ICVET Conference 2005

In Search of Evidence–Based Assessment AT Park Island



Aim

In this workshop we demonstrated how mLearning technology could be be used for evidence-based assessment in the workplace. The 'hypothetical' workplace was called AT Park Island. Participants had to complete an activity and photograph the outcome. The picture was then saved and sent (by MMS) to the OTEN's Learning Support site (OLS) to be assessed online by the presenters.

Method

Participants broke into ten groups and were provided with a Hewlett-Packard iPAQ600 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The groups were allocated Treasure Island names.

All pirate teams had the identical task to complete, but the task was hidden in a different location within ATP Park for each team. Each pirate team was given their specific treasure map to find the task ... hence the "Treasure Hunt".

When they found the location. they had to perform a simple task. (This was to tie on a piece of elastic to make an eye patch.) When their eye patch was ready, they were instructed to take a photo (using the camera on the PDA ) of a colleague wearing the eye patch in front of the location.

Using the PDA, teams then sent the image file along with instructed text to the OLS as evidence that they had completed the task in the allocated spot. This was moblogged to the site using the email address above. Participants were then able to view the evidence-based assessment on the OLS site.

http://www.icvet.tafensw.edu.au/ezine/year_2005/nov_jan/roving_assessment.htm

Podcasting at ICVET

ICVET_20050916_Paula_Williams.mp3

Converging Technologies

Introduction

As we head into the 21st Century change will continue to accelerate and challenge us. Convergence of technologies will increase convenience, expand capabilities, raise expectations and lower costs. Learning and communication technologies will rapidly converge cell phones, computers, land-lines, mobile systems, satellite and cable, into a unified system that will dramatically expand both capabilities and convenience for accessing education.


Today’s students have been described as having an ‘information age’ mindset, being Millennials or members of the Net Generation. While this portrayal of generational learning styles can be oversimplified, the technology and media used by children during their formative years do have an influence on how they learn, as do the media used by adults. However, technology is no more static than people. The internet is a constantly evolving infrastructure that now supports many media, including disparate applications. (Dede, 2005)

According to Gingrich (2001),

“ We are today starting to live through two patterns of change. The first is the enormous computer and communications revolution or the digital age. The second only now beginning to rise is the combination of the nanotechnology-biology-information revolution. These two curves will overlap. It is the overlapping period that we are just beginning to enter which can be described as the Age of Transitions ”.


The Age of Transitions is a new and as yet unappreciated wave of change that will combine with the already remarkable pattern of change brought on by computers, communication, and the internet to create a continuing series of new breakthroughs, resulting in new goods and services. We will be constantly in transition as each new idea is succeeded by an even better one. This will be the Age of Transitions, and it will last for at least a half-century.

The Industrial Revolution and the Communications-Computer Revolution are both examples of the concept of the S-Curve (Gingrich, 2001). The S-curve depicts the evolution of technological change. Science and technology begin to accelerate slowly and then as knowledge and experience accumulates, they grow much more rapidly. Finally once the field is matured the rate of change levels off. The resulting pattern looks like an S.

Tools of the Trade

http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?author=3882

Danish and Swedish Connection

Hvordan har De det?

Well this was a wonderful time spent in Kobenhavn especially in Neuhavn with friends and family. No not Princess Mary! But across the channel something more dazzling like ...watching the America's Cup trials in Malmo Sweden.

Alas Alinghi wins again much to the sadness of MSC! ..oh those Swiss (must be all the Lindt chocolate under the keel! )

But maybe not! ... it could have been the Swedish

...... Blaa Blaa Blaa! on board