Monday, February 13, 2006

E-Learning Facilitation - Funding Opportunities

1. E-learning Networks Facilitation

In 2006 you can apply for funding of up to AUD $7,500 to facilitate an online network that enables participants to develop knowledge and skills in e-learning.

Up to 20 such networks will be funded and selected from around Australia and range across many vocational and technical education (VTE) subjects and client groups.

To be eligible to apply, you need to be working within a registered training organisation (RTO), or within an organisation affiliated with a RTO.

The selected networks will be different from the networks funded in 2005, though past facilitators are welcome to apply to facilitate a new network.

E-learning Networks applications close: Midday (Eastern Standard Time) Friday 17 March 2006.

Applying for E-learning Networks funding in 2006 (discussion forum):

Are you planning on applying for E-learning Networks funding in 2006 and would you like to learn more about it? Then meet and discuss your options, ideas and how to apply with Cathy Baxter, project manager of Networks Project at the online discussion forum:
http://tinyurl.com/92mmw

2. Facilitation Services

Expressions of Interest are called for facilitating 3 online events coming up in June and The Networks Community Forum. Facilitation services applications close COB (AEST) Friday 24 February 2006.

3. Editorial Services

A proposal is sought to produce and publish the content of an e-learning online journal - The Knowledge Tree: an e-Journal of Learning Innovation. Editorial Services applications close COB (AEST) Wednesday 1 March 2006.

For further information and application documentations for the above funding opportunities please visit the 2006 Networks Community Forum or Networks Homepage

Live Conversation - Using Elluminate

Now is your chance to try out Elluminate via the Australian Flexible Learning Leaders virtual office in Learning Times Australia.

Instructions for downloading Elluminate are provided below.

Live Conversation: 28th February

Preparation: Read the lead article 'Managing Emergent Work: Revisiting Jazz Lessons', and join the live online conversation with international co-authors Ann Majchrzak, Dave Logan, Mathias Kirchmer and Ron McCurdy on the role of improvisation and shifting leadership in the management of global business projects.

Time: February 28th, 2006 at 1pm (Qld time) [2pm Australian ESST (Daylight Saving), 28/2 at 4 pm New Zealand, 2/27 7p PST, 2/27 10p EST - United States].

Location: The Australian Flexible Learning Framework's virtual office in Learning Times Australia at:
http://home.learningtimes.net/lta?go=z1035514

You'll need a microphone and speakers or head set. Looking forward to meeting you online.

*********************************************************************************
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING Elluminate

Elluminate Live! Helpful Hints


Please complete these steps at least two days before the event so that any technical difficulties can be addressed:

1. Join Learning Times Australia ( http://www.learningtimes.net/lta.shtml) if you haven't already (It's free).

2. Then go to http://home.learningtimes.net/lta?go=z1035514 and
(What can you see?In the left menu you should see Member Offices and you should be in the Learning Times Australia site.)

3. Click on Member offices: You'll see in the right frame a link to the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (AFLF) virtual office.

4. If you scroll down you'll also see Test Room and further down Guided TourEither of these latter two will set up you and teach you about Elluminate Live!
The software should then automatically download and install (about 5 minutes on broadband; 15 - 20 on dial up.)
If you can enter the AFLF or test room, enter text in the direct messaging area, write on the whiteboard, and the TALK button (lower left of screen) switches to ON THE AIR when you click it then you have a successful connection.
If the software does not automatically download and install it is likely that it is being blocked by a network firewall and you may need IT assistance.
For more help with live events contact Michael Coghlan at michaelc@chariot.net.au
The ‘conversations’ will run in conjunction with activities run by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s (Framework) E-learning Networks Project at:
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/pid/103

Click to view more about the ‘conversations’ and how to participate in the Networks Community Forum at: http://www.groups.edna.edu.au/course/view.php?id=40
You'll need to login to read (free).
For further information contact the editor, Jo Murray on tel: +61 (0)3 6253 6029 or email: jomurray@southcom.com.au

Sunday, February 05, 2006

National Mobile Learning Practitioners Network

In the previous post I mentioned the Mobile Learning Practitioners Network. This group is worth highlighting for anyone interested in mobile learning. This group is one of the many EdNA e-learning network groups.

If you want to keep up with the latest on mobile learning check out the Mobile Learning Practitioners Group.

Here's a sample to whet your appetite. It's a couple of items from the Pick of the Week section:

Mobile learning for people with disabilities, Adam Maxwell talks about mobile devices and accessibility, some great things on the wind

Mlearning Safari: the network goes to South Africa, A great new event for the Network

PDA Link List Resource, accessing internet favourites via your PDA, Alex Hayes asks the question and he is getting lots of ideas


(Excerpt from the Mobile Learning Practitioners Network)

Knowledge Tree Goes Mobile

Here's a note from Jo Murray, editor of the Knowledge Tree, an e-journal of learning innovation and research:

"The latest research and innovation in global e-learning practice is mobile. In an exciting development, The Knowledge Tree: an e-Journal of Learning Innovation Edition 8,is now accessible via hand held mobile devices.
http://knowledgetree.flexiblelearning.net.au/edition08/

Edition 8 focuses on tensions in the convergence of e-learning and e-business. ...

Short industry-focussed video interviews feature e-business and e-learning experts, including Ghent University’s ‘Instructional Sciences’ Professor Dr Martin Valcke, with hints on corporate-education partnerships. Others offer insights on the e-business supply chain, new directions in mobile learning, induction by e-learning and practical approaches to e-learning.

Articles question when social interaction in corporate e-learning is necessary, investigate the gap in e-learning readiness between enterprises and training organisations, challenge the need for flashy multimedia and reflect on networking as a driver of e-learning.

Current research features a selection of useful e-business RSS feeds. "

NOTE: You can access previous research and innovation through the archive copies of the Knowledge Tree:
http://knowledgetree.flexiblelearning.net.au/index.html

From Jo:

"Details of how to set up and configure your particular mobile device [for accessing the Knowledge Tree] are available from the Mobile Learning Practitioners Network forum. Free registration is required. Any feedback from mobile device users on this experiment is be very welcome."


Thanks to Jo Murray
Managing Editor, The Knowledge Tree: an e-Journal of Learning Innovation

Flexible Learning Leader for Tasmania

Director
Pelion Consulting Pty. Ltd.
499 Bream Creek Road
BREAM CREEK TAS 7175
Ph/Fax: 61 (0)3 62536029
Mobile: 0427 026 990
Website: http://www.pelion.com.au

Web Audio Plus - audio creation program

Following on from our discussion of Podcasting, I have included below a bonus for members of the PfP network.

The bonus is free access to Web Audio Plus, a web audio creation program that is currently selling on the Internet for $US37.

The program comes with a training video as well.

The link for the zipped files for this program is:
http://tinyurl.com/cqg6b

If you have Win.zip or equivalent, you will unzip the files as part of the download process.

I have created an audio through Web Audio Plus to explain the next steps in the download and instal process. To listen, click on the PLAY button below:







If you missed the training video in the installation process, here is another one by Gary Ambrose, who provided this as a marketing tool for his ezine subscribers. The video tutorial takes you screen by screen through the audio creation and upload process:
http://www.garyambrose.com/recommends/first-video