Elearning Resources K-12   30/09/2007
Author : Graeme Daniel

"ICT is not only the tools we use today, but the tools we cannot yet imagine – which we will be using tomorrow. Within a context of constant innovation and change, we have a responsibility to explore, research and extend the effective use of innovative ICT to support the development of authentic, new learning environments for all learners – at all stages of schooling" (Using eLearning  / Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria)

To round off our series on elearning we present a selection from the vast gamut of elearning resources available for the K-12 sector, with some emphasis on offerings collectively identified as pertaining to Elearning 2.0.


Introducing Elearning 2.0.

E-learning 2.0 (Stephen Downes / eLearn Magazine) - an authoritative introduction to the world of
digital natives and Connectivism, file-sharing and social software, and all the new tools and genres comprising Web 2.0: blogs, wikis, podcasts, communities of practice, eportfolios, RSS readers, and whatever comes next, with liberal lubrication from the drive for free and open source software. Can ubiquitous computing transform education?

What is eLearning 2.0? (Tony Karrer / eLearning Technology: February 10, 2006) - blog on eLearning and eLearning 2.0: tools, management, authoring, blended learning.

E-Learning 2.0 - How Web Technologies Are Shaping Education  (Steve O'Hear, Richard MacManus /
Read/WriteWeb: August 08, 2006)

Topic: E-Learning 2.0   (Stephen's Web: September 21, 2007) - Stephen Downes brings us right up-to-date.


Mapping the Elearning Landscape.

The mindmap at elearnspace's Categories of eLearning  details how categories interrelate, and may help readers to define their particular focus across the field.

The Map of Future Forces Affecting Education  provided by KnowledgeWorks Foundation and Institute for the Future 2006-2016 provides a useful overview of directions and drivers of changing educational practices. Categories are: Family and Community; Markets; Institutions; Educators and Learning; Tools and Practices. The website also provides access to a matching Resource Library.

The K12 Online Conference 2007   will be of interest to teachers, administrators and educators involved in using Web 2.0 tools in classrooms and professional practice. There  will be a preconference keynote during the week beginning October 08, after which the conference proper will proceed until October 26. The conference theme is 'Playing with Boundaries' - Presentation Teasers introduce the theme and illustrate exemplary use of modern presentation tools such as YouTube.
The Call for Proposals   (A Difference: June 11, 2007) gives details on distinguished keynote speakers, whose names will be familiar to regular readers of our newsletter - David Warlick; Clarence Fisher; Alan Levine; Brian Lamb; D’Arcy Norman; Derek Wenmouth; and Brian Cosby.


Blogs.

Weblogs were precursors of the Web 2.0 phenomenon, and remain one of the best ways for people to keep up with trends. This is definitely not an exhaustive list:

Helge Scherlund's eLearning News Blog - updates on elearning, blended learning, distance learning and mlearning.

Experiencing E-Learning (Christy Tucker)

E-Learning Blog   (Julie Lindsay, Qatar Academy)

ZaidLearn    (Zaid Ali Alsagoff, Malaysia)

EdBlogger Praxis   - links to many edubloggers.

eLearning Technology (Tony Karrer)

weblogg-ed (Will Richardson)

Visualizing Economics   (Catherine Mulbrandon) is an interesting use of a blog as a learning resource; displays graphics illustrating aspects of the US economy.


Some Notable Websites.

Education Services  (WHRO) - emphasis on video.

Education World; the Educator's Best Friend   - a notable veteran.

PBS Teachers  - multimedia resources, professional development.

The ICT Literacy Portal - promoting  Digital Literacy.

Other K-12 ICT in Education Sites and Portals  - a wikispace carrying lots of useful content.

Exploring E-Learning Reforms For Michigan: The New Education (R)evolution  (Tom Watkins / Wayne State University: September 01, 2005) features a boxed list of websites providing information about the millennial generation, and a huge list of E-Learning and Other Helpful Websites.

Some school sites:

•     The Missouri Virtual Instruction Program   provides standards-based supplemental and full-time online coursework for Missouri schools.
•     Henrico County Public Schools
•     E-learning Kids  - part of the Milwaukee Public Schools site.
•     Mosman High School   (New South Wales) - a useful no-nonsense site.

•     The Communicator  - topical information and debates of interest to the Australian education and training community.
•    The Networker
•     Early Childhood News  - quality online resources for those working with children 0-8 years old.
•     Edna for Schools
•    Global Education Newsletter
  

•     Education Veteran Creates "YouTube" for Teachers(eSchool News Online: June 04, 2007) - Jason Smith's TeacherTube gives teachers a way to watch and upload videos for classroom use or professional development. Also browse Past Sites of the Week at the bottom of the page.
•     Science Gets Its Youtube On with SciVee (John Timmer / ars technica: September 10, 2007) - Philip Bourne's SciVee project combines user-generated video content with tagging and communities. For Higher Education, but should be a viable model for developing K-12 video resources.

•     Another Life: Virtual Worlds as Tools for Learning  (Jay Cross, Tony O'Driscoll, Eilif Trondsen /  eLearn Magazine)
•     Proceedings of the First Second Life Education Workshop (eds. Daniel Livingstone and Jeremy Kemp / 2006 Second Life Community Convention)  - expands on the notion that Second Life promotes a sense of sharing and provides a collaborative environment conducive to the creation of interactive learning experiences.
•     John Lester's Second Life Links
•     101 Uses for Second Life in the College Classroom, Version 2.0  (Megan S. Conklin / February 25, 2007) - lots of ideas for creative teachers.
•     Second Life   (Catherine Winters / Social Signal)
•     Teen Second Life   - an international venue where teens make friends, play, learn and create. It also makes possible projects such as Skoolaborate , a collaborative vehicle for promoting global awareness and understanding.

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