Web2rights

Last week we ran an e- safety course with Jisc Legal. This looked at how learning providers may be at risk from inappropriate conduct and content on their systems and increasingly legislation is in place to protect individuals.

The session raised lots issues which aren't always obvious like slander, copy right for re- purposed materials. They have some excellent information available flow charts and diagnostic tools allow learning providers and tutors etc. to assess and avoid any risks . The video is also very enlightening especially if you are using Second Life The website address is http://www.web2rights.org.uk/

E -BOOKS

JISC E-books have a collection of free E books for FE . This collection of approximately 3,000 e-books is part of the E-Books for FE project . These books have been selected by the community through consultations with FE staff. The list is very impressive and includes titles for the following subjects :

Arts and Humanities
Business Management and General
Education & Childcare
Health & Life Sciences
ICT
Literature & Literary Studies
Travel & Tourism
Key Skills including Maths
Science & Engineering
Social Sciences and Vocational

The books will support NVQ'S and Diplomas and A level studies and GCSE'S . To take advantage of these books which are free to FE go to http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/catalogue/ebooksforfe/how_to_subscribe

Learning Technologies Forum

Earlier this week I took part in a Learning Technologies event. This was a really useful event with lots of ideas on how to make the most of Web 2.0 and technology. Kevin Brace showcased several Web 2.0 technologies one that took my eye was Ether Pad this is a Word Processor that will allow several people to work together in real time. This would be really useful for group work, sharing of ideas and long distance meetings.

This has the potential to be very cost effective and efficient. At present the free edition of the Ether pad will allow up to 16 people to work collaboratively. The only down side I can see to the free edition, is that there is no access controls to your Ether Pad so the only form of security is to keep your url safe.

Take a look at http://etherpad.com

A Tool Kit for 2010

A interesting article appeared in the E-learning Age Magazine this month entitled 'A toolkit for 2010'. The author, Jane Hart, shares the top 10 tools e-learning tools as recommended by professionals from around the world.

The first to mention is Prezi http://www.prezi.com/.

This is a excellent presentation tool that is really useful for dynamic lessons, discussion's and presentations. It moves away from the normal PowerPoint and really allows you to be creative. This definitely deserves to be top of the list in my book. The Flash based app lets you zoom in and out of presentations, add links videos maps i,ages. The best bit yes it's free !

Read the rest of the article on the following link. http://www.elearningage.co.uk/magazine/janehart.aspx

Jisc Conference 2009

The JISC online Conference is taking place as we speak, with over one hundred delegates in each session.The show seems to be a real success. So far the sessions I have visited have used elluminate to deliver the webinar style workshops. The software s seems to hold up really well with the number of speakers and delegates. The video was a bit grainy however this could be adjusted in the settings. So far this seems comparable to Dim Dim but there is a cost involved. You can get a demo version for free for thirty days at the elluminate website http://www.elluminate.com/

News From Worcester

A couple of bits of news from Worcester College of Technology. The hairdressing videos we did for JISC collections are now available for all Learning Providers to view they are available on You Tube and cover several subjects .The quality of the videos are excellent.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HairdressingTraining

Peter Kilcoyne has also been asked by computer aid to do some work with the OPEN University of Zambia. I'm going out on the 10th Nov. One thing I want to do is collect some zipped up exemplar Moodle courses to provide examples for their staff to look at. If any body has any courses that Peter could take to Zambia with him please email Peter at pkilcoyne@wortech.ac.uk

New Events Coming Up

Are you ready for the EduChallenge? Change is endemic in the education sector yet all too often change brings with it potential for resistance, compromise and/or failure to embed new ways of working. How should the change process be managed? How can staff be engaged and supported during the transition period? What different strategies can be employed to help smooth the process?Participants will gain an understanding of key theories behind the management of change, consider a structured framework for managing change and be introduced to a range of practical tools that can be adapted to meet different organisational needs.You will also have the opportunity to put the theory into practice using the EduChallenge computerised simulation developed by one of the world’s leading business schools. It is challenging, frustrating and very much like the reality of change in the education sector.

Topics and Issues;Theories of Change

Models of Change

Drivers for and types of Change

Change in a complex environment

Change Strategies The importance of culture

Fitting strategy to culture

The Change Process Stages of Adoption

The Knowing/doing Gap; Managing TransitionInfluencing Others Role of formal and informal networks;

The conditions of influence; Understanding your personal power base

The Edu-Challenge Using the approaches and tools discussed, work out your strategy and introduce Change into this realistic and challenging education environment

Target Audience:
The day is aimed at senior managers and any other staff from RSC-WM supported FE learning providers who need to lead or manage change in Further Education Colleges. No prior knowledge is assumed although the event is suitable for staff with previous experience of change management as well as beginners.
Cost:
FREE Event 5 TH November

http://www.rsc-wm.ac.uk/

http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/#