NSW LearnScope Blog & Podcast

[ image : mobology ]

I’ve just been bailed up by a bunch of bricko’s and thanked for bringing to the bricklayers team in TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute, Wollongong a differing perspective to their traditional classroom delivery mode as well as their scope for online delivery.

When I was down in Canberra at the CIT Construction Workshops two weeks ago I came in contact with a number of bricklaying teachers who were trying to find ways to “see” students at work in the field without having to travel vast distances sometimes to no avail with a tetchy student base.

As part of my mobile technologies presentation I pointed to a few core examples of moblogging at work - point, shoot, save, send - and the result has been a great engaged use of the concept with this crowd of now enthusiastic students.

They’ve promised me the links next week so keep posted on that one.

I’m parked here in Sydney airport awaiting my flight to Coffs Harbour - regional event 4 which is looking great thanks to the extra hard work of Alex Miller and the Hub who I managed to get two words in via the wireless connection before Adobe Connect died today.

Alexandra Miller is a shining light and revered innovator who deserves awards for her extra efforts this year to pick up a LearnScope project, a national virtual worlds Leadership project no less and run with it . This selfless and inspirational person who’s contributions to the VET sector are no less than exemplary is highly respected by myself, Robyn and all who have come in contact with Alex.

Your continued efforts to keep an open dialogue occuring with the world Alex are honoured.

I’m reflecting also on an inspirational presentation by Marg Bell of the Earthworks team in Western Institute after lunch who unfolded an array of amazing engaged use of web 2.0 and mobile technologies with students and staff, stepping out from closed doors and into the use of globally connected learning spaces. I’m inspired that there are pockets of real innovation occuring , buried in the psyche of some and in the hearts and actions of others.

Some core exemplars are emerging….slowly but surely people realize it’s always a work in progress, never a polished stone and all about connection and conversations.

I’ve also sent an SMS message to Marie Jasinski telling her to go read Robyn ’s excellent last post which sums up the reasons we have pushed the NSW LearnScope teams to the brink this year with new ways of working and a refusal to accept anything less than a 100 per cent effort with clients and other staff. The biggest hurdles seem to be finding ways to step back a little and reflect on the progress made by those champions who are progressing, engaging, imbedding innovation and new ways of connecting others in their respective work settings.

Brilliant stuff. I feel happy.

Exhausted but happy