Graham Attwell :: Blog :: Archives
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ Video of an interview on personal Learning Environments and e-Portfolios. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
Last month I spoke at a conference on Web 2.0 and learning organised by the Danish Knowledge Laboratory in Odense. And a great onfernce it was too. Made some good new friends and hope we will stay in touch.I made a presentation on Personal Learning Environments and e-Portfolios. Anyway, they had a film crew at the conference and at lunchtime they interviewed me. They asked some hard questions - very good questions. And they have published the results on the web. You can watch the video here. Like the way they have done it with access to sections - anyone know how that is done?
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ The Teletubbies are set to be banned in Poland after a government media watchdog decided they encouraged homosexuality. See this great slide by Serge Revet. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
![Tinky Winky]( "Tinky Winky") I'm in Poland for a meeting and conference organised by the European MOSEP project. You think the UK education policy is not always brilliant. Well this is the latest nonsense from the Polish government.
"The Teletubbies are set to be banned in Poland after a government media watchdog decided they encouraged homosexuality. The children's TV programme has fallen foul of Poland's government-appointed Children's Rights spokesman, who believes the show is "gay propaganda". A special committee has been appointed to examine the claims including allegations that Tinky Winky's handbag was breaking down gender barriers and encouraging homosexuality." Source: Ananova After a couple of beers last night we decided on a solidarity campaign with Tinky Winky. Agnieszka did a great job getting us the screen shots and Serge Ravet slipped this wonderful picture into his presentation on e-Portfolios at the conference today.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ [ In reply to weblog entry: "e-Portfolios and personal Learning Environments", by GrahamAttwell, 01-June-2007]
Great Talk.
You don't mind I will link this to a small onlione session I am starting hosting next week.
It will be useful to be able re-tell them this topics through someone else's voice.
I think they are already sick and tired to listen to me. hahahahah!
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ for the last three weeks I have been producing regular podcasts for teh UK based Emerge community. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
Some of you will know about these - others will not. We have been producing between 3 and 5 podcasts a week for the Emerge project. I was hoping to do some kind of index but it is very difficult scraping data off the Elgg system to import here. At the very least I can give you some links - at some point I will try to produce a better index of audio productions. I do urge you to listen to at least some of the series - there is some very good material here. Each programme lasts between 8 and 14 minutes. - June 01, 2007 - Emerging Sounds with Brian Kelly
- May 29, 2007 - Emerging Sounds with Alan Brown
- May 25, 2007 - Emerging Sounds with Mark van Harmalen
- May 23, 2007 - Emerging Sounds with Ellen and Lydia
- May 21, 2007 - Emerging Sounds with David White
- May 18, 2007 - Emerging Sounds with Tony Toole
- May 17, 2007 - emerging sounds with Niall Sclater
- May 16, 2007 - emerging sounds with Willi Bruns
- May 15, 2007 - emerging sounds with Ben Werdmuller
- May 14, 2007 - emerging sounds with Geroge Roberts
- May 11, 2007 - Emerging Sounds with Rhona Sharpe
- May 10, 2007 - Emerging Sounds Podcast with Steven Warbuton and Joise Fraser
- May 09, 2007 - Randy Metcalfe speaks to Emerging Sounds
- May 08, 2007 - Emerging Sounds
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ European meetings can be interesting in terms of culture [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
The endless round of pre-summer meetings goes on. All last week I was in Pontypridd where I organised a meeting of the Leonardo da Vinci b-learning project. The project is pretty good - it is well focused in aiming to produce an on-line handbook and examples of practice for designing and implemented blended learning programmes.Liek mots European Commission funded projects it involves parters form different organisations in Europe - in this case including partners from Estonia, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria and Wales. The real challenge of these meetings is to establish common understandings and meanings - not easy when most participants are communicating in a second or third language.And of course discussions can get heated at times. So it was on Friday with a particularly loud exchange between our Italian and Estonian parters. After the exchange the Italian partner explained "I'm niot being aggressive, I'm Italian". I love it.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ [ In reply to weblog entry: "More on Second Life - Convince Me", by GrahamAttwell, 20-December-2006]
There will be a Boston Second Life Meet-up of Blackboard/Second Life Developers in the evening after the first day session of the Blackboard Developers' 2007 Conference...
http://dokimos.org/secondlife/blackboard/meetup.html
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ The CELT centre at the University of Glamorgan have produced an excellent practical handbook on designing blended learning programmes and curricula. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
More on last weeks B-learning project meeting.I invited Tony Toole from the University of Glamorgan to speak at the meeting. The CELT centre at the university is doing some interesting work which deserves a bigger audience. I've never been particularly keen on the term blended learning. On the one hand it seems to state the obvious, on the other hand it is difficult to know what it means. The CELT website itself says: " The phrase ‘blended learning’ can
mean many different things to different people. Indeed the definitional
complexities take up lots of pages of academic reflection. Phrases like
‘e-learning’, ‘online learning’ and ‘technology enhanced education’ are
also equally open to a range of interpretations."However, I can see the attraction of the term in allowing a focus on pedagogic approaches to the use of technology enhanced learning. The CELT web site goes on to say: "At Glamorgan
we have adopted a definition of blended learning which is designed to
locate the development of these activities within the wider University
agenda of enhancing learning and teaching. We would argue that Blended
Learning involves:
The thoughtful
integration of face-to-face classroom (spontaneous verbal discourse)
and Internet based (reflective text-based discourse) learning
opportunities. It is not an add-on to a classroom lecture nor an online
course; it is a fundamental redesign. It allows for an optimal
(re)design approach to enhance and extend learning by rethinking and
restructuring learning and teaching to create blended learning (Cf.
Vaughan and Garrison 2005)."CELT has produced an excellent handbook on blended learning - called 'Smoothies'. It is available for free download from the web site and is well worth a look. I particularly like the practical approach and the provision of templates both for reflection and to develop additional resources for the web site.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ It is nice to see your comments about the work we have begun at Glamorgan. [ In reply to weblog entry: "Smoothies", by GrahamAttwell, 14-June-2007]
Hi Graham,
As one of a small number of HEIs in the UK who are taking a strategic approach to embedding Blended Learning across all our course delivery we hope to share our better examples with the wider Blended Learning community in that spirit of collegial knowledge development which characterises real blended learning. Thanks for helping in raising our profile in this way
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ Well that might not be true. But Facebook certainly has a limited range of options for 'political views' in your personal profile. I am a socialist and I want to be able to add it to my profile. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
I like Facebook. It looks good, its fun to use and all my mates are getting accounts.But the choice of political views in the personal profile is sad. You can describe yourself as: - Very liberal
- Liberal
- Moderate
- Conservative
- Very Conservative
- Apathetic
or I'm down as other. I certainly aren't any of the rest. I am a socialist. I am proud to be a socialist. And I don't think there is anything to be ashamed of about being a socialist. There are many, many socialists throughout the world. So why can't I delclare myself as a soc ialist and meet up with other socialist in Facebook? Or doesn't Facebook want socialists to join?
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ You've got the point! [ In reply to weblog entry: "I'm not being aggressive - I'm Italian", by GrahamAttwell, 11-June-2007]
That's exactly the point of mixing different nationality partners. It is a specific and priority topic for EU that of building an "European Identity" through the exchange and mixing of different cultures. But after 10 years in EU funded transnational meetings I am 100% convinced that this is the greatest way to reach creative new ideas in any field, and notably in the field of education. Education is not a pure science and is intimately linked to cultural backgrounds, so the chance to compare different solutions to the education challenges at a EU level, is a great opportunity for anyone doing our job.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ New report from the Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development (OCSLD) on theUK literature and practice relating to the undergraduate experience of blended learning. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
Why am I suddenly so interested in Blended Learning. Well...partly because Pontydysgu, for whom I work, is a partner on a project producing a handbook on Blended Learning.Previously I tended to think the term is a little silly. As Frances Bell says in a recent blog post, all learning is blended so why use the term? But I think the various understandings of Blended Learning reflect a movement towards wider and more pedagogically considered use of ICT for learning within the 'traditional' curriculum, rather than being confined to Distance Learning or project based contexts. And that surely is to be welcomed.A team of researchers from the Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning
Development (OCSLD) has completed a review of the UK literature and
practice relating to the undergraduate experience of blended learning. The study aimed to review existing research and practice on blended
e-learning, identify key studies and issues, and make recommendations
to guide future policy and practice. The review team combined
traditional desk research, with institutional visits and interviews
with key personnel.
The review report addresses the
current meanings of 'blended learning' across the sector, the
underlying institutional rationales for blended learning, the
monitoring and evaluation strategies being adopted for ensuring and
enhancing the quality of blended e-learning. The review has found that
the student response to the provision of online information to
supplement traditional teaching is overwhelmingly positive. It is
clear from the uptake of this area of technology by institutions, the
rise of the use of the term 'blended learning' and the number of
evaluative studies identified in the review, that institutions and
practitioners are attempting to engage with blended learning and are
doing so successfully. This is certainly worth a read.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ Great examples of e-Potrfolio development [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
I'm often being asked if I can show examples of effective e-Potrfolios. And that is not so easy. So I was delighted when Cristina Costa sent me the url to 2007 Senior Portfolios. It's a great example of the creative use of e-Portfolios. And it neatly illustrates another dilemma in developing both e-Portfolios and Personal Learning environments. These e-Portfolio have been developed using Apple iLife software, which for all its limitations, is great for multimedia and is based on services layers between the different applications.I am always caught by the dilemma between viewing the PLE as a collection of everyday software tools, and thus a process or approach, and the bundled (usually web-based) application seeking some sort of tool integration to make life easy for the user.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ I'm off on a pre-summer tour for the next three weeks. If anyone would like to meet up for a beer and a chat please drop me an email. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
So here is the schedule....Sunday 24 June - Bremen - Swindon (visiting parents)Monday 25 June - Swindon - Oxford - Brussels (UK JISC Emerge team meeting)Tuesday 26 June - Brussels - Luxembourg - London (meeting for EC 6 Framework programme)Wednesday 27 June - London - Pontypridd (meeting London Learning Lab)Thursday 28 June - Saturday 30 June - Pontypridd (meeting EC Reflective Evaluation project)Saturday 30 - Pontypridd - BremenSaturday 30 june - Wednesday 4 July - BremenWednesday 4 July - Bremen - Manchester Thursday 5 July - Manchester - Paris (meeting University for Industry)Friday 6 July - Paris - Bremen (meeting on OERs at UNESCO)Saturday 7 July - Monday 9 July - BremenMonday 9 July - Bremen - Manchester (EMERGE Conference)Tuesday 10 July- Manchester - Brighton (EMERGE Conference)Wednesday 11 July - Bighton - Bremen (ELGG Conference)Thursday 12 July - Bremen (have a lie in)
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ Knowsley Council in Merseyside, has abolished the use of the word school to describe secondary education in the borough.
It is taking the dramatic step of closing all of its eleven existing secondary schools by 2009. As part of a £150m government-backed rebuilding programme, they will reopen as seven state-of-the-art, round-the-clock, learning centres
[ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
This is big news. However, it hasn't been picked up by the blogging community - probably because so little can be found on the web. This report is from the Independent newspaper.
"Knowsley
Council in Merseyside, which - for years - has languished near or at
the bottom of exam league tables, has abolished the use of the word [school] to
describe secondary education in the borough.
It is taking the dramatic step of closing all of its eleven existing
secondary schools by 2009. As part of a £150m government-backed
rebuilding programme, they will reopen as seven state-of-the-art,
round-the-clock, learning centres with the aid of Microsoft - which has
already developed links with one school in the borough, Bowring.
The style of learning will be completely different. The new centres
will open from 7am until 10pm in both term-time and what used to be
known as the school holidays. At weekends, they will open from 9am to
8pm.
Youngsters will not be taught in formal classes, nor will they stick
to a rigid timetable; instead they will work online at their own speeds
on programmes that are tailor-made to match their interests.
Children will be able to study haircare, beauty therapy, leisure and
tourism, and engineering as well as the more traditional academic
subjects.
They will be given their day's assignments in groups of 120 in the
morning before dispersing to internet cafe-style zones in the learning
centres to carry them out.
The 21,000 youngsters of secondary education age in Knowsley will also be able to access their learning programmes from home." I see this as the first big crack in the present model of schooling which dates from the first industrial revolution. And it won't be the last.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ Fascinating - it reads like science fiction [ In reply to weblog entry: "The beginning of the end for the industrial schooling system?", by GrahamAttwell, 23-June-2007]
Thanks for such a heartening story!
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ perhaps learning could even be fun, as with gaming... [ In reply to weblog entry: "De-schooling (or re-schooling) society", by GrahamAttwell, 30-April-2007]
as other speakers and authors have stated, learning can be fun and learners can be self motivated. in gaming environments, learners receive constant and specific feedback while they strategise frantically to try to achieve goals. i imagine one day soon such a learning environment will be created and learning will accelerate for those who become engaged. surely 'schools' would be wise to acknowledge such a phenomenon and try to get on the e-learning bandwagon. development of rich gaming or inquiry style learning 'worlds' would no doubt be a hit with many students.
regards,
d-)
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ What a great model for higher education... [ In reply to weblog entry: "The beginning of the end for the industrial schooling system?", by GrahamAttwell, 23-June-2007]
Though the cooperation of faculty would be paramount...
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ Encouraging, but.... [ In reply to weblog entry: "The beginning of the end for the industrial schooling system?", by GrahamAttwell, 23-June-2007]
The old way has to go, but my guess is it will die a long death. With such scanty information, it is hard to judge if this is going to work.
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ [ In reply to weblog entry: "The beginning of the end for the industrial schooling system?", by GrahamAttwell, 23-June-2007]
Graham, the story has been picked up here and there in the Blogosphere.
There was a discussion in Difference Zone at Treforest,
http://difference.weblog.glam.ac.uk/2007/5/18/school-s-out-forever back in May, which shows the divisions that plague the world of educational reform.
and
Mr. Read who is closer to Knowsley than many of us has some comments
http://mrread.blogspot.com/2007/05/knowsley-curates-egg-when-you-r
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ In evidence to the Commons Education Select Committee's inquiry on pupil assessment, the General Teaching Council for England says most children take an average of 70 different exams or tests before the age of 16, making them the most tested in the world. [ Weblog entry in "The Wales-Wide Web"]
I never thought I would be interested in assessment. But, the more I look at how we can develop and implement new pedagogies - especially to take advantage of the potentials of computers for learning - we hit the barrier of assessment systems. In the UK it almost seems that the whole education system is being driven by assessment. In this context the following article - from the Guardian newspaper - is interesting. Also interesting to see the kneejerk reaction from both the government and the opposition."The watchdog for teaching in England yesterday put itself on a collision course with ministers by calling for all national school tests before the age of 16 to be scrapped.The intervention by the General Teaching Council for England (GTC), which added new weight to long-running demands for a reduction in the testing regime, was firmly rebuffed by the government and the Conservatives.....Compulsory standard assessment tests (Sats) are taken in England at seven, 11 and 14. Pilot schemes launched in January could lead ultimately to the tests being taken when pupils are ready, rather than at fixed points in the year, but ministers regard their existence as non-negotiable.In evidence to the Commons Education Select Committee's inquiry on pupil assessment, the GTC says most children take an average of 70 different exams or tests before the age of 16, making them the most tested in the world.The GTC wants "sampling" of standards, covering a few primary and secondary schools, to guide national policy, along with internal school exams held by teachers when they thought appropriate.The move is significant because the GTC is notionally independent of both the government and the unions. It is responsible for registering teachers and has banned them from helping pupils in Sats exams."
http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/ [ In reply to weblog entry: "Personal Learning Environments for creating, consuming, remixing and sharing", by GrahamAttwell, 23-April-2007]
I like the idea of 'Personal Learning Environments', and we built a website welang.com for that. The website is based on education2.0 tech and PLE. Everyone have a blog, and have a space for collect notes, bookmark websites and so on.
|
|
