Riverina Institute Update

February 4, 2009 · Posted in FLN Institute Reports · Comment 

The Learning Technology Team won a 2008 TAFE NSW Riverina Institute Staff Excellence Award for Customer Focus and Process and Improvement in support of Teaching and Learning. The application was supported by 48 submissions from staff across the Institute including 20 from Head Teachers expressing the positive impact of the team on themselves and teachers in their teaching sections, 24 individual Teachers, a number of Heads of Campus, Institute teams as well as the Australian Flexible Learning Framework and the Centre for Learning Innovation.

 

In 2008, we provided day to day training, support and advice to staff for a range of learning technologies including web-conferencing, videoconferencing, Interactive Whiteboards, SharePoint, and the use of Janison Toolbox for online delivery (Learning Management System).  This core work involved 199 staff being provided training in flexible delivery using technology. On desk tutorials have still proved popular with 97 staff members accessing the service.  Additionally, the LTT have provided support to new teachers completing their teaching studies at La Trobe University in relevant technology areas.

 

LTT have communicated with staff during regular visits to campuses including discipline meetings, staff meetings and at the Head Teachers Forum about the range of technologies, the support available and the current projects that the team have been working on during the year.

 

Additionally, in 2008, the LTT trialled and implemented a number of new technologies and projects including but certainly not limited to:

1. Learning Technology Mentors & Mobile Learning Technology Kits

The project up-skilled a key group of 10 staff across the Institute as Learning Technology Mentors (LTMs) in the use of the following technologies: wikis, blogs, and Adobe Connect and use of resource development kits (laptop, iPod, digital camera and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Learning Tables. The LTT supported these teachers with workshops, regular online meetings and site visits to enhance their skills in mentoring and the use of new technologies. The LTT worked closely with Professional Development and Learning who assisted with funding and coordination for the two main face to face workshops. The Learning Technology Mentors, supported by the Learning Technology Team worked with teachers and other staff either at their campus location/cluster or within their discipline area by providing mentoring as the teachers used the technology with students.

150 teachers were provided with professional development through mentoring during project and the outcomes of this project were shared with RI staff at an online showcase on 1 December 2008, Statewide ANT2 Showcase on 10 December 2008 and at the Delivery Managers Forum – “Changing the way we do business using technology” workshop as well as by presentations by the mentors at their discipline area conferences and staff meetings.

 

The project included:

  • Use of Resource Development Kits (laptop, digital camera, iPods, RFID)
  • Wikis, Blogging, videoblogging and moblogging for learning and assessment
  • Podcasting and Vodcasting for distribution of educational material
  • RSS subscriptions and distribution of new and existing (Toolbox) resources and learner generated material
  • Personal Learning Environments for student learning
  • RFID technology to develop underpinning knowledge and skills.

2. Web 2.0 technology tools platforms

The Learning Technology Team worked with Trevor Johnson from the IMS Development Team and an external consultant Jo Kay to provide secure, collaborative eLearning tools: Wikispaces, WordPress (blog and podcasting) for Riverina Institute. The RI Marketing Team provided valuable guidance and support to ensure that these sites are all Institute branded and have a great look and feel.

The RI Wikispace provides staff with access to current available resources, information regarding existing and new technologies, e-Learning strategies, RI success stories and existing examples of good teaching and learning practice. It provides a space for teachers to use with their students and provides new options for using new technologies in delivery including wikis, blogs and podcasting.  Each faculty area has an individually branded and themed wikispace 150 wikispaces have been created by RI staff since the launch of riwikispaces.net.au in October 2008.

 

3. New Workshop and Seminar Series

 

Through the LTT workshop and seminar series 202 teachers participated (face to face at their campuses and sometimes online) in new training programs that assisted with the development of skills in developing flexible delivery resources including: Multimedia (audio and video for teaching & learning) Web2.0 tools such as Wikis, delicious, flickr and blogs as well as access and utilisation of Learning Resources.  In addition, the LTT collaborated with PD&L to coordinate presentations to Institute staff by external presenters such as:

 

  • Grant Casey from the TAFE NSW Centre for Learning Innovation in face to face workshops on CLI products and services
  • George Siemens a prominent writer and researcher via videoconference on the topic of Extending the classroom:  Open content and open teaching. 
  • guest speakers from Centre for Learning Innovation and the Curriculum Centre on Engageme, TALE, CLAS and Prepare for eLearning via Adobe Connect web-conferencing
  • Fiona Migan for the Australian Flexible Learning Framework on Copyright and the Education Sector via Adobe Connect
  • Alexander Hayes on the use of Web 2.0 technologies
  • Leigh Blackall from Otago Polytechnic New Zealand on networked learning and Web 2.0 via Adobe Connect.
  • Hosting a regional Adobe workshop series over 2 days – 27th – 28th of February.  The sessions were conducted by a presenter from Adobe in Sydney and were attended by IT teachers from across the Institute as well as Learning Technologies and Marketing staff.

 

 

4. Learning Reference Repository (LRR) and Publishing System (CLIPS)

The LTT worked with Alex Davey and Trevor Johnson as well as staff from CLI to establish a LRR for Riverina Institute and access to the CLI Publishing System (CLIPS) which uses a word template for resource development. 

The LRR is now established.  It will provide a web based platform that can be used for effective referencing, storage and sharing of teacher developed learning resources. The LRR is envisaged to minimise effort in terms of learning resource creation and to facilitate cross Campus and cross Institute collaboration in resource development, evaluation and maintenance.

Additionally, access to CLIPS and the Style 3000 template will provide Riverina Institute with the capacity to create quality resources that meet the necessary standards and guidelines for design and accessibility.  This will greatly enhance the value and number of resources available and suitable for placing into the Riverina LRR and also for access via TALE.

These systems were established and then trialled by LTT in collaboration with CLI and two RI teams to develop resources for the 2008 SPC (Special Project Committee) – Diploma in Horticulture and the Diploma in Local Government.

 

5. Courseware Development

 

 

In 2008 the LTT provided individual customised support to more than 25 staff working on the development of course content including projects such as:

 

  • Diploma in Horticulture and Diploma in Local Government (in conjunction with CLI)
  • Online CD based resources for OH&S Induction for Senior Staff (in collaboration with PD&L)
  • Harness Racing (Richard Said - PIC)
  • Tourism (Melanie Bowman – Wagga Wagga)
  • Community Recreation Cert IV (Melissa Ryan – West Wyalong)
  • Sustainable Energy Course (Jamie Carey – Albury)

 

 

The Learning Technology Team provided support to staff on 2 Riverina Institute/Australian Flexible Learning Framework projects including:
 

  • Support & training in using technologies such as Wikis and Multimedia to staff working on the Organic Farming and Permaculture project at National Environment Centre. 
  • Support & training using technologies such as Wikis and Adobe Connect to the Pathways to Business project team.

 

 


5. Learning Management System  - Moodle

 

The Riverina Institute Profile Committee meeting of 23 September 2008 endorsed the adoption of Moodle as the Institute’s Learning Management System (LMS).  This will replace Janison Toolbox. 

Moodle will be implemented from 2009 and Janison Toolbox will be maintained until the end of 2009 to assist with the smooth migration of courses from the old LMS to the new one, so that our online delivery capability is not diminished. It is advisable that new courses (ie those not already offered online through Janison Toolbox) be developed in Moodle – it will be available from November 2008 to enable content to be developed and tested in preparation for the commencement of the 2009 academic year.

 

The Moodle Implementation Working Party which includes members of the Teaching & Learning Horizon Committee will oversee the implementation of Moodle and the migration from Janison to Moodle during 2009. 

 

 

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