My e-Journey

Challenges, Missions and Quests week one

2011-08-05T21:51:00.002+10:00

As part of my challenge mentor roll I was asked to co -present with one of the design team of the EpCop MOOC,in this session we demonstrated how to navigate around the Blackboard/Collaborate live classroom.
These sessions increase my confidence and ability to use the room and assist others at the same time,a wonderful way to network with others.

Extending the journey further

2011-07-27T19:00:00.001+10:00

It has been some time since I made an entry here.My e-journey didn't stop after I completed the Reflect & Connect course,quite the opposite really.
I enjoy the experience of weekly online webinars,these sessions keep me involved in a personnel learning network.The diversity and experience of the others in these sessions has been invaluable.
I have been asked to participate as a Challenge Mentor in the EpCoP MOOC, I am looking forward to this as knowledge presents itself in many ways.

My Journey so far

2011-04-19T17:39:00.000+10:00

Reflect and Connect 2011

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Adding to my PLN

2011-04-17T14:30:00.000+10:00

I have just added some important links to my Personal Learning Network mind map,having just done some more assignment reading I realised these connections are ones I have contact with on a regular basis ,often daily .They are part my network where I gather information so I can continue to keep up with all that is going on in my community.

Team Choice 'Learn Central'

2011-04-09T15:41:00.002+10:00

How is this community relevant to my learning?

· Resources: online learning sessions with others across the world and locally

· Collaboration

· Connection with colleagues , due to distance between my network of 15 Neighbourhood Houses in far East Gippsland ,we use Elluminate to conduct real time meetings

· Meetings with ACFE Regional Office normally prohibits my attendance as one way is 3hours.I can contribute, listen in ,be there and mostly in the comfort of my home, no work interruptions

· Web cam function

· Recorded sessions ,I can catch-up re-listen at my leisure

· Can save and use links posted in the chat section, and save white board

· Own Vroom allows the freedom to assist others by way of application sharing and web tours, solves a problem instantly .

· Its FREE

What were my first impressions?

· Easy to use

· Fascinating endless possibilities

· Bad points yes there is one for me. Remote areas have connection problems

Would I recommend this community to others and why?

Yes I would and have done so with my network, for all the reasons above
http://www.learncentral.org

http://www.learncentral.org/group

Joining a community

2011-04-07T17:48:00.005+10:00

I first joined the Gippsland Spruz http://gippslandregion.spruz.com/ in September 2010.

I found this to be a very useful site and it connected me with others in East Gippsland, some I already new from other Neighbourhood Houses in the area.

As I was very new to e-learning and all there is out there on offer I found this site not too formal and the membership more personal as the members list was smaller.

There is lots of resources to suit a first timer like myself and content relevant to my workplace.

From this group I soon found my way to The Australia series and Learn Central.

Lots of knowledge and a good cross section of educators willing to support me and share all they have learned.

We can always change our journey

Reflection

2011-04-07T14:47:00.003+10:00

Many new e-learning experiences have been passing my way since my last post,as usual I seem to be time poor.Reflection has been the key word of my recent tasks.

Putting together a view for displaying my Personnel Learning Network,using bubbl.us a new e-tool and a new skill.

I found I could apply the same visual display for my Community of Practice assignment,the content of these 2 tasks I found I could do with ease,it is something I know.

Both my Personal Learning Network and my Community of Practice network offer support and essential learning in much the same way, they are relevant to my workplace and like minded colleagues.

So often in my job we work in isolation, in small rural communities you need others to bounce your ideas off and share them as well.

I intend to maintain these networks with regular visits to sites and inform other colleagues, invite them to come along the e-journey.

This got me thinking (reflecting) about how it feels to be a learner and how easy it is to take those skills learned for granted. How out of my depth I have felt when I couldn't work it out,and frustrated that I was unable to move on from that task.

So for the past week I have been thinking of the learners in my workplace,they come to gain new skills. So its important they don't experience too much of that overwhelmed feeling,its easy to assume they are ok.... when my tutors or I have the skills..

I was pleased our group task this week was something I knew about as I belong to a couple of Community of Practice groups .

Keeping on track is not easy

2011-03-26T18:20:00.003+11:00

With all good intentions this week ,I have only made some headway.
Even though I was sure I had read all the books for the online resources to move forward, I had to go over them again.
I guess I get so busy at work with other ideas going around in my head some days its hard to find that extra focus,especially when its something totally new.

Mind maps...an interesting concept.Once I got sorted and made a start I completed one for my PLN or Personnel Learning Network and also used the same process for my Mahara folder plan.
It is a easy visual tool and I think will have lots of other uses if I need to show a visual structure for my Committee of Management or a set of instructions.

After I listened to all the interviews about elearning skills sets I am now certain my learning goal is correct.
For others to learn in this area we need to be right at the forefront of the emerging technology.

There are several online Elluminate sessions I try to participate in each week.
The Australia Series ,Community Connect and et@lking.
This weeks impressive tool for me was 'Animoto'.
Reflecting back over what I have just written I have achieved something after all.

Week 4

2011-03-22T09:10:00.001+11:00

Glad I have the tracking sheet, mind you I haven't got all of the tasks competed and I am at the start of week 4.
Now that the team task is almost complete I have gone back to the tracking sheet and starting a fresh,I like to start at the beginning and work through in an orderly fashion,tick off as I go.
I have gone back over the workbook ,looked at all the clips and suggested sites,this morning I signed up to the bookmarking site Diigo...now to sort all my links out.

Wiki Challenge

2011-03-19T17:59:00.000+11:00

Our team challenge has come together today,I was able to add a voice thread page to our wiki.
This is a web tool where you can add a picture and then record a comment in audio or text, other people can add to this.
A collaborative tool .

Moving along

2011-03-18T20:18:00.000+11:00

The next challenge has been set,our group is too evaluate a "Wiki". Something I also know little about but I had better catch on quickly... So little time and so much to learn

One task completed

2011-03-15T21:33:00.000+11:00

Just joined Twitter,been going around in circles for about an hour.I am certainly one of those learners who benefits from hands on face to face instructions, a visual learner...Once I get a few pointers I should have it nailed by the weekend.Its going to be a busy week we have a team assignment,I will be learning about another new web 2 tool.

Week 3

2011-03-14T21:33:00.000+11:00

The beginning of week 3 in my Reflect & Connect course,if someone had told a month ago that I would be blogging and in my own blog I would have laughed "not me".Well here I am doing just that,I had a little help to set this all up and I think I am getting the hang of it.
I like the way its easy to change the look of my page and I'm sure I will find interesting pieces to add along the way.
This week it will be another challenge,I have been resisting "Twitter",better Google it.
All these new terms Tweet,Tweet-deck, Twittered,Tweeting,Tweet up,Re tweet ...must not forget the Hash tag,even a Twitter -book with a 1,000 pages of info.
I think I will have a cuppa & something Tweet....

Gayles learning goal

2011-03-13T13:46:00.001+11:00

My goal is to get my head around all things related to web tools and online learning.

I can only pass this onto others when I gain some skills, I am not in a teaching role as such but need to keep abreast of what is happening beyond my computer screen.