converging technologies

ODLAA Conference 2005

Converging Technologies

‘Tools of the Trade’

Learning technologies

for

distance learners

Paula Williams

Open Training & Education Network (OTEN)

TAFE NSW


Contextual information

• OTEN is the major DE provider in TAFE NSW• 38,000 distance education students• 50% located in Sydney metropolitan area• 50% in regional NSW, Australia and OS• predominantly in the 24-40 age group• mostly studying part-time• 3,000 students studying online (7.8%)


Background

OTEN Learning Support (0LS) site used the opportunity of the Internet to support all DE students not just those studying online.

• 24 x 7 online support & services to all students• Communication tools

– Email (broadcast)– Forums– Announcements

• Provision of personalised information• Support for off-site teachers• Managed using a devolved model


OLS Site Statistics 2005

• Module logons YTD – 209, 214• Course logons YTD – 30633• Emailed assignments YTD – 10,009• Students with email and/or mobile phone - approx 23,000


OLS Module Logons

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

2002

Logons

23,662

2003 100,875

2004 175,055

2005(Oct) 209,214

OLS continues to grows…


Where to Now?

The OLS is a core part of OTEN’s support strategy. As it continues to develop, it is important that we ensure a robust and sustainable system.

This will include implementation of strategies and technologies that provide personalised learning.

Researching, trialing and evaluating appropriate technologies for future integration on the OLS is critical to success.


Converging Technologies

Today’s students have been described as having an ‘information age’ mindset, being Millennials or members of the Net Generation. While this portrayal of generational learning styles can be oversimplified, the technology and media used by children during their formative years do have an influence on how they learn, as do the media used by adults.

However, technology is no more static than people. The internet is a constantly evolving infrastructure that now supports many media,

(Dede, 2005)

Sydney Morning Herald (SMH)10 October 2005


What our students want• Easy access to administrative information

For example:

– to update their contact details– dispatch information.

• Easy access to teachers and support staff

• Tools to communicate with other students

• Prompt processing of their assignments


What staff need

• Awareness of available technologies

• More tools and time to provide educational support

• Less time on administrative tasks

• More effective tools for communicating with students and off-site teachers


Sydney Morning Herald - 1st October 2005

OTEN students are predominantly 24-40yrs


• Hard copy (paper-based resources/notes)• CD ROM

• Personal Computers with access to Internet1. Email - broadcast Email2. Online delivery via LMS (Janison)3. OTEN Learning Support (OLS) Site

• my assignments

• my forums

• my dispatch

• my progress

• my planner

OTEN distance education tools


•MP3s (iPods, nanopods)

•Podcasting

•Mobile Phones

•SMS/MMS

•Moblogging/audioblogging/

•Social Software

•Blogs, wikkis

•Personal Digital Assistants MMS,Video

•Like technology (Photostory 3)

•Experiential (Virtual Classrooms)

OTEN Options for Converging Technologies


OTEN is also working with commercial organisations such as Telstra and Optus, and with others like Hewlett-Packard, Palm Os and Red Oxygen to assist with the numerous mLearning trials.

Commercial OrganisationProjects

Optus OTEN’ s SMS Trials (April – Sept 2005)

Hewlett Packard (IPAQ600 series) x10

PDAs for evidence based assessment at ICVET conference (Sept 2005)

Palm Os with GPS x 6 PDAs for Youth Ambassadors S-E Asia

Red Oxygen P/L SMS Trials (2004)

OTEN’s Commercial Partnerships

Convergence


Products Evaluated

Currently OTEN is evaluating the following learning technologies for potential application and convergence on the OLS site:

Virtual Community Tools Interwise, Elluminate, Didasko, Captivate, Moodle, Audacity, Centra

Digital Presentation Tools:

PhotoStory 3, Moviemaker

Online Assessment Tools:

Questionmark, KnowledgePresenter, Vetassess, LXR Test

Collaborative ToolsSocial Software ToolseNote Taking Tools

Janison Forum, Chit Chat Wikis, Blogging, Moblogging, plone, ejournals, OneNote, Clipmark, Viewlet

Audio Tools: Podcasting, Mp3, Player, Audio Navigator

Mobile Devices SMS/MMS Trials :

iPAQ600 HP PDA’s, Smart Phones


Evaluation criteria

OTEN Students

Scalability Cost effectiveness Accessibility Synchronous/asynchronous or both Interoperability with OLS

•BandwidthCost for StudentsAny special softwareCD optionsAccessibility


The Big S’s

Sustainable

ScalableSecure

Must be able to: • grow in size• Be replicate able• handle varying use(interoperability)

Must:

• not rely on a few practitioners to work• be kept going indefinitely• integrate with offline process• be devolved

Must cover:

1. activity design2. infrastructure

design3. user interface

OTEN processes approximately 180,000 Learning Activities (LA) per year.

If 100% completion =1 million LAs


OTEN must continue to adopt innovative approaches to make education relevant and accessible to all learners nationally and internationally. One of OTEN’s students said in support of SMS trials:

“I was thrilled to get an SMS from OTEN to ask how I was going with my studies and to offer more help with my learning… OTEN is really on the ball.”


Conclusion

Already, new socio-economic trends have arisen along with new and emerging technologies. This will require change to educational curricula, workforce skills, new teaching and learning models, and as consequence business strategy models.

‘…So what are your thoughts about anywhere, anytime and m-Learning?’


OTEN SMS Trial 2005

Hi K… Ru f3 2 c my nu car 2day or L8r on 2moro ?


The SMS trial will give OTEN the opportunity to provide greater feedback and communication to enhance student support for personalised learning

LA 3459due in 2days1/5/05


Hi dudes !C g8 pic of my lil brother with nu ipod goto Mpeg + hear downloads on my blogsite..

MMS

Audiopeg and Video Messaging…


Students will have the choice via OLS to have messages communicated to them either by SMS/Email/Post

InformationDeliveryMotivation

SMS/Email/PostSMS/Email/Post

Future Outcome of TrialFuture Outcome of Trial

SMSSMS

Broadcast SMS

From Teachers

MessageData Base

MessageData Base

Student Administration & Management

OLS PLANNER

MMSMMS

Mp3Mp3

VideoVideo


My Planner


It’s NO use his mobile isn’t switched on!

It’s NO use his mobile isn’t switched on!

“….Mmmm Learning …anywhere, anytime!”


Virtual Classroom – reach students around the world for small group work, skills training

Meetings- launch quickly & easily for situations where you can’t be there in person

Voice Conferencing-Fully integrated using VOIP, traditional or a cell phone all in the same event

Web Broadcasts- Large group presentations

Web Seminars- Reach large numbers very quickly

Record & Reuse- Capture live events for those unable to attend, pre record subject from experts

Virtual Classrooms - Interwise


Today

The Future

1965

1865

2nd Industrial Revolution

The Computer Communication

Revolution

Information

The S Curves of Technological Change

Age of Transitions

Biology

2010-2015

Nano -Science


X

x

x

x

x

OTEN’s Transition Stages

Presence Integration Transformation Convergence

2010-2015200920082007200620052004200320021999

The S-curve for OTEN is just at the point of entering the ‘Convergence Stage’

Mid-2005

converging technologies

Documents