Thursday, 27 October 2011

research links

Here are some links recommended to us by the course coordinators (Steph and Michael) at our 23+ Things ecourse:

These are a staring point only!!!  And when you have read these, "23 things" suggest you read Tips for Effective Webinars to become the best "e-presenter" ever!!


Another link for a site that aims to help others wanting to increase the uptake and use of e-learning, web 2.0 and e-learning within organisations by Sue Waters.


Copyright Kitchen - a resource for those working in vocational education and trainiing that breaks up copyright information into categories built around who you are, where you work and the task at hand.

Posted by at No comments:

week 3: getting resources/content on line for student access

Having just spent 3 hours writing this blog to then have it disappear (I somehow deleted everything then in a panic exited the site!!!!!!!), I am now going for a more brief version of what was summarised here!


This week we looked at how to get our resources/content on line so that students can access them.  In particular, we are looking at:  Slideshare, Wikispaces, Dropbox and GoogleDocs.  This data is from our course notes at 23+, and from notes taken from the lecture.






Slideshare
www.slideshare.net




A site where you can upload and share our presentation (Open Office Impress, Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple keynote).  It will also let yu upload Word & PDF documents.  For extra zest, you can add audio to make a webinar.

Interesting/useful resources

Other useful information (from lecture notes, etc)
  • Some of the "stuff" you can do with Slideshare:
    • Upload your own Powerpoints/Word documents
    • Embed slideshows into your own blog, LMS or website
    • Share slideshows publicly or privately
    • Sync audio to your slides
    • Join groups to connect with Slideshare members who share your interests
    • Download many other presentations to your computer
  • Check out the Top 100 Tools for 2010 on Slideshare
  • Use screenr.com/ZHBs to learn how to embed Powerpoint exactly where you want it (thanks to Steph)
  • If you use a lot of images, would be good to add audio
  • Check out PresenterMedia who offer free downloads of PowerPoint templates, animated clipart, presentation graphics and HD video backgrounds. 
  • To create "game-changing presentations on line", check out Prezi 

A summary of Death By Powerpoint (thanks to Alexei Kapterev)
  • Bad presentations - bad communication - bad relations - less sales - less money - less training
  • Bad presentations are mainly due to:
    • A lack of significance or meaning
    • Poor structure
    • Too complicated
    • Lack of rehearsal
  • SIGNIFICANCE
    • What's the subject matter and why does it matter?
    • How do I grab their attention?
    • What do I want them to do?
    • Presentations work because significance creates passion, passion attracts attention, attention leads to action.  Therefore, if you can't find a meaning to your subject, don't present it!!
  • STRUCTURE
    • Any structure is ok, but the presentation must be memorable, convincing and scalable
    • Structure choices are:
      • Problem - pathway - solution
      • Problem - solution - reasoning
      • Fancy stuff (if it makes sense)
    • Give 3-4 reasons supporting your presentation, they will not remember more than this:
      • Memorable opening
      • Argument 1:  more details A, B and C
      • Argument 2:  more details A, B and C
      • Argument 3:  more details A, B and C
      • Memorable closing
  • SIMPLICITY
    • Einstein - everything should be made as simple as possible, not simpler
    • Powerpoint helps to:
      • Visualise ideas
      • Create key points
      • Impress
    • Too much information on a slide must be avoided at all costs.  This is used when the presenter is using the slides as a prompter, handout or data dump!
    • Simple design rules:
      • 1 point per slide
      • Few matching colours
      • Very few fonts
      • Photos not clipart
      • I.E.  less text, more imagery, WILD imagery
    • What if I need to send or print slides?
      • Write a document
      • Make 2 sets of slides
      • print with notes
  • REHEARSAL
    • Feedback
    • Practice out loud

Scribd

  • The "YouTube for documents" - world's largest social publishing and reading site
  • Enables you to upload documents of varied formats (including PDFs, PowerPoints, Word docs and EPUB) and make these documents searchable (across the web and within documents themselves), social and embeddabel tube for documents in "websites and blogs"
  • Interesting video - more with respect to its use in business

Wikispaces








"A wiki is a website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor.  Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking (as here!!), in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems."  Wikipedia

Interesting/useful resources
Other useful information (from lecture notes, etc)


Dropbox








Dropbox is an application that allows you to sync your files online and across your computers automatically.  It gives you 2GB of online storage for free, and shared folders allow several people to collaborate on the same files.

Interesting/useful resources
Other useful information (including from the lecture)
  • Simple, secure, sharing
  • Accessible from home PC, work PC, laptop and smartphone - although you need an account for each
  • Synchs updated versions of your documents to all machines/accounts
  • PROs
    • No more need for USB or emailing of documents
    • Don't need to decide which is the old version, and which is the updated version as updates automatic across all accounts
    • Safety net - 
      • Tracking area - can share files with particular people
      • Can restore files that have been deleted as there is access to who last accessed the file and when
    • Increased GB access if more "friends" joined up
  • CONs
    • Costs
    • Not designed originally as a collaborative tool - consequently, it will save only 1 Powerpoint presentation per person (i.e. it will delete any other versions).  This is one of the main differences between GoodleDocs and Dropbox.
    • You can sync Dropbox with GoogleDocs
  • Check out the Dropbox Ultimate Toolkit Guide
  • box.net is another similar tool.  "Box provides a secure, easy way for businesses to manage content, share large files and collaborate online from anywhere.


Googledocs








"GoogleDocs is a free, web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form and data storage service offered by Google.  It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time iwth other users."  Wikipedia

Interesting/useful resources
Other interesting information (including from the lecture)
  • You can create and share your work online
  • You can upload from and save to your desktop
  • Edit anytime from anywhere
  • Pick who can access your documents
  • Share changes in real time
  • Files are stored securely online
  • It's free (unlike Dropbox!!)
  • If the document is made public, anyone on the web can open the document
Posted by at No comments:

week 2: communicating with students when not "in class"




A need to communicate online with students and other educators?  Below is a quick view of the tools reviewed this week (Skype, Facebook, Twitter, SurveyMonkey) as per the course page, lecture notes and forum notes.



Quick word of advice from Stephan:  if you are not familiar with a tool, keep them to yourself to start until you know how it works and behaves.  Source the "settings" and play around with them to see how differently the tool behaves.








Skype
http://www.skype.com



From Wikipedia:  "Skype ...is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a free using a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for their additional features which include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing."



Features of Skype (as per the lecture):


    FREE - BASIC

  • All Skype-to-Skype
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • Conference calls (video = $$$)
  • Text chat 1:1 + groups
  • Send files (any type - although big files are time consuming to send - e.g. photos)
  • Screenshare facility
  • Facebook integrated
   FREE - EXTRAS **
  • Useful to educators
  • Whiteboard
  • Screen sharing
  • Tutoring
  • Categories - sharing, personalised, productivity, business, community, games, record conversation**
   SKYPE $

  • Calls to landline + mobiles
  • Calls from landlines + mobiles
  • SMS
  • Voicemail
  • Call forward to landlines + mobiles
  • Access to Skype via wifi hotspots


Useful to know (lecture notes):
  • Recording function is great
  • Screen sharing is useful for showing material on a screen

Interesting/useful resources:


Pros
  • Allows chats, conference calls and video calls
  • Many functions are free
  • Easy to use
  • Screensharing (free on one-to-one calls, $$ for a group)
  •  Allows sharing of:
  •  Files
  •  Hyperlinks
  • Conference calling also allows the use of a “sidechat” (as per our   Monday lectures)
  • Skype has released a 3.0 beta version for Windows that does real time language translation and assists with pronunciation of words
  • Can record on Skype using free software (www.prettymay.net, www.voipcallrecording.com ) – use options to go into settings to utilise this function.
  • Many links to other users with “like” interests – e.g. with other teachers who use Skype, language teachers, etc

Cons
  • Uses a lot of computer and network (bandwidth) resources – consequently, Skype is banned at some schools or has restricted access
  • Limited by schedules and time zones
  • Not replacement for telephone – no emergency calls
  • Do not SkypeOut (dial out) to a landline or mobile as after the first “free” 5 mins, the calls will cost $$
  • Can only have 10 people on a conference call at a time (including the “teacher”)
  • Can get echoes / sound problems if class members do not mute their mic or if the microphone is not close enough to their mouth
  • Skypecasting has been discontinued!!  Other conference VOIP alternatives may be:  PalTalk, TalkShoe, Ventrilo and Asterisk.

How to use it educationally ….

This website can be used:
  • Teachers can quickly and easily invite guests from almost anywhere in the world to speak to their students
  • Enables “classmates” and teacher to develop and maintain “contact”
  • Enables students to interact with others outside the classroom walls
  • Brings the “field trip” into the classroom if students are unable to participate physically
  • Wonderful for use with language students – especially due to translation and pronunciation abilities
  • Tutoring (especially for distance students)
  •  Conducting interviews
  •  PD for teachers (conference presentations)
  •  Collaborate with other teachers
  •  Be easily accessible to students (good or bad?????)
  •  Recording of calls for replay at a later time
  •  Some hints for more successful use:
·         Have the class mute their microphones to ensure less background noise
·         Put “teacher’s” laptop screen on projector


Privacy protection

Some hints to ensure a level of security with using this tool – especially for those under the age of 18:

  • Use an avatar rather than a photo
  • Do not use real name under full name
  • Never go to “SkypeMe” mode or check “Sign me in”
  • Do not complete the profile
  • No usernames with meanings that can be misconstrued

VOIPCALLRECORDING.COM

Main features of MP3 Skype Recorder are:
  •  Free with no limits attached
  •  Automatic or manual recording capabilities
  • Compact format of stored records (mp3 files)
  • May be used to record P2P, SkypeOut calls and calls made to online numbers
  • Capable of tracking simultaneous calls and to save them separately
  • Easy integration with Skype Conference recording
  • Intuitive easy to use interface
  • Stealth recording of calls by parents (no icons in system bar or system tray) with automatic recording of all Skype calls!!!!!

SAVEONPHONESERVICES.COM

A Skype website that offers:

  • New deals and offers for using Skype
  • Free software for Skype (e.g. language translator)

How can I use it?

Apart from the use of the “stealth” function with my kids (!!), I am still researching to develop a stronger understanding of how this tool can be used in my lesson/course structures.  However, I am thinking it would work well with:
  • Tutorials for distance Dance Teachers
  • Student – student calls for peer group discussions
  • Recording
  • Screenshare (?? Not quite sure how to use this with a group – can it be recorded??)



Twitter
http://www.twitter.com



PC Magazine defines twitter as: "A very popular instant messaging system that lets a person send brief text messages up to 140 characters in length to a list of followers. Launched in 2006, Twitter was designed as a social network to keep friends and colleagues informed throughout the day. However, it became widely used for commercial and political purposes to keep customers, constituents and fans up-to-date as well as to solicit feedback.

After establishing a Twitter account at www.twitter.com, individuals can import their e-mail addresses as well as use the Twitter search to locate and invite people. Twitter messages ("tweets") can be made public and sent to anyone requesting the feed, or they can be sent only to approved followers.

Messages can be sent and received via cellphone text messaging (SMS), the Twitter Web site or a third-party Twitter application. A Facebook account can also be updated. To follow a Twitter feed, the Twitter site and feed name become the URL; for example, Microsoft's Twitter feed is www.twitter.com/microsoft."


Useful to know (lecture notes):
  • Great as a discussion forum
  • Comment from Stephan:  so much useful professional development through Twitter - as long as you are following the right person
  • RT = re-tweet
  • Created as a tool to ask "what are you doing?".  However, with End User Innovation, users have refocussed the use of this tool so that it has developed into a means of sharing information with friends and co-workers
  • It can now be used as a professional tool to find information/links from users with specific expertise
  • Hundreds of add-ons (e.g. twitpic, TweetDeck, digsby)
  • TweetDeck - personal browser for staying in touch with what's happening now, connecting you with contacts across Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc 
  • Being safe on Twitter formation to 3rd parties for commercial purposes!!):
    • Study the SETTINGS of the tool (to make public or private)
    • Think before you tweet
    • Don't be public with private information
    • Don't tweet when drinking alcohol
    • Limit what you say
    • Be careful what you click on
    • Be vigilant
    • Check 3rd party applications
  • Educational uses for Twitter (check out The Twitter4Teachers Wiki):
    • Linking to your networks to ask them to pose questions to your students
    • Support classroom community
    • Collaborative writing
    • Research and comment - using the #tags
    • when you tweet things that relate to our course add #23thingsACTSA (check out www.delicious.com/username/twitter if linked)


Interesting/useful resources


Forum summary:
  • (Robert) can see the benefits of Twitter for sharing information with students and providing timely updates/requests
  • (Stephan) suggested having a look at tweetdeck once you get your head around Twitter.  It seems to be much more organised and easier to follow your mentions, direct messages, favourites, specific people or hashtags you follow as they are all on one page nicely in columns. 
  • Can tweet from tweetdeck, PC or phone
  • Can tag links on Delicious account with twitter (n.b.  some gems in Steph's Delicious account)
  • (Danette) Researched resources regarding twitter and performed a google search on "Twitter for Educational Purposes".  Found some great links and suggestions at http://cirrelia-thaxton.suite101.com/using-twitter-for-educational-purposes-a287131












According to Wikipedia: "Facebook is a social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. Since September 2006, anyone over the age of 13 with a valid e-mail address can become a Facebook user. Facebook's target audience is more for an adult demographic than a youth demographic. Users can add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Additionally, users can join networks organized by workplace, school, or college."



Useful to know (lecture notes):
  • Great for student-teacher and student-student communications (e.g. reminders as to when assessment due, changes to timetableing, when guest lecturers are due, when worksheets available, etc)
  • Great for discussion forums - e.g. preassessment
  • Set up a Facebook account purely for use by a group of students (separate to your private and personal account) 
  • For privacy, suggested settings are to mark:
    • bio and favourite quotes as "everyone"
    • permission to comment on your posts as "friends only" 
    • all other elements mark as "other"


Interesting/useful resources

Forum notes:
  • (Ian) noted that Facebook is ideal for uploading images and videos - and so it can be used as a collaborative platform.
  • It is user friendly as most people have a Facebook account
  • To ensure it is used correctly (and not used and abused), go to the settings area and make sure yu have got the tool behaving the way you'd like it to work and then have a play with friends and see what it does (Stephan)






SurveyMonkey is a tool which enables the creation of web-based, online surveys.  a basic (free) subscription is free and allows up to 10 questions with 100 responses.



Useful to know (lecture notes):
  • Polling and evaluation tool and individual learning management system
  • Useful tips for creating a great survey:
    • Be brief - use short questions and ask 1 question at a time
    • Be objective - use neutral wording
    • Be simple with your use of language and phrasing
    • Be specific with use of precise questions and phrasing
    • Consider an option for OTHER as people may not like your options
    • Get someone to review your survey

Interesting/useful resources


Forum notes:
  • Another "create our own survey tool" is Zoomerang.  (Michael) 
  • Great for end of term/course evaluations for students.
  • Able to be used for course registrations - can use simple layouts for basic information.  
  • SurveyMonkey allows up to 10 questions with up to 100 responses.
  • Limited analysis is both easy to understand and collate (Steph)
  • Moodle has its own surveys and quizes - so if using this LMS, you won't need to use SurveyMonkey


Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

week 1: ready-made resource materials

Looking for ready-made resource materials??  Below is a quick view of the tools reviewed this week (as per the course page) with lecture notes attached ("useful to know"):



Thanks to Micheal Coghlan's review of Week 1, we also have a fantastic summary of the research and discussion undertaken by the group RE:  YouTube, TeacherTube, flickr, Delicious and Toolboxes.  These discussions will help us determine the most appropriate use of these tools for our teaching methods.





Flickr

http://www.flickr.com


Flickr is an image and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community.  In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to host images that they embed in blogs and social media.  (Wikipedia).




Useful to know:
  • Stores photos and videos
  • Can also access CC images (advanced search)
  • TAGGING is essential - give the photo as many keywords as possible


Other interesting websites and resources:




How to use it educationally (forum):

  • Deborah: asking participants to search for a visual link to the learning they are undertaking and to share it with others.... sort of like the photo-language tools; and think of the diversity of images we will all get to share.
  • Michael :  see http://teachingwithflickr.wikispaces.com/ for many more examples of how people are using Flickr as a teaching tool.  See http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/4090354867/ for an example of using the Flickr Notes tool to label images.
  • Ian:  Flickr would be an excellent platform for any topics/subjects relating to art, design and photography as it is a great way for them to easily upload and to share in class or globally.



Delicious
http://delicious.com



"Delicious is a social bookmarking service that allows you to tag, save, manage and share Web pages all in one place. With emphasis on the power of the community, Delicious greatly improves how people discover, remember and share on the Internet."  Delicious Getting Started

Useful to know:

  • Cloud computing
  • Add delicious browser buttons via www.delicious.com/help/tools
  • Efficient
  • TAGGING is essential - give the site as many keywords as possible
  • Can share your sites with other users

Other interesting websites and resources:


Pros
  •  All your bookmarks are in one place
  •  It helps you find websites you may find useful again
  •  You can work from multiple locations on a number of different computers
  •  Allows you to keep your bookmarks even when your computer crashes – or you have an accident with the coffee!!
  • You can set up RSS – one of the most powerful tools in Delicious as it allows you to read websites others are following – which is particularly relevant if they are an expert in an area in which you are interested in
  • It keeps track of new and relevant information on the web
  •  It allows you to discover new links via common tags
  •  You can share websites with students and peers through the use of tags
  • It makes searching for resources much faster. (Bismark)
  • If used as a search tool the stuff that is not useful has already been filtered out by your network .(Stephan)

     Cons
  • You need an online connection to access your bookmarks.
  • If there is an inconsistency of terms (e.g. singular vs plurals), it may be difficult to “link” to all websites in the category
  • Does it promote information overload?
  • I have found the site a little awkward to use due to difficulty in finding “help” on this version (updated Sept 29 – so a lot of the “help” sites appear to be out of date) – consequently, I am not sure that I know how to get the most out of the site – probably with practice and use!!

How to use it educationally ….


This website can be used:
  •  To find and store links for student research groups
  •  To recommend books
  • For professional research
  • So that students can find resources at home and access them at school or vice versa

From the forum:
  • Michael:  If everyone in a work team agrees on a specific tag, and then uses that tag for *everything* you save at Delicious, then you don't have to search multiple accounts. If make up a tag like 'ourstuffoct11' or something, that everyone uses, you just search Delicious for 'ourstuffoct11' and it will show all the resources your team has tagged.
  • Michael to Bismark:  A URL of http://www.delicious.com/mikecogh shows all the links of this person.  However, http://www.delicious.com/mikecogh/youtube shows everything he has bookmarked about YouTube.

How can I use it?

·        Students and teachers: bookmark relevant books, websites for projects, or further reference – would be great for building on over time.




YouTube
http://www.youtube.com



YouTube is a video sharing website on which users can upload, share, and view videos....Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, although media corporations including CBS, the BBC, UMG and other organizations offer some of their material via the site, as part of the YouTube partnership program. Unregistered users can watch the videos, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos. (Wikipedia)


Useful to know:

  • Moodle now automatically embeds web address (?may need to push "share" button to get code?)
  • Iframe for Ipads
  • Mike Wesch's legendary 55 min "Intro to YouTube" @ http://ksuanth.weebly.com/wesch.html
  • YouTube clips can be downloaded as mp4 files using Keepvid" and embedded in Powerpoint - ?illegal.  Perhaps not if only used for a class or on a site that requires a login?? 

Other interesting or useful resources:

Forum notes (as per Ian):


Previously I have used this site to upload my teaching content/ examples/ video files of the subject matter to allow my students to view them at their own leisure. 


Pros


·        Youtube allows the student to view/ pause/ re wind media clips again and again to gain mastery of a certain subject/topic.
·        Apart from my own uploaded content, Youtube is a massive repository for all manner of subjects from anatomy to zoology- literally from a to z. 
·        Most of my students are used to using Youtube so there are no adaptive issues and it is in a genre they are happy to use- plus some students think it is cool for us "oldies" to be using what they perceive as something only they can use and or understand.
·        I believe that the use of Youtube can overcome barriers in learning and literally bring learning into their mobile lifestyles.

Cons


·        Some institutions may have a ban on Youtube access.
·        Another possible downside is although it is a massive repository as mentioned above, not every media file in there may be of a teaching acceptable standard. So unless specific links are given to students they may get lost trawling through the millions of files available or may actually find one that isn't completely accurate.

Overall


Good site, easy to upload into, massive potential repository but possible question marks on accuracy of content as it is not vetted before upload. (Michael adds – vetting content could be a valuable class exercise.)






TeacherTube
www.teachertube.com



TeacherTube is a video sharing website similar to, and based on, YouTube. It is designed to allow those in the educational industry, particularly teachers, to share educational resources such as video, audio, documents, photos, groups and blogs. The site contains a mixture of classroom teaching resources and others designed to aid teacher training. (Wikipedia)

Useful to know:

  • Great for uploading your own videos - especially if you have learners who can't access YouTube because of firewall issues
  • HOWEVER, moderators review videos prior to uploading to the site - can take 24 hours
  • Harder to find info than on YouTube due to the volume on YT
  • Has own educational section
  • Can upgrade photos, audio, video and files

Other useful or interesting websites:

Forum notes (as per Ian):


From the outset this site has more of a community feel about it. The sites owners have described it as "We seek to fill a need for a more educationally focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home learners." This distinction clearly differentiates the site from Youtube as it is teacher/learning specific.


Pros


·       Ability to upload lesson plans, teacher notes to complement teaching videos.
·       The site itself feels very user friendly which is comforting for new users. Also embedded is the ability to customise content and the interface which is ideal for differentiated groups of learning.
·       The site also promotes a sharing ethos amongst educators that Youtube doesn't.
·       Great benefit for teachers and trainers in my agency especially with the restrictions on many other sites. (Robert) (Stephan also posted a list of YT alternatives.)

 Cons


·       Only one so far- tried to upload a video- took ages- very laggy. Was slower than Youtube.
·       Searching for topics frequently fails (Kathe)

 Overall


·       A better community spirited site especially for educators. Offers sharing and customisation which Youtube doesn't. Very user friendly.
·       Maybe more laggy than Youtube

How the tool can be used in an educational setting

Youtube and TeacherTube would be used in a very similar manner. I have used Youtube to upload teaching videos and Smartboard sessions to allow my students to view at their own leisure and as many times as they want too. This content can be viewed, paused, re viewed again and again; can be viewed at home, on their own pc's or mobile via their own mobile phones. Teachertube allows for the same type of participation but also allows for lessons plan uploads.


Other comments:

  • Deborah: upload student content and viewing  it on youtube is a great idea .. I will use that during the next month for an assessment task. We provide content via our youtube site and add the links to our Moodle platform.
  • Mandy: lots of short snippets of info can be used for discussion starters or topic starters.
  • Naomi:  I went straight to the top 100 resources to limit my own aimless searches.  I found different types of multimedia that have been shared and categorised into subject matter, making it very simple for both non and the technologically minded to find resources.
  • When someone asked whether you could use forums as 'video discussion boards' Michael and Stephan posted some examples using Eyejot  (http://www.eyejot.com/). It is a video email tool but also provides embed code for putting in web pages, or forum postings.




Flexible Learning Tools
http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au



Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) are high quality, cost effective interactive e-learning and assessment resources featuring scenarios, images and activities. They are designed for use by training providers, industry and business and support online delivery of recognised training packages for the vocational education and training sector.
Toolbox materials now come in two formats:
  • an integrated learning program incorporating a number of units of competency. These programs are available on a CD-ROM for installation on a server or for use on a stand-alone computer.
  • a learning object format allowing users to download smaller self-contained components of content for free. Learning objects generally support an element or unit of competency.
Flexible Learning Toolboxes provide you with options to attract new learners and markets with online resources at a fraction of their development cost.

Who to contact?

Useful to know:

Other interesting or useful resources:

  • Need support - how to use Flexible Learning Toolboxes website and to search for learning objects, download them and incorporate the learning material into your training
Forum notes:
  • Mary provided us with the official blurb: "Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) are high quality, cost effective interactive e-learning and assessment resources featuring scenarios, images and activities. They are designed for use by training providers, industry and business and support online delivery of recognised training packages for the vocational education and training sector"
  • The toolbox materials now come in two formats - (1) an integrated learning program incorporating a number of units of competency, available on a CD-ROM for installation on a server or for use on a stand-alone computer. (2) a learning object format allowing users to download smaller self-contained components of content for free.
  • There are currently 110 toolboxes connected to 190 qualifications and supporting over 1,000 units of competency. So they are designed to support nationally endorsed training packages and be used by Registered Training Organisations.
  • The toolboxes cost around $400 and come with a teacher guide and installation booklet. 


Why are these useful?
  • They seem ready made cost effective collections of materials that can be incorporated into online and blended courses. The free learning objects also look really good.
  • Kathe:  one advantage of Toolboxes and learning object subsets is that they are directly related to training packages, so don't need to worry whether the stuff is relevant.  We have been using the Hairdressing toolbox for over 8 years, but since we went to Moodle 3 yrs ago, we know find it easier to put an individual learning object into a lesson in a course.


Possible cons

  •  They often need modification if they come from an old toolbox series, with lots of links broken  and the package will have been revised.  But this is not difficult once you have done it once or twice.  Your state toolbox champion can help with this process.
  •  A problem with simple upload of a scorm into Moodle is that any coursework associated does not record or mark. 

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)