'Asynchronous'

After going to http://www.dictionary.com/ and defining the intinal term i feel a bit more confident in commenting. It is interesting to note the explosion in blogging and podcasting as opposed to discussion board.

It is interesting to see the expansion of every ones blogs and comments and i know which one i prefer but are they really the same thing. I think the comparison between wiki and LMS mirrors this exact argument. One is alot more structured and linear while the other's advantage lies in the potential of where it can head.

Steven Downes in his article educational blogging openly suggests the tool is wonderful. Blogs, podcasts wikis all have a web 2.0 feel where there it little restrictions on where the 'student'/participant can go. It is almost refreshing to have this educational freedom in schools these days. This could be why it is so popular with younger children. Their minds think more laterally before the weight of the world or school crushes their infant souls.

It is also very interesting to note that in the Steven Downes article that a major by-product of blogging has been the sheer increase in student writing. As someone who has taught yr 9 boys English anything to get students to jot down their ideas and thoughts has to be a positive thing.

(It's not bad in 4 year old boys as well as my son can show!!)

Teaching the Teachers to Teach Online

I found this article to be extremely riveting. As someone who is responsible for staff development it has raised some interesting notions especially that of diffusion of innovation (my new favourite term) I realise that the training ideas and focus was directed to higher educational institutions however many of the same concepts and issues run through to the secondary system.
The factors that influence the rate of adoption are very much like individual learning styles for anyone facing new technologies.

• Advantage
• Compatibility
• Complexity
• Trialabiltiy
• Observability

These factors are very pertinent in our own educational climate and something that policy makers need to look at before enforcing any curriculum changes. In light of the fact current statistics show students in our classroom, on average, will have 10-14 different careers in their lifetime we must be prepared and proactive to ask or apply these factors to everything we do.

Is it practical to institutionally embed formal qualification for all teachers. The latest release from the VIT has mooted all teachers to complete professional development of 100 hours over 5 years both internally or externally. Can this move be used as a justification for staff to be embedded??

This of course can be done online (OHHH the irony!!) but i know from personal experience that my skills in IT have grown exponentially since enrolling in an online subject earlier this year.

Links to the Skype instructions

I placed these on the discussion bd but you may wish to access thenm from here

Voice recorded part 1:

http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/@@A3824F292A0F06D389FC203D7C57EE4F/courses/1/485601_2007_2/db/_144781_1/Skype%20instructions%20part%201.swf


Voice recorded part 2:

http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/@@A3824F292A0F06D389FC203D7C57EE4F/courses/1/485601_2007_2/db/_144783_1/Skype%20instructions%20part%202.swf

Basic intro:

http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/@@A3824F292A0F06D389FC203D7C57EE4F/courses/1/485601_2007_2/db/_143080_1/skype%20animation%202.swf

Link to my podcast

I have finally worked out how to use Podomatic and have recorded some ramblings on things to consider when educating the youth of today. I have found the podcasting thing to be a sensation and the mind boggles on the uses in the classroom. I have downloaded heaps of relaxation and meditation sessions as well as some educational reviews and even copied the great speeaches of history. I have had some experience with podcasts when i purchased an ipod earlier this year and went to itunes but i didn't realise just how easy it was. Look out world the web is just about to hear a few more 'soapbox' sessions form a disgruntled Deputy Principal.

I would be very interested in how teachers use this stuff in the classroom, and some examples of good practice.

Check the link out below.

http://oetsamuelw.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-08-30T04_22_17-07_00

Using Captivate 2

For those of you whom happened to listen to the hilarity posted about the Skype pages and thought "Wow I wish I could do that!" Have no fear the program I used to create that was called "Captivate 2".

It is the easiest program (outside Word, Excel, Access ~ well pretty easy anyway) program that I have used. I happened to obtain a trial copy from work (Those IT guys really look after the Deputy up here, I guess they know who butters their bread).

You can download a trial copy from the Adobe website and record to your hearts content.

Using blogs

After just becoming proficient in 'skype' and online discussion using blackboard I'm being faced with a digital curve ball in having to skill myself with some new IT skills to keep up with the class.

I am very aware of the irony of my situation having taught for a few years and me doing this to the students on a weekly basis. If all those student could see me now.

I think it may be the digital version of 'Give me a fish and i will feed for a day, teach me to fish and i will feed for a lifetime' but not too sure if I am the fish or the worm sitting on the end of a hook!!!

My first time!

Welcome all to what no doubt will be an insightful, engaging and informative blog!!!

Yeah we can all dream!