[elearning] Innovation and the next big thing(s)

[Cameron Bell]

Hmm the next big thing eh?
The next "killer app"?

I was reflecting on this recently when a lot of teachers got all hot and bothered about the demise of Globalstudent. These people seemed to be oblivious to the transient nature and ever-shifting landscape that is technology and the Internet. This morning's flavour of the hour is this afternoon's "that is sooo this morning"- (MySpace, Second Life anyone?) Or websites changing the rules - ala-Ning$$$$.
As Kevork has pointed out - it is not the device (although more on that later) and teachers simply lurching from one new shiny online tool to another to try and keep students (or themselves) interested and engaged will start to find themselves struggling again as students are rapidly becoming blase about any new development. Most of my students were less than impressed with the Ultranet to say the least. I am finding that more and more, the most important thing about what I do in class is constructing a scaffold of relevance and context for the students who are no longer interested in screens and apps, but "why am I doing this" and "what is the relevance of this to me?" Using the technology is no longer an engaging feature of a lesson, but how the lesson fits into their developing life plans. Social networking is very useful here.
There are exceptions to this, those students who have had less than 1-1 access still love using the computers, but these classes are getting fewer and fewer as netbooks etc are rolled out.
Whilst my daughter is really excited about her iPad now, I am willing to bet that as the novelty wears off, it will again be left to an exciting and personable teacher to enthuse her about learning.

I also reckon the "next big thing" will be a transformational shift in the way technology companies allow us to use their products. Apple is leading the charge here with their locked down App store and "i" eco-system. I was horrified to hear that the App store is coming to Macs. I hope I am wrong, but the direction Apple is pursuing, the tight control over their product line to ensure a "great customer experience" doesn't get to the stage that you have to jailbreak a laptop to get any degree of control over what you can and can't do.
Just as we got to a point were we have a good degree of platform independence, via web based tools, the local Application is making a comeback in a cheaper, slimmer, more portable guise, but still locked to a platform. The success of Apple's iP eco-system where you buy a locked down device and it "just works" is great for the average punter, but lousy for those who want to explore, learn and play. (Play as in develop, not play as in play the millions of bloody games you can download)
The big tech companies are wresting back control of their devices in a manner not seen before so that they have control over the $ and what you can and can't do with them.
For those teachers who are simply consumers of apps and Web2.0 tools this won't be a problem, but those teachers who like tinkering and home-brewing solutions for school needs. . .  well, . . .what's Ubuntu up to?
I can see a need for schools to develop strategies that isolate themselves somewhat from the vagaries of corporate visions and not get totally shafted by vendor lock in with portable devices.
Of course I could be completely wrong and I am tilting at windmills. . . . (God I hope so!)  and would love people to convince me otherwise.

Cheers
Cameron











On 21/10/2010, at 11:25 PM, Kevork Krozian wrote:

> Hi Andrew,
>  
> Agree with all of the items below but let me tell you what two things have got me excited recently.
> 1.       For over 2 years I have been wanting to find an easy way to create interactive multimedia learning/assessment activities such as flash type quizzes that would not be self standing but would hook into a CMS like Moodle. This would require SCORM compliance. I did manage to do it “manually” by writing my own flash program and converting it to SCORM and uploading to Moodle. But then I discovered FUSE ( not the Department’s one ) from RM technologies that allows an easy to use interface to create the most amazing quizzes, learning activities but wait there is more..... it is ADAPTIVE.  That means you can sequence questions/tasks and based on the student result send them off into a range of different pathways. Eg. Can you do (x+2) (x -3 ) ? No, then we send you down a path where you practice 3 ( x -1 ), 2 (a+2) etc. and then come back and pick up from the original question.
> 2.       Interactive digital mobile technologies. Use of mobile phones to access learning content ( read today’s Green Guide where the mobile phone is predicted to replace cash as the payment option in the near future ) , download vodcasts and podcasts and do assessment . As well as that tools such as Active Expression to allow all students to participate to an IWB presentation/question/quiz or the emulator that runs on a laptop for about $20 per license.
>  
>  The secret is not the gizmo but the access it gives to real learning , content and assessment anytime anywhere.  Where this is in a multimedia context it is a natural for the students.
>  There is more such as augmented reality, aural learning , brain compatible classrooms, self paced and directed student learning and the list goes on.   There was even a session  I attended at a conference recently on neural networks where a brain scanning device is placed on the head monitoring the alpha, beta, delta and theta waves during class so that learning is measured by brain activity rather than a test which does nothing to evaluate what prior knowledge the student had or what actual learning took place during class.
> Good luck and let’s keep this discussion going.
>  
> Speak soon
>  
> Kevork Krozian
> Edulists Creator Administrator
> www.edulists.com.au
> tel: 0419 356 034
>  
> From: elearning-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:elearning-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Andrew Shortell
> Sent: Thursday, 21 October 2010 10:35 PM
> To: elearning Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: [elearning] Innovation and the next big thing(s)
>  
> Hi All
> 
> First the Questions (then the explanations)
> 
> 1.  What, in your opinion, is going to be the next big thing(s) in eLearning??
> 
> so far I have 
> First person experience “games” where students get to learn as they search through a game about say Science
> 
> IT must become ubiquitous – about as intrusive as a biro is in the ordinary course of learning (not teaching but learning)
> 
> iPads –  literacy numeracy apps esp for years p – 8
>         connectivity, portable, easy to use, “cool”,
> 
> Student teacher today showed me his ipod touch as a remote to his laptop to an iwb where he could move around the room and do a maths build up demo on whiteboard. Students with own ipod touch could join in and participate
> 
> Actual uses of podcasts and vodcasts of lessons for students who are away / ill/ unable to attend for some reasons..
> 
> Getting students to create podcasts /vod to teach other students
> 
> eBooks – literacy, student stories, family stories; as a medium to display and distribute student writing
> 
> Mapping student competencies and then devising lessons that are delivered electronically an are individualised and self paced  ( I feel that this one would need a lot of contributors.. But we do have that through these lists)
> 
> 
> 2. What is innovative in eLearning?  (All of eLearning is ,   so what is especially innovative?)
> 
> ...........
> Reponses can be off list or on.  (off list to  shortell at get2me.net)
> 
> 
> Reasons: 
> 
> There is a nice eLearning job going locally in a less than two year old government school.. After the tour the Prin said he was interested in innovative people and ideas. After discussion (at home and work) I am looking for the “killer idea”. I will happily acknowledge others as the sources and if I get the job will continue to acknowledge all sources because it is the community that succeeds.
> 
> I have been off the lists for about 18 months due to personal probs some of which are now solved and have been replaced with more difficult ones! However things are looking up. An ongoing job would be good.
> 
> I intend that all of these ideas be shared because there might be something that will spark others into enhancing student learning experiences.
> 
> 
> Andrew Shortell
> Wallan SC 
> 
> (does that help to figure out which job?)  * grin *
> 
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