road trips, purposeful play and reflection

One of the many good things about working in a polytechnic is the variety of people, interests, trades, professions and perspectives on hand.

Recent cost cutting meant that some of us were allowed to go to a Shar-e-Fest conference in Hamilton but were asked to restrict costs. So we drove.

Four of us in a car.

We hope that ‘management’ understand the value of these experiences and that they far outweigh any organised activity or team building.  The value lies not only in the information we garner from the conference but also the information and knowledge we share in a relaxed environment. I think too that these kinds of events help staff understand where they fit in the bigger professional picture and that while we think we have nothing to share – we do.

The conference was good. My colleagues were most interested in the MotorTrain presentation since it’s in their area, and I was impressed with what I saw, although we did discuss the difference between a Holden and

a Ferrari. The Holden, we agreed,  still worked well and was easy to fix if necessary.

We also, in that vein, visited the Wintec trades area and were impressed with the efficient looking building and the integrated approach to teaching and learning.

I also garnered: Information about a book:

• A link to follow about Chris Creagh who writes about student engagement
http://profiles.murdoch.edu.au/myprofile/chris-creagh/

• Dilani Gedera who writes and talks about teacher presence and learner engagement http://coursecast.its.waikato.ac.nz/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=20227b83-853c-4d0b-835d-08d41baf056e

• From Stephen Harlow at Waikato University some valuable information about meta research. Stephen delivered this in a clear easily digestible manner – and explained that Hattie has conducted a meta analysis of educational research that shows the tried and true are the most effective: that the greatest effects on student success are : clarity, feedback, relationships, and spaced learning.

• From Patricia Gleasen at Wintec some useful examples of how to implement flipped classrooms.

• From Learning Works a chance to view the MotorTrain projects

• From John Clayton an overview of the integrated approach taken at Te Awanuiarangi and the process of quality assurance as well as ways to use Moodle for collaboration.

Discussion on the way back centred on how we could share the information, what we needed to do next, how we could collaborate and some things that we as polytechnic staff could do to move ourselves along for the benefit of students.

It was fun. The mountains looked fantastic, the Desert Road its usual stunning self and Hamilton was relaxed, friendly warm and the conference extremely worthwhile on multiple levels.

It’s a Small and Fast World After All

I’m still buzzing about the conference I attended almost two weeks ago: EdTech for Export conference held in Te Papa. A gathering of educators, industry and investors connecting the influencers of how Education Technology can change the world.

I left the conference thinking about two questions that lingered in my head:

• Why is the conference mostly attended by businesses? Where is the other side of the party – the education providers? Out of perhaps a group of 100, there were only 3 institutes there, WelTec included. I thought that the education sector would snap up this opportunity to team up with the businesses who are trying to get their product outside of our beautiful country. After all, we all have the same intentions, internationalisation of our products, our branding, our reputation.

Allow me to take it as it is and leave the question for you to ponder on as well. Is there a major disconnection or lack of united front with the education and business sector? Do they talk to each other much? Perhaps we need to strengthen our relationships with each other before we head out to make sure we have a united approach. After all, aren’t we all in this together?

• There was only one Asian keynote speaker, Professor Siah Hwee Ang. He’s the The Bank of New Zealand Chair in Business in Asia at Victoria University of Wellington.

I found it rather strange that the focus is how to penetrate the Asian market and yet, we only have one speaker from Asia? Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very a knowledgeable person who is right smack in the middle of it all where changes and bridges can be made between Asia and the rest of the world but I expected more of us 🙂

Although Asia was the canvas, China was the central focus – no contest there given that they play a huge chunk of the market. I found it highly interesting the points and tips that Prof. Siah mentioned in his keynote speech. It made me wonder, “does the rest of the world truly know how Asia works?” Another speaker, Allison Baum of Fresco Capital, from a business point of view, delivered a highly motivating presentation on the Asian market and the crucial timing of getting in now. Frank Catalano presented a wealth of information on the US market, trends and fads to avoid in the technological world and education.

This is all great and exciting but I think it is important that we remember to drop any prejudices or presumptions we may have if we haven’t sincerely immersed ourselves to get to know the potential customer. Are we trying to approach it with “we know what’s best for you, here’s what you should do” or “how can we contribute and do work together to benefit each others’ strengths?”

Asia is huge, its culture and sub-cultures have to be studied deeply to understand how it differs from the western world. Regardless of where your market is, isn’t one of the foundations of a business to understand your customers and the value you are trying to add to their lives?

If by now you’re wondering… my answer is yes. Filipina. Yes, I do feel that some things got lost in translation :). At the end of the day, as the world gets smaller with all the technologies that enable us to connect beyond borders, everyone should be treated truly without judgment except for the benefit and effort they bring. We have to up our game, quality, and aim our focus at the end results. To get there, we have to leave all inhibitions, face the challenges with much gusto, enough of the ‘bring-others-down-to-get-ahead’ syndrome, we’re all heading the same way, it’s faster and easier if we help each other.

So, enough of what I think. Here’s another question for you: how is New Zealand’s tertiary sector going to take advantage of this $100 billion tech-ed industry?

Why? Higher Education Summit

Good conferences have a purpose. They are clear about what they offer and they deliver; it may be professional development, networking, or advocating for a group. I am not sure the Summit hit its mark – or even understood what it was aiming for.

Focusing on key developments and issues, the Summit aims to bring together senior representatives from the sector including government agencies, peak bodies and institutions. The intention is to support a forward thinking education sector.

Some speakers spoke eloquently about developing issues in the sector, many reworked current discussions. The delegates did not include high level TEC, Ministry of Education or Government representatives. Presentations were contained in the Summit’s darkened room.

In my view, Delegates left with the sense that had someone gathered the Summit’s better points there may have been something worth broadcasting. Something to be shared with the sector; presenting a common voice to legislators; supporting the sense we are a forward thinking sector.

I learned a lot: about my own knowledge, where WelTec and Whitireia sit in terms of education technology maturity, and tertiary education technology suppliers. But, I was left wondering why the Summit existed.

This year conversations often reflected on the impact of education technologies in education. It is clear education technology offers solutions for blended delivery and flexible learning. The Summit presentations spoke in terms of strategy and leadership while the service providers who sponsor the event explained the ways we can improve the learner and tutor experience, and increase managers’ ability to make informed decisions – using their products.
WelTec CEO Linda Sissons and I bridged the gap with a presentation looking at how to build a 21^st Century learning environment. We set the context, described what underpins a 21^st Century learning environment, explained how it would work for a student, offered some levers of change, challenged the audience to act when they get back to their offices, and questioned whether the sector has the basic foundations in place – including defining quality in terms of blended delivery.

Change management was a reoccurring theme. I am convinced WelTec and Whitireia have a real opportunity to use education technologies in support of their strategic direction, including how we engage with, provide for, support and influence students. This opportunity is specific to our time and place: changes in the leadership structure the Students First strategy and Choice Protocol, and unified IT services have created an environment where Ed Tech could support systemic step change.

Research and collaboration were raised provocatively by Dr West, VC of Lincoln University. Collaboration between the large tertiary providers is rare – our environment is artificially competitive. Encouragingly, collaboration between tertiary providers and industry is increasing. He cited the Lincoln Hub, where buildings will be shared and scientists will be teaching students.

Returning to WelTec, I will deliver our 21^st Century Learning presentation to senior staff and use it to gain clarity about what we expect in 3 – 5 years’ time in terms of students’ blended delivery experiences.

For me the 2015 Summit was useful. However, unless there is a change in the way the Summit is facilitated and the attendees include legislative decision-makers, it is a room of people talking to themselves. Perhaps professional development for managers should be future Summits’ purpose.

Ndf2014

I’m used to attending teaching and learning type conferences, so it was good to attend the GLAMs focused event. (Work it out “Galleries, Libraries…). Having also just attended the Unconference I became a little jaded by sitting and listening on somewhat uncomfortable seats. But this trifle on the second day was pretty much worth the uncomfortable seating. And of course the content of the presentations.

I enjoyed the speakers: Brewster Kahle who talked about the Internet Archive and threw some astounding and retweeted facts our way (the internet in a shipping container); Burns & Pokel who shared their experiences of Minecraft in the Auckland Museum; Lake & Lee who talked about the Wellington Punk archive Up the Punks, Transmedia (again, with Brenda Leuwenberg), the Dowse and Wikipedia, Augemented Reality (again – my first experience in 2010 but now improved). Derek Kawiti – exploring digital modelling of buildings so that their connections are shown (community, history, people). Overall a concern about communities and people. Human Centred Design and user experience (Heath Sadlier) and Reid Perkins talking about popup museums where elderly explore ideas on paper (now there’s an idea) – and sit and talk over coffee and tea. Rick Shera scared us with talk of digital assets and how we should ensure they are taken care of in our wills, as well as providing insights into legislation about digital property.

It is useful to understand how much content is available online and how hard these institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand work to provide access to their collections.

I started thinking about how these ideas could be applied to tertiary education. For me human centred design ideas follow the same kind of logic as learner centred teaching and learning and are part of the same philosophical approach as student directed learning. (I’m hoping that our manager can supply us with a history of a recent project). Shera’s presentation about digital property reinforced my concerns about using Facebook for educational purposes (communication – yes; sharing content or even assessments? No)

I’d love to try Minecraft with students, transmedia is an interesting idea to pursue (we do it already in a way in education but can expand). Let’s think about HOW students find this content and what they do with it. How do they evaluate it? How do they incorporate it into their lives, learning and courses? How do we get them there?

And I’m back to my old saw about museums and tertiary institutions having closer relationships and exploring ideas.

We are supposedly about process (the how of learning) but we are often about content. GLAMS have lots of content.

Let’s talk. http://www.ndf.org.nz/
Updated:27 November, 2014.

someone had to do it

iStock_000035426290Large

It was a hard decision to make but someone had to do it.

While my colleagues were attending the WelTec Whitireia Research Symposium in between finishing a project I was elected (or did I offer) to attend the Victoria University of Wellington Unconference.

It was fun. Why?

Well because I had the opportunity to throw ideas around with several people whom I had never met before.

What happened?

I entered the room (a bit cold on a sunny Welly day) to find several people linking into the VUW guest access. Uhoh I had forgotten to take the work ipad but I did have my phone. And I sat at the table with two VUW staff who led me through the activity (which was easier to do on an ipad). We had a list of activities to choose from then to go to Gosoapbox to rank the activities we wished to attend.The organisers then devised a programme for the day with various offerings in 4 streams. These offerings had been suggested by people when they registered.

Then what?
We went to the allocated rooms where on the first occasion the suggester who was present led us in an interesting discussion about episteme and phronesis. The next session on technology versus pedagogy had no leader so we gathered and discussed. Lunch (brown paper bag, very nice) then student directed learning followed by MOOCS – neither of which had leaders.

What did I learn?

Strangely ( :-)) that we all have similar issues. That we believe pedagogy is more important than technology. That there are practices and ideas we can share. That being online is not much different from being offline. That we struggle within the bounds of our institutions and the larger environment to find approaches to meaningful learning. That there are people in the institutions that I can talk with and share ideas with and that VUW have a space for purposeful play which we are able to use. That large institutions have larger staff development/edtech teams. That learning design and tutor facilitation skills are important. That student directed learning is a many faceted thing that should be tried.

Was it worth it?

Oh yes. Sharing ideas is always worth it.