My thoughts of World Conference on Online Learning (2) - Meeting the pioneers

This is the second of the series of posts I am creating on my thoughts of the World Conference on Online Learning.

First blog can be found here My thoughts of World Conference on Online Learning (1)

I have cited Dr. Tony Bates in my work for years. ACTIONS and SECTIONS frameworks were very useful models in assessing technology for adoption. I used these models in my PhD thesis, Information Communication Technologies and Distance Education in Sri Lanka:
A case study of two universities, to make sense of the less than favourable (in my view failed) technology adoption in distance education back then.

It was a privilege to listen to Tony at the World Conference and I must admit I barely made it into the room for his first talk Teaching in the Digital Age: Guidelines for Designing Teaching and Learning 1. Wherever Tony spoke, the rooms were absolutely full with standing audience too. I often wondered why the conference organizers did not have these sessions in the main Ball Room where there was seating for a large number. Anyway, I hope the next conference organizers will remember to allocate a larger room for Tony's talks in Dublin.

I was also fortunate to get a complementary signed copy of Tony's latest book Teaching in the Digital Age: Guidelines for Designing Teaching and Learning, an open textbook. 

I really liked the way Tony approached the session by giving us a chance to think about what our thoughts on learning.

• Learning as coal mining - to find the hidden 'truth', dig it and stuff it to learner's head
• Learning as gardening - creating the right environment to encourage people to learn

But what was emphasized is that learning environment is necessary but not sufficient to create a great learning experience and I am sure if we look back at various courses either we offered or we took part it is evident that this is indeed the case.

In the third session of Teaching in the Digital Age series, Tony spoke about the use of videos. He talked about videos can made by tutors and what the audience thought of their quality? We have this at our institution where the media production team develop high quality videos and then there are videos produced by tutors, which in all fairness cannot achieve that quality (due to equipment and experience). However, I really value the final point Tony made "don't stop innovation". When tutors are trying to do something new, if we keep on asking for similar quality of videos to studio productions, the end result is easy to predict. 

So the 9 important steps to follow in teaching online course:

1. How do you want to teach?

2. What kind of course will it be?

3. Work in a team

4. Build on existing resources 

5. Master the technology

6. Set appropriate learning goals for eLearning

7. Design structure and activities

8. Communicate communicate communicate

9. Innovate and evaluate

My thoughts of World Conference on Online Learning (1) - Our presentation

This is the first of a series of blogs I am hoping to do on my experience of the World Conference on Online Learning.

The World Conference on Online Learning was held at Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Canada last week (16-19 October). This was the 27th biennial conference of the International Council for Distance Education.

This was 'the' conference I always wanted to attend and I was delighted when our proposal "Online, Flipped, Blended Approach to Apprenticeship Education: A case study of UCEM's Surveying Technician Diploma" was accepted to be presented at the conference. The conference theme for this time was "Teaching in a Digital Age: Re-thinking Teaching & Learning" and under this umbrella theme we went for Track 5 - Redesigned Institutional Business Models.

Our presentation was on the second day of the conference and was well attended. We had an engaging session with lots of interesting questions. I also created a sway presentation including some interview clips to give a better idea of our project. We are in the process of writing it up for publication.

Don't take my word about the success of the course. Listen to what a student has to say about our approach to apprenticeship education. Here is what students who have gone through the Surveying Technician Diploma has to say ...