What's happening around the region?

Here in the North-West, we've met with some inspiring educators from 8 different organisations.

It always intrigues me when i meet people who say, "We're real beginners with e-learning, we don't really know what we're doing," and then you find out they're already experimenting with all kinds of engaging practices in their classrooms. So often, people in adult education don't recognise what's already happening in their teachers' practice.

Here's a very brief overview of what people are working towards on these e-learning mentor projects. So far, people are looking to:

• find a way to enable the trainer to support many people at different levels of information and communicative technologies (ICT) awareness in the one "drop-in" session (RCLC),
• build up resources to share across English as a second language (ESL) classes using online storage & discussion space (wikispaces) (Yarraville, Laverton),
• employ presentation software to engage low-level language and literacy students, and expand techniques of using data projector in the classroom (JSS), 
• set up networks of students between different organisations, using "keypal" strategies (students email between classes) (Glenroy),
• engage staff via virtual staffroom to explore and share strategies for engaging learners (Lalor LLC), 
• build or adapt a model for blended learning across the organisation (Glenroy, AMCS), 
• explore ways to overcome student fears of technology (JSS), 
• find a learning management system (LMS) that suits learners at very low levels of technology confidence (AMCS). 

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Credits for photos in the presentation: Urban Don, Pixel Addict

Workshops coming up very soon (face-to-face)

In November, we have 2 half-day workshops for anybody in the region. The sessions are face-to-face, held at the CAE (Flinders Lane, Melbourne) and free to attend. Both sessions will have opportunities for networking activities & discussion, as well as Q&A problem-solving. Bookings are needed however. (Please use the form below.)

Day One:
Thursday 15 November 1:00 - 4:00pm
Working with images and photos -

• examples: flickr, instagram
• ideas for using photos in class
• books & zines with Publisher
• optimising images

Day Two: 
Tuesday 27 November 9:30am - 12:30pm
Exploring powerpoint and other slide-based presentation tools,

• for in-class face-to-face interaction
• teaching ideas
• hands-on practice
• audio in powerpoint

First meetings underway

What a great turnout we had last week for our "induction sessions" in at the CAE. Educators from nearly all organisations came along, and we talked about many things:

• what e-learning is, 
• what the issues are, 
• what you would like to learn about, 
• what you are doing already, and 
• various ways to stay in touch during the project. 

Here's the presentation from the day, including input from everyone in the room as we went along. You should be able to make this full-screen, and move through the slides. If you'd like to add or remove anything, please let us know via the comments or direct contact.

Which model of e-learning suits you?

Clint Smith is one amazing e-learning strategist. You may have seen him at the recent Victorian LearnLocal e-learning showcase. According to Clint, these 8 models are the most commonly understood representations of how people engage with e-learning in business and education.

We asked our participants which of the models were most likely to interest them. Blended Learning and Live Online Learning (aka web conferencing) were the most interesting.

We held a live poll in person at the North-West induction sessions, via sms and also the web. People could vote here on the page, but now voting is closed, and here are the results, showing a clear winner for "blended learning 2.0".

You need the Flash Player to view this page.

Didn't get to vote? Don't like the results? Maybe you agree, and would like to add something. Please leave us a comment below (look for the bit that says "(number) comments". I made this poll at smspoll.net, after seeing Michael Gwyther use it at a forum.

Session on voice tools with Coach Carole (Friday 07 Sept, midday)

Carole McCulloch is terrific. She used to work at the very amazing TAFE Frontiers, which was a kind of professional development peak body for e-learning in Victoria. They were hugely supportive of Adult Community Education (ACE) organisations at the time.

Coach Carole has been involved in the LearnLocal / ACE e-learning mentor project since the beginning, and when Carole runs a session .. you want to be there.

So today, at midday Friday 07 September, make sure you catch her session on "Inspiring and engaging learners with voice tools ..

Full details over in the ACE network Ning place.. via the events page. Direct link here.

The session is over, but the wonderful thing about web conferencing sessions in our "Blackboard Collaborate" space is that you can view the recordings later on. Here's the link to the session recording. (Thanks Carole, /via comments.)

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.

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.

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2011 from Jane Hart

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).

e-learning conference in Bendigo (join virtually)

You may not be able to attend the Bendigo e-learning LearnLocal conference in person, but you can attend virtually.

Happening Tomorrow!!
Friday 27 July

Via the ACE e-learning network, register for sessions.

Whether or not you've experienced web conferencing via the connection of "Blackboard Collaborate", you can always jump in and have a go. Attend a conference from your desk.

1. The main event page here [Link]. (login required, it's via the ACE e-learning network)
2. Sessions via the network event page.

Some great sessions on offer, more information via these links:

• Panel Session Online
• Session 2: Case Studies - Blended Learning Partnerships
• Session 3: Case Studies - What learners want - Current e-learning issues in regional communities
• Session 4: What Learn Locals need - Creating your Game Plan!
• Session 5: keynote - Facing the Future with Joyce Seitzinger