Notes 2702
From SLN e-Learning Project
Contents |
Second Meeting 27th February 2007'
Sussex Learning Network e-Learning Project Advisory Group
9am – 2pm, Open University in the South East, East Grinstead
Present at the second meeting of the Group
| Advisory Group Members | Visitors |
| Keith Burnett, Chichester College | Chris Baker, Sussex Learning Network |
| Robert Catt, Open University, | Rebecca Duffy, Sussex Learning Network |
| Nigel Gibson, Open University | Viv Martin, University of Brighton |
| John Green, Northbrook College | Ale Okada, Open University |
| Jenny Lynden, Open University | Paulo Oprandi, University of Sussex |
| Pauline Ridley, University of Brighton, | Elia Tomadaki, Open University |
| Peter Raigner, Sussex Learning Network, | Tina Wilson, Open University |
| Carol Shergold, University of Sussex | |
| Tom Sherred, Arts and Creative Media | |
| Chris Taylor, Health and Social Care | |
| Linda Townsend, Community Practice | |
| Liz Thackray, Open University |
Notes from the meeting
Introduction
Robert Catt welcomed members of the Advisory Group, and guests to the OU in the South East. Robert introduced the meeting by reminding the group of its purpose and format and with an overview of three key features of the eLearning Project:
- Mapping and 'capturing' local examples of productive elearning practice and presenting these in an accessible form;
- Giving more detailed attention to selected examples by way of case study and action research with an emphasis upon practice including the experience of learners themselves;
- Drawing attention to and providing interactive experience with broader elearning developments and initiatives.
Robert stressed that none of these objectives was an end in itself. Rather, each was a catalyst for discussion, networking and the sharing of ideas and practice.
The meeting had been set up to enable the Advisory Group and guests to support project development and, in particular, to explore whether the OpenLearn resources could be of value to the SLN eLearning project. The meeting had been organised to maximise interaction and networking by providing some hands on opportunity for colleagues to work with specific technologies and to consider their value in order to focus upon opportunities for small-scale action research projects.
Open source and Open content
Nigel Gibson briefly provided an overview of the Open Source/Open Content movement and how and why it is relevant to the work in the Sussex Learning Network and elearning development.
OpenLearn, LabSpace, Compendium and FlashMeeting
The remainder of the morning was organised around an introduction to the OpenLearn Resources by Ale Okada, Tina Wilson and Elia Tomadaki. This included an introduction to OpenLearn Content, LabSpace/Moodle, Compendium and Flash Meeting/instant messaging resources. The group then divided into two small workshops, one focussing on Flash meeting and the other on Compendium. This was followed by an introduction to the OU Willow project by Nigel Gibson and an outline of a potential action research project utilising resources in Second Life for staff development by Liz Thackray.
Reflection and action learning projects
Within a lively discussion forum members of the group said that they had found the morning sessions and workshops extremely useful and discussed a number of areas of interest which could be taken forward through discussion-based forums, utilising the Flash Meeting resource in LabSpace.
Robert Catt reminded the group of the nature and potential value of action research in improving, understanding and disseminating productive practice in teaching and learning. He drew attention to related discussion on the Blog and Wiki and drew attention to the ways in which projects might be considered:
- Problematic research with the purpose of investigating and influencing features of teaching and learning which practitioners had identified as in need of improvement;
- Affirmative research with the purpose of sharing more broadly those features of teaching and learning identified as productive and worthwhile.
Chris Baker outlined the SLN funding available for action research projects and explained the application process.
The discussion was also recorded onto a Compendium map by Ale Okada and the following areas were agreed as worthy of exploration. Each member of the elearning team, as indicated below, will coordinate the set-up of a Flash meeting forum for the specific area of interest.
- Academic literacies (Robert Catt)
- Usability and transfer of content of OpenLearn resources for the Sussex Learning Network & remixing and repurposing resources, including utilising the Moodle environment (Nigel Gibson)
- Visual learning resources (Jenny Lynden)
- Staff development, including a forum within Second Life (Liz Thackray)
Robert and Jenny thanked Ale, Tina and Elia for their hard work in setting up sessions and workshops.
Action: all members and visitors attending the meeting: Elia asked members of the group to register on OpenLearn and complete an on-line survey to feedback their experience of the morning. Elia explained that this would be very important to help the OpenLearn team plan future workshops.
Links:
