neovet .: elearning & vocational training

Free Social Media Teacher tools

2010-10-16T21:59:00.000-07:00

http://mashable.com/2010/10/16/free-social-media-tools-for-teachers/

http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/over-75-free-rapid-e-learning-resources/

V2 elearning resource

2010-10-12T22:06:00.001-07:00

elearning guide Australia http://www.tafe.swin.edu.au/cyfs/echampions/design.html

Making an e-book?

2010-09-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the top 15 tips for authoring your own e-book from 360flat.com

New Site coming soon

2010-09-20T04:31:00.000-07:00

New elearning training site coming soon with video tutes and more...

Video Lecture Capture - Open Source Project

2010-09-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

Embed Video: HTML5 or Flash?

2010-08-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Using the iframe tag, below, this video will either play through a flash player if viewed on a common browser, or switch itself to HTML5 if that is the preference of the browser. A welcome finding for anybody trying to optimise embedded video for both desktop and mobile devices.

Q&A Tweets on TBott

2010-08-16T05:35:00.000-07:00

#qanda Tony Abott Tweet Cloud. Click to enlarge.

Universal Design Principles Checklist

2010-08-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Universal Design Principal Checklist is a tool for VET providers to assess materials and communications and enhance accessibility for everyone. It was designed by the Qld Department of Education and Training. These principals apply to face to face, hard copy, elearning and mlearning design and delivery.

Web Ed better than Higher Ed, Gates

2010-08-12T02:44:00.000-07:00

Bill Gates has launched into a controversial space at the Techonomy 2010 Conference by stating that The Internet will be bigger than University in five years time. On closer analysis I think, he's not saying that Universities will be redundant, his main point is that location based learning will be less important, and therefore the cost and equality of access to education will change radically.

"The self-motivated learner will be on the web and there will be far less place-based [learning]," Gates notes.

"The web can offer feedback, you can have group discussion, you have video… you have all sorts of things that [prove] college needs to be less place based."

Roles of the e-tutor

2010-08-12T02:17:00.000-07:00

How does an online trainer differ from a face to face one? Sorry I don't have a punch line to that one (yet), but An examination of the role of the e-tutor by Annegret Goold, Jo Coldwell and Annemieke Craig from Australasian Journal of Educational Technology Vol 26, No. 5, 2010 outlines some of the key areas we can at least see emerging in this new kind of teaching role.

What's interesting is see how much time is spent by online trainers in each of the roles outlined in the diagram above. A good exercise would be to see what roles are the most critical for learning and to find weaknesses in a team or individual that can be improved on. Although I agree that online trainers need to have skills in all these roles, in most cases the roles are shared across a team.

Read the full article here

Q&A Tweet Cloud on JGill

2010-08-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

#qanda Tag Cloud generated with visible tweets during question time with JGill pre-election 2010. Click on Image to enlarge.

5 'Time Wasters' or Gap Fillers for Presenters

2010-08-01T21:22:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you need, um, how do I put this, a 'pause' between content in a demonstration or presentation. Also, most audiences get bored while waiting for you to set up your audio/visuals and the rest.

Here are 5 things you can do for your audience to fill the gaps between the real stuff, and keep them engaged.

Take a Poll with their mobile phones
Visualize Tweets Live!
Slide show of Meme's
Optical Illusions
Logic Puzzles

Sad Keanu KRudd

2010-08-01T05:02:00.000-07:00

Internet Meme's are a good example of a cultural concept going viral on the web. Here is my first attempt using the popular Sad Keanu Meme.

Moodle Moot 2010 PodCast

2010-07-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Listen!

Moodle 2.0 is a game changer

2010-07-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the highlights from Moodle Moot Melbourne regarding the new Moodle 2.0 as demonstrated today by Martin the Moodle man.

20 new themes that look and feel like a whole new moodle
Blocks can be "Docked" as a drop down menu on the left hand side of the page creating far more space and efficiency on the page.
Blocks can be customized to appear on every page, or on selected page views.
Private Files block, allows users to upload private files to a repository, and intergrate with external repositories such as Google Docs, Flickr and so on.
User Blogs can be integrated with Twitter through RSS feeds, or any Blog, the cool thing, you can Filter the Feed by Filter Tags.
There is a Comment Block, allowing for user comments to be left on every page in moodle.
The Workshop Module has been made more user friendly.
All Activities and Resources and be 'Checked' off with a tick box when viewed/completed.
Community Hubs, are a place where Moodle Creators can share courses or sites centered around common learning areas. A Hub could also be created for use just inside an organisation.
More about Moodle 2.0 to come...

VoiceThread for formative assessment

2010-06-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

This has to be one of the best elearning tools I've come across in 2010. VoiceThread is an user driven presentation tool, witih collaborative text or voice notes that can be added to each slide.

As I've heard someone say already, you have to see it to understand how good this can really be. Play with this embeded VoiceThread below, (yes, bonus points for embedability).

Student Data, Google Docs & iPhone

2010-06-30T19:58:00.000-07:00

A good combination made real with Educate 2.1 (free download), this Australian made app is for Trainers who track students data and programs with Google Docs. I'm yet to trial this to see if it fits everything we do, but if you've got an iPhone, Student Data to manage and you already use Docs, it would be well worth a trial of your own.

Neovet Moodle Moot Prezi

2010-06-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

I'll be using Prezi for my Moodle Moot presentation on Embedding New Media, this July in Melbourne. I love how new presentation tools, such as SlideShare, Screenr and Prezi, work both offline and online, giving way to flexible delivery. Prezi is yet to add audio, so the trick for the full blown presentation experience is to combine Prezi with Screenr and simply record audio over your Prezi and then republish as a Screenr object.

Below is my prezi, or here is the full Audion Version of my presentation, part 1 and 2.

Embed with new media on Prezi

Searching for elearning tools?

2010-06-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

Learning Tools Directory : Over 3,000 tools listed

C4LPT - Center For Learning and Performance Technologies

Of particular interest to me is the mobile tools directory, which no doubt will become the fastest growing area in coming years.

2015 Mobile Web takes over

2010-06-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

A report compilled by Morgan Stanley and boiled down by Mashable confirms that indeed mobile web will overtake desktop web by 2015. Elearning design, therefore, can not be done without considering mlearning design. Another interesting finding was that facebook is the largest repository of user generated content in the world, could it be time that FB becomes the most logical place for a powerful LMS?

Related Article - Facebook, Google, as an LMS?

Billboard your Brand

2010-06-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

If you want to create custom images, that make it appear that you have a bigger advertising budget than Coke, then check out MakeSweet, and upload your own brand to wherever you want to!

Mobile Web Design

2010-06-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

What makes a good mobile web design? It involves usability, browser compatibility and needs to just make sense on a small screen. Here are 6 of the top mobile site designs recommended by Mashable.com. For some design tips visit Authentic Boredom for a beginners guide.

Mobile bring the news OutBack <--

2010-06-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

Here is the situation. I'm holidaying outback in the NT with my new little family, and just had a great night at my sisters wedding, that involved dancing to dub beats in the desert with fresh Barra served round the fire.

I wake up this morning at our Katherine based accommodation and take the baby for a walk to give my wife an extra sleep in. I go to grab the Weekend Australian at the Kiosk, which by Sunday morning, should have arrived for my ritualistic devouring.

They don't have it, and say it's probably not even in town. *my goodness*, it occurs to me, that as my Blackberry Storm has been picking up pretty good Internet data even on EDGE, that if i had an iPad with the new The Australian app, I could be the one guy in town with the nations leading newspaper. It surprises me since there are so many good articles written about NT issues in The Australian, and that the locals wouldn't even know about it. iPads and other 'reader' devices will bring change to the landscape of print media not just for the big city in Australia, but even more so for those places, where newspapers can't be expected to arrive before the news gets old.

p.s. We found a paper delivered a day late for $4.80, for same price we could get every issue on the iPad for a month.

mLearning Solutions Magazine

2010-06-14T04:15:00.000-07:00

Learning Solutions Magazine has a dedicated section to mLearning which showcases new development tools while discussing compatibility issues and teaching strategies. I particularly like this article by Ara A. Ohanian, that suggests it is not only a more sophisticated set of technologies that is bringing mLearning to the tipping point of usability, but also the emergence of more sophisticated mobile users.

Aviary gets your creative gloves on

2010-06-13T02:19:00.000-07:00

The online creative editing tools @Aviary just blew my mind. If you have learners who need to engage in a creative process for assessment, then point them towards the funky set of online editing tools available at Aviary. These include a 'quality' vector editor, beat mapper, audio mixer, image editor and more. It's easy to sign up through an existing Gmail or Facebook/Twitter account, and you can save your work to your own harddrive or share it with the Aviary community. Before I share it with others, I think i might have a few projects of my own to sink my teeth into.

Speed is everything to mlearning

2010-06-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Mobile content is about to become that much more engaging and useful for training as users will benefit from the increased speed of 4G, set to be 10 times faster than 3G, that is a real game changer in terms of usability.

At the end of this video you will see that you can stream Video from your mobile device with only a 2second lag, to a variety of online formats.

HTC EVO video

Japanese Mobile Novel a best seller

2010-05-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

Mobile Phones are being used by a new kind of author to generate content that has gone mainstream in the form of best selling novels. 5 out of last year’s 10 best-selling novels where written by text authors, with love stories messaging but containing little of the plotting or character development found in traditional novels.

Three of the novelists in the top 10 where first time novelists. What does that say about mobile technology allowing a new kind of content creation and with it, a new kind of content developer to reach the masses.

Read the full article @ NYT

e standards for mobile learning

2010-05-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Anybody working on future mlearning development in Australia, should be aware of the Australian Flexible Frameworks estandards for mobile learning. This comprehensive list of technologies best used for optimal results is a work in progress as mlearning rapidly evolves.

The standards include mobile audio, video formats, general formatting and content delivery standards for mobile browsing/learning.

HTML School

2010-05-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

learn quick and easy HTML, CSS and more, or just for quick reference, I use W3HTML

mlearning Blogs and Sites

2010-05-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

mlearning Blogs

mlearnopedia

David Schrag

mLearning World

mlearning tools

Kaywa - QR reader and Mobile Blogging Tool

MOMO - mobile moodle Mobile Learning Engine

W3C - CSS for Mobile Prfile 2.0

Moodle for iPhones

2010-05-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Moodle4iPhones Open Source project

Mobile Shoot to Go

2010-05-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

QR codes can be used to create quick access to elearning content or experiences at a specific location, using the image "hard linking" of QR codes.

Later this year I want to test QR codes in a workshop based setting, where participants can 'shoot' to link to elearning via smart phones, preloaded with a QR reader.

Find a QR reader for you phone: List of QR Readers

Moodle Workshop Login

2010-05-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

3 Dimensions to learning

2010-03-09T18:44:00.001-08:00

James Cameron, who is not known for making a poor judgement call (when it comes to creating hit movies anyway) has suggested that 3D viewing will not only come to the lounge room in the next few years, but eventually will be viewed on your phone, tablet, computer or TV, without the need for glasses.

All this talk of iPads and 3D viewing and Neovet just had a thought. If elearning is still on the slow journey towards frequent us on mobile devices, how would a 3D interface raise the bar yet again!

Here are my future predictions for 3D viewing and elearning.

Touch devices will sense movement 'above' the screen, adding a third dimension to touch devices. Learners would have multi layered content and navigation tools providing a richer display of content across subject areas and giving a more powerful search and display experience.
Instructional designers will need to think laterally when constructing elearning content
Peer learners will have a 'space' to play with content together in real time.
Training providers will continue to be behind the 8 ball in keeping teaching technology up to standards with popular media technology.

MoodleMoot AU 2010 Melbourne

2010-02-14T00:26:00.000-08:00

The conference this time is in Melbourne and they are looking for Papers on a range of elearning topics. To submit a paper read thd guidelines here at the official MootAU2010 site.

The conference will run from the 11th to the 14th of July and is a must for any moodle developer.

Facebook, Google, as an LMS?

2010-02-13T23:38:00.000-08:00

Call me crazy, but with all the fuss about what LMS is the ultimate solution to online training, has anybody considered that the emerging online social networks might be ready to replace a packaged LMS?

The fundamental elements of the LMS you use, (Moodle, BBoard, JoomlaLMS) could already be ready and waiting within the very popular an accessable Facebook and Google space. Let's face it, our learners are using FB and Google everyday.

Facebook as an LMS

Users can Sign In with any email account, then creating a private group, you now have a 'course' where you can create discussions, share training video's, leave notes, and create course events, create new polls and quizzes and I'm sure more will emerge as FB does. Seeing how 1/4 of all Australians internet time is spent on FB, you won't have any hurdles getting learners ready to use this already thriving online community platform.

The one thing you can't do, is upload and share documents, and there is no grading system if your looking to use your LMS for grading.Google as an LMS

When neovet talks about Google, he doesn't just mean 'search'. I'm talking Gmail, Goodle Docs, Google Calender and more.... With Google accounts, learners can Sign In with any email account, the using Gmail and Buzz as a platform , you can update students as a group, launch new discussion boards as Buzz threads, create a course calender, share Google Docs, which can now be almost any file format :) .

The number one reason we haven't used Google as an LMS so far is that most of our students are in Education Qld Schools, that tend to filter/block Google products.

Progressive huh!

If you use Social Media as an LMS, or part of as we already do, please let neovet readers know by posting your story here.

AVATAR movie & metaphor

2010-01-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

Pick a metaphor, religious, scientific, cultural or political and your sure to find it layered in this block buster of a movie somewhere.

Neovet couldn't help but see some parallels with the idea of running around in the brain of a giant blue elf warrior and vocational training through elearning. The best part being that Jake Sully can do the impossible thanks to a virtual, (be it real) environment.

Jake can now walk in the virtual world and learn a whole new culture, language and set of skills. Will this re-inspire second life learning? Probably not, but 3D, AVATAR based social media and elearning is only moments away if your following the latest moves by Google to make the browser a doorway to a "Pandorian" web experience through it's O3D api.

Touch of Genius

2010-01-03T20:25:00.000-08:00

The new arrival of touch technology in 2010 could change the way learning technologies are designed and displayed online.

School age learners and above are already natives to 'touch', 'drag' and 'scribble', with the popular use of the iPhone, Kindle and Nintendo DS all involving the heavy use of touch technology.

Now is the time to start road testing your learning spaces on touch devices. With the new mac tablet hitting the stores soon, you can expect a flood of touch devices and with it, an expectation from learners to be able to touch navigate to learn.

Site Blocking and Web 2.0 in Schools

2009-12-14T23:32:00.000-08:00

This great report explores the issues for teachers and learners around restricted access to emergin Web 2.0 technologies in Schools. SICTAS: Web 2.0 site blocking in schools. It's not just the students who are missing out, but the whole School community.

Big VET e's 2009

2009-11-27T17:15:00.001-08:00

Cathy Moore who's hosts my fave blog of very-good elearning examples from around the world, was the keynote speaker at this years BigVETe's conference in Brisbane.

The 2 Day Conference held at the end of each year by the Federal Department, The Flexible Learning Framework, proved yet again to be a valuable time of networking with VET and elearning professionals and to discover new tools, practices and funding opportunities for developing and embedding elearning in your teaching programs.

neovet and V2Training demonstrated how new media can be embedded in wiki's, google waves, LMS's and other websites, not without it's problems as I'm sure you've experienced!. To find out about future funding and conferences, keep an eye here at neovet and at the Flexible Framework website.

You Tube Channel streams subject introductions

2009-10-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

I am currently part of a project that aims to produce around 10X 5min videos that introduce clustered units in a Youth Work course.

As you can see we have used chroma key, animation and music to create an engaging introduction to "Responding to Critical Incidence", but what really makes the video worth while is the clear content and stories that place the learner in a context. This reinforces my SCAR theory.

Our video's will be embedded into a content wiki, to provide a framework of support articles, podcasts and other media. We also host the video's on a YouTube "ymismovies" channel, which makes for easy sharing through other social networking sites.

Action! Green Screen in YMIS room

2009-08-25T04:07:00.000-07:00

Social Media Matters

2009-08-15T02:26:00.000-07:00

I've been a Twitt!

2009-07-05T02:30:00.000-07:00

"What happened to my blog!" "If i tweet, do i blog as well?" "Is twitter the new blogger?"

These questions are echoing around the blogisphere from bloggers who now 'micro blog' with twitter so often, it leaves them wondering if they should 'blog blog' as in blog for real, anymore.

I personally have been on hiatus from my blog and the distance between my last and this post is evidence of my lack of blogging. Twitter IS to blame, (or should i blame the tweeter?), and so is the ability to search the worlds thoughts in real time. Neovet is designed to be a place of pure elearning joy, for those who are always looking for that next innovation that will make training better online.

Twitter therefore is both relevant as a tool to share my blog with others, and dare i say if you don't tweet between blog posts, your blog might as well be offline, and also as a learning tool.

The learning tool element of Twitter, is in the ability to articulate what your learning, share what you learning and as a great search engine. The real time posting element is unique and powerful, especially coupled with hand-held devices.

Twitter as a live group blogging tool at conferences and workshops is worth looking into, but maybe next time... right now i need to tweet my blog if you know what i mean.

Google Wave & elearning

2009-05-31T05:36:00.000-07:00

Well if you feel the hype of Google Wave, then you be feeling it's time to say goodbye to some of your favorite web apps as the Wave seems to be an 'all in one' solution to web communication/collaboration and fun too!.

For learning, it's the real time function, file sharing and embedabillity (new word?), that's got neovet excited. Imagine a mash-up of Skype, Facebook, Twitter, DimDim, iGoogle......you get the picture, prepare to surf the wave late 2009.

Many elearning sites in one place

2009-05-30T23:34:00.000-07:00

Visit http://elearning.alltop.com/

Open Learning for YMIS

2009-05-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

Most of the YMIS course content will become open and available in 2009-10 through a 'wiki' like web shell. Each section is built on joomla articles, and you can search content by set categories, search box and a tag cloud. Anybody can seek to contribute by clicking the Do you have a suggestion!, button in the top right corner of the site. The decision to do make content free and available for a 'fee for service' course might be seen by some as unprofitable. Well that's not the point.

Firstly, YMIS course material is both useful for our fee-paying students and the broader community and we believe in sharing the great resources we have with the world, especially if it helps those in youth work. Our 'qualifications' still cost money as does to a degree the mentoring and training support we provide, but there is as an advantage to all involved in an open learning approach to our courses.

Secondly, we are adding value to the YMIS brand, that's no secret, by doing this we are creating a global network/forum for discussion around faith based youth work. WE are also creating pathways to other training and resources apart from our own, so this is a very win-win situation for YMIS.

The URL for this open learning resource will be ymiscentral.com.

elearning will become just....learning

2009-04-28T01:58:00.000-07:00

With all the hype around new learning technologies (and I bring the hype), we can forget that younger learners won't see this as "elearning", they'll just assume technology is part and parcel of learning. We can find new ways to connect learners to each other and to new knowledge and even get them to engage with concepts and acquire skills using technology.

Once technology is assumed in learning, what fundamental elements of teaching will remain?

Learning is Social,
Learning is 'built upon',
Learning is best applied,
Learning is constructed,
Learners are unique and teachers ARE learners.

Google(ing) Facebook(ing) in Class

2009-04-21T01:04:00.000-07:00

It happened, i'd heard about it, but it had never actually happened to me. and that's not all.

I'll explain.

Today while giving a lecture on models of Youth Work, a student quoted a Google search to me as an answer from a handheld device (a slide out text/email device like the Lotus). So technology was live and well in the class room, and the students response was well timed and appropriate.

After this we found that students have been talking in class, and in public, on Facebook through Facebook updates. I'd say 1/3 of our students are connected to the web in class through a handheld device. Snap! Are educators getting a move on to be ready for what this will mean for teaching and learning? I doubt it, but neovet wants to go there.

elearning - no space & no-dash

2009-04-10T00:09:00.000-07:00

Time to change a few things in how we write/spell the term "e learning".

Currently e learning with a space after the 'e' is just not that popular, the most popular term is now just a straight forward elearning, with e-learning on the decline.

How do i know? This comparison of search terms from Google Trends shows what is happening. So I say, lose the dash, and go with "elearning". Remember when "email" was "e-mail"?

Top 5+ LMS tips and tricks

2009-04-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

A top 5 is usually a random list of ideas that you can take or leave, so feel free to take what you want from this random tips and tricks for managing a learning experience through an LMS. Here is my top 5.

1. Make external links open in a NEW window please, so the learner can still stay logged into the LMS and NOT lose half their work eg. discussion posts. All it takes is one click and your users will navigate away from their learning space. Let them explore a link in a new window and you will keep them happy. So always set links to "Open in New Window", or in HTML, type target="_blank" in side the link tag.

eg. Same Window or New Window

In the near future you should be able to specify opening new tabs or new windows through CSS.

2. Discussion Groups/Forums, need to have critical mass to be affective. Obvious. But how do you build a healthy level of participation from learners?.

What has worked for me so far, is making Discussion posting a compulsory part of the course. This may sound extreme, but a discussion forum without discussion is dead. Some training organisations simply use a participation point system.

The other way to keep forums alive is to give relevant, current and stimulating material for learners to talk about. Add a little spice to your topic headings, invite some controversy and/or play the Devils Advocate.

Lastly, get involved. Learners want their teachers to join in discussion and be part of the online learning experience. After all we are all learning together and it shows you actually care about what people are posting!

3. Keep it fresh and personal. Learner don't want to visit the same old looking site week after week. Add student photos, funny videos, interesting posts on your front page and in your course areas. Pick the 'forum post of the week' and put it at the top of your course page for all to see. Change the style of your page, just a little, a couple of times a year, or even better, some sites allow for custom color schemes for users. I also invite learners to contribute to blogs, and content to give users ownership of the site.

4. Keep your pages and menus simple, and don't assume just because you know where to find everything on the site that learners will too. Before we started using Accordion, and drop down style menus, our pages looked like a maze of links confusing learners and sometimes even myself. The worst course area we had at one stage, was a list of topics down a 2 meter page that had forums, links and pdf's icons scattered all over the place, and embedded video content of all shapes and sizes making matter worse. Never again.

What you want to do is break down your core course elements and only display what users need to find under clearly defined headings and sub headings. All your menu headings should be consistent throughout the site to help build intuitive navigation amongst your users.

5. Be open and available for feedback, in fact go further, and invite feedback from user on how to make the LMS experience better. Learners are more forgiving with a 'system error' error or a login issue, if they know that you are dedicated to improving your LMS for learners all the time. Plus, users are in the best position to find what works or doesn't work for them in your LMS.

+ I invite comments from others to continue this list.

YouTube EDU . video training on demand

2009-04-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

My colleagues and I where just contemplating the use of YouTube to post-host our training video materials outside our own media portal as a way to market our training courses, when my brother in Melbourne let me know that YouTube EDU is an education specific sub-section of YouTube with channels of mainly US college lectures, promos and students antics.

This idea isn't new, see apples iTunes U for example, but most people are familiar with using , and most ARE using the popular YouTube video portal. This means the EDU initiative will have legs.... if you want to read more about YouTube EDU this story is worth a read.

To become a YouTube Edu partner you need to register at this site, and if you don't fit the criteria of a partner you will get this message as I did.

Thank you for your interest. Based on an automated review of your account it is unlikely that you will qualify for the YouTube Partner Program. Applications are reviewed for a variety of criteria, including but not limited to the size of your audience, country of residence, quality of content, and consistency with our Community Guidelines and Terms of Use.

Read the guidelines for partnership first, but unless you have original content that is view by thousands of viewers, don't bother. Australia is now included in the approved countries, and if you do really well you can monetize your channel. Maybe build your audience first then apply.

I think that if your a partner or not, people will still stumble across your channels in the common section through the global search tool. That said, YouTube EDU is a shot in the arm for flexible delivery and points towards a future of portable learning becoming the norm.

iSpring Convert PP to Flash

2009-04-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

i Spring is yet another, open source wonder-tool that I've found, and one that is a welcomed inclusion to the feast of learning tools at neovet. For a couple of years i've been looking for a simple PowerPoint to Flash tool and this one is as easy as click and convert.

You will then have a html page, a flash script (player) and a media folder to embed into your LMS. iSpring will convert all the slides with animations, audio and video to a flash file.

Joomla Moodle MashUp - jfusion

2009-04-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

For a YOUTH WORK training course that I manage, we wanted our online learning portal to have the best of Moodle and the best of Joomla, hence the Joomla/Moodle MashUp we could but won't call Moomla. Joomla does now have a LMS componant called Joomlalms, but we are happy with and loyal too Moodle but also want the great design and plugin aspects of Joomla.

We achieved this Moomla site by using jfusion http://www.jfusion.org, see tutorial below.

How do I change my little URL logo?

2009-04-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

This is called a favicon, (16X16 Pixel image with a .ico file extension) and they appear in the top left corner of the address bar in most browsers, and in your visitors bookmark list.

To change your favicon, visit this gallery and hosting site.

Cut and paste the code in between your header tags, butI've found it's best placed just before the closing head tag. For example, my facicon of the little podcast mic was added using the code below. Blogger will change " " to ' ' , so if it doesn't work straight away, try tweaking the code a bit.

 
<header>        <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.iconj.com/icon.php?pid=ddpra31v9g" type="image/x-icon">         </header>

SketchUp Contexts for learning

2009-04-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

This great little 3D mapping app from the ever and sometimes suspiciously generous Google company, is great fun, easy to use and could be best described as an AutoCad for dummies.

How SketchUp can be used for students studying anything related to design; but it could also be used to help students build a context for learning. Imagine a student in a Retail or Events Management qualification, could demonstrate competence in setting up a room for clients or developing a new shop window fit out.

All this and more can be done in Google SketchUp, so download it now and start pushing and pulling your designs into existence.

Hard Linking

2009-03-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

QR Code Generator Kaywa is a nice and easy way to generate hard linked codes for Text, SMS, URL's and Phone Numbers.

Here is one generated for a course site I manage.

To find a good QR Code Reader, check out this list of good QR phone apps, or visit beetagg for a proven Blackberry solution to coder reading.

I can imagine this will be helpfull when m-learning really takes off and we can orientate students to their online training spaces with one 'snap' of their mobile phone camera. This could be placed on an orientation booklet, presentation slide or for marketing your course, how about on the back of a T-shirt.

Student Feud

2009-02-17T15:54:00.000-08:00

Survey Tool SMS Poll is a great tool for real time polling. We are trialling it this term with a group of about 100 students in a lecture session to gauge the group opinion across a number of areas.

They have free trial for up to 25 votes per poll, and you can pay a little to boost your sample. The speed is incredible, enabling you to capture responses and present a poll graph back to an audience under 60 seconds.

Live polling might be no more than a gimmick to a small audience, but uses well with a larger group, can help create a high level of audience participation and fun!.

Flow for student planning

2008-12-27T01:58:00.001-08:00

http://flowchart.com/features/

This online application for realtime 'recordable' collaborative flow chart design looks fantastic. I can see this being used by students in group projects allowing for more flexibility in planning space and time.
Sent via BlackBerry® from Vodafone

e listen - modules

2008-11-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

Go to this URL to visit the e-listen project:

Dave from Stop21 and I finished this project in 2008 as part of the Australian Flexible Learning Frameworks: Innovative Projects Grant Program.

Here you can see the SCAR Theory in action, also the use of a Flash Story board, Accordian View conten tabs and the use of Google Forms and a Blog to connect our learners to extension content and invite them to give feedback about our product.

Find me a good lesson plan

2008-11-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

James Dalziel has written an excelent chapter in the new publication from MIT "Opening Up Education",( (available for download HERE

This is a good read for anybody interested in how we can better share content and also teaching processes across the web. As James suggest, there is plenty of shared content, but not many shared experiences of how teachers can use that content to help learners and/or sequence lessons.

There is nothing like a good quality lesson template, that can be used again and again for different lessons just by changing the content but maintaining the teaching process. but Alas, Google away and see if you can find anyhthing worth using.

6 Technologies to keep an eye on

2008-11-19T21:10:00.000-08:00

The 2008 Horizon Report is
a collaboration between
The New Media Consortium
and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative.

This annual report projects about half a decade into the future, what technologies will impact our lives and there relevance for Teaching, Learning, and Creative Expression. Interstingly the technologies listed in this years report are sort of already emerged.

Grassroots Video
Collaboration Webs
Mobile Broadband
Data Mashups
Collective Intelligence
Social Operating Systems

Def worth a read, but they don't mention the Hover Board yet so I'm still waiting for that one.

E-learning VET vs HEP

2008-11-19T17:51:00.000-08:00

Today I attended the opening of the CEIT centre at UQ, that is the Centre of Education, Innovation and Technology, at the University of Qld.

As well as meeting some Canadians, who I'm convinced are leading the world in dynamic learning content, and an old School friend, I heard some great discussion relating to the use of and future of E-learning in Educational Institutions.

What occurred to me is that open source, flexible, affordable, web 2.0 integrated E-learning is encouraged as the way forward, but HEP (Higher Ed Providers) are less able to implement these strategies than the VET sector (Vocational Ed Training).

With the emergence of closer ties between the two sectors i think this is worth exploring.

What might be the reasons for the difference in uptake? I suggest a few;

HEP providers have a slow large administrative process, therefore change is slow.
VET sector is smaller, run as small business and have close links to industry, so are closer to the forefront of adaptation of new technology.
VET adapts out of necessity, to deliver externally and to stay financially viable.

Google Doc Folders

2008-11-06T23:33:00.000-08:00

Are your google docs out of control? If you already use folders in your google docs, then ignore this email.

I realised I’m up to 24 shared documents, including survey tools, student matrix and other project docs, and that is just for work! What a mess.

Solution = Folders (just like you sort your emails into outlook folders)

Click on New, then select ‘Folder’.
You can name and color code your folders, and then tick to select your documents you want to shift to a folder, then select the ‘move’ button to move them all into one folder.
You can then easily find what you’re looking for now by selecting folders on the right hand side bar. (see color tabs above)

Hope this helps you sort out your ever expanding google doc list.

Moodle Moot 08 Brisbane

2008-10-13T14:43:00.001-07:00

It’s official, I’m an e-learning educator geek, but thank God I’m not alone as I found out at the Moodle Moot 2008 held in Brisbane this October. This top notch two day conference covered everything ‘Moodle’ including key note address from the moodle creator himself (Australian Phd student turn Entrepreneur, interesting story worth reading about) and several workshops to choose from covering topics such as ‘Turbo Charging your Moodle’ and ‘Maintaining Online Communities”.

The highlight for me was meeting moodle builders from all over Australia and finding out the great variety of contexts that moodle is used for training. I also picked up a few new tools for my moodle site that I can’t wait to implement and share with you here at neovet. For those left in the dark, moodle is an open source Learning Management System that is now used in 199 countries and by millions of users to work through modular based, content and learning activities.

Googles 'Lively' place to chat... and break dance!

2008-08-26T01:37:00.000-07:00

Update: Just when we started trialling it, Google pulled the plug, so Google Lively is gone :( sad to say but the good news is New Lively is here to stay thanks to a community of believers.

~~Googles newest~~ and (i think) coolest application is the self contained avatar world of 'Lively'. At first view I thought this would be another endless jump into the abyss of Avatar black holes like 'second life', but i think the advantages of 'Lively', are actually in it's limitations, not in it's applications.

It is a simple introduction to Avatarian culture for beginners

Lively keeps your community in closer proximity through meeting 'rooms' rather than whole 'worlds'. Rooms can be linked through hyper linked objects ( I have a magic potplant portal in my first room!)

I'ts not overwhelming: the user options are kept to basic communication methods of gestures, text chat, and a little bit of fun thrown in for good measure.

It also embeds in CMS nicely such as 'moodle', as a better 'chat' option, you can actually see who is in the chat room for one, but also the extra novelty of making my avatar break dance in front of others takes the cake.

I would like to see the following applications added to 'Lively' for enhanced E-learning.

A 'real' WhiteBoard, to leave messages on
Video or audio message app, where users can post a short message
Quiz, Word Puzzle and Scrabble games
A timetable app, with upcoming events
Integrated account to CMS so users don't need to 'sign in' twice
How about a sit down Space Invaders game too :)

To visit my first student room click below, but keep in mind you will need to download the Lively app first, then also have a Google/G-mail account to enter.

Google Earth Field Trips

2008-07-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

I just discovered that Google Earth can be used in real time presentations to give student an idea of where they are in relation to physical land marks, very useful if you are about to go off campus on a field trip.

For example, I have just sent our Youth Work students on a journey visiting youth services that support AT-RISK youth in the fortitude valley region of Brisbane. Each team was given a set of maps from Where is Dot Com to help them navigate to their respective excursion locations.

I used Google Earth Download

To Give them the bigger picture of the Brisbane area, and pin pointed all the landmarks, so they could easily see how to get there...and see that the distances between each youth service was only small. Further to this with the inclusion of the Street View function on google maps, students can get a view of the venue they are visiting as if standing in the street, making the landmark more recognisable when they get there.

When most of us have google earth on our phones, with gps positioning, orientering will be snap!

Sloodle!

2008-06-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

Sloodle is a second life version of Moodle, This Video will give you the idea.

I think the take up will be slow, but I would rather get our Training on there in advance so when the user end is ready, our Second Life product is well prepared.

Way Cool

2008-06-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Successful RTO	Emerging technology	Details of project
Charles Darwin University (NT)	E-portfolios/web 2.0 tools: "Engaging student self-directed learning through the use of e-portfolios"	The CDU trial will explore e-portfolio access issues and the use of social networking/web 2.0 tools with e-portfolios. The implications of social networking on policy and best practice; and required features of VET e-portfolio systems will also be explored.
Canberra Institute of Technology (ACT)	Virtual worlds: "Eduversal Studios – virtual worlds in VET"	The CIT trial will provide VET practitioners with strategies to develop virtual teaching spaces and practices and lower the barriers to incorporating virtual worlds into VET for teachers and learners.
TAFE Tasmania (TAS)	Video: "Technology assisted workplace training, assessment and recognition"	The TAFE Tasmania trial will use the Framework's QTImPlayer with 'camera glasses' to enable apprentices and trainees to record video of tasks to provide evidence of their competency. The camera glasses are worn by students to record their activity when doing remote workplace assessment.
Wodonga TAFE (VIC)	Mobile devices: "RFID and the asynchronous student"	The Wodonga TAFE trial will make use of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to create a self-guided induction tour of a workshop used by metal fabrication and cabinet making students. Similar in concept to the self-guided tours in museums and art galleries, the trial team will use a combination of online, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and RFID technology to create an interactive induction journey through the department.

Even better than the real thing?

2008-06-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

My holiday, much needed for us both, on white haven beach (it's just another beach for tempted consumers of experience) gave me time to reflect on the rapid elearning journey i have been on these past two years.

I had what one might call a vision of the future, about where elearning is heading - the summary of which is - learning being as direct as being in the teachers skin for a day.

Studies have shown that mental imagery of a task has the same affect on the brain as actually doing the task. If you could 'be' the practioner for a day, experiencing every emotion, problem to solve and subtle nuances of a work role, how much more would you be prepared for that role yourself.'

As this is a bit out of the box for neovet, i will tag this and further 'visions of the future' as 2020.

Blue Poles - no not the painting!

2008-06-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

Turning Point - is a study done from othe Flexible Learning Framework that looks at mobile devices, blue tooth techology and short film making...for learning.

Blue Tooth Hubs will most likely be placed in every TAFE and Uni in Australia within the next two years. Great idea! this will kick off mlearning and i think the average handheld device is nearly up to scratch.

Chroma Key Narrator

2008-06-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Want cool backgrounds for your online learning videos?

Check out these video tutorials on Green Blue Screen
Chroma Key can help draw the narrator to the attention of the learner.

I have an idea that video narrator could appear in the body of the text with the same background color as the text background, effectively making them blend in with the content, hiding the player. Note: the user could still control the video device playing the narrator with hover controls.

If this guy could only talk to you now, you'd get what i mean.

How to mak a Tag Cloud in Blogger

2008-06-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

Sick of boring labels lists like this?

Want
a Tag instead?
Cloud

Cut and Paste this code from phydeaux3

into your Blogger Template. Syncs with your existing 'Label Widget', so you can keep your current tags and start adding new ones immediately.

Mobile Learning Engine

2008-05-31T17:15:00.000-07:00

Mobile Learning Engine has the potential to create multi-platform learning tools that can be 'tweaked' using simple XML. I have to wonder thatl MLE and MOMO for moodle will become quickly outdated with the rise of full mobile web browsing (Mac iPHONE, RIM Thunder).

But then again, is it a more accessible 'bridge' option for mlearning solutions 2008-2009. I can't see the light beyond 2010, my crystal ball broke a while back now.

Power Tube

2008-05-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

You might like to embed video into your powerpoint presentations from the web. This article from the Wired Wiki, gives tips on on or off line embedding for you tube to PowerPoint.

SCAR (EN)Theory

2008-05-31T15:06:00.000-07:00

I have bee working on a particular set of learning objects and wanted to have some consistency in my design approach. I came up with the SCAR model.

Story
Content
Action
Reflection

This is the model so far, each word describes the approach for an element in a single learning object. At this stage it is more of a planning tool than an underpinning theory of learning design but here are my thoughts on its merit for shaping a quality E-learning experience.

STORY is one of the most powerful learning tools used in the past and present. Beginning with a story puts the learning in context, invites the learner into the learning experience in a relational way. It also is loaded with emotional, cultural and social connections for the learner.

CONTENT in most cases, needs to be 'pinned' down somewhere, while a story tells a thousand words, the content element formalises the key learning concepts, language and models.

Our Training organisation has followed an ACTION + REFLECTION model for many years.

" An un-reflected experience is a lost experience"

Action being interactive and focused more on the skills, than the knowledge. The reflection element is formative assessment for the full object experience.

The fifth element...

Extension
Network

Two extra elements are both related to the need for learners to be able to extend their learning, or go beyond the object experience by going to other learning sources (Social Networks, Blogs, Wiki's). Extensions would be created and defined by the learning designer, eg. Support site with further information linked by tags in the learning object.

Network describes the wider context within which the learner is using the object. This includes peers on or off line as well as online resources that the learner may search within to extend their understanding.

Q. How can E-learning objects work in synergy with Web 2.0 constuctivist learning experiences?

Plain English

2008-05-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

I like this video on Social Networking because it puts the concepts in a relational framework and is fun for the learner to watch.

Well done CommonCraft Show your videos make in simple even for those of us who think we know what we are doing.

Other Videos include simple explanations of:

Podcasting
Tagging / Tag Sharing
Blogging
RSS Feeds
+ more go see now

Top Web Learning Tools

2008-05-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

I would tend to agree with most of this list of the Top Learning Tools on the web

Web 2.0 in a box

2008-05-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

This Video Sums it up nicely...

For anyone who doesn't get it yet.

Web 2.0

2008-05-17T04:49:00.000-07:00

Check out this guys video, a simple and clear way of describing Web 2.0 and what it means for E-learning. His name is Stephen Downes and he has been around town in regards to E-learning and Web 2.0 applications.

His main point seems to be the Web 2.o applications (ajaz, rss, social networks, tagging) have allowed learners to take hold of contructivist and collaborative experiences when and where they want or need it.

Boil it down

2008-05-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

Instructional design:

I just joined the E-learning Guild

I highly recommend their eBooks that have been co-written by the guild community, especially for E-learning designers who are looking for some frameworks to work with.

One common principle of E-learning design is keep the message simple

When people give a speech, we tell them stick with two or three main points to communicate to the audience. This should be the same with learning objects.

E-learning is in the end about changing behaviour - says Dr. Michael Allen (Podcast)

You can't judge instructional design by 'good graphics' or tricky flash games -

Good E-learning involves a good story, told well, in a powerful dynamic context.

eg. Remember the old radio shows that kept people entertained before T.V. and the Web? the format had no 'images' yet captured the imagination. Because it told the story well and captivated the audience.

Q. How is your E-learning tools capturing the imagination of your learners?

Modality

2008-05-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

I made this diagram to demonstrate that we often label E-learning as Flexible Delivery; a separate mode of Training and Assessment in regards to it’s neighbours, the Class Room, and the Work Place.

I think in the future we will see E-learning solutions become ever present in all of these areas.

Bring your Mobile to class please!

2008-05-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

Students at UTS are being asked to bring mobile devices to class to help with interactive learning. Full Story…

How fun it would be to do in class polling, pre and post class reflection questions.

Q. Who would want to pay for the Broadband or SMS costs?

Video Star

2008-05-08T22:35:00.001-07:00

Want cool backgrounds for your online learning videos? Check out these video tutorials on Green Blue Screen

He makes it sound so easy we are going to try it this month.

You can see how this makes viewing a 'talking head' more interesting, also think of the possibilities for adding learning content, slides, in the background.

ePresence

2008-04-18T23:20:00.000-07:00

Have i just found a quality free video coference tool?

Assignments

2008-04-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

We are currently exploring how to make better use of the assignment module on moodle.

With this in mind; students can respond to set questions ( i think?) or you can set it so it is a share folder between the trainer and student. hmmm.

Some student testing would help, as it is hard to 'completly' step out of the course developer, admin role to see how the students and trainers would experience these online assignments.

It seems the 'online text' option, only allows for one set of instructions followed by one student answer at a time - it would probably be tiresome and in practical to have an assignment module made for every question. If our units where smaller and 'cleaner' in approach, this may not be an issue.

There are also AQTF requirements to consider, such verifying Assessors, that is where digital signatures may come in to save the day, to achieve our dream of a paperless VET sector.

...of the round table

2008-04-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

Podcasting group discussions from any place at all hey?

People are using skype to make group podcasting a breeze. But the instructions to this method leave me thinking there must be an easier way. Jon Udell gave me a clue here.

The good news, since the last
time I tried this, is that it’s easier to
record Skype calls. The recipes
used to involve a whole lot of baling wire and
black magic. But now there
are Skype add-ins that simplify things quite a bit.
For today’s test I used
two different products: MX Skype Recorder for Windows, and the Ecamm Call Recorder for the
Mac.

Of the tools i am using,
the rodepodecaster has proven to be fantastic although an even louder microphone would be better, maybe i can boost gain through a pre-amp, or mbox type device.

i learn

2008-04-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

Here is my quick but expanding list of possible applications for ipod learning:

Podcasts
Video
Photos
i-notes
Calender
Task
Contacts
i-books

Here is a list of learning tools that could be developed for ipod

Vlogs [peer2peer learning]
i-books for integration of podcasts & lecture notes
Video introductions to units
Video content, with slides
Podcast content
i-notes pdf lecture notes

> Student Orientation

Podcast, Vcast orientation
Photos of staff and facilities
Contacts of admin and trainers
Calander of important dates

Fast Monkey

2008-04-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

How fast can your students download your flash video?

I've realised this week that our content videos uploaded at ymis.radio may nice to watch at work with our fast broadband, but for a slower broadband or dial-up user they are very slow.

So how can i make videos that load faster; some ideas.

Keep videos to under 5mins, and break them into Part 1 - Part 2 etc. if they go longer.

Use minimal text overlays

Other than that, i will need to look into it further me thinks.

Workshop "Power 2.0 the User" Links

2008-03-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

Examples 2.0

What is Web 2.0?
What is tagging?
What are social networks?
What is a Blog?
What is a Vlog?
What is RSS?
What is cloud computing?
What is mlearning?

Presentation Tools 2.0

YouTube to share video
LifeFrame to make videos
Slide Share to share slides :)
Audacity to record audio for podcasts
Blogger to make your first blog

Other Tools

del.icio.us for great tagging
Delicous Bookmarks for an even better tagging experience
Google Docs for free, collaborative, cloud, office applications

2007-06-01T03:44:00.000-07:00