Monday, October 20, 2008

More visits

Mt Eliza Village Neighbourhood Centre
Have joined the SMR team as a late but enthusiastic starter. We (Marilyn Pelman, Kathryn Mathews and I) had some very interesting discussions around their idea - creating online access to learning resources and documents for their learners. We explored ADDIE, e-learning opportunity analysis and e-business plans and finally learning objects available through Toolbox website and LORN - Marilyn & Kathryn have also signed up for all the ACFE e-learning online workshops. Left them with a range of goodies including Clint Smith's 'Getting started with e-learning' map/flowchart.

Mornington Community Contact
To add to Mornington CC digital diaries project Anita Weaver and I had a really good PD session around digital storytelling. Since my last visit MCC students (led by Glenda) have learnt about digital cameras and how to use digi images. We explored some examples, looked at Andrea Coghlan's Photostory 3 Balloons activity and discussed issues such as software/hardware requirements and copyright. Again left Anita with a CD of goodies. One odd issue that has arisen - MCC's new computers don't have sound cards.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

October update

At the moment I am visiting project teams to see where they're at and how I can help them. So far

PTEP: Kirsty Smith has made giant leaps with TAFEVC & Blackboard. PTEP have established their own presence on TAFEVC and Kirsty is creating a Food Preparation & Handling module that contains resources & assessment tasks. Kirsty has utlised a free e-learning authoring tool CourseLab - http://www.courselab.com/ - to create learning modules. During our meeting we had a look at TAFEVC Blackboard Grade book given PTEP next step is to enroll some students into the module.

Keysborough Learning Centre are also going down the TAFEVC route to create OHS modules for Aged Care & Child Care courses. At the moment I am helping them to transform existing resources into a learning module. From that we'll move on to assessment tasks. There have been some hurdles related to the current format of existing resources and content. KLC plan to adopt what I call the GippsTAFE module. That is, have team subject teachers with a person who has knowledge of flexible delivery and TAFEVC Blackboard learning management system to create modules, assessment tasks etc and then develop teachers skills in how to handle teaching side of TAFEVC.

SandyBeach have added another dimension to the e-learning tool they originally proposed to explore. In addition to virtual conferencing technology they are also looking at MS Sharepoint for content and document management. Discussions with Trina Williams who is one of SandyBeach's special projects team about this revealed that their major concern about MS Sharepoint was not the technology but getting the teachers on board. Have suggested that Trina contact Dorothy Lucardie of BRACE who also use MS Sharepoint

Thursday, September 4, 2008

September update

Since our last meeting some issues & activities have been discussed and plans developed.

Eluminate: ALA (Adult Learning Australia) has a 25 seat room available for use to ACE organisations
nationally. If you would like to book a sessions contact Josie Rose. They
are in the process of setting up and online booking system.

TAFEVC: given our region's change of name TAFEVC presence has been updated to 'Southern Metropolitan ACE Learning Community' url www.tafevc.com.au/smalc The old url will re-direct automatically to this area. Logins and passwords remain the same.
TAFEVC have introduced a new add-on product to MS Word to make life easier for those interested in creating content for TAFEVC: Wimba Create (formerly known as Course Genie. You might like to check it out at http://www.wimba.com/products/wimbacreate/

Converge: possibility of creating some regional digital stories to showcase out work. Poster session and or presentation. Maybe keep it
in mind when organising sessions- i.e. take lots of pictures!

Vic E-learning advisory group;
please let me or Josie know if there are any emerging
regional e-learning issues that affect ACE delivery that I can
raise at those meetings.

Vic e-learning free online workshops. As part of this project a schedule of online workshops has been developed to provide an opportunity for yoou to explore aspects of e-learning. Josie will distribute the full schedule to you once dates are confirmed. But, given that the first one is rapidly approaching - and that I will be away for a few weeks I thought that I would mention the first one:

15 Sept:
10 – 11.30

Wikis in education in ACE
Lynne Gibb and Josie Rose

To book

Email Kathy Jagan at:
Kathy.jagan@dpcd.vic.gov.au

All sessions online through Elluminate


Future workshops will cover topics such as podcasting, Camstudio, more on wikis, planning e-learning, Moodle, moving a face-toface course online, blogs and Second Life.

National September 'e-Gems' sessions
A number of you may be interested in these upcoming virtual classroom sessions. These FREE sessions are provided by the national training system's e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework ( Framework). There is NO NEED to register. Just click on the associated link to enter the session up to one hour before the scheduled time. E-learning research reports:

E-learning for mature age workers
E-learning for small business.
Presenter: Annie Fergusson,
Business Manager of the Framework's

Benchmarking and Research business activity
Date: Wednesday 17 September 2008
When: 1:00 - 2:00pm (AEST)
Where: http://tinyurl.com/5skwu3

And finally I'll be away for 2 weeks on holiday from Sat 6 September. Western Australia here we come!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The journey continues

Yesterday we had a very successful team meeting in Elluminate. It proved a more stable platform than previous Live Classroom experience for Sandybeach network. The link to the archived recording has been provided to team members. Meeting agenda
  • Examine Elluminate from a presenters/moderators perspective
  • Update the team about your project
  • Gather suggestions for a final show & tell
  • Southern Metropolitan ACE Learning Community?

Projects seem to be chugging along - although some need to find another gear. Some observations:

SandyBeach (Trina, Elaine, Rosemary & all): now that network is sorted have become re-energised about using conferencing software for meetings. Musing: maybe SandyBeach should purchase their own 10 seat Elluminate licence.

PTEP (Kirsty & Steve) are a good way down the TAFEVC Blackbboard track. This has been assisted by the work that Kirsty has already done to create LMS compatible content in Course Lab - http://www.courselab.com/ Musing: maybe PTEP should explore having their own presence on TAFEVC.

PAEL (Lyn & Sandie) are starting to spread the use of Skype in their organisation - major selling point reduce costs - major difficulty ICT skill level of some staff & committee members. Next step is to investigate Live Messenger.

KLC (Mary & Marj) working on content for their TAFEVC OHS & module. Musing: we need to spend more time looking at TAFEVC Blackboard features.

Mornington Community Contact (Andrea & Glenda) 'show & tell' visit introduced them to the simple wonders of PhotoStory. Again ICT skill level of learners an issue - will probably only offer it to more advanced members of digital diaries group. Lyn's comment: good to see this very small provider excited about extending what they can offer students and their community.
Glen Eira Adult Learning (Melodie) their project will be about providing online access to language and literacy resources for their volunteer tutors. Discussed TAFEVC Blackboard, MS Sharepoint & Moodle. Looks like Moodle has more appeal and Melodie sounds like she has the skills to deploy it. It will be interesting to see whether Glen Eira can be a passenger on the good ship Edna groups or decide to build their own ship. But beware of the rocks known as ‘copyright’ and conditions of use. As we also discussed it might be worth checking with commercial suppliers such as New Horizons as well as Australian Training Products.

Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre - hmm... not sure that 'Let the games begin' will really happen. Maybe pursue idea with Pam - could be a 'taster' workshop for re-launched Southern Metropolitan ACE Learning Communities.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Project update - 29 July 2008

Let the games begin!
Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre: Had a free ranging discussion with Pam Gates, Andrea Coghlan & Marj Sjostrom about developments in e-learning and how this might fit into a topic to explore for the current project. The next step for this expert group seems to be have some fun with a games approach that integrates e-learning. So this is what we will explore. A first step will be to locate a few good examples eg a copy of a TAFEVC module 'Virtaul car rally' , 'Amazing race' developed by a tutor in Hastings and some webquests.

Skype me
Peninsula Adult Education and Literacy Inc. Lyn, Sandie & I have been playing with Skype as a first step in utilising VOIP and other messagiging/conference systems to add a further dimension to the ways a very ACE small provider can communicate with its community of learners, teachers and volunteers. Next step is to add video (memo to self find that webcam!). We will also look at Microsoft Live.

Live Classroom
SandyBeach Centre. A semi-disastrous introduction to virtual conferencing software doesn't seem to have dampened Sandybeach's enthusiasm for its possibilities. Next steps: check out Sandybeach's computer settings with IT manager Trina Williams and have another go. Sandybeach envisage being able to use Live Classroom for managment & staff meetings.

Occupational health & safety
is the theme of Keysborough Learning Centre's e-learning project. They will utilise TAFEVC to make available a module of the Children's Services & Aged Care training package: Participate in workplace safety procedures. Project has 3 stages: Stage 1 Develop TAFEVC module; Stage 2 Release it teachers to use and explore; Stage 3 Release it to students. Next steps: Mary S to create TAFEVC shell and identify any possible learning objects for CHCOHS301A Participate in workplace safety procedures.

Ideas awaiting action
Melodie from Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre who would like to have a common sharing point for volunteers.
  • Steve Wright from Peninsula Training and Employment Program who would like to provide online TAA resources.
  • Anita and Glenda from Mornington Community Contact would like to create a program around digital diaries for older members of their community.

Monday, June 30, 2008

What this blog is about

ACE - adult and community education in Victoria Australia

The 2008 ACFE e-learning – VicGovernment program
will deliver workshops and provide state-wide mentoring support that will provide a framework for establishing an ongoing network of learner focused e-learning leaders in 2009, and continue to build on and integrate the considerable knowledge and skills developed in the ACE sector.

Managing blended e-learning
In Southern Metro a diverse group of providers will be looking at managing blended learning and unpacking the question “What is in it for us?” In particular they will develop ideas around blended learning related to service provision, course delivery and/or teacher and learner support through a small work-based learning project. The project proposes that an ementor (Mary Schooneveldt)work with interested ACE Managers and/or Co-ordinators to better equip them to respond to community needs and opportunities related to e-learning and e-business.

Where we're at...

20 May 2008 we met as a group at LongBeach Place Chesea. Providers are now confirming their participation via an expression of interest document due Wednesday 18 July. Then we get down to the nitty gritty of refining ideas and adding more 'e'.

26 & 26 June 2008 - online meetings in Live Classroom with
1 SandyBeach Counity Centre who wanted to explore Horizon Wimba Live Classroom tool as a means of providiong out of class support. We looked at virtual meeting/classroom tool and how it has been used by Mary to conduct workshops related to training and assessment certificate (TAA).
2 Team meeting - explored current issues and how adding some 'e' might help plus how to create a business proposal with an elearning focus.

26 June 2008
PAEL - f2f meeting with Lyn & Sandie with Mary Schoonevelldt at Peninsula Adult Education and Literacy, Rosebud.

27 June 2008
KLC - f2f meeting with Mary & Marj with Mary Schooneveldt at Keysborough Learning Centre.
KLC wish to make existing vocational education and training units that they currently deliver available online. Are likely to utilise TAFEVC (Blackboard). Will explore a model of partnering a technical expert with a teacher to achieve this.