Michael Chalk Online Learning & Professional Development Co-ordinator Preston Reservior Adult Community Education 03 9462 6077 michalk@alphalink.com.au

Reports, Papers and Publications

~ Journal Article: RSS, blogging and what it means for flexible teaching and learning
~ Final Report, December 2003 (PDF, 261KB). Also available online at http://prace.vic.edu.au/pd/flex.
~ Victorian Showcase Presentation, 9 December 2003 (Flash application, 1.57MB)
~ Postcard: Incredible People, 1 December 2003
~ Progress Report, September 2003 (PDF, 513KB)

Professional Development Goal

To investigate online communication – the human and technological aspects, in the context of re-developing an existing online language-learning resource - "English at the Beach" - in order to learn more about facilitating for group dynamics online, in a framework of the effectiveness of online learning; and Open Source (GNU public license) online collaborative/ communication/ conferencing platforms.

Summary of Learning

Summary of progress report

Michael Chalk has been widely investigating the phenomenon and communities - the theory and practice - of the open source world, and implementing web design solutions for online learning through PRACE's sites - "English at the Beach", "Snakes Alive!” and computerclub.org.au (all freely available through the PRACE website at http://prace.vic.edu.au)

This investigation is being conducted from the perspective of research into online learning pedagogies as well as the practical aim of enhancing learning through the use of technologies.
So far, we have:

• embedded "add-your-comment" structures into literacy-learning modules - both historical narratives and informational texts;
• added a "simple picture gallery manager" to the site - along with a range of literacy-learning activities;
• built a new script for enabling teachers to access any page of the "Snakes Alive!" narrative, while preserving the linear narrative structure for learners;

The Future

Key directions for flexible learning:

ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION (ACE) WILL BENEFIT FROM:

• Continued and renewed funding to enable teachers - who are often sessional, isolated and under-resourced - to work together in gathering and developing useful resources and strategies for their learner groups, as well as developing their professional skills with technologies
• Improved knowledge and awareness of open source softwares - which people in the community can install without cost
• Public education will benefit from investment in Open Design - where educators can collaborate to develop suitably open-licensed (eg Creative Commons) flexible learning resources - Crown Copyright is great, but practitioners ought to be encouraged to share their improvements on publicly licensed resources
• Enabling smaller providers to gain broadband and web hosting agreements similar to the Education List via Victorian Education Channel
• Language and literacy learning in adult community education will benefit from further research into online sound-enabled communication systems

Key directions include

• Further exploration, awareness and strategic use of open source web applications, content and learning management systems
• Improved awareness of server systems including Apache, and web programming languages such as PHP, Python & Perl
• Improved awareness of a range of operating systems - ie Apple, Linux and Windows - and how they can network together
• Strengthening wide awareness and interest in open standards - and how these can contribute to the sustainability of learning resources
  

Updated: 23 March, 2005