Maree GosperNo 1 22 August 2007 Learning and Teaching in the Information Age Learning with Technologies Dr Maree Gosper CPD/IHERD

Maree Gosper No 1 22 August 2007

Learning and Teaching in the Information Age

Learning with Technologies

Dr Maree GosperCPD/IHERD


Learning with Technologies

• Technologies are the tools around us – why not use them?

• Introducing new technologies leads to change – learning, teaching and the curriculum

• Managing the changes


1. Technology?

Technology is anything that wasn’t around when you were born(Alan Kay 1980)


At MQ

• In 2006 the number of students enrolled at MQ was 31,660

• 60% - 18,996 were under the age of 25

(MQ Annual report, 2006)

• What implications does this have for the way we teach and the way students learn?


Learning is

• a process of knowledge construction

• knowledge dependent

• highly tuned to the situation in which it takes place

(Resnick 1989)


Point 1

• Technologies are the tools around us…..

• Skills and knowledge are not independent of the environment – mental, physical and social – in which they are used.

• We should therefore be using the tools of the 21st Century when developing learning environments


2. Learning with Technologies

Common elements across disciplines encompass the processes of:

• Accessing, exploring & interacting

• Communicating, collaborating, creating & contributing

• Reflecting, evaluating & refining


Communicating & collaborating

The environment of higher education is changing.

There is an increasing need for distance education, with pressure coming not only from nontraditional students but also are seeking

flexible options

The “shape” of the average student is changing, too; more students are working and commuting than ever before, and the residential, full-time student is not necessarily the model for today’s typical student.

(Horizon Report 2007)

• What does this mean for the way we communicate and collaborate


Communicating & collaborating


Creating & contributing

Writing an essay

Giving a presentation

Sitting for an exam


Creating & contributing

• Second Life: Melany Toombs – Year 6.The virtual doorways project was done as a reflection for a unit on sustainability and global warming.

Producing a podcast

Developing a group resource on a wiki.


Reflecting, evaluating, refining

• Task / lecturer feedback

• Tutorials

• Online discussion forums

Blogs

http://elgg.cfl.mq.edu.au/mgosper/weblog/

ePortfolios


Accessing, exploring & interacting

• Lectures / Tutorials• Practicals /Field trips • Readings -• Simulations • Role plays • Problems -> PBL

• Just introducing new technologies is not enough

iLecture Research


Point 2

• The introduction of new tools will impact: – the way we teach– the way students learn – the way we assess

• This has implications for the way we structure the whole curriculum.

• We need to rethink the alignment of aims outcomes activities and assessment tasks


3. Managing the changes

• Learning is an effortful process

• Technology should not get in the way of students learning


Will they use it?

The 4 E’s - Collis and Moonen (2001)

• Ease of use

• Effectiveness

• Efficiency

• Environmental readiness


A balancing act

The Curriculum The ICTs

The Organisational Environment

The CICTO Framework JS Flagship Project(M Gosper, K Woo, H Muir, C Dudley, K Nakazawa. AJET 23, 2.


eBenchmarking - quality enhancement

1. A statement of context – Vision , why, for what purpose

2. Infrastructure – Expectations around Univ LMS, external hosting, use of tech not

supported by central services

3. Academic practice– Workload, responsibilities expectations, policy implications

4. Professional development and training – Pedagogical, technical, organisational

5. Student induction and development – Expectations and responsibilities, pre-enrolment information

6. Quality Assurance and enhancement – Curriculum & pedagogy, technical & compliance, risk management


Point 3

In managing the change we need to consider and act upon three interrelated elements

1. The curriculum

2. The technology

3. The organisational environment


Thank you

The Machine is Us/ing Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE&eurl=

Documents

Maree GosperNo 1 22 August 2007 Learning and Teaching in the Information Age Learning with Technologies Dr Maree Gosper CPD/IHERD