Links
- Beyond Understanding. Streamed video of session at the
Thresholds Symposium, Glasgow 2006 - D. Perkins (Harvard) - Enhancing Teaching & Learning - project website- useful publications & tools
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Ray Land in conversation
The opening keynote was given by Ray Land of Strathclyde University and was a fascinating perspective on the impact of some of the new "Web 2.0" technologies on higher education. In the time limit, Ray could only mention some of the issues briefly, so we asked him (on day 2) if he wouldn't mind popping into our studio for a more detailed chat on the very powerful idea of "threshold concepts".
Other seminars/presentations
James Morrison, editor of Innovate - the Journal of Online Learning has dropped an email to notify us of some forthcoming live internet seminars. These are presentations by authors in the journal and are run using Adobe Connect (which was previously called Macromedia Breeze, which was originally built on Macromedia Flash Communications Server - FYI!!). You can book a place on these, which will let you ask questions, but the number of spaces is limited. However, anyone can register to look over the archived versions. I've also added the RSS feed to Innovate on the side of this blog so we can keep an eye on recent papers.
- June 14, 2007 12:00 PM(US-East/5 pm in Ireland) Authors: Bill Gibbs and Erik Larson Using Video Conferencing in Lecture Classes
- 1:00 PM (6pm Ireland) Authors: Kathleen Roney and Mary Ann Davies Coaching and Mentoring on the Internet Highway
- 2:00 PM(7pm Ireland) Authors: Sarah Lohnes and Charles Kinzer Questioning Assumptions About Students & Expectations for Technology in College Classrooms
- July 11, 2007 12:00 PM (5pm Ireland) Author: Howard Wach Changing Needs, Changing Models: Instructional Technology Training at Bronx Community College
- 1:00 PM (6pm Ireland) Author: Donald Philip The Knowledge Building Paradigm: A Model of Learning for Net Generation Students
- 3:00 PM (8pm Ireland) Authors: Edward Gehringer, Luke Ehresman, Susan G. Conger, and Prasad Wagle Reusable Learning Objects Through Peer Review: The Expertiza Approach
- To Be Announced (Check the Innovate-Live Portal) Authors: Helen Sword and Michele Leggott Backwards into the Future: Seven Principles for Educating the Ne(x)t Generation
Friday, 8 June 2007
Thank you!
Thanks to all of you who attended, participated in and helped organise the conference. From the feedback thus far it seems to have gone well, with lots of food for thought. Now the extended plenary session begins using the technology we talked about - blogs, etc. So I've freed up the silly login requirement for posting, so that it should be easier for anyone to comment.
The conference presentations will also be up in due course, along with reports and supplementary material. In the meantime though, we'll take a wee break - for at least this evening!
The conference presentations will also be up in due course, along with reports and supplementary material. In the meantime though, we'll take a wee break - for at least this evening!
Day 2
Day 2 it is, although admittedly by only a couple of minutes! Remember that this blog site will keep running after the conference. We'll be using it to link to the recordings of the keynote presentations and also to provide copies of PowerPoint slides from other sessions (where available). But, the important point is that its a blog with 'comments enabled' - so post away with questions, queries or points for discussion. An event like this can only really serve as a taster for some of the issues and that's what is so powerful about this technology; we can carry on the discussion, refine viewpoints and provide useful links. So go on, give it a try!
Links to topics mentioned in passing on day 1:
Links to topics mentioned in passing on day 1:
- 'PowerPointlessness'
- Second Life
- Second Life Education
- Proceedings of the Second Life Education Workshop
- Example of course at Harvard Law School taught through Second Life
- Drupal content management system
- Tyranny of the Moment- Fast and Slow Time in the Information Age
- Troublesome Knowledge and Threshold Concepts
Thursday, 7 June 2007
issues and themes
Today, most of the keynote speakers talked about aspects of Web 2.0, touching upon what its implications are, or could be, for teaching and learning. We didn't get a chance to go into things in a great deal of depth during the rather short discussion sessions, but then the idea of this conference has always been to get that discussion happening informally in small groups over coffee, a drink in the bar or a walk on the prom.
Ray Land talked briefly about the ideas of "troublesome knowledge" and "threshold concepts" and raised the question about how these new technologies might align with (or not) these ideas. They are at the very heart of what is often held to constitute 'higher education' (indeed all levels of education, to be fair): that previously held knowledge and preconceptions need to be challenged, that students need to experience a disconnect of sorts, an uncomfortable, troublesome feeling in which they can't see quite how to reconcile this new information or new way of thinking with how they have previously, personally "understood" the subject they are studying. All academic disciplines have 'threshold concepts', fundamental ideas that must be grasped before the student can move on.
The question, then, posed by Ray and also raised again in the discussion after Michael Kerres' presentation, is how can Web 2.0 (or whatever we want to call it) technologies help in this personally transformative, intellectual journey? In the rush of 'fast time' how can students carve out space and time to think, to reflect, to face up to these conceptual challenges and to move to the next level? Surely the barrage of information, the bombardment of communication, all of these are in danger of pushing things aside? Perhaps this is an indicator of what the role of the teacher, the expert practitioner might then be in this new era: designing, shaping, guiding and focusing on the real 'learning', the processes of coming to know, to act and to "be" in the subject or discipline under study.
Bill McDaniel's enthusiastic embracing of new technologies shows that we needn't fear them, but equally we need to come to terms with this wider context in which more and more of our students are going to be inhabiting. That we need to be clear as to what constitutes learning, to focus a little more on the processes than the content is also part of the message of today.
Anyway, those are just first random thoughts at the end of a busy day. Keep up the discussion and get ready for more tomorrow.
Ray Land talked briefly about the ideas of "troublesome knowledge" and "threshold concepts" and raised the question about how these new technologies might align with (or not) these ideas. They are at the very heart of what is often held to constitute 'higher education' (indeed all levels of education, to be fair): that previously held knowledge and preconceptions need to be challenged, that students need to experience a disconnect of sorts, an uncomfortable, troublesome feeling in which they can't see quite how to reconcile this new information or new way of thinking with how they have previously, personally "understood" the subject they are studying. All academic disciplines have 'threshold concepts', fundamental ideas that must be grasped before the student can move on.
The question, then, posed by Ray and also raised again in the discussion after Michael Kerres' presentation, is how can Web 2.0 (or whatever we want to call it) technologies help in this personally transformative, intellectual journey? In the rush of 'fast time' how can students carve out space and time to think, to reflect, to face up to these conceptual challenges and to move to the next level? Surely the barrage of information, the bombardment of communication, all of these are in danger of pushing things aside? Perhaps this is an indicator of what the role of the teacher, the expert practitioner might then be in this new era: designing, shaping, guiding and focusing on the real 'learning', the processes of coming to know, to act and to "be" in the subject or discipline under study.
Bill McDaniel's enthusiastic embracing of new technologies shows that we needn't fear them, but equally we need to come to terms with this wider context in which more and more of our students are going to be inhabiting. That we need to be clear as to what constitutes learning, to focus a little more on the processes than the content is also part of the message of today.
Anyway, those are just first random thoughts at the end of a busy day. Keep up the discussion and get ready for more tomorrow.
Photos
Conference photos from the first day are now available here on our little link to flikr - thanks to Alejandra and Fiona. The recordings of the keynotes and other "vox pop" videos will appear shortly!
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
The trick is to keep breathing...
Too late now for any last minute changes, the momentum has built up and launch takes place at 9:30 am. But what of this blog? Well, we will keep it going after the event if there is demand for continued discussion and knowledge sharing. Recordings of the conference keynote presentations and short interviews will also be added, along with copies of papers and handouts, but only after we've had at least a couple of days to recover!
tick, tock, tick, tock
The countdown has begun. Twenty-four hours from now we'll be heading towards the first coffee break after the introductory presentations and first keynote address!
The weather is excellent here in Galway, so if you're packing don't forget your sun-block and cool shades, particularly if you plan in taking a stroll along "the prom" at Salthill in the evening - important to look your best there.
Last minute dashing around, tweaking things and wondering whether we've ordered enough biscuits for the tea break, receiving calls and emails with obscure queries from attendees, and remembering to keep smiling even in the absence of sleep - all part of the normal preparations for such an event!
The weather is excellent here in Galway, so if you're packing don't forget your sun-block and cool shades, particularly if you plan in taking a stroll along "the prom" at Salthill in the evening - important to look your best there.
Last minute dashing around, tweaking things and wondering whether we've ordered enough biscuits for the tea break, receiving calls and emails with obscure queries from attendees, and remembering to keep smiling even in the absence of sleep - all part of the normal preparations for such an event!
Monday, 28 May 2007
Pre-Conference Presentation: Museum Fun
Here, Tony Hall (NUI Galway) gives a presentation on some of his earlier work on making visits to museums a more interesting, interactive and exploratory experience. This was carried out as part of a major European project and Tony focuses on trials of a range of technologies placed in Limerick's Hunt Museum.
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Blogs, Wikis and Social Networks
I’m delighted to announce that Lucy Keating from Netskills is returning to NUI Galway to deliver 3 workshops during the parallel sessions, on Blogs, Wikis and Social Networks. These workshops have been structured to be independent, i.e. you can attend one, two or all three sessions. Places are, however, strictly limited, and are now being offered, to registered participants, on a first come, first served basis.
If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, just sign up by sending an email to Gráinne at celtconf@nuigalway.ie. Please do not reserve a place unless you intend to be there.
The workshops are:
Thursday 7 June, 10.50 – 12.30
Blogs and Wikis – Beyond the Hype
Thursday 7 June, 14.45 – 16.25
Social Software – What’s it all about?
Friday 8 June, 10.45 – 12.30
Implementing Social Software – Practicalities and Pitfalls
If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, just sign up by sending an email to Gráinne at celtconf@nuigalway.ie. Please do not reserve a place unless you intend to be there.
The workshops are:
Thursday 7 June, 10.50 – 12.30
Blogs and Wikis – Beyond the Hype
Thursday 7 June, 14.45 – 16.25
Social Software – What’s it all about?
Friday 8 June, 10.45 – 12.30
Implementing Social Software – Practicalities and Pitfalls
Saturday, 19 May 2007
Conference Proceedings
Since our conference is about two things: (a) sharing knowledge and experience, and (b) technologies in practice and not just "in theory" then why not look at a new approach to publishing the conference proceedings?A possibility that we'd like to explore here with colleagues, is that all those who have had a paper accepted, would be welcome to submit to us both a written up version of their paper and any pertinent powerpoint slides so that we could present both on the post-conference website. In addition, using a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike-Non Commercial licence, we could ensure the maximum dissemination of such papers. These contributions could also be submitted to the National Digital Learning Repository, under the same terms and conditions.
Finally, we would then be happy to collate and edit such contributions for submission to the lulu.com "print on demand" service, enabling anyone to purchase a printed and bound hardcopy if they so wish.
The advantages of this approach are that there can be a rapid turnaround as well as maximum dissemination, whilst also doing our bit in building collegiality.
If you want to participate, please email us your completed papers (usual academic format with abstract, full references,etc.) at celtconf@nuigalway.ie
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