Elluminate

Is it the future of the classroom? Probably/possibly.
Presentation vs collaboration tool? Bit of both.
Doesn't seem revolutionary. Better than School of the Air or video-conferencing (in the old-school sense) but in principle much the same. More attuned to the activities described in slide 34 of the SlideShare presentation than to the compulsory education end of the scale. Slideshow author works at a TAFE and it would seem this might with that audience well. Doesn't really appear to follow constructivist type patter. Should be able to achieve Gagné's nine events though.

Gardner Campbell - Podcasting in Education

I got into podcasts a while ago, about 2003 when I got my now ancient looking third generation iPod. Back then there wasn't much in the way of podcasts other than a few funnies, a couple geekies, and little else. These days it seems you can find a podcast on about every topic imaginable, and in most languages. My favourites are Dr. Karl (from Triple J radio) and Science Friday. Both geeky but that's pretty much right up my alley.

Campbell's article raised some interesting points about the potential value of podcasts in education. The integration of different aspects of one's life through a digital medium is an interesting one. Work, education and leisure no longer have the rigid boundaries in our lives they once had. The blurring and overlap is well ?? in the use of the iPod (or equivalent .mp3 player).

The digital media are the choice of Generation Y onwards (and for many of us X'er's as well!). As education becomes more business-like, it must adapt to meet the needs of the customer. This is just a natural part of the educational (r)evolution, I guess?

There is no doubt one of the really big positives of podcasting in education is the increased accessibility and availability to learners. Traditional text can limit the situations in which the learner can access information or lectures. With a podcast the learner can run, cycle, drive, walk or catch public transport and catch up on lesson they missed because they got called in to do a shift at MacDonalds.

Another aspect of podcasting for education that shines in comparison to text, graphics and even animation is the ability to convey emotion through the use of voice. This can be powerful in enhancing the learners experience.

As a former high school teacher, I can think of many ways in which podcasts could be used by both teachers for instruction and students for both assessment and community communication. I currently work in the training and education of adults. In a large organisation, with news and developments happening across the country and globe, podcasts seem like a great way to distribute compliance training on topics such as Occupation Health and Safety. I imagine something like a news broadcast of an entertaining nature with ad breaks where the compliance training is slipped in; is this a bit sneaky? Possibly, but I guess it goes back to those blurred lines again: edutainment!

Skyping it up...

Well last night was a bit of fun. My first experience with Skype was definitely fun. It kind of felt like fumbling around in the dark looking for a light switch. Having a look at the scripts of the two group chats on the discussion board, the traffic reminds me of the apparently random movement of scooters I saw in Ho Chi Minh City. People eventually got where they were going but not necessarily in the most efficient manner. Nonetheless, I'm sure everyone would agree there was a bit of vicarious learning occuring throughout the process.

See you online,

Michael

Welome

Hi everybody!

Welcome to my first ever blog. What a thrill. Also my first distance education subject. I certainly hope I can make it worth your while to read regularly. Anyways, I look forward to this subject being a big step into the big world of distributed/flexible/online/media-rich learning.

cheers,

Michael