http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ Evolve: Last 35 Posts en Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:54:22 +0000 http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/5#post-18 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:56:44 +0000 thbernhardt 18@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Here you can discuss the topics of the first Online Round Table in the run-up of the EduCamp 2009 in Ilmenau, Germany. </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/3#post-17 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:49:13 +0000 mjmontagne 17@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Ray...nice post, and I totally agree with what you are saying. I certainly don't know the specifics of the VLE/e-Portfolio initiative by you, but I have a few thoughts.</p> <p>Another key principle is that the software platform used should be open source and free. This allows the system to be scaled and developed over time as technology changes and demands grow. Proprietary systems need not apply to the VLE/ePort space.</p> <p>A second key principle is that no matter what, it will be messy. There will be no single holy grail. The fact of the matter is that the entire Internet allows our learners to have a complete "Infinite Portfolio," to quote a conference speaker I heard a while back. The e-Portfolio platform really should be nothing more than a content aggregator and repository that allows work from the open web and the VLE to be displayed in a coherent manner. I've worked with many folks who search for that holy grail and can't see that there are tools and spaces that can be employed right now to impact learning in powerful ways. </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-16 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:45:42 +0000 cristinacost 16@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Alev,</p> <p>that is the way to go! Keeping an open mind and trying to explore what's out there for us. Sometimes it works better than others. We don't all have to like the same or everything, but only if we give it a try will we know what suits us better.</p> <p>I was never good at writing - so school records say - and I have always hated timed-essays on prescribed titles. Writing still doesn't come as something natural to me, but it is getting better,... I think because online I get to practise more often in a more relevant way - as I hope others read what I write, I try to improve my skills...all the time!By the same token, as I read what others write, I also improve as I observe other people's styles. It's a give and take situation out here, which would probably be less frequent on-site as we tend not to share what we write that often. So social media has not only freed me from my physical surroundings ( I am now able to reach out to a wider world), it is also helping me to become more comfortable with the way I express myself, especially in a written format. As a consequence - so I think - I am also (slowly) improving at public speech although I am still not totally there... :-)</p> <p>Looking forward to hearing more from you! </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-14 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:34:30 +0000 alevelci 14@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Well Cristina,<br /> You said you were never good at writing, and hated essays. But now I see that you are doing these excellent now. Not only you are writing, blogging, twittering, you motivate us to do so... Seeing your enpowerment at writing I feel that I have to try to follow your footsteps. I like to socialize in real world, so why not in virtual space. I really love the digital world :)) I will love more when I discover more... </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-13 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:32:01 +0000 cristinacost 13@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>True. Choice can sometimes bring confusion when there is too much to choose from, but I'd rather have choice then having something being imposed on me!!!<br /> I must say I am never the early adopter - I need time to digest things and see how they work...most times by using them myself - I learn by trial and error; I keep using things when they add meaning to what I already do, want to do, and especially when I want to be part of what others do (collaboration). We need to use and be in the same venues others are to be part of such networks and communities. Social software rocks in that sense. </p> <p>Have you ever experienced that? Not being that enthusiastic about a tool, but eventually being the next best thing you have come across on the web because it allows you to connect to your cyber-friends and learn, have fun learning, and learn a little bit more from and with a wide range of very interesting people? {wow that was a big sentence!] </p> <p>There are at least two examples I can think of: Blogs (which at the beginning seemed like a royal pain...I was never good at writing...hated essays and just saw it as a burden I had to carry during my Masters... and more recently Twitter - seemed quite silly at first, not it seems so relevant. I have learned so much from it and enlarged my sphere of influence. You've got to love the digital world!!! ;-) </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-12 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:54:12 +0000 angelesb 12@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Hello everyone,</p> <p>I love Common Crafts videos, too. I agree It's all about choice but sometimes make me feel a little bit desperate about the amount of information. There are many options and to decide which one is better is not easy </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-11 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:21:08 +0000 cristinacost 11@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>looks like there is a bug in the comment feature bugging us all. This issue is being taken care of. Hopefully it will be fixed soon. thanks for your patience! :-) </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-10 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:10:33 +0000 michalska 10@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Same problem as Nagora - I've just had an email saying Cristina has commented on my blog, but there's no Comment there, and nothing Awaiting Moderation. ??? </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-9 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:14:30 +0000 cristinacost 9@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Dear Nina, You are so right. It is all about choice, and choosing is not always easy, especially when we are face with such a huge variety of Possibilities. Still it is indeed much more motivating to have the choice than having something being imposed on to us. I like the challenge of being able to choose better, independently of the fact I sometimes feel overwhelmed too. </p> <p>To manage your comments, please go to your dashboard and chose 'Comments' tab &gt;&gt; 'awaiting moderation'. We are still working on the comment feature so it becomes easier to manage. If the problem persists please drop me an email! </p> <p>Hey, Nina - my blogging4educators sis :-) - it is great to have you here! ;-) </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-8 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:38:48 +0000 nagora 8@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Cris, I agree with you, and I do love the video by Common Craft. It always helps to understand the main idea.</p> <p>As usual I feel really overwhelmed with lots of information which has been coming to my mind through Social Media. Though, all this information lets me make a choice what is the best to use and enjoy.</p> <p>Now, not to the topic. I feel a bit confusing here because can't figure out how this Freefolio works. I've got a notice through email that you had sent a comment to my posting here, but I am unable to find it in order to respond. Will you help me to figure that out?</p> <p>The best,<br /> Nina </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/4#post-7 Sat, 31 May 2008 16:48:06 +0000 cristinacost 7@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Have you already checked the new video by Common Craft bout social Media?<br /> just think it is brilliant. Leele Fever is always surprising me iwth his amazing analogies and simple way to explain the web. Check the video here <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE" rel="nofollow">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE</a> and let us know what you think.</p> <p>I especially like the idea of Social Media enabling authenticity in the way people can engage in and with the community, since social media enables individuals to contribute to the community in a personal and unique way. Social Media "by the people for the people"! You gotta love it in spite of the fact sometimes we may feel a little overwhelmed with so much information and so many applications.<br /> And you, what are your thoughts about social media? </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/3#post-6 Sat, 31 May 2008 16:28:29 +0000 maximise 6@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>The problem of co-ordination between schools is fundamental. The original Learning Platforms specification by Becta should have helped schools to realise some of the issues, but I don't really think that many schools took much notice. Unfortunately the suppliers appeard to have picked up the technical specifcations and all then went away and interpreted the specifications in their own way. We thus landed up with every VLE supplier doing 'that which was right in their own eyes'.</p> <p>At my last count there were some 27 different companies providing VLEs for schools, no wonder teachers are confused by the whole issue. It's a great pitty that we cannot choose the best bits from each and start all over again and build the 'perfect VLE'!</p> <p>Until such time as true interoperability between platforms happens I cannot see any real way of making e-Portfolios work from within a VLE. My own particular solution is externally hosted and with single sign-on could be used from within any VLE or (better still) independently. </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/3#post-5 Thu, 29 May 2008 13:56:16 +0000 graham2 5@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>My impression Ray, is that there are a great number of initiatives - especially around development of VLEs in schools in the UK. However, the implementation is fragmentary with far too little attempts to ensure data can be passed between different applications. To some extent this is a result of not understanding the issues but it is also due to lack of coordination between schools in the UK.</p> <p>I share your view that more needs ot be done in terms of awareness raising - also more practical research into the issues the widespread diffusion of learning applciations at school level will bring. </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/1#post-4 Thu, 29 May 2008 11:48:57 +0000 maximise 4@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I do not understand the instructions for highlighting text, "blockquote" is meaningless - I've tried all the ususal html commands - some examples would help.</p> <p>BW</p> <p>Ray T </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/3#post-3 Thu, 29 May 2008 11:39:27 +0000 maximise 3@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>The first principle of an e-Portfolio is that the owner has access, anywhere and at anytime whether that is from within a VLE or independent of any VLE (as I would insist is better!) However, Becta’s mandate that all schools should have a Learning Platform with the potential for an e-Portfolio up and running by Spring 2008 causes me some serious concerns.</p> <p>Preparedness:<br /> Despite the fact that some schools have been steadily developing their learning platforms over a number of years and have moved almost seamlessly to a VLE environment, my research indicates that many schools have not. However, over the last few months in particular there has been a massive surge by many schools to try and meet the 2008 deadline. Research, advice and an appropriate period of consultation might have been in short supply, but ‘Never-mind, we now have our VLE installed – and they do say that there is the potential for an e-Portfolio, somewhere. However, teachers are often unprepared as to how they might use the VLE/e-Portfolio and certainly many have not had the opportunity to think through how these tools might change the whole business of teaching and learning. Following on from that, rather than importing ‘old’ teaching and learning materials and their embedded strategies, few have been given the opportunity to prepare, test and develop new materials appropriate to 24/7/365 and Web2.0 thinking.</p> <p>The Digital Divide:<br /> The so-called Digital Divide is, I believe, seriously underrated. It is not only about ICT competencies and the ownership of a PC. Nor is it about culture – some families do not wish to own a TV, never-mind a computer. The ownership of a ‘sub£200’ mini-portable might not be appropriate for the advanced applications we often use in school. The principle of the Government demanding that pupils do homework at home on a PC and connected to the VLE through a broadband connection, which all needs paying for, has not been fully thought through. Again, the fact that 3,4 or even 5 siblings could be wanting to use the family PC at the same time to do homeworks or reflectively ponder their e-Portfolio has not been addressed. I wrote a series of articles some 20 years ago entitled, ‘The Computers in Cupboards Syndrome’, highlighting the difficulties of actually using ‘the PC’ in the classroom. Unfortunately, ubiquitous computing is not yet here. Until such times as all families have wifi connections and enough PCs for all the family, probably subsidised by the government, I do not see the demands of Becta have a chance of being met.</p> <p>Communicating the Vision:<br /> Despite the issues raised above, it is essential that at this stage the RBCs, LAs, Advisors, Becta, Naace and the DCSF really make it a priority to start an evangelistic campaign of disseminating information, case-studies and exemplar materials illustrating how e-Portfolios might be used to the benefit of students and parents. Not only this but the whole concept of VLEs and e-Portfolios needs to be proclaimed via the major public information channels to inform parents and carers. In my own recent survey (Autumn 2007) only 1% of schools had involved parents in the selection of a VLE for their school. I thus doubt that any real information concerning e-Portfolios has been given to parents, despite the fact that the promotion of both VLEs and e-Portfolios requires the co-operation of parents relating to the sensitive topic of the use of family computers at home. </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/2#post-2 Thu, 29 May 2008 10:06:01 +0000 maximise 2@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>Mentoring is not well developed in schools in the UK - although I have seen moving examples of good practice from the USA. Traditionally ‘mentoring’ in schools has been about the pastoral oversight and provision of formal guidance, often in relation to ‘Options Choices' or ‘Careers Guidance’. However, ‘mentors’ in the e-Portfolio context should be understood as academic ‘godparents’ promising to watch over the young student, giving testimony as to their relationship with the student and how they intend to encourage both academic and social endeavour. Termly or half-termly comments posted on the e-Portfolio by the mentor as a ‘neutral’ and respected mediator provide an illuminating addition to the support that both teachers and parents can provide. In FE/HE some good conventional examples exist of mentoring using alumni in both formal and informal contexts. However, as far as I can see these sessions could have been very much enhanced by using the collaborative or recording features of an e-Portfolio.</p> <p>Ray Tolley </p> http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/topic/1#post-1 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:06:57 +0000 admin 1@http://www.evolvecommunity.org/wp-forum/ <p>This is the first post. </p>