Getting into e-learning – one technology at a time
ARTICLE | Rory OBrien , TaLe Professional Learning Coordinator, TAFE, Centre for Learning Innovation
The shape of teaching continues to change with the rise of e-learning and the flood of web 2.0 technologies in use. E-learning offers new ways to access learning materials and to communicate between classmates and teachers. E-learning extends learning outside of the classroom and into the home or workplace.
For those new to e-learning, the problem with a term like “web 2.0” is that it becomes a bucket into which many tools and techniques are thrown and it is up to the teacher to fish around for the ones that will help them with their students and with their organisational needs .
One approach to ease the way is to look at what is available and then work through one technology at a time – no leaps just small steps.
This article outlines some resources that may assist you with learning more about the e-learning landscape and which tools might be best for you in your workplace. All these resources can be found through the Teaching and Learning exchange (TaLe) - a web portal which can help DET teachers to find digital resources about and for e-learning.
Overview of e-learning
Challenges in Social e-learning
In the introduction to the “Your guide to social e-learning” resource, Anne Bartlett-Bragg gives an excellent overview of the social learning side of e-learning. There are three audio interviews:
- The changing learning landscape
- What’s different about social software
- Issues and challenges for moving to social e-learning
Prepare for e-learning
Created by the Centre for Learning Innovation for TAFE NSW, this resource for students looks at a range of tools for e-learning. It explores learning styles and strategies and contains examples and practical demonstrations for using wikis and blogs, using a learning management system, creating digital stories and creating e-portfolios with your students.
Events and Conferences
One of the best ways to keep up to date with educational and technological change is looking out for professional news and events.
TaLe News and Events
TaLe News and Events are continually updated from NSW, national and international educational sources. The Teaching and Learning Exchange or TaLe, is the NSW portal for Primary, Secondary and TAFE teaching and learning resources (caution - link may not function outside of the DET NSW network). The following are two examples of Event resources you can find through TaLe.
TAFE NSW Quality Awards
Events like this are an excellent way to see what others are doing with e-learning. The purpose of the TAFE NSW Quality Awards is to enhance organisational learning and development by showcasing team projects from around TAFE NSW. This year’s awards are held at Rosehill Gardens on Thursday 6th November and will include displays by teams from around NSW.
E-learning in action
The latest e-learning news and developments from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, as well as links to many AFLF products, resources and support networks. These events are also found in the TaLe Events listings.
Tools for e-learning
Common Craft Shows
Want the simplest explanation of new technologies? Common Craft is renowned for its direct and entertaining videos like “Podcasting in Plain English”, “Blogs in Plain English” and “Wikis in Plain English”. A great place to start looking at tools for e-learning!
RSS your news (search TaLE for the term “RSS”)
Rather than searching websites for information, you can set up RSS feeds to bring the news you want to you as it appears. You can do this with a personalised home page (such as iGoogle) or through plug-ins for your web browser or email, or with feed-reader software. Search on TaLe for the term RSS to find a range of useful resources.
Wikis
Wikis (from Prepare for e-learning)
Wikis are an easy way that anyone can create a website for free, and more and more teachers and students are making use of them for e-learning. This straightforward guide (part of the “Prepare for e-learning” resources) explains the basics of wikis and features interactive demonstrations of wiki building and editing.
iiWiki
“iiWiki” (Illawarra Institute wiki) is an example of an organisation-wide roll-out of wikis. iiWiki is run by Illawarra TAFE Institute for students and teachers to publish their work and co-author classroom media and activities. There are many other examples of organisational wikis in TAFE such as South Western Sydney Institute Wikispaces and Western Sydney Institute Wiki.
All things connected
This is an example of a wiki set up to support online learning workshops about the web conferencing software Adobe Connect. The “All things connected” wiki was set up by Barry Reeves from the Centre for Learning Innovation.
Blogs
Using blogs and wikis in teaching and learning (From Your guide to social e-learning)
From “Your guide to social e-learning”, this guide looks at the strengths and weaknesses of blogs and wikis for education.
Blogs (from Prepare for e-learning)
Blogging is a great way to set up your own website quickly and easily. You can keep track of your learning, and upload photos of what you're doing in your course. This resource talks you through the process of setting up a blog with links to free blogging services.
Edublogger
Tips, tricks and ideas for using blogs and web 2.0 technologies in education.
The Nexus Project
An example of a blog, the Nexus Project is an online space for young refugees and migrants to use, contribute to and enjoy. Nexus is supported by the New South Wales Adult Migrant English Service.
Concepts for e-learning
Are blogs or wikis right for you?
You’ll need to think about whether blogs or wikis are fit for your purpose and can offer you and your students the best solution for what you want to achieve. This activity will present you with typical issues or needs you should resolve in order to get the most out of these tools.
Designing and Implementing e-learning
This Australian Flexible Learning Framework site provides some answers to the two big e-learning questions: “What is e-learning?” And “How do you do it?”
Learning Styles
Individuals learn best in many different ways, sometimes using a variety of learning styles, but teachers and trainers may not always present information & learning experiences in the ways that suit everyone. This UK website links to a wide range of resources that look at learning styles.
Does style matter?
This paper, from Monash University’s Julie Willems, considers the impact of learning styles in e-learning.
All of the above resources and support materials can be found by searching TaLe. Note: TaLe search and some of the resources discovered by TaLe require a NSW DET Portal login, so some readers of the eZine will not be able to access all the resources on this list.