The use of podcasts

The article was in the same edition of Innovate. It provides small study of Postcasting in Engineering. The findings seem to map other studies I have heard about...namely that the students like and use it, but it doesn't seem to improve performance (ie exam results). This leaves teachers wondering if all the effort is worth it (yes but you can see their point). Anyway I don't agree with some of their thinking but found the podcast ideas useful. I particularly liked the idea of recording weekly group meetings where a small number of student discussion and reflection on their work and relevant topics. Might work in our context??

See http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=426 (again you might need register)

Overview of Facebook

This article by Stephen Downes, provides a good history of the development of Facebook and gives some insights into why it has been such a success. People who know me will know I am a regular user of Facebook (came late to it but then I am old) so it was disconcerting to hear it is a middle class, white past time. Anyway if your interested its available at

http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=517 (you may need to register).

Engaging Interactions for Elearning

Came across a really useful reference which explains;

• what interaction is in elearning
• the levels of interactions
• the four main knowledge types
• examples of interactions.

The paper is by B.J. Schone and is available at http://www.engaginginteractions.com/

In the context of JANET Training, we are currently producing Level II interactive Learning Objects and will be able to provide Level IV interactivity when NetLab becomes available.

In terms of knowledge types we work with Factual, Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge.

Google the new Microsoft?

Don't you just love all the new Google tools! You can do just about everything online for free now and store it there so it can be used in your mobile life. Problem is though...when everything you do is online and with one company don't they just have the power that Microsoft had (that is until the new Google emerges). People have been expressing concern for a while about the Google influence but for me the draw of free, easily to use tool is just too much....

My top five Google tools are....

1. Google standard search
2. iGoogle (including all the Google plug ins...particularly the blog feed)
3. Blogger (sorry but I am new to this so it's only third)
4. Google image search
5. Google Doc (again this is a new discovery so may go up the ranking)

NetLab - Topology

In case your interested...this is the topology of the system. There will be a few tweaks to this structure but it gives a good overview of what we are trying to achieve.

NetLab rack

This is how it looked after the networking and servers were installed. Just need to add the power supply....

NetLab - Providing Authentic Activities in Training

We are in the process of implimenting a new virtual network that will allow users to remotely log in and carry out authentic configurations activties. Its hasn't come cheap but I am convinced it will be worth every penny. This image shows some of routers, switches and firewalls prior to their install in the rack.

Welcome

Hi and welcome to my new blog for professional reflection. Sounds pretty pompous I know….it is really just going to be a place for me to write down my thoughts and experiences in the world of training and elearning. I am not the world’s expert so don’t expect anything too ground breaking.