Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

Converging Technologies

‘Tools of the Trade’

Rethinking how to connect with today’s learners

Presented by

Paula E. Williams

Acting CEO

Learning Technologies Unit

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

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

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’Sydney Morning Herald - 1st October 2005

Today’s students are predominantly 24-40yrs

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

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

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

• Blackboard- chalk 1960’s

• White board -Artline Pens 1980’s

• Overhead transparencies – 1990’s

Duplicating paper (environmentally unfriendly)

• Roneo Vickers Stencilling Carbon Copiers

• Gestetner machines

• Photocopying –Xerox machines

• Network B/W & Colour printers (laser)

Recording Devices

• Cassette tapes

• Video’s

• CD ROMs/DVD’s

Teachers are trying to connect with today’s learners using the tools of the 70’s and 80’s

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

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

• Personal Computers with access to Internet1. Email – 2. Online delivery via LMS (Janison)

Teachers moved from creating paper-based delivery to electronic delivery using Web 1.0

Learners were studying online around the beginning of the 21st Century -2000

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

SMS

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

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

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

MMS

Moblogging Audiopeg and Video Messaging…

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

Then came Web 2.0…

From the blogging phenomenom

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

•MP3s (iPods, nanopods)

•Podcasting

•Mobile Phones

•SMS/MMS

•Moblogging/audioblogging/

•Social Software

•Blogs,wikis

•PDA’s MMS,Video

•Digital Storytelling (Photostory 3)

•Smartboards,videoconferencing

•Webconferencing tools Breeze, illuminate,Bridgit

•VOIP eg Skype, MSN,MySpace,Gmail,Google

•Virtual 3D worlds eg Second Life, •GPS positioning eg Googlemaps,Navman,RFID

Options for Converging Technologies

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

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

• Time to be trained

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

X

x

x

x

x

WSI Transition Stages

Presence Integration Transformation Convergence

2010-2015200920082007200620052004200320021999

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

Mid-2006-2007

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

Emergent technologies currently evaluated

Currently WSI is evaluating the following learning technologies for delivering better services and implement new learning options to improve student outcomes.

Virtual Community Tools Interwise, Elluminate, Didasko, Captivate, Moodle, Audacity, Centra, Adobe Connect (Breeze)

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

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

Evaluation criteria

WSI Students

Scalability Cost effectiveness Accessibility Synchronous/asynchronous or both Interoperability with other application software

•BandwidthCost for StudentsAny special softwareCD optionsAccessibility

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

Western Sydney Institute of TAFE must continue to adopt innovative approaches to make education relevant and accessible to all learners so as to implement new learning options to improve student outcomes and thus prepare our workforce for the challenges of tomorrow.

“Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach” (Prensky,2001)

Time to rethink how we teach…

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

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.

Converging technologies in the ‘ Age of Transition’

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

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

“….Mmmm Learning …anywhere, anytime!”