ICTeD Services

DEEWR Integrating ICT Pedagogy in School Project /1

I’ve just completed five phase two workshops for this project [as state support for the project in Victoria] with Hanan, one of the two national facilitators. We drove 1500 kilometres, to 3 towns to conduct 5 workshops.

This is a national project in 20 rural and regional centres throughout Australia In summary this is the project: [from the publicity brochure] The project is professional learning for teachers: making ICT integral to teaching and learning Teaching through the use of ICT is a new way of working that can transform the way we facilitate student learning. DEEWR is conducting a three phase professional development program in ICT pedagogy for regional/rural school teachers at both primary and secondary level. The professional learning experience is in three phases: Phase 1 - Online self reflection and preparation; building connections and sharing resources Phase 2 - One formal seminar for professional conversation and professional development to connect teachers to ICT teaching techniques and online resources and assist in the development of individual action learning plans Phase 3 - School based action learning research project supported for three months by a Learning Mentor culminating in a celebration of learning. What is Action Learning? Participants through dialogue, reflection and sharing will solve real problems that are related to curriculum leadership. Why Action Learning? The action learning approach is based upon the premise that no learning occurs unless action and reflection is taken. This pilot program goes beyond providing participants with new information. The program requires participants to explore and implement new ideas, possible solutions and/or strategies that promote improved student learning outcomes within their own context. While embarking on this learning journey, participants are coached and mentored by learning mentors experienced in teaching through the use of ICT. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is funding the provision of workshops [5 in Victoria] to enhance the skills and knowledge of teachers and school leaders to enable the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the teaching of Mathematics, History, English and Sciences in Australian schools. What are the anticipated outcomes? • Teachers with enhanced knowledge and skills in the teaching of Mathematics, History, English and Sciences through the use of ICT in their classrooms. • A professional learning community comprised of workshop participants that focuses on sharing, reflecting and supporting participants through an ICT journey that is unique to each individual context. • A series of recommendations to develop a coherent, networked professional development program that empowers teachers to integrate ICT within their classrooms.
In the next post I will report on the phase two workshops in more detail.

Eastern Mac Users Group [eMug] - Inaugural Meeting

Deb and I were invited to the first meeting of eMug this afternoon at Ringwood North PS. This is a great group, thanks to the leadership of Adam and Sue. The group has had an online presence for a few months through its ning http://easternmacusersgroup.ning.com/. This ning is a tremendous resource for eMug and has about 100 members already.
The meeting was well attended with over 25 members. Deb and I were asked to go through the lessons we have learnt through MacSchoolsNet. Hopefully these are useful for the new group.
Here is the presentation for anyone who is interested. Download EMug August 2009 edit.

If you are a teacher in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne [and beyond], with an interest in Macs and education, join this group....

Hume Region [DEECD] Online Conference

This online conference [using Elluminate] is happening over three consecutive days [ starting today]. My session should you wish to listen is at 11:00 a.m, 04.08.2009 [GMT +10:00 ]

My topic, Building a  learning network in your town or region , brings together my experiences with MacSchoolsNet, Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Professional Learning Networks [VITTA PLNs] and the Australia Government Quality Teaching Project [AGQTP} eConnect Project on Virtual Networking in Hobson’s Bay Network [Western Metropolitan Region, DEECD]. I will post how it went [and that my moderators get me through!]. For the benefit of anyone participating in this conference I will link this post to The Tyranny of Distance and the delivery of ICT professional development [Published in VITTA’s Infonet  19.1 [2009]] Download The Tyranny of Distance and the delivery of professional development

Postscript: I found presenting the session quite fun. I enjoyed interacting with the audience. Thanks to Libby and Priscilla, my moderators and Brendan or organising. If you are interested my session is at https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2009-08-03.1751.M.8DC7CD587863F70BF557BAD7E8F537.vcr

Virtual Learning Communities for Schools /1

Today Kevin and I, [and thanks to Jill for assistance in the PD session & David and Simon for building a dual boot image for me, so the 30 iMacs in my schools lab can run Windows under Bootcamp], ran our first session for the eConnect professional learning project. This is an AGQTP project which involves conferencing with webcams, headsets and MS Communicator for 25 schools in the Hobson's Bay Network of Western Metropolitan Region [DEECD, Melbourne, Australia].
Today we ran two "101 sessions" for 50 schools administrators.

Image of participants in one of the sessions [fuzzy on purpose to disguise identity]

... and also the cupcakes that followed!

 

More substantial info on this program too follow.........................

Elluminate Training & Hume Region Conference

I haven't used Elluminate much as as online conferencing tool. I've participated in a couple of DEECD Knowledgebank sessions over the years, and was involved in the testing of it for last year's WMR Ultranet NOW Conference in a school situation.
I've also recently listened to a debate about the cost effectiveness, limitations etc. of Elluminate in schools on EdTechTalk #118 post show.
However, it is still looks a good tools to run online conferences, particularly if your Education authority has bought the license [rather than as a cost to an the individual school].

The Hume Region of DEED, [North East Victoria], is running an online conference on Monday 3 August- Tuesday 4 August – Wednesday 5 August, 2009. I'm presenting on "Building a  learning network in your town or region"  This presentation is to encourage the set up of some VITTA Professional Learning Networks in that region.

Other Sessions for the conference will be on
Sharepoint V3
iPod Touch in the Classroom
Blogs and wikis in the classroom.
Dataloggers in science lessons
Online resources for Early Years classroom
Linking Special Education & Mainstream World  via Blogging
Classroom blogging in Early Years
Delicious and Diigo & Exploring free softwares
 'this is the Ultranet'  - the basics
Remote Control Response Paddles
Interactive Whiteboard - Multimedia production
Using Digital Learning Objects on Remote Tablets
Infomercials made by children!
PhotoStory and Audacity as aids to develop literacy skills

Anyway, yesterday was a 2.5 hour training session for presenters, which was really well organised. Good to meet the other presenters too

Will write on the conference later in the year.

Beyond Chalk at Williamstown PS

Two Wednesdays ago I had a had a great ICT  professional learning experience.

And I was able to do three things at once!

1. I saw the first ICT PD session I've organised for the Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association, [VITTA],happen. My job two days per week this year, is organising ICT professional learning, for VITTA, particularly for teachers from pre-school to year eight.
2. I was able to host this two hour event taken by Callie Whelan of Beyond Chalk, "Technology  & Education / Podcasting", at my school [ where I work for the other three days per week]
3. I was also able to participate in an ICT PD session without having to deliver the content!

Twenty people attended and after listening to Callie's keynote presentation on "Technology and Education" [in the ilk of Prensky, "Shift Happens" etc.,]  all participants learnt and then produced podcasts by the end of the session.

Callie and I met after the session and went through the evaluations. Teachers came from a number of schools, which most coming with colleagues [a great move!]. A number of specialist teachers attended [e.g. P.E. teachers, Librarians and music teachers], as well a generalist primary and secondary school teachers. Very positive feedback, with most wanting follow up sessions. VITTA and Beyond Chalk are looking at the possibilities of another session on blogging and movie making next term! Callie is also organising to work with school teams.

This session was to kick off VITTA's Professional Learning Networks in rural and regional Victoria. [See my earlier blogposts on PLNs.] As I write Callie is on the road presenting to a sell out crowd in Warrnambool, followed by well subscribed sessions next week in Mildura and Horsham. Other sessions will follow in a number of regional centres across Victoria.

Teacher responses on VITTA and Beyond Chalk taking ICT professional learning to country Victoria has been overwhelmingly supportive and something which will continue.

VITTA Professional Learning Networks /3 & MacSchoolsNet 2009

I'm very pleased with how teachers have responded to the establishment of VITTA Professional Learning Networks [PLNs]. Considering teachers are on their summer break in Australia, the response has been great. For a list of their locations click here. For PLN background click here. Most information for leaders and members will now be by podcast.

 

Podcast #2 Download PLN Podcast # 2 - Beyond Chalk outlines a series of PD events that VITTA and Beyond Chalk has arranged to kick off the PLNs in Term 1, 2009. The sessions will be in two metropolitan & 10 regional/rural locations in Victoria. To subscribe to these ICT PD sessions go to the VITTA website to register [they are very cheap PD's!!].

Also had a coffee based planning session with Deb, planning MacSchoolsNet activities for 2009.

As usual the network will run seven network meetings in 2009, plus our Saturday Conference, MacIThappen '09, plus a possible 'unconference". We're keeping our "powder dry" for a week or two. Members will find out about our exciting program first. Not a member? Join...

More news about MacSchoolsNet in a later blogpost

Professional Learning Networks: Podcast #1

My work in assisting the Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association, [VITTA] setting up its Professional Learning Networks is going well. The primary purpose of the PLNs is to provide, networking, sharing and resources to ICT educators in rural and regional areas of Australia. Read more about these on the VITTA website. Web 2.0 tools, such as podcasts, wikis, blogs, etc. will be used in their establishment and operations. As part of this I have recorded by first podcast for those interested in joining a PLN.

Download Podcast#1

Professional Development Resources for 2009

I've now got to move into some serious planning for the ICT professional development sessions I deliver, host or organise in 2009. So here the list! It could be bigger than my NY resolutions and not in any particular order.

01. Write a "history" of MacSchoolsNet 2003-2009 as a organisational learning example for the Professional Learning Networks I'm organising for VITTA. Maybe I'll do it in Keynote > export to Powerpoint > then post on Slideshare

02. Plan out fortnightly podcasts [for term 1/2009] for PLN leaders to assist with setting up these networks. Need to revise some skills here on podcast publishing.

03. Set up a PLN Wiki [Global Teacher? Wikispaces?].

04. Finish my Gliffy planner of ICT PL for VITTA.

05. Begin my ICT PD Links page and ICT PL models page [for 2009 projects on my website].

06. Get all my contacts in my Address Book Cloud.

07. Continue discussions with the Victorian Institute of Teaching re PD requirements

08. Make an online resource pack for PLN leaders

09. Presentation for VITTA CoM planning weekend

10. Get the first 10 weeks of VITTA PL activites planned

11. Organise MacSchoolNet dates and meeting content

VITTA Professional Learning Networks /2

Publicity about the VITTA Professional Learning Networks are now getting out via email invites, word of mouth, Edulists, Maced lists, Twitter and an earlier blogpost of mine [see this post for initial background]. Great to see this level on interest in the school holidays. Other good news is that setting a third PLN in Tasmania now looks a distinct possibility, as does the establishment most of the 11 PLNs planned for Victoria. If you are interested in this exciting concept of professional learning using ICT or are one of those who have registered interest earlier, more information is now available. Just download the VITTA PLN FAQ Download VITTA PLNs FAQs . Need any further information contact me mark@vitta.org.au.