Catch up again

The week has ended with a bit of a flourish (I think so, anyway!) This afternoon I was able to talk to the faculty about e-learning in a faculty forum. This meant a focus on the following:

• Our College strategy
• An example (Introduction to Theology)
• An apology, and
• An appeal.
  

The strategy overview places e-learning in the context of the dynamics currently facing the College. The example (still more conceptual than real) demonstrates clearly how the different media and approaches actually fit together. The apology discusses why distance education holds incredible opportunity for Christian education, and is based on my initial PhD reading (written up as a quasi-scholarly article). Finally, the appeal was twofold:

1. How can I better serve? and,
   
2. Please support the 'eMo'; click here, donation number 116117.

I'm too embarrassed to provide a real photo for the 'eMo' this week, because I shaped it in the mirror, got it backward and accidentally shaved off the tail... here's the concept instead.

The discussion was very productive, and it seems that people went away assured that e-learning has a valid and important part to play in the future of the College. It was also great challenging the assumption that on-campus education is the preferred methodology for Christian education. I am becoming more convinced - and more able to argue authoritatively - that distance education is in many ways superior to the on-campus experience.

More on that as the PhD unfolds!

I submitted a major revision of my ePortfolio article as well - it's now much tighter as a result of referee feedback - and did the usual work-related Moodle admin bits and pieces.

I'm also feeling a heck of a lot better following my major 'ouch'. For those wanting the gories, the scab on the side of may face has completely healed. The headaches are passing. Concentration is back to its less than optimal normal. The wrist is getting stronger. I'll be back on that cycle in no time... I had one and a half days off work last week, coupled with the recent focus on CTMES and the PG symposium at Massey; it's tough trying to catch up again, but I'm nearly there!

Here's the links this week:

Religions in virtual worlds A full-on project in Germany is investigating the theory and practice of cyber-religions (some of the photos are interesting). I wonder what their findings will be? Personally I make a distinction between distance education and distance religion. These are very different things, and sit in completely different contexts for different ends. The journal the researchers link to looks like an interesting place to start exploring the issues... alas, so many interests, so little time! I'm comfortable with virtual presence, but not as the main course so to speak. Paul Teusner is doing a PhD in the area, and keeps a blog on his progress and challenges...

Speaking of Second Life The SLeducation wiki contains a wealth of links to different examples of education taking place in Second Life. Some of the examples ("Learning to Sail in Second Life", "Genome Island", "The island of Svarga") show considerable imagination and creativity, and would be a good place to start as far as I can see (well, for sailing anyway!) A very rich resource that could keep you entertained and learning in SL for hours.

Online networking grows in NZ (or, Australia anyway!) I remarked earlier how I noticed mention of Bebo on the news... well, competition between the various providers is hotting up. Interesting, too, that they seem to be making money. The economics must be scary!

Up, Firefox! Down, IE! Wow. Some people like Firefox, and aren't afraid of sponsoring the demise of the competition! Could this be how MySpace is making money (above)...? If just a fraction of MySpace users adopted Firefox over IE, revenue would be pretty high! One of the lines in the full-strength message is ironic ("It keeps Microsoft from controlling the future of the internet"), particularly since it is supposedly sponsored by Google!

Classroom News: YouTube at schools A disturbing read in the October issue of Classroom News in the article, "YouTube creates cyber nightmare for teachers". Consider these quotes:

"A quick search of YouTube yielded 91,600 results for “teacher” and 251 results for “angry teacher” as of press time"... "In the digital free-for-all the web represents, verifying information, vetting and quoting sources, citing references, checking for accuracy, staying neutral, clearly separating opinion from fact, providing balance, and other hallowed journalism standards have gone the way of “fair and balanced coverage” on network television news or talk radio."... "One thing is clear: It’s a sad day when caring, competent teachers can’t do their jobs without their body parts and faces showing up inappropriately on the World Wide Web."

Not nice. For those into 'freedom of speech' and 'freedom of expression': How would you like it if your latest stress-related vent was uploaded to YouTube? Also, was this teacher really angry? Or should the video instead be uploaded as 'rude student'? Now, some teachers are clearly upset (and upsetting, I will add...) The problem for me is that we all have bad days, and some of the 'angry' teachers will hopefully be 'enjoying' some stress leave... but these records are public, searchable, and permanent. The damage done to these teachers is lasting. Of course they should learn to control tempters, but it is a serious step to make those tempers visible to everyone and out of context. Some of the may well have been justifiably angry, but the 'cut' doesn't show the provocation. Shades of, "Don't tase me bro..."!

HotChalk: Free classroom Web sites A wonderful looking service here... All the basic features of an LMS, stripped back to what is really important in face to face classroom settings. Nice work.. I wish my son's class used this!

That's about me for this week... still some links to cover, but the weekend beckons! I'm looking forward to some family time, some fund-raising and the ever-challenging PhD reading!