Activity 10.1 - Part 3 - Typical obstacles to expect in realizing effective use of wikis

In order to be successful, second language teachers can typically expect to face the following technical and pedagogical challenges.

To begin, teachers need to ensure that whatever wiki tool they choose, is easy to access and use. Students should not be faced with the need to draw away already limited time for language learning, to learn how to use the technology to realize their presentation. Teachers should note that the majority of wikis require users to apply wiki code to realize them. Fortunately some wiki utilities such as Wetpaint exist that make the need for knowing even this simple code unnecessary.

Teachers should also understand and support the principles of constructivist instruction to realize effective student collaboration. This entails realizing a clear alignment of group based, collaborative activities with sound language learning objectives and their assessment. Note also the importance of a clear rubric to outline how students will be assessed. The absence of a traditional linear sequenced activity structure may be daunting for some students not accustomed to the more open structure of group collaboration.. thus the importance of a clear rubric to outline to students what is required, and within what limitations. This almost always entails providing students with time and resource parameters, and inviting students to take time to understand and assess who their intended audience is.

The absence of conventional traditional teacher filtering of online content can also seem foreboding. The responsibility for control of content selection shifts to the student. Teachers can invite students to engage in this filtering information literacy exercise so that they learn to judge and take control of it themselves. While this can seem a daunting responsibility for students to assume, often students learn to take on the responsibility for filtering not because of the teacher's need for it but because of their intended audience's need for it.

Activity 8.3 - Podcast Review - Laurillard - What does a practitioner want from learning design?

Link to enhanced podcast
Duration 35:47 min

m4a file (requires Quicktime)
file size 20.9 Mb
What is the m4a file format? Answer

1 - Quality?

Technical quality is more than adequate. The use of an "enhanced podcast" with its sequenced and synchronized slides proves especially effective in helping to illustrate the interconnection of ideas presented by Laurillard.

2 - Broadcast quality? - well constructed / intelligible

The podcast's introduction clearly outlines the presentation's context, topic and sequence of subtopics. The presentation then moves on to deliver what it promises by providing a dense presentation of information in the same sequence as that it was introduced.

3 - Suitability? does it meet the needs of the intended audience

The target audience would be conference participants focussed on LAMS ... While, the topic of learning design is presented from the point of view of the practitioner or lecturer... it could be of interest to both this group and the elearning professionals - education technologists - who are tasked with working as consultants with this group.

4 - Length? is it of an appropriate length for the subject / intended audience

It is 35 minutes in length but with a significant amount of indepth information presented over this period of time. The presentation also offers a detailed listing of follow up resources that invite listeners to explore cush concepts in greater depth.

5 - Interest? does it engage you

Topic is highly relevant to my own needs and interests as a learning technologist looking for approaches to support instructors in realizing more effective instruction. A very rich "machine gun like" listing of points and ideas, created an almost avalanche like flow of information without any let up. Absent was the return to earlier points to reinforce them One advantage of podcast becomes immediately apparent when in response to the avalanche, I reach for the pause button to reflect on a lecture point, or even listen to it again to test / check my understanding. Yet the outline at the beginning prepares the listener well for the sequence of ideas that lie ahead of them.

6 - Academic quality? is it based on research / argument / opinion

Academic relevance is high. Topic of learning activity design is relevant to most any educator and especially useful to any one interested in looking for an approach that promotes alignment of various aspects of instructional design. The design suggests a well thought out review of this process. The basis for the review The model presented ensures learning design is pragmatic to the lecturer .. yet includes a review of learning theory, methods, student needs, assessment .. as well as content. Suggests that such a structured approach ensures some inclusion of these points which may often be overlooked in favour of a content focus.

7 - Suggestions for improvement? how could it be altered to better suit the needs of the audience

The presentation is very rich in content. As such, it lends itself well to podcasting and the ability to stop or pause when convenient to the listener. However, because of its rich nature, it could support listeners with a more detailed breakdown of the outline according to subtopics and their timings to allow targetted review of sections of the podcast for future reference or review. It might also include a transcript.

• Another strategy might be to repeat or rephrase important concepts that were introduced earlier when moving on to newer concepts. This might support a listener's comprehension of the various concepts and their interconnectedness.
• A glossary of abbreviations to again facilitate understanding of the presentation
• Follow up activities including a possible model template in a spreadsheet form that demos such integration and invites application
• A possible working example of the examples referred to in the presentation
  

Another supplementary strategy might be to include an online discussion thread to field both reviews from fellow practitioners who have put the ideas into practice and questions from those who may have differing perspectives or are seeking clarity on the ideas presented.

8 - Suggestions for use - if it were part of an information source for practitioners, what brief notes would you put on the site to place the podcast in context

An abstract with the following review

Noted elearning expert Diana Laurillard presents at the 1st international LAMS conference (Learning actiivty management systems), a course design model that aims to ensure learning activity design is pragmatic to the lecturer .. yet is also well grounded in pedagogy and addressing student needs. Such a structured approach ensures inclusion and alignment of learning theory, methods, student needs which the speaker suggests may otherwise be overlooked in favour of a content focussed approach by a lecturer.

While appearing to be targetted at lecturers, its focus on suggesting a pragmatic but detailed approach to learning activity design may be of interest to learning technologists who often are assisting such lecturers in this process.