truly remarkable nzpf_vln_presentation
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Presentation of the Virtual Learning Network Primary/Intermediate Initiative to NZPF Conference - Queenstown 2010TRANSCRIPT
PROMOTING SCHOOLS COLLABORATIONS THROUGH ELEARNING
Rachel Roberts (Matapu School)
Virtual Learning Network (VLN) – Primary/Intermediate Initiative
“Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for she was born in a different time”
Industrial to Informational
“In the industrial age we went to school… in the information age school comes to us”
Virtual Learning – Derek Wenmoth, Revised LCO Handbook 2010
www.virtuallearning.school.nz
The Virtual Learning Network (VLN) supports the concept of classrooms without walls, where students and educators have the flexibility to connect with their classes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Where a rich and diverse range of courses, programmes and activities, from early childhood through to tertiary, are offered by New Zealand-based educators.
‘Tatau tatau e’
Participation in the Virtual Learning Network (VLN) Community is based on the Principle of Reciprocity.
In order to access learning opportunities, schools also need to contribute to or support learning opportunities.
The VLN is not a service or a product but a collaboration of schools & clusters of schools.
The VLN acts to support and broker those collaborations: Through MOE support and website services Through Virtual Learning Network Community
membership.
A developing trend in NZ
Expansion of curriculum
Shortage of specialist teachers
Small rolls
Introduction of new assessment regimes
Teacher workload issues
Connecting Learners through Video Conferencing
Student-Teacher face-to-face contact enables the
distance to dissolve
Online Learning Environments
Spaces catering for different interests
Tools for managingparticipation
http://moodle.minedu.govt.nz/taranet/
Sample Timetable
VLN Secondary Schools 2002 – 12 schools sharing classes
VLN Statistics February 2010 Current Total Schools:268 Current Total Teachers:170 Current Total Courses:234 Current Total Classes:258 Current Total Enrolments:1526
Common Goals & Outcomes
More choice & opportunity for students in subject selection
Student retention
Teachers – able to teach in their areas of speciality
Increased confidence & capability in elearning
Increased collaboration between schools
Common Issues
Logistics of a shared timetable
Technical barriers (particularly in the earlier years)
Staffing
Need for onsite student support
Sustainability
Success Factors
Leadership Vision Cluster culture Staffing Support
VEN Report on ELearning Communities
VLN – Primary/Intermediate
The potential is there to be able to provide all of our students in the Primary Sector with learning opportunities that we are not able to provide in our individual schools.
VLN – Primary - Purpose
Coordinate& grow existing programmes of learning;
Promote to & involve new schools;
Develop the languages programme as the ‘flagship’ of VLN Primary Schools
Widen focus to other areas eg:
connecting the more smaller, rural & remote schools,
engaging schools in elearning events such as digital conversations & virtual fieldtrips,
cultural exchanges (national & global),
extension learning, other specialist curricula eg writing, art, technology…
Liaise & participate in the wider educational networks eg VLNC, potential NEN, ICTPD network, Advisory support
Grow a Community of Practice of talented eteachers in the primary sector;
Provide professional learning support for schools in elearning pedagogies and using the technologies for online learning
Adobe Connect
video conferencing
desktop video conferencing
Audio Conferencing
Moodle and Web 2.0 tools
VLN – Primary - Purpose
http://www.v7.breezeserver.co.nz/Synchronous learning (Speaking & Listening)
Matapu Students in
German Class
http://primary.vln.school.nz/Asynchronous learning
(mainly Reading & Writing)
http://primary.vln.school.nz/Online learners and F2F learners = Blended
Learning Environment
UFB/RBI – Bandwidth the Silver Bullet
Increase ‘social presence’ through use of webcams instead of phone
Free up phone lines into a school Allow multimedia to run at same speed for all sites Enable students from distributed sites to interact on
an equal footing – when ‘real time’ means real time Ease access and interaction around supporting
activities & resources in Moodle. Possibilities for Primary Schools to join the NZEdNet
VC network through desktop VC – actively interact with the wider online community eg participation in Digital Conversations, teacher Professional Learning.
Where We are At
Starting with a small group of schools. Introducing more as successful classes are
established. Introducing new eteachers, developing shared
resources. Begin to grow a Community Of Practice Starting with a basic set of tools – aim to extend
eteachers in their use of these & Web 2.0 Aligning to the wider VLN community – make use
of existing structures & support. Developing a model that can be scalable and
sustainable.
“One of the greatest problems a rural school faces is access to teachers of specialist subjects. By being on the VLN, our students can be involved in virtual lessons delivered by any number of specialist teachers around the country…. As ‘virtual presence’ technology improves, all the best teachers will be able to teach those students who wish to learn through their own inquiries.”
Rick Whalley, Principal, Matapu School
Discuss….
What are the needs of my
students?
What strengths have we got to share with other schools?
How can online collaboration through the VLN benefit my
students and teachers?
Contact:
Rachel [email protected]
Rick [email protected]
Eddie [email protected]
Would you like to participate in this initiative?