Implementing Elgg in HE :: Blog

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/weblog/41765.html

The Teaching & Learning Development Unit is looking for a freelance flash
developer/learning technologist to produce a range of interactive online
activities and resources, as part of a student-focused development project.
We are mid-way through the project and your task would be to help to
deliver the final product on time and on budget. The website can be access
at: www.sussex.ac.uk/s3.

Essential skills include:

Good working knowledge of JavaScript, Flash (including ActionScript 3.0
scripting), MySQL, Photoshop
Advanced knowledge of XHTML/CSS
Understanding of the web delivery of video
Experience using Flash (ActionScript 3), XHTML and CSS to develop
interactive learning materials and activities

The hours and location of work, and the fee payable, are to be negotiated.
To express interest or discuss the project in more detail, please contact
Clare Hardman on 01273 873657 or email C.L.M.Hardman@sussex.ac.uk, as soon
as possible. Proposals to undertake this work should be submitted by Monday
9th March.

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/weblog/41237.html

Many thanks to everyone who came to the Mobile Technologies showcase at CETLC yesterday and the formal launch of the TOTEM project. For those unable to attend but are interested in finding out more about this project, an introductory video can be found here. We have set up a TOTEM area on studentcentral containing all the information about the project, project proposal information for those wishing to evaluate the technologies and links to numerous other projects investigating mobile technologies in the FE/HE sector.

We have already had some exciting proposals submitted and I'm looking forward to many more and interesting times ahead as we begin to understand the potential for mobile technologies in learning and teaching.

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/weblog/39415.html

This article is an interesting look at M.I.T.'s new model - no more hour long lectures - at all. Everything is taught in small hands-on classes (with voting clickers of course).

Despite initial student objection, attendence is up, and pass rates are up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/us/13physics.html?_r=2&h

Only a $10million investment requried to make it happen.

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/weblog/39146.html

I was very impressed with this (in the excellent style of those Common Craft videos you've probably seen). This isn't necessarily where we're headed, but it's a fascinating snapshot of a REAL student on a real course and the possibilities that are now out there for students and educators. 

 

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/files/538/4723/welcomesign.jpg

Areas of the island are clearly signed to help users know what they're for and what they can do there.

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/files/538/4722/sandbox.jpg

A large area of the island is devoted to a "sandbox" where anyone can build, with no time limits.

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/files/538/4721/height.jpg

This translucent "diving board" is an experiment in creating spaces using height.

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/weblog/22276.html

I'm investigating Pebble Pad at the moment, and came across this powerpoint file, which I wanted to share as it's an interesting example of using Powerpoint's animation and narration features synced up to produce a sort of video. I've not seen Powerpoint used in this way before and was surprised that powerpoint files, which are massive by nature anyway, was only 7M for a 5 minute narration.

For those interested in ePortfolios and PDP etc, I'd be interested in your comments on the PebblePab product itself as well...!

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/weblog/22269.html

The latest Eduserv Foundation funded study into UK universities, colleges

and academics developing "stuff" in Second Life, and using this for teaching

and learning, is underway. Fuller details are blogged here:



www.silversprite.com/?p=460 



...and there’ll be updates, such as todays:



www.silversprite.com/?p=465



As we visit these developments, we'll be taking screen dumps and adding them

to this picture set in Flickr:



www.flickr.com/photos/silversprite/sets/72157603982005324/ 



If you’re in UK Higher or Further Education and you’ve developed something

in Second Life then get in touch:



john (@) silversprite.com



It's an opportunity to promote what you've done, and also for like-minded

academics to find you.



If you are aware of other developments in UK universities and colleges - be

they at the institution, department, group or lone academic level - then

we'd appreciate word of them too; thanks.



John Kirriemuir (RL) / Silversprite Helsinki (SL)

Tags: secondlife, eduserv

http://community.brighton.ac.uk/pedagog/weblog/22196.html

To celebrate world maths day a bunch of highly creative australians have developed Mathletics - http://scs.scaffoldeducation.com.au/

This is a really superb project bringing social networking and maths together. Thousands of school kids from around the world are logging onto this site to compete head to head in endless rounds of 20 question maths tests -  the power of competition to motivate children is all too evident - just a quick glance shows that the top 3 children have completed over 12000 tests. As I write this there are over 10,000 kids online now and almost 2,000,000,000 questions have been answered correctly (no I haven't got the decimal place wrong!). My own kids have got seriously into it - spending ages competing against kids from Brazil, Canada, Australia and Europe. What a fantastic idea and proof of something we found a few years back - add an element of competition and interest and engagement are signifiacntly increased!