Notes from LearnScope Workshop

We were fortunate to have Brad Beach and Carol McCulloch both present short sessions at the Mid-year workshop and the Flexible Learning Network Meeting the afternoon preceding.

Carol McCulloch introduced us to Digital Storytelling using MS PhotoStory 3

Using this software (and others) you can bring together a selection of photos, images, text and audio to create short 'movies'. Recording the audio to accompany certain photos is straightforward, captions and animations can be added. Media Player 10 is needed to play the finished product. As fairly large files are produced, distribution on a LAN or CD seems most practical.
We've been working with the concept of Digital Coaching Aids at work for many years, and there are some pros and cons for Storytelling vs Coaching Aids as I see it.
Coaching Aids with Powerpoint
· Allows for interaction and branching, including yes/no and more complex choices· Easy to incorporate text· Video sections can be incorporated· Many people are already familiar with Powerpoint
Storytelling with Photostory
· A linear approach to information· Audio can be recorded attached to an image within the software · If you use the default settings, very low entry level· All files needed for project are automatically bundled together in one location

A Digital Storytelling Network supported by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework has a group site at http://www.groups.edna.edu.au/course/view.php?id=107 with lots of resources and links to further information.

Brad Beach on Flexible Learning
Brad spoke about various ways flexible learning courses can be conceived and a number of diagrams may explain it better than just words could.

In theory no model is necessarily better. Some courses will suit one model best. The real impact is on the development that must be done prior to running the course, and also the skills of the teacher and development team that are needed. Implementation appropriate to the model is critical.
If you are looking for new markets using a blended model that has a face-to-face component is not feasible.

Dangers:
Lack of viable numbers – you have to have minimum numbers for groups for a facilitated model or be prepared to make a loss.
Don’t mix different student groups to make groups larger – someone will always feel hard done by. This won't end up being fair on the teacher's workload.
Workloads for teachers of facilitated courses will peak in the early weeks of course much more than in classroom teaching.

Power of online learning is its difference to distance education. Online learning is humanising, interactive and about community. 70% of the reason why online students log in is to see if anyone has responded to their posts/ emails (from Gilly Salmon I believe).

Brad sees that teachers need to go through a cycle in becoming great online teachers.

Using voice is one was of decreasing the reliance on text and graphics in online courses. Audioblogs enable students (and potentially their employers) to ring in to report on progress. Voice discussion boards remove the need to type up responses. As indicated by Brad though, he is wondering about the change in levels or use of reflection - it is a lot quicker to respond in voice, but takes longer to listen to. For some people the act of writing provokes more consideration of what is being discussed as there is more of chance to review before finalising, hence the phrase 'committing to print'.

Posted by Kirsty at September 9, 2005 03:48 PM in