Sliced Bread

“Government Wastes Money on Digital Revolution” states Professor Michael Gaffney, of the Australian Catholic University and joint editor of a recently released book, “Leading A Digital School”

Mal Lee, his offsider and co-editor, goes on to say;

Only when the vast majority of Australia’s teachers are using the appropriate digital tools as a normal part of their everyday teaching, and are provided all the requisite development and support from the school and system leaders can Australian education begin to assist enhanced national productivity

Other comments on the book include

Leading a Digital School provides a wake up call that every federal and State Government Minister and every educator should read. The time to change is nearly beyond us” Daniel Petre - Executive Chairman, Netus.

I support John Travers when he says in his evaluation of the book at me.ed.au,

 ICT can help achieve more open learning but the technology itself will not make it happen. That makes me a Realistic Reformist I guess.

On Tuesday 19th August, Leading a Digital School, edited by Mal Lee and Michael Gaffney, was launched in Canberra by Cheryl O’Connor, CEO of Australian College of Educators.

Now I know the context and origins of this great video I originally found on teachertube. A thought provoker, use it in staff developments.

This public service campaign video was filmed at the CoSN (Consortium for School Networking) annual conference. The wisdom with which educational leaders like Alan November, Greg Whitby, and Stephen Heppell explicate the urgency of giving teachers the tools to connect with 21C learning and their students is poignant in this video. The massive task of making schooling relevant for today’s learners is communicated with precision. These international educators recognise the need to shift our thinking at all levels by being innovative, thinking creatively and developing 21st century pedagogies that will inspire this generation of learners.

Added to this video I reflected on Michelle Baldwin’s direct questions in ‘A Call to Act Now’.

I’m posing these questions to YOU– is it educational malpractice to exclude digital literacy as part of the curriculum? Is blocking Web 2.0 tools from kids during the school day a necessary measure to protect them? or is it actually educational malpractice? Is ignoring the wealth of information and knowledge available on the web justified because of all the garbage on the web? Or is it educational malpractice?

A very happy teacher this morning. I was sent a link to the TaLe Share site this morning. Thanks Maree.

Many excellent resources for the implementation of the CCP at DET site as well.

The DET powerpoint will be useful for staff information.

DET NSW Connected Classrooms Program - An Introduction

Most links shown on the PP will be also useful as Public Schools introduce these technologies.

I even found the brouchure for the CCP conference at Brighton on 24th June 2008. I’m hoping this conference will be repeated (or web posted) as more schools get connected. Looks to be a comprehensive and worthwhile program.

NSW DET CCP FAQ\’s If you need to know more.

Elaine sent me this draft DET policy for blog and wiki use. Blogs and wikis are allowed in DET classrooms after a filter/unblock request is sent (and all relevant policies followed of course). Laborious but I can see why it has to be this way. (band width, appropriatness, follow all web safety policies etc etc)

I found it to be enligtening as well. draft_guidelines_blog_and_wiki_sites1

Thank you to all the helpful people at DET, TaLe and North Coast Regional ICT who have responded to my requests for more information. You help is much appreciated Maree, Elaine and Phillip.

I feel my winter holidays have been well spent on something I am enthusiatic about. More questions have been answered that will now lead to the next ones. Great stuff.

(footnote: I sort of still wish DET was open apps without the need for a Portal, but at least now I can now start to see what their philospohy is, “Build it and they will come” and ”Not let the inmates run the asylum”.

Now I know what my new word of the day is, I’m not so sure I want to go that far that fast, seeing as though even blogs and wikis are still foreign words in NSW DET filter speak.

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework 2007 trial in a TAFE VET setting makes for intesting reading on trialing heutagogy.

Issues and problems are highlighted but these quotes are worth reflecting on.

The students were instructed in the use of technology, including laptops, iPods, mobile phones, webcams, video cameras and digital cameras. They were also instructed in how to create podcasts, upload digital content and use various software including Audacity, Photoshop and Windows Movie Maker.

As a lecturer, I learnt many things from the students. I now know what technologies they prefer to use and I believe that this project has given me the experience to develop more meaningful delivery alternatives for future classes. It has also provided me with an insight as to how young people learn through using technology.

Most importantly this journey has been a collaborative one with students becoming instructors and instructors becoming learners from the students. The line between teaching and learning has blurred and resulted in the most conducive, non-threatening inclusive environment for both staff and students.

As an organisation, the project has allowed us to address issues of:

• digital literacies
  • project management
  • text entry and multiple file formats etc
  • how do we ensure equity and digital literacy as an organisation?
  • how do we embed these skills in every program?
• access – what are the issues and how can we address them?
  • bandwidth
  • security
  • privacy

Tomorrow my goal is to find out more on this method of learning as it may apply in a digital classroom setting.

Is this January 2009 site going to take off?

Learners in my classes already do these, all at different times and in their own different priorty orders. We’ve known about different learning styles for eons. I guess this site is an attempt to deliver. It also answers the question I’ve been asked, if web2.0 content is for free sharing (creative commons) how will anyone make money off what they produce?

Some will read online. Some won’t. Some want portable books. Some don’t. We’re not smart enough to figure it out. So we won’t. Now there’s a novel idea. Let instructors adopt the best book for their class. Let students adopt the best format and price for them.

Kayo doesn’t read books online. She orders the black and white softcover for about $25 bucks. It shows up in a few days. Too bland for her friend Sam - he orders the color edition. Not Sharon. She commutes everyday, so nothing but the audio book on her iPod will do. Then there’s Chaz. He’s indecisive. He decides, well, not to decide. He’ll download the ready-to-print chapters when he needs them for .99 cents each. Cool. And don’t forget Tessa. She never has enough time. She’ll cut to the chase with our podcast study guides, mobile phone flash cards, and online practice tests with feedback. That’s convenient. That’s choices. That’s Flat World Knowledge.