ChalkLeave a commentace, community, innovation

Today was a roaring success, as we held a Live Session between two classes, one at Merrilands Community Centre and the other in Broadway in the heart of Reservoir. Both groups comprised English as a second language (ESL) learners. Tina and Jan and i came up with a way to use Skype to develop people’s language skills. Lately the students have been practising their descriptive skills, so we decided that each student would describe themselves over the skype phone, and the other group would guess who was speaking. Each group Read More …