23 August 2012

Let's start at the very beginning - new projects!



Great news everyone. There's a new round of e-learning projects about to be underway in the North-West LearnLocal region. Some organisations are returning, while others have been participating at the edges, and a few are complete newcomers to our network.

Welcome one and all. Here's the list of starters:
  • Australian Multicultural Community Services
  • Community West Inc
  • Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre
  • Jesuit Social Services trading as Jesuit Community College
  • Lalor Living and Learning Centre
  • Laverton Community Integrated Services Inc.
  • Richmond Community Learning Centre
  • South Kingsville Community Center
  • Yarraville Community Centre
It's always a good feeling at the beginning... the hope that you'll make new mistakes instead of the same old ones. Mistakes are necessary for learning, right? The enthusiasm that comes when people meet for the first time.

We're inviting all the participants to come join us for a face-to-face get-together, an "induction" to use the bureaucratic language. 

Either Tuesday 11 Sept, 9:30-12:20 or Thursday 13 Sept, 1:00-3:50pm. Both sessions at the Centre for Adult Education (CAE) at 278 Flinders Lane: Mezzanine Room CM12. Yes i left the location off the invitation email. Whoops. 

At the face-to-face get-together, we'll open up discussion on topics like these:

  • Overview of e-learning - what do people do already?
  • Goals of the project: trial something with learners.
  • What activities can work with your learners?
  • What do you want to learn, and how?
We'll tackle some technical skills, explore some communication tools, and talk logistics of how to connect, coming to visit you and so forth. 



Photo credit: (creative commons at flickr) Thanks: Pixel Addict.

12 August 2012

Jane Hart's top100 technologies for teachers

Jane Hart has been researching teachers' favourite technologies for teaching and learning for the past 5 years (UK). Here's a slideshow of the world's top 100 tools for learning (2011).

What are your top 5 tools for learning? You have around 15 days to vote in the 2012 poll, via this link here.

What do you think of the list? Please add your comment below.


03 August 2012

Brad Beach on Online Facilitation (15Aug)



Here's one that's too good to miss: via the TDC (Tafe Devt Corp), Brad Beach from GippsTafe talks about Online Facilitation.

Brad has been one of the truly significant leaders in this field for some time, and GippsTafe have run great workshops in online facilitation.

Online facilitation is one of the major skillsets that i think people often overlook as they get into setting up online communities and networks. Whether it's real time web-conferencing (synchronous) or round-the-clock discussion forums (asynchronous), there are many strategies you can collect and develop to help you draw people in and engage your community.

Yes it costs $60 and it's only an hour, but it would be worth signing up i'd say.

Register here (link).