Two Articles - Learning and Technology

Two interesting articles explore the relationship between learning and technology.

The first article is called: "Toward a Personal Learning Environment Framework" which examines the potential for personal learning environments where learners can design a ‘flexible entry point that enables learner-controlled integration of different learning tools and services into a personalized place' (p. 71).

Website address: http://apo.org.au/commentary/research-review-self-directed-learning

The second article explores and argues that transparency promotes interactivity and participation in collaborative Web 2.0 learning environments. Transparency enhances a pedagogy centered around the learner and the production of knowledge in open communities. The best practical example of this is the Wiki. The wiki is a flexible, social, and easy tool to use for collaborative purposes.

Website address of the article: http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3333/3070

MF

NSW Government VET Consultation forums

The NSW Government has announced the start of a skills reform consultation process to develop a more highly skilled workforce and make NSW the number one economy in the country. Skills play an important role in boosting productivity and raising workforce participation, which are vital to economic growth.

DEC will be holding consultations from Monday 10th to Monday 24th October 2011 in the following locations around NSW:
•Western Sydney – Monday 10th October
•Sydney – Wednesday 12th October
•Nowra – Friday 14th October
•Dubbo – Tuesday 18th October
•Newcastle – Friday 21st October.
•Wagga Wagga – Monday 24th October
•Wollongong - Tuesday 25th October
•Tamworth - Friday 28th October
•Coffs Harbour - Wednesday 2nd November

The consultations will be held from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Venues will be confirmed after registration. If you are registered you will be able to get the venue details for the Western Sydney consultation. I have attached to this message the following links which will give you more background including the discussion paper.


https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/vet/skills_reform/index.html


https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/forms_documents/vet/discussion_paper.pdf

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/skills_reform_registration

MF

Sydney Facilitators Network - October Meeting

The Sydney Facilitators Network meeting will be held on Monday 10th October at 5.30 pm at University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street.

Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.

The topic will be Collaborations:

" Collaboration is the word on everyone’s lips as it seems that collaboration is a desired ingredient in current business, government and social change initiatives. Collaboration is the key trend in change for the foreseeable future and along with climate change is one of the great challenges of our time.

According to change guru John Kotter, Change Management doesn’t work 80% of the time. If this is so there is huge potential in filling this yawning gap. Is this the once in a generation big break for facilitators?

In this session we will explore the following big questions and more

· What is collaborative change?

· What are the opportunities for facilitators?

· What skills are required of collaborative change agents?

· What roles make collaborative change really work?

· What tools are required to facilitate grassroots initiated collaborative change?

Who should come? Change agents, facilitators, project leaders, strategists and anyone planning or implementing collaborative change"