Where are we at? June 23, 2008
Posted by mrsuds in Uncategorized, strategic.2 comments
So with the end of the term fast approaching, where are we at in terms of progress?
It has been a frustrating term for me I must admit. We have an amitious plan for the two years and I knew challenges would come our way. It’s amazing how trivial these can be, but also how much impact they can have on my job. One of the biggest challenges has just been getting prompt email replies from principals (or any reply at all). I don’t think they realise how much this sort of thing slows me down (and it has) and is something to be discussed in our meeting on early next term. I am finding ways around this and as I become familiar with who does what in each schooll, I have been able to bypass the principals to some extent.
So, what has been achieved this term and what is on the agenda?
- Our first goal is all about the Distance Learning Progamme and we are making good progress there. The eTeachers are starting to feel more like a group. We have had a couple of meetings which have gone well and there is a generally a lot of enthusiasm. They all seem willing to develop professionally and we are currently putting together an appraisal system. I have set up some draft eTeacher guidlines which I am getting them feedback on through a forum and wiki on our Moodle. The feedback has been slow coming, but we are getting there. I am not going to rush this through. It is important that we get buy in from the teachers, otherwise it will be meaningless. They are very keen to learn about Moodle and most will be involved in the PD day next term
- In terms of elearning, we have a team of teachers representing every school in the cluster, who will learn how to use the new Cantatech Moodle site. Some have already gone on and had a play around. A couple haven even got their students on which is great. The actual PD day kept getting pushed back, because of, either, the birth of my son, or it clashed with other events. Eventually we decided to set it for the 24th of July – Week One, Term Three. This week I am going around a couple of schools (Oxford today) to give some enthusiastic teachers an hour long intro to Moodle – so at least they know how to go on and do the basics. Look forward to more of this next term. We will release it to all staff around week six perhaps.
- The collaborative side of things has taken a back seat to the elearning, but is something I have been focussing on over the last week or so. I am talking to Rachel Bolstad at the NZCER about the possibilty of doing a presentation on the curriculum to all schools through VC. This will kick off a series of sessions on the same topic run by the UC advisers for the learning areas (and other groups). At the moment I am establishing what the focus will be. Hopefully I will get plenty of feedback from Principals and staff about this. We will be getting a Scholarship Programme up and running next term, when everyone is sure who is doing what. Also looking at some Gifted and Talented collabaoration – maybe get some sessions runing for students.
- The last goal is a work in progress!!
Surveys, surveys and more surveys June 14, 2008
Posted by mrsuds in gathering information, strategic.Tags: survey
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As someone new to this job I had to be spend a considerable amount of time gathering information. One of my favourite methods for doing this are surveys. I primarily use Surveymonkey for this as it is very user friendly. The only things is I don’t subscribe so the data is not downloadable, but there are always around these sorts of problems. Why some people continue to use paper based surveys anymore I really don’t. The amount of data you have to collate when you can get technology to do it for you.
Anyway, earlier in the year I surveyed all the distance students on what their learning experience had been like so far. The results were overwhelmingly positive, although it was completed quite early in the year, so must be qualified. It will be interesting to see what is said in the next survey. Although I think most students are having a very positive experience.
Recently I surveyed all staff in each Cantatech school. One of our goals this year is to increase the use of online technologies amongst all staff. Before doing this I wanted to ascertain the knowledge and experience of teachers with elearning. This was so I didn’t go in to each school blind. The results have thrown up two major points. The first is that, while most staff are inexperienced with any use of technology, the majority are keen to learn. The other is that is some school’s staff percieved one or two major barriers to learning more. We will certainly have problems pushing elearning if teachers can’t readily get their students onto computers.
The creation of the Cantatech Moodle site is directly related to this goal. This will be the centre of online learning, and from there we can branch into web 2.0 technology. Each school has at least one (and some times up to five) member on an elearning team that will learn how to use Moodle. The difficult thing is getting these people together face to face for PD (and it does need to be face to face first up). We were scheduled to meet June 19th, but this has had to be postponed. One, because of a certain late baby (a week now). Two, because many teachers are stressed from exams and reports so the timing was particularly bad. We are now looking at the first week of term three, which is later than I wanted, but c’est la vie.
I will spend the last three weeks of this term trying to get some collaboration off the ground.
Moodle June 13, 2008
Posted by mrsuds in OLE.add a comment
The Cantatech Moodle site as been up since the beginning of term now and I have had a good play over that time. My Classics course is delivered entirely online with a video conference lesson each Friday. So I thought it might be time to reflect on what I think of Moodle…
Well in short, I love it. Which I am very happy about after spending so much time trying to make a decision on what LMS to go with. I really like Moodle’s flexibility. Some people complain about that ‘Moodle’ look, but there is quite a lot of room to add your own look to it, especially with the use of themes. I also like its functionality. There is so much you can do to in terms of learning, and not gimmicky functions either. I have found what I have chosen to use with my students has really worked in terms of learning.
Having said that I can see limitations and some teachers could get a bit carried away with over structuring courses. I could also see some secondary teachers getting carried with the quiz funtions.
Early days though and I know I am just scratching the surface with how Moodle could be used. So much to learn and so little time!
The Professionals? June 5, 2008
Posted by mrsuds in Uncategorized, eprincipals.add a comment
We had our monthly eprincipal meeting today and another interesting one it was too. There were a number of things on the agenda, but the focus was on a paper put together by two of us. This proposed that we as a group, investigate the idea of forming our own professional association. It was no great surprise to me as Trevor had mentioned it to me some time ago. It has certainly brought some strong responses from a couple of the eprincipals who are worried about isolating ourself and moving too fast. It has been the first time that any real disagreement has arisen amongst us as a group and I was interested in how we would resolve it. Very productively I must say. A forum has been created on the VLN where everyone has been asked to put their views on the matter and from there we can move forward.
Personally I think the idea is a step in the right direction. We as a group need to take ownership of what we are doing, rather than relying on the Ministry to direct us. That doesn’t mean we will completely break from them, but it would change the nature of the relationship. I think in a very positive way, but there is no doubt it needs thorough investigation and discussion
