Networked Learning in Action
Jul 6th, 2006 by admin
Yesterday I was privileged to be part of a meeting at Wollongong TAFE, organised by Steven Parker from the TeacherConnect project (make sure you follow the links in Steven’s postcard below) that involved reps from a number of LearnScope and Networks projects. It was a great demonstration of Web 2.0 philosophy in process, with a strong focus on connection, networked learning, collaboration and sharing, and I was really struck by the absolute commitment of those present to further the development of understanding and capabilities around contemporary trends in e-learning practice.
Over the course of the day we had updates on some of the projects that are gaining legs including Jo Kay’s MetalED work which is part of the state-wide Innovation on the Ground – From Seed to Harvest (#039) project. Jo has been working with Metal Fab teachers and students using video and would be keen to connect with other interested teachers around the state.
In general the day focused on Web 2.0, how to connect teachers and teams, the best ways to share learning and resources and to make strategies sustainable. We discussed ways, for example, in which Sean Fitzgerald (Connected Learning Community E-learning Network) could provide guidance and a forum for teachers to both be introduced to social software options, and to feed ideas and reflections back to the field in a sustainable way. We battled with the limitations of current Web 2.0 tools in achieving that goal, and what combinations might achieve the best long term outcomes to support the field.
Part of that discussion was around the need to focus primarily on teaching and learning/ pedagogical applications and the clusters of tools needed to achieve those, rather than focusing on the tools themselves. In doing so we moved away from thinking about a sequential introduction to tools, to a more ‘just in time’ teaching practice approach. After all, introducing social software tools on a week by week basis, is no different to the traditional and I think, ineffective, skills based approach to introducing IT skills (this is a mouse…, this is how to make a directory …etc) Instead teachers need to access information on a range of tools as and when needed to achieve a particular pedagogical goal. For example, considering how learners can capture and submit evidence of competence in the field using multimodal mobile means might require some information about flickr, tags, RSS, blogs, moblogging, digital storytelling etc.
Here are the notes and reflections I took away from the day:
• Keep pushing the move from a focus on cool tools to pedagogy - how they enrich teaching practice. If they can’t enrich the opportunities and outcomes for learners, why use them?
• Without high level management buy-in, even with strong teacher networks to further the integration of Web 2.0 approaches into teaching practice, there is a real risk of, what will continue to be a minority group for sometime, being viewed as mavericks and discounted in the big scheme of things. Achieving this buy-in must come from the bottom up via teams (give some thought to management goals in your reporting and case studies) and from the top down via the LearnScope management team, ICVET and other relevant projects. I’ll be working to support this.
• We need to think carefully about how best to link teams and team sites/ strategies. This will require some centralised strategies and tools that feed out to teams and your blogs, as well as amalgamated feeds in from teams. We spoke for example about a centralised calendar you could add to that would further enable cross involvement in events, particularly online.
• We need to log problems with firewalls and access centrally on our wiki – this would both provide me with evidence and the opportunity for teams to share both issues and potential solutions.
• We need to think carefully about the sustainability of the work you are doing. As you develop resources and capture learning think about what will happen to those resources after LearnScope concludes. Will the resources and support mechanisms continue to grow and enable teacher capability building?
Hi Robyn
A great review of the day, I too found getting together as a group and our absolute commitment to networking inspiring.
The recording of the afternoon session can be found here:
http://webconf.det.nsw.edu.au/admin/meeting/sco/recordings?sco-id=20801
In conversation today I was discussing language and perception with a colleague and in particular the use of the word maverick when describing people who work within the system but outside the mainstream and use new networked teaching practices and web 2.0 tools. For example when talking about a maverick it conjurs up images of somebody working outside a system with little regard for the big scheme of things a liability…
If we where to change the word to innovator or creative teacher it conjurs up images of somebody working within the system, who needs to be recognised suported and utilised for the benefit of all.
Last year I was invited to speak at the 2005 ICVET conference ‘on the creative teacher’
http://networklearning.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_networklearning_archive.html
My conclusion was we must embrace and utilize the maverick ethic within ‘TAFE culture’, the maverick being the unorthodox or independently minded teacher doing great work autonomously. This paper asserts that is how teacher empowerment through technology is achieved!
http://networklearning.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_networklearning_archive.html
Therein is the potential to empower TAFE teachers learning from their peers.
How can TAFE embrace the innovation and ride the wave?
TAFE needs to:
Develop flexible policies, infrastructure and systems to capture and foster this emergence in innovation.
Embrace and create opportunities to leverage the natural evolutionary growth in skills and knowledge of teachers through a TAFE learning network.
Increase opportunities for Professional Development, augment flexible learning practices, and reduce overhead costs.
What we are doing with Learnscope 2006 I think…
I agree with your synopsis of the day at the TLRU in particular.
Focus primarily on teaching and learning/ pedagogical applications and the clusters of tools needed to achieve those rather thatn focusing on the tools themselves
Focus on pedagogy - how to enrich teaching practice, opportunities and outcomes for learners.
I have yet to meet any educator who has had the forsight energy commitment drive and creativity to learn how to use web2.0 technologies and networked learning pedagogy not place the enrichment of teaching practice, opportunities and outcomes for learners as their number one priority.
From my experinence networked learning innovators recognize and facilitate both the learning needs of the organization and learning needs of students. They are happy to share collaborate, and transfer knowledge, skills and information between teachers, management and policy setters.
I agree that we must get high level management buy-in, to further the integration of Web 2.0 approaches and networked learning into teaching practice. I think the first step in this process is for orgainsation to drop the perception from the word maverick and use something more appropriate to the value of such people e.g, innovator, creative, assets of great value for the organisation.
Warm regards
Steven