ULearn News

Our second spotlight presentation will be given by Westley Field. Westley is Director of Online Learning and Manager of IT at MLC School in Sydney. He is also is Director of the ‘Skoolaborate’ Initiative.

Skoolaborate is a global initiative which uses a blend of technologies including, blogs, online learning, wikis, and  ‘virtual worlds’ to transform learning. These tools are combined to provide collaborative blended learning experiences which make learning more meaningful and engaging. The projects integrate curriculum and digital technologies into collaborative global actions. This video provides an introduction to Skoolaborate:

Westley’s spotlight is about emerging technologies and their implication for learning and the abstract is as follows:

Technologies change the way we work and live. The rate of change with technology and the types of technologies that are emerging have tremendous implications for the future of education. Schools will need to adopt new practices including new skills for teachers if they are to remain competitive.

In this presentation, participants will explore new directions with emerging technologies as well as learn the strategies that worked in establishing a successful global collaborative initiative in teen SecondLife - from admin to practice.

This presentation will explore the learning and subsequent heuristics used to make this project a success. Participants will learn about practical strategies and administrative considerations that make these projects work. Participants will view video footage of student experiences as well as interact with students and partners during the presentation.

Westley Field presents around the world on topics such as education in virtual worlds, making 1 to 1 work, heuristics of implementing e-learning, educational technology, connecting students in a web 2.0 world, and leading in a flat world.

In 2008, Westley received the ASLA John Lee Award for innovative us of IT in learning. Westley has previously received a Churchill Fellowship, Computerworld Honours (Smithsonian), Apple Distinguished Educator, Macromedia Ed Leader, and Adobe Ed Leader for his work with schools and communities. Westley is also on the Board for the NSW and Sydney branches of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.

Westley will also give two interactive presentations during breakouts 3 and 4. One-to-One: 10 years of ideas will allow participants the opportunity to work collaboratively to develop a vision for learning, then explore strategies and successful working models and for a one-to-one learning environment.

One of the things that we can rely on at ULearn is that some of our firmly held beliefs about teaching and learning will be challenged, often in surprising ways. I am particularly looking forward to Nicola Yelland’s spotlight. Having come across her in the reference lists of several academic papers by other researchers, and then discovering the work she has done in the Mapping MultiLiteracies research in South Australia, I am excited at the prospect of hearing her speak. She will provide exactly the kind of challenge that I look forward to at the conference.

The framework that she has been involved in developing for mapping children’s literacies, her view of teaching and learning (which crosses both ECE and early primary sectors) and the challenges that she throws at us in terms of our role as teachers of young children give us the opportunity to look at some of our own beliefs and practices with a new lens. As a primary-trained teacher now working in the ECE sector I know that there are practices and perspectives from both sectors that would enrich the other.

I am certain that I will hear comments after her spotlight that her focus on the ‘other’ sector meant that “she isn’t relevant for the sector I work in”. My challenge to you is to suspend your attachment to your own sector, and listen carefully and critically to what she is saying about children, teaching and learning, and our roles and responsibilities as teachers.

I really look forward to some lively debate after her session.

Elaine Newton
ECE ICT PL facilitator

Have you subscribed to the early childhood education blog yet?
http://centre4.interact.ac.nz/1723/68623 (For participants in the ECE ICT PL programme)

Take the opportunity to check out what the innovative and passionate early childhood teachers and their children and families get up to in a day before heading off into their workshops at ULearn08.

Below is a list of some of the ECE blogs available for public viewing.

Manaia Kindergarten
http://www.manaiakindergarten.blogspot.com

Next Generation Childcare
http://nextgenerationchildcare.blogspot.com

Greenwood Kindergarten
http://greenwoodkindergarten.blogspot.com

Geraldine Kindergarten
http://geraldinekindergarten.blogspot.com

Botany Downs Kindergarten
http://bdownskindy.blogspot.com/

Mangere Bridge Kindergarten
http://mangerebridgekindergarten.blogspot.com

Recently, a group of educators met in Auckland to spend the evening sharing together and exploring various aspects of ICT in education. This was an unconference event similar to the planned unconference sessions for ULearn08. Check out the impressions of the evening from some of those that attended and see the power of this type of event. The Voicethread below is an example of an web 2.0 application that you can use to activities to life with voice comment, that might have previously been a set of photos with captions.

Remember to register for one (or both!) of the unconference sessions on Friday 10 October. The unconference will take place during breakouts 6-7. The more people who participate and present, the better this event will be.

An unconference offers the flexibility to talk about topics of interest for a short time, and to engage in informal discussion about a range of ideas. There will be several discussions occurring simultaneously and, from within this ‘organised chaos’, productive and professional dialogue emerges.

Here’s how an ‘Open Space’ unconference works:

1. Whoever comes are the right people.
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
3. Whenever it starts is the right time.
4. Whenever it is over it is over.

And, finally, the Law of Two Feet is a guide to people attending an unconference: “If you are not learning or contributing, it is your responsibility to respectfully find another place where you are.”

We look forward to seeing you and your colleagues at our very first unconference!

Get to know ULearn08’s keynotes and spotlight presenters before the conference by reading and subscribing to their blogs. They are listed in the ULearn08 blogroll (to the left of this post).

In 2006, 60 early childhood teachers attended ULearn06 - a first for the sector. Two years later and the number of ECE registrations has more than doubled to 130. There are 28 ECE breakouts throughout the conference. Many of the teaching teams presenting are part of a three-year Ministry of Education funded professional learning programme which is operating in 60 centres nationwide. In these centres, it is not unusual to come across children creating digital stories, using cameras and videos to record their experiences and then putting these on a blog for friends and relatives.

If you don’t manage to get into one of the early childhood breakout presentations there are other opportunities to hear what our youngest global citizens, researchers and creators are doing. Manaia Kindergarten will tell their story of innovative ICT use as part of the final keynote. There is a full-day ECE pre-conference workshop called “Christine, do you know that I am 4 years old and I can do anything?” about what’s happening with ICT in early childhood contexts, with just a few spaces remaining. This will give you a chance to hear more about the ECE ICT PL programme and catch a couple of presentations from centres involved.

And there is more … Nicola Yelland is an invited spotlight speaker from Australia and will look at what young children take to school in terms of multi-modal literacies.

Our third invited guest at ULearn08 is Tony Ryan, from Australia. Tony was a popular presenter at ULearn06 and ULearn07 and we are delighted to have him back as part of our conference this year. Tony will present a large group session during breakouts 1-4 and a smaller workshop in breakouts 5-7.

Transformational teachers

For some, the present exponential rates of educational change are a curse designed to overwhelm their lives. For others, this rapid reshaping of schooling is a powerful opportunity for redesigning the very essence of the classroom.

For those who are intent upon creating the very best that education can offer, this practical and entertaining session will clarify some of the facilitative skill sets necessary for redefining the 2014 classroom.

These transformational learning environments will be facilitated by teachers who have developed personal and professional skills for:

1. initiating valued-based and ethical learning opportunities
2. encouraging creative thinking intent within everyday interactions
3. offering solution-focused inquiry-based units of work within personal, community and global contexts
4. providing students with the capacity to manage their own learning and their self.

Most importantly, this session will help you to believe in the worth and power of teaching.

A former teacher, Tony Ryan is an educational consultant and writer, and offers professional support to school organisations throughout the world on issues such as change leadership, lifelong learning and quality classroom practice. He has presented numerous keynotes and workshops at state, national and world conferences in the past 10 years.

He has been engaged as a teacher-in-residence in over 400 schools throughout several countries. In this role, he teaches extensively, and offers guidance to teachers with their everyday practice. Many of his ideas used in his work can be found in his blog at http://tonyryan.edublogs.org

Tony is a prolific author of books on effective thinking and learning. These books include The Ripple Effect, Thinkers Keys for Kids, Mindlinks, Brainstorms, Thinkfest and The Clever Country Kits. His latest CD-Rom features a comprehensive update of Thinkers Keys. His site at www.tonyryan.com.au contains numerous free downloads of his material.

Tony is a director of School Aid (www.schoolaid.org), a non-profit organisation that co-ordinates post-tragedy fundraising and social justice programs within 10000 schools around Australia.

ULearn08 features sessions by our two youngest-ever presenters!

Michael Griffin is a Year 9 student at Lincoln High. He was a student tech helper at ULearn07 in Auckland and is a young, practising, digital native. He is being employed at his old school as an ICT assistant.

Liam Merton is a Year 9 student at Otumoetai College. He enjoys PE, English and excels at sailing. He also enjoys using UMAJIN Creative.

Michael and Liam will be presenting two taster sessions during breakout 4. Their session abstracts are as follows:

1. One digital native demonstrates creative collaboration with technology. Michael Griffin is a capable young high school student. Here is your chance to see a digital native in action. Michael podcasts regularly and is also a UMAJIN Creative enthusiast. (Presented by Michael)
2. ‘Blue screening’ in UMAJIN. Creative  ideas for using it with a range of classroom technologies. We will introduce UMAJIN Creative as easy to use, Kiwi-made software, demonstrating the UMAJIN Creative interface and how easy it is to “blue screen” your digital photos. UMAJIN Creative has some cool effects that kids love to use and we will show you some of the documents we have made and explain ways teachers can use it in class room on HP Touch Screen Laptops, Smart Boards and for writing up class projects. (Presented by Michael and Liam)

Come along during breakout 4 to see and hear these two digital natives in action!

ULearn08 is now four weeks away! Beginning on Tuesday 7 October with 14 pre-conference workshops, the full ULearn08 conference runs from 8-10 October. In the days leading up to ULearn08, here are some things you could do to ensure you’re prepared for the conference:

• subscribe to this blog. It will give you information and updates relating to ULearn08, as well as reports of what’s going on during the conference. There will also be updates posted by the student media team during the conference.
• select and register for breakouts, using your Centre4 user name and password
• print out a copy of your breakouts and keep this in a safe place so you know which workshops you are registered for
• upload your presenters’ material and supporting resources if you are presenting a workshop
• think about a topic you could speak about at the unconference during breakouts 6 and 7 (on Friday 10 October)
• email Sherry <sherry.chrisp@core-ed.net> with your idea for the showcase to the future
• bring your camera and upload your digital photos to Flickr, tagging them with our conference tags - ulearn or ulearn08