Using equipment learners already have - mobile phones

Here is a free poll I produced using SMSPOLL http://www.smspoll.net/. Please let me know what you consider to be the possible implications of asking learners to use their text quota up for learning?

If the poll does not display fully then please click here... http://www.smspoll.net/poll.website.blog.php?pollid=274

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Will 3G set learning free?

As mobile technology becomes more affordable and 3G technology in particular is becoming commonplace, will school/college networks become obsolete overtime?

Learners already mention that they have to power-down when they come to a place of learning (switch off mobile phones etc) and that they have difficulties getting to sites due to filtering restrictions on the provided network systems. Anecdotal evidence indicate that learners don't use their school or college email as much as required. Could it be because they find it easier to use their personal email and other social network accounts to communicate between their peers.

Where is this heading?
If schools and colleges do not deliver the technology that learners and teachers require, it is possible that as technology improves and costs go down, barriers (real and perceived) will be worked around. The resources provided schools and colleges may then become less important as teachers and learners use their own laptops and mobile phones to interact with the Internet and each other.

Two questions to answer if this scenario is played out:

1. How can the current policies used for ILT/E-learning be enforced if learners and teachers do not use the provided (filtered and locked-down) network:?
2. If the provided networks are not used then there may be possible financial saving to be made.

One possible way to ensure that the high quality network provided by most schools and colleges are fully utilised is by ensuring that the services offered fulfill the needs of the learners, teachers and business support. As identified in my dissertation, it is necessary to ensure that there is a communication system across the whole school/college that is responsive and robust to ensure that the digital divide is minimised and that appropriate high quality academic services and support are provided.

Can a balanced determinism be obtained?

I have recently been reflecting on my dissertation which focused on 'barriers to using open source software in colleges'. It clearly highlighted the different perspectives the IT cohort and academic cohort held on the suitability of the supplied computing resources.

The main recommendations of the dissertation was to suggest that the current communication conduits used are analysed and revise as necessary to assist a greater cross college understanding of the learners needs so that the forces behind technological determinism and social determinism can obtain a reasonable balance. It is hoped that with a better cross college understanding of appropriate and achievable Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) the college's mission statement and strategies can continue to be met with an educational organisation that is showing to be improving efficency and effectiveness.

Slight Oiling

The first part of greasing the wheels was to list down all the known barriers and try to uncover others. Contacting the software developers uncovered possible solutions to scalability. I have organised a meeting with the Information Systems Manager to talk through these possible enhancements.

Greasing the wheels :-|

It is interesting to me that: to bring a new software application into a organisation quite often requires the agreement between many departments. When the different departments do not fully understand the other's needs, blockages occur. This is especially true if the person driving the initative is at a lower level then the managers in the other departments.

There is a need to have someone who has a good understanding of the needs of the different departments to "grease the wheels" to ensure that dialog and supportive critical questions are asked and answered. This role appears to be falling on me as the organisation is education and I have experience of teaching, business support and IT at management level. However, it is not a role identified that I should do, but others are hoping I do? Also I am not at the management level of others that have to agree. I love challenges :-)! I will report in this blog how I get on.

Continuing Professional Development booklet

Just read the booklet from Lsn "Rethinking continuing professional development in further education: Eight things you already know about CPD by Frank Villeneuve et al. Interesting bite-size booklet that strongly suggests the use of Reflect. This booklet is available online from https://www.lsneducation.org.uk/user/order.aspx?code=090071 I believe that the need for CPD to be updated and maintained for the Institute of Learning is one of the major hooks that I can use to promote the use of sharing technology Enhanced Learning.

Just updating my CPD list now :-)

CPD and academic reflection

Sketching out the 'Digital Wisdom' programme. I would like the hook to be instant CPD recording. If I can combine a reflection period at the end of the short training session I hope to have CPD automatically recorded. Further investigation required... onto IfL website :-).