Wikispaces

For the last few days we have been exploring wikispaces. We have never visited wiki world prior to this. We liked it and we will be back! We have created our own wikispaces and completed a wiki tutorial. We have learnt how to create spaces, add pictures and add files. We have not linked our blog page to it as yet. We have had a few attempts....
After some playing and exploring we think that wikis could be a very useful platform that we would be able to incorporate into our learning environment. We will now go on to explore other wiki resource........

You can visit Wikispaces to: http://platforms.wikispaces.com/

What is it that we like about this platform?
They look user friendly, most importantly this space, platform encourages collaboration, students could use this platform as a meeting place to share information, evaluate and reflect on practices, happenings and events in the simulated work environment or classroom. This platform would facilitate the sharing of information and ideas. It could also possible for our students to complete planning and programming tasks related to the simulated work environment. Most importantly members are able to contribute to and create their own learning space.

What Next ? Exploring other wikis and identifying user friendly aspects.

What should we be looking for in a wiki?
Affordable = FREE
Easy step to create your own wiki
For the platform to be secure

Before using a wiki we must make sure that we have appropriate knowledge and skills to monitor and mange the wiki professionally.

Application Sent ........What Space ? Myspace, Ourspace, Yourspace

Today our team got to chat and reflect face to face, not via email. We devised our hit list of things to do.
Yes, we sent our application to Edna to have our own group. But most importantly we started in setting up a sandpit. We sent our application to: sandpit@edna.edu.au. After much discussion we also decided on a name. We reflected on the 70's, 80's and 90's, and thought about fashion and many different types of platforms......! However we got back on track and decided on:
Name: Exploring Platforms
Description: Research and identify suitable platform for use with students who participate in a simulated workplace.

Platforms !!!! Our discussion on fashion and platforms extended to students, that is students in 2007, the "Y" generation. Whilst on extended I was put into the world of teenagers and 20 years +. I came to the following conclusions:

Just like many of the students at TAFE they were accessing and using Myspace. The youngest and oldest of the group were using Myspace to communicate with friends, share pictures and information. I asked, "What does Myspace Offer?" Responses, "Lots, it's awsome" was one " "don't you have a profile?" was another. The 23 year old looked at me and said, "do you use Facebook?" I thought, Face what! I faced up to it, and was feeling just a little old .
After a little research and discussion we came to the conclusion that Myspace is huge in the world of websites and the lives of young people.

So, what does this mean for our project, education and for us as teachers and educators?
We tried not to enter the debate about the suitability of this type of platform for teenagers and young people. This is a separate issue. However we are convinced that this type of platform is used by many teenagers, young people and others to share information about their lives, share photo's and chat. We asked, what has changed? A lot. As we were reading different profiles it was most evident that people were sharing detailed information about themselves, likes and what they were looking for or up to. Most importantly it was interactive and engaging.

After we checked it out at: Myspace: http://www.myspace.com
We learnt a little about my Myspace. We also came to some conclusion inregards to whay it is so, so popular? It's interactive and engaging, and it is about you. You get to create it. My space allows you to :
create a profile
add pictures
email
add movies
stay in touch with friends
post blogs
have instant messages
add comments

We don't aim to use Myspace as an education tool. However, we do see the value in creating and having a platform where students can be interactive in their learning and communicate with each other.
As educators we hope to be able to identify what it is about these types of websites that is attracting many people and incorporate aspects of this into learning and learning resources. Change has already happened in communities due to technology we want to make sure that we reflect this change in out teaching. The sandpit is looking very inviting!

Back To Edna....... Sandpit

For the past four weeks one of our team has been on extended leave, playing in the sand. It was no surprise she demonstrated interest in the sandpit ! We have been catching up via email.

As we both have had plenty of experience building castles we thought we would explore in the sandpit. Yes.... we could use this tool as a place to explore and discover and develop new skills.

So, what is in the sandpit ? The good news it's free, the sandpit it provided by edna as a play space to road test emerging teaching and learning resources. Just what we need.

Examples of uses:
Moodle
Podcasting
Personal space for learning (elgg)
Web Conferencing (Live Classroom)

We are both interested in exploring moodle, personal space for learning and web conferencing.

Where to next? Moodle.......sounds interesting...... web spaces, forums, instant messaging, wikis, surveys, quiz and file sharing. Wikis, what could that be ? I'm sure we will find out soon.

Our holidays have come to an end, we are looking forward to becoming an owner and member in sandpit soon.

Other Areas To Explore

Mid February 2007

The whole ipod experience was a little off putting. We put our heads together to see if there were other areas worth exploring. We were teaching the same content matter to separate groups of students and realised that we wanted some way of sharing information with students. Some electronic place where students could access links, resources, photos for reflection and other useful information to assist students to meet competency.

We started asking around our esteemed colleagues. Words such as sharepoint, blogs, Edna, jetty, platforms, breeze were bandied about.... just to name a few.

We had heard of blogs and had a brief peek at sharepoint.

A Different Journey......

February o7

Back at work after a relaxing break. E-learn mentoring program is mentioned again. We had really learned so much and enjoyed participating in the last project that we'd thought we'd like to do it again.

Ipods, irivers, PDA's seemed to be the hot topics. Julie happened to get hold of an IPOD to play with. She had been entrusted with another person's device. This could be fun and interesting. Interesting ? YES, but not in the anticipated way.

" Somehow I managed to jam the ipod or have it freeze with the do not disconnect display on the screen, I tried the 5 R's recommended in the manual. Back to the L Plates, nothing I did seemed work. Even the user manual said that I now had to disconnect it! I then got to the point of having the online manual tell me I would have to take it to ipod service centre and conveniently popped up the locations in the web browser for me. My computer wouldn't recognise the devise - it said it was corrupt! My laptop said the same thing!

At this stage I couldn't even turn it off. I had to let it just run out of battery. I connected to the computer the next day hoping it would start, but no, same deal. Same do not disconnect screen with the charging icon.

No, I will not be beaten such a small box. To recharge the ipod you have to connect it to your computer or a laptop connected to the power supply (the computer battery apparently is not good enough) What if I connected it to the power supply, and not a computer to recharge?

Correct !!!!!!!!!

Ta Daaah! Ipod was back and functioning as if nothing had happened! Phew! I wasn't looking forward to returning the ipod and telling them I blew it up !

Towards the end of our journey ...

Today has been a day for creating our story. We have spent the morning putting together a story that tells our journey over the last 15 weeks. This was a challenge for us as the story was about our own journey into the world of digital storytelling. At the end of our journey we realise it is only just beginning.

Useful Sites We have Found on Our Journey

We thought that we should share with you some of the most useful links that we have explored and used on our E-Learning and Digital Storytelling Journey and hope that you have as much fun on your journey as we have had on ours ..... be warned this exploration can be addictive.

EdNa
www.edna.edu.au
EdNA Online is a service that aims to support and promote the benefits of the Internet for learning, education and training in Australia. It is organised around Australian curriculum, its tools are free to Australian educators, and it is funded by the bodies responsible for education provision in Australia - all Australian governments.


What’s new in E-learning technologies?
Click here
POD casts, digital storytelling, Blogs, photostories, community spaces, voice applications, searches, virtual classrooms, assessment, open source and other tools, toolboxes and whiteboards


Technologies for E Learning
http://flexiblelearning.net.au/community/TechnologiesforLearning/index.htm
125 links for Elearning including a beginners guide to video blogs, how to play streaming media, how to choose an Mp3 player and much more…..


Teaching, training and learning
http://flexiblelearning.net.au/community/TeachingTrainingLearners/index.htm
Easy as ABC ……. This article briefly discusses a blended approach to language and literacy learning using technology and introduces a product called Microsoft Photo Story.

Cool Tools – What is E-Learning?
http://www.cooltools.net.au/frameset.htm
This site has been developed to encourage new and experienced users of flexible learning to explore a range of e-learning tools, resources and ideas.

Best of Australian Flexible Learning Community
http://flexiblelearning.net.au/community/
This archive of resources is drawn from member contributions, collaborations and other content developed in the Australian Flexible Learning Community between the years 2001 - 2004.

Cool Tools Introduction
http://www.cooltools.net.au/index.htm
The tools, resources and ideas showcased here have been used in a wide-range of VET practice including ACE/Community, VET in Schools, industry training, and private and public registered training organisations (RTOs).

Flexways
http://flexways.flexiblelearning.net.au/default.asp
Flexways is a web-based professional development planning resource for people and teams working in Vocational Education and Training. It helps VET staff to identify and develop their skills for a flexible learning environment. With Flexways you can create, save, print and edit a customised professional development plan.

Designing E-Learning
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/designing/
This site shows the many ways you can use e-learning to engage learners, provide flexibility and improve quality in vocational education and training (VET). It can be used as an individual guide, or as a resource for professional development and training sessions.

Blogger
http://www.blogger.com/start
Blogger is a subsidiary of Google. It is free to register and setup your own blog. Interesting to browse other peoples blogs.

Adding pictures to your BLOGG
http://www.hello.com/index.php

http://www.hello.com/how_bloggerbot_works.php

Googles guide to blog pages
http://www.google.com/press/guides/blogger_overview.pdf

Mark Coffman’s Windows photostory 3
http://www.windowsphotostory.com/
This is a guide to creating photostories – all the information you need to know!

Putting Photo Story 3 Stories on DVD
Click here
This guide will use Sonic's My DVD Studio Deluxe to create DVD’s of your photostories

Resources for Digital Storytelling in Education
http://www.techteachers.com/digstory/resources.htm
Interesting site with plenty of links to digital storytelling resources

Atomic Learning
http://www.atomiclearning.com/photo_story_3
This has a list of visual tutorials for using photo story 3. Some are free, some require a subscription

Frappr! Digital Storytellers Map
http://www.frappr.com/digitalstorytellers
Creating a world wide digital storytelling map – Put yourselves on the map.

International Digital Storytelling Conference

We both thought that this conference sounds like a must do if possible.

first person: international digital storytelling conference
Friday 3 February - Sunday 5 February 2006
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is proud to present First Person: International Digital Storytelling Conference. First Person will showcase Digital Storytelling as a new cinema of personal portrait, engage with story as an interactive practice and investigate the use of technology to share meaningful stories as a global community.
Details and Registration at: http://www.acmi.net.au/first_person.jsp

Mondayitis!

Off to a SLOW start, computer challenges, difficult to get them turned on. Out of six computers only one is working. We feel a little like this!

Robyn Jay's Digital Storytelling Workshop

Today we attended a Digital Storytelling workshop at Bankstown TAFE. This was a very informative and highly practical workshop on creating digital stories. Robyn Jay facilitated the workshop. Robyn is from ICVET (International Centre for Vocational Education and Training).
www.icvet.edu.au

Their aim is to enrich professional practice in VET teaching and learning to support the learning needs of the future workforce. The training provided us with an opportunity to network with others, both within TAFE and the broader community. We were also provided with valuable resources and tips to help with our project.

Our goal now is to be able to add a digital story to our Blog page by exploring Edna Groups and something called "Our Media". Another road in our journey!

On The Road Again

We are back on track, a productive morning exploring digital storytelling websites and adding links to our blog. A fun site we found is adding your self to a World Wide Digital Storytellers Map. We are now on the world map!

http://www.frappr.com/digitalstorytellers

Rusty could be an understatement!

We have found it difficult to publish on our Blog. We spent a large amount of time searching for a way to have our new post visible on our page.

Here's a pearl of wisdom.......... USE THE REFRESH BUTTON to review your page if the changes arent there.

After A Break

Our goal today is to access and review Digital Storytelling websites. We hope gain to knowledge that will assist us with scripting and presentation. Having not visited the BLOG for a few weeks we both felt the need to become reacquainted with the site and it's features. We're feeling a little rusty.

Progress

We have been looking around at useful sites and resources that are current and easily accessible.

One of the most useful sites to begin with was;

What’s new in elearning technologies?

Click here

It has information on

• POD casts
• digital storytelling
• Blogs
• photostories
• community spaces
• voice applications
• searches
• virtual classrooms
• assessment
• open source and other tools
• toolboxes
• whiteboards

Some resources were more useful than others......... be careful..... It's addictive!!

E Learn Project

This is Lisa and Julie's Blogg page. We have created this page as part of a project we are involved in that will develop our own skills in producing Elearning resources and hopefully provide a useful starting point for anyone wanting to venture out on their own E Learning journey.

Part of this learning process was to create a Blogg for our project.

Mission accomplished :)

Watch this space...........................