Preaching to the converted in my case I already work in the cloud; believe we should be changing the way we teach; want to use innovative ideas in my classroom and finally ‘I am willing to do something about it’. There was a number of high and low points for me it started on a high and ended on a high an in between a bit of a mixed bag.
I think Lord Puttnam, who ‘pressed the case for digital learning with a moral purpose’ made a number of good points but one that stuck for me was the points he made about ‘Needing Teachers’, its time that educators realised that elearning does not reduce the need for educators.
‘In fact we need to consider educators, technologists and arguably the students themselves, as joint stakeholders in the design and delivery of whole new learning environments’.He also stressed the importance of the educational process, and the requirement to put the world right. I am not sure I agree its ‘our’ fault and its certainly not too late, but I wouldn’t mind being a young lad starting on his educational adventure now with all the trimmings on offer.
OK a pet hate of mine is listening to someone reading a lecture or presentation and we went from a presentation that fell well into this area, out of respect I listened rather than read what was in the brochure, but it was no where near as good as the last presentation. Professor Stephen Heppell it wasn’t just about the content, it was delivered and sent out into the audience in a wave and you could feel the interest in the room. Yes we know the classroom has to change, but its not all about elearning, we are always going to need the teacher. I wonder, will we ever see a day when young children learn at home on the internet in their virtual classrooms under the supervision of mum or dad; perhaps going in to school once or twice a week. I didn’t have the nerve to ask that one.
Other good points for me; it was good to see Jane Hart, author of a site I use frequently, it’s a real person. Peter Butler, BT showed how BT make use of social networking and podcasts plenty of food for thought here, why did I leave BT.
‘Mobile technology is going to be the next big thing’, Steve Wheeler, obvious to me Steve but what you said was both up to date and useful which was not the case with some of the other presentations I saw. Overall a great couple of days away from the class and although I heard one presenter use the opportunity to promote ‘his paper’, and another tell me, ‘before you use tools do your research’, doh really, and a workshop that encouraged discussion and then shut us up each time we got going, it did not spoil it for me. You are never going to get it all right and match everyone’s needs with every session. It was nevertheless a good blend.
As for the exhibition, I know we have gone through a recession and sales are down but I am sorry guys elearning is not the only thing to do with 'Learning Technologies', I felt like I was walking down a street containing a number of restaurants and being beckoned in, too much sales pushing; show us the technology where are all the new gadgets. I would also like to see the sharing of expertise there are a lot of universities doing good things, look at the OU, MIT and can't believe they are paying companies to develop material, so what are they using. More importantly what with all the sweets, I am proud to say I never took one.
The conference follow up will be on the events website
Always worth another look when considering education 'Did you know'
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