Instructions

One of the greatest professional contributions we can make is to share our work.  As we journey on this path from Industrial Age models to those aligned with a digital era, we all benefit from hearing each others’ stories of where we have been, where we hoped to go and how it went along the way. This module asks you to share one activity from the year as a case study of authentic learning in a Web 2.0 World.

1) Identification of your Case Study

Review the projects you have used or created this past year.  Choose one that you’re comfortable sharing with others. You might want to preview the Final Reflection headings to stimulate your thinking.

2) Prepare Case Study for Sharing

You may have much or little work to do for this task.  If your project is already on a publicly accessible Web site (WordPress, Wikispaces, Edublogs, Look to Learn, etc.), you are already mostly finished.  If your project is on a private site (intranet, Moodle, Ning, LMS, etc.), you will need to repost it to a public space.  Usually this requires little more than copying and pasting the content from your private Web page to a public one (such as this Web site or to a free WordPress or Wikispaces account).  Please discuss this with the facilitator so that the easiest solution can be found depending on your circumstances.

Take this as an opportunity to polish and revise any aspects of your project that you’d like to before sharing it.

Share Case Study Links

Once you have prepared / polished your selected case study, make sure you share the link.  Probably the easiest way to do this is in the Comment section of this page.  You can also email the link or bookmark and share the link with our Diigo AISV group.  Just be sure to get the information to the facilitators so they know where to find the link.

Professional Reflection

Copy and paste the Headings from the Final Reflection Template into a supporting page for your case study.  Remember the pages need to be on public Webspace so we can view them.  Title the page “Professional Reflection” so we know what to look for.

Where to from Here?

As we celebrate great learning from this year, consider what you would like to do next year to continue your learning.  Two specific offerings are available from AISV. One is a shorter 3 day series that lets you continue work you have done this year, thus providing more time and support to master the skills you are currently developing.  The second is a more focused elite group that will essentially “ramp up” this show case approach – the outcome of which will appear as a conference presentation and / or journal article.  Much of this session will take place online with only two face-to-face meetings to facilitate knowledge building. Please contact Tom March if you are interested in either of these two sessions.  Also, consider having colleagues from your school take part in next year’s version of the workshop series you’re just completing.  Many schools have found it useful to grow the local knowledge in this way.

2 thoughts on “Instructions”

  1. Creating Change in ICT understanding and use using Professional Learning Resources at Ruyton Girls School -2009
    Two Drivers for Change
    • Our students responded to a general questionnaire put out by the Ruyton Student Council. They noted that the staff in general did not have the level of expertise in the use of ICT that they would like.
    • As a laptop school we saw the need for staff to move into a greater understanding and knowledge about Web 2.0.
    Intended goals / outcomes
    • Students would be introduced to new ways of operating in a digital world using Web 2.0
    • Staff would evaluate software, programs and applications for inclusion in the curriculum
    • Mid-career staff would receive management experience through the oversight of professional learning Teams
    • Change requirements would be indentified for inclusion in the 2010 Operational Plan
    • Staff would be excited by the potential for change in pedagogy
    • Staff would have an understanding of the potential of social networking
    Staff nominated to join Professional Learning Teams (PLT) in the following: –
    Use of tablet computers and OneNote
    Use of interactive White Boards
    Web 2.0 – using blogs, wikis and nings
    Using Moodle
    e-learning and the global classroom
    cybersafety
    Additionally the Australian Government Quality Teacher Program were trained in management skills in order to each run a PLT
    Use of Online / Web 2 resources & tools
    We used blogs and wikis and nings extensively. The most useful of these has been nings. Use of Delicious and other RSS feeds has also been investigated and used.
    Anecdotes from Design / Implementation
    One of the key issues that developed through the process was the lack of expertise in the area of Web 2.0 application and the relative low level of understanding and use of social networking in our staff. Our QTP staff tried to manage the learning of the group but without expert help they were frustrated. We certainly learnt that to achieve wholesale change you have to have the experts in abundance to support adult learners both outside and inside the classroom. The impact of the specialist researcher was good but we need to follow up with an extensive program which identifies a need in the classroom and then provides support over a whole term or semester to achieve outcomes.
    Final Reflection
    We learnt that, as a school, we needed far more support in the classroom as well as individual ICT training. This was communicated to the principal. Through changes in staffing, this need has been substantially addressed for 2010. Staff will be able to develop their ideas knowing that there is ‘just in time’ support and that they can use the support over a number of consecutive lessons rather than waiting for the next fortnightly lesson. The impact of an outstanding classroom practitioner was also noted. Andrew Douch from Wanganui Park Secondary College gave a presentation on a Staff Day at the beginning of Term 4. His dedicated approach to his craft and his use of technology were inspiring. As well he conveyed practical tips for improved student learning using Web 2.0 technologies

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