edna.edu.au

Sustaining social networks

This afternoon I am presenting at the Educause Australasia 2009 conference at the Perth Convention Centre. The papers are being published post-conference, but here are links to the presentation as it stands 1 hour before the session.

Sustaining social networks in education [ppt 4896Kb]
Published on Education.au website: Papers and Presentations
Slideshare version
http://www.slideshare.net/pru_mitchell/sustaining-social-networks

Backroad Connections. (2003). What are the conditions for and characteristics of effective online learning communities? Australian National Training Authority.
http://pre2005.flexiblelearning.net.au/guides/community.pdf

boyd, d., (2007, August 6) Generation MySpace - Social networking and its impact on students and education. [Sound recording] Dulwich, Education.au.
http://www.educationau.edu.au/2007-generation-myspace

Canter, Marc (2008, September 1) How to build the open mesh, Marc's voice 
http://blog.broadbandmechanics.com/2008/09/01/how-to-build-the-open-mesh-presentation

Cho, H., Gay, G., Davidson, B. & Ingraffea, A. (2007). Social networks, communication styles, and learning performance in a CSCL community. Computers & Education 49(2), 309-329.

Dibben, K. (2003). Making online communities work. EDUCAUSE in AUSTRALASIA 2003 Conference.
http://www.educationau.edu.au/sites/default/files/online_communities_educause.ppt

Drumgoole, J. (2006). Web 2.0 vs Web 1.0. Copacetic
http://joedrumgoole.com/blog/2006/05/29/web-20-vs-web-10

Evans, V. (2007). Networks, Connections and Community: Learning with Social Software . Australian Flexible Learning Framework.  http://pre2009.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/pid/377

Geer, R. (2005). Imprinting and its impact on online learning environments. ASCILITE 2005 Proceedings.  http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/brisbane05/blogs/proceedings/26_Geer.pdf

Geng, H. (2008). Investigation of elements in an online learning community (edna). unpublished.

Gray, B. (2004). Informal Learning in an Online Community of Practice. Journal of Distance Education, 19(1), 20-35. http://www.cndwebzine.hcp.ma/IMG/pdf/GRAY_article.pdf

Hayman, S. & Lothian, N. (2007). Taxonomy directed folksonomy: Integrating user tagging and controlled vocabularies for Australian education networks IFLA 73. Retrieved February 15 2009 from http://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla73/papers/157-Hayman_Lothian-en.pdf

Johnson, K. (2008). It's all about me [Videorecording] TeacherTube. http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=66284

Johnson, S. (2006, December 16). It's all about us. Time 168(26) http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570717,00.html

Madden, M., Fox, S., Smith, A, & Vitak, J. (2007, December 16). Digital footprints: online identity management and search in the age of transparency, PEW/Internet. 
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2007/Digital-Footprints.aspx

McDermott, R. (2000, March). Knowing in Community: Ten Critical Success Factors in Building Communities of Practice. IHRIM Journal.   http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/knowing.shtml

McLoughlin, C. (2002). Computer supported teamwork: An integrative approach to evaluating cooperative learning in an online environment. Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 18 (2), 227.254.  http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet18/mcloughlin.html

me.edu.au FAQs. (2008). Dulwich, Education.au.
http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/go/help/me/pid/2033

Mitchell, P. (2007) Learning journeys: sharing the passion. ASLA XX Proceedings
http://www.educationau.edu.au/sites/default/files/PLE_ASLA.pdf

Mueller-Prothmann, T & Siedentopf, C (2003) Designing Online Knowledge Communities: Developing a Usability Evaluation Criteria Catalogue, 3rd European Knowledge Management Summer School http://www.providersedge.com/docs/km_articles/Designing_Online_K_Communities_-_Developing_Usability_Eval_Criteria_Catalogue.pdf

Nielsen, J. (2006, October 9). Participation Inequality: Encouraging More Users to Contribute. Alertbox
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/participation_inequality.html

Oliver, R., & Herrington, J. (2003). Exploring technology-mediated learning from a pedagogical perspective. Journal of Interactive Learning Environments, 11(2), 111.126.

Preece, J., Nonnecke, B. & Andrews, D. (2004). The top five reasons for lurking: improving community experiences for everyone. Computers in human behavior 20(2), 201-223.

Salmon, G. (2003). 5 stage model. E-moderating, 2 ^nd ed. London, Taylor & Francis.
http://www.atimod.com/e-moderating/5stage.shtml

Siemens, G. (2006). Connectivism: learning and knowledge today. Global Summit 2006 Papers, Dulwich, Education.au.  from http://www.educationau.edu.au/sites/default/files/gs2006_siemens.pdf

Smarr, J. & Canter, M. (2007, September 5). A Bill of Rights for users of Social Media. Open Social Web.
http://opensocialweb.org/2007/09/05/bill-of-rights

Stephenson, K. (n.d.). What knowledge tears apart, networks make whole. Internal Communication Focus, 36 .
http://www.netform.com/html/icf.pdf

Stuckey, B. & Arkell, R. (2006). Development of an e-learning knowledge sharing model. Knowledge Sharing Services Project. Australian Flexible Learning Framework.
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/webdav/shared/KSS/Development_of_an_%20e-learning_knowledge_sharing_model.pdf

Tu, C., & Corry, M. (2001). Research in online learning community. Journal of Instructional Science and Technology 5(1)  
http://www.usq.edu.au/electpub/e-jist/docs/html2002/chtu.html

Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of Practice. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Wilson, S., Liber, O., Beauvoir, P., Milligan, C., Johnson, M. & Sharples, P. (2006, September 19). Personal Learning Environments: Challenging the dominant design of educational systems. TENC Publications and Preprints, Open Universiteit Nederland.
http://dspace.ou.nl/handle/1820/727

Wordspy (2008). Lifestreaming http://www.wordspy.com/words/lifestreaming.asp

Tags: edaust09 me-edu-au presentations conferences social networking
Posted at 04:16PM May 05, 2009 by Pru Mitchell  |  Comments[0]

Workshop self-evaluation

Some questions I find I need to ask myself when I think I have finished preparing workshops and conference papers.

Content

Have I used Australian examples wherever possible?
Quotes, videos, images, organisations, curriculum/learning area names etc should be as relevant to your audience as possible. Look for and promote Australian sources, people, projects, urls and examples wherever you can.

Have I featured my own work and thinking, or that of my organisation and those of my key audience?
People expect to hear the presenter's voice. You are there because of your reputation, or that of the organisation or project you represent. It also helps to make links with the audience to show you have done research into their background and networks.

Have I used quotes and references that say something more than the participant would get from looking this up online?
Am I bringing my expert knowledge in this area to make it worth them reading/attending my paper? Do the concepts, links or discussion stand if your paper is published online as a reference?

Have I covered what was in the advertised blurb/abstract?
That's what people are expecting. Even if you have moved on in the 6 months since the abstract was accepted, or it feels 'old hat', you owe it to the audience who have selected your session to deliver what was promised. Of course include updated examples or recent developments if relevant.

Have I practised and timed my presentation under actual conditions?
For most people, timing the presentation will show something has to be cut down. Then allow for the lost time due to late start, or technology issues or lots of questions and cut some more slides or examples.

Have I included strategies and time for audience response or engagement?
Need to ensure some participant engagement early on in the session. Preferably something beyond laughing at a joke, but even this is better than launching in to the full content with no check that the audience is coming with you.

Presentation materials

Have I used the most appropriate template?
Your organisation may have a required template, or range of templates for different purposes. Use the most appropriate.
Conference organisers may require you to use a template that makes for a consistent conference experience and/or publication.
If this is a professional presentation ensure the template, graphics, colours etc reflect this. Avoid funny, cute and overtly personal themes and images.

Is my presentation design consistent?
Minimise font size changes, screen layout changes and other modifications that will annoy the audience.
Be minimalist about animation, transitions and special effects.

Have I prepared an appropriate number of slides?
Check how many slides per minute your presentation will average out to.
Is this realistic?

Is all text at least 30pt?
Kawasaki's rule: Optimal font size = Oldest person's age / 2
Have I cropped and re-sized screenshots so text is visible at the back of the room?

Do I have a title slide?
Does this match the conference programme? If technical support crew are responsible for loading slides they need to be able to find the correct presentation quickly. Audience members arriving early want to know they are in the correct room, and those looking for the presentation online want to find it easily.

Have I acknowledged and referenced all 3rd party materials?
Participants will want to follow up links, statistics and quotes so make sure there are links to this in the presentation, or provided in a handout.

Is everything acknowledged or copyright free so that the presentation can be shared?
To maximise re-use by others prefer use of public domain or Creative Commons licensed material.

Do I have a credits slide?
If you use any references, images, media, data in your presentation you need either a references box on each of these slides, or a credits slide listing these. It is best to label every image, even if a stock image, so everyone is clear about re-use status of your content. If using Creative Commons material ensure it is correctly attributed and linked.

Do I have a clear final or thank you slide?
You, your audience and the person advancing your slides needs to know when the final slide has been reached, so you can stop there on a blank or final slide rather than a black end of slide show screen sitting there during question time.

Is everything captured offline so I can present without internet access?
Two versions of a presentation are advisable, one cut down as much as possible for ease of posting online or emailing. One version with links to captured screenshots rather than links to web in case internet access or application access is not available or doesn't work during the presentation.

Can the completed presentation be readily transported or used by others?
What is the file size of finished presentation? Will it fit on USB, CD, DVD?
Can it be uploaded to group space online? Max 20MB?
Can it be emailed? Max 4MB?
Where is it to be saved online? Your blog, e-portfolio, group space, conference website, or association website?
Does it require any plug-ins, eg media, audio, application features?
Does it work on PC, Mac, open formats?
Is the text of the presentation available separately or embedded?

Have I had my presentation proofread?
Proofreader should check for consistency, clarity and copyright as well as correct formatting, spelling and linking.

Has someone else tried presenting using my slides?
It is possible that in a team, organisational or conference situation someone else may have to use this content, or even present on your behalf. Get that likely person to see if they could deliver it without too much adapting - recognising the fine line between personal style and organisational consistency.

Handouts

Have I had handouts proofread by someone else?

Have I checked all urls are as short as possible, and actually work?

Tags: writing how to presentations
Posted at 12:00AM Apr 27, 2009 by Pru Mitchell  |  Comments[0]

Embed presentation video

A while ago Kerrie was reviewing and collecting short videos suitable for using in presentations. These are listed in her blog at:

• Mobile technologies
  
• The future, future schools, curriculum
  
• Virtual worlds

Video is a great way to get people's attention in a presentation, and to generate discussion. But what is the best way to manage using video in a presentation?

1. Play video from link
   If access to a decent internet connection is guaranteed at the place of presentation (probably never still 100% guaranteed) the easiest method is probably to create a hyperlink within a presentation slide either from text or from an appropriate image.
   eg highlight text or image to link from, click Control K or insert link command, paste url of video into address field, OK/save.
   Before the presentation, be sure to run the video through on the same setup and make sure the video is streaming smoothly.
   
   
2. Embed video in the presentation
   This still requires internet access, but is much 'cleaner' for a presentation. It means that the video is in the slide ready to play. No playing around with tabs and no loading of all the distracting material on the online video page. Here is a video about the process for PowerPoint.
   
   • Embed YouTube video into PowerPoint 2007
     4:14 minute video
     
     
3. Embed video in the presentation and play offline
   This is more complicated from both a legal and moral perspective, and from a technical perspective. However if reliable online connection is not available, or if the video hosting site is blocked this may be helpful provided the terms and conditions are sorted out.
   
   • Embed YouTube into PowerPoint offline
     9 minute video of a process to download a video using Video Downloader, change extension to .flv file, convert is using Super
     Apparently not good for Mac.
   • Another version from female voice: maniactive

   Terms and conditions for YouTube that apply to Australian schools and TAFE are available from the Smartcopying website
   http://www.smartcopying.edu.au/scw/go/pid/855

Tags: presentations web2ools videos
Posted at 11:47PM Feb 28, 2009 by Pru Mitchell  |  Comments[1]

Should you answer a conference call for papers?

[Relocated post: Originally published on 30 June 2007]

The invitation arrives! Perhaps it falls out of a journal you are reading, or in a generic posting to a forum or list, a 'why don't you' from a colleague, a personal invitation from the organisers or a strong suggestion from a manager or mentor.

Will you submit a paper for Conference X?  It's not as easy as that single question makes it seem.

Before you get to step 1 consider:

• Are you interested in doing this?
• Do you have time to do the preparation?

• Do you have something new/different/unique to say?
• Is a conference the best way to say it?
• Should you present alone or with others?

• What are the benefits for you? Does it represent a professional development opportunity?
• What are the benefits for the organisation, for the profession?
• What other opportunities might this provide, eg further presentations, networking, publication, marketing?
• What is the likely reach in terms of audience numbers, influence. Is this worth the time, effort, cost?

• Are you going to be able to attend the conference?
• How much time away is it going to involve?
• Who is going to pay for the conference? Is there a reduced rate for presenters?
• How much is going to cost when you factor in travel, accommodation and relief salaries?
  
• Can you combine this with holidays, other activities?

Tags: call for papers conferences presentations events
Posted at 01:43PM Feb 01, 2009 by Pru Mitchell  |  Comments[0]