Thursday 10 July 2008

Hello All
I know there seem to be a lot of Janes around in AdEd - this is Jane Griffiths.
Thanks to Gill for answering Diana's blog, and I can verify that the camers are very easy to use and have a short videoing facility, which is also easy. They have been used successfully in many areas across the curriculum. Please ask for one on loan from Jane C-D.
I think I need to mention the Whole Organisation Approach project which seems to be causing a lot of interest at the moment. The £35,000 is to be used in part for some development activities, but the money has been used for many other things too, and we had to write a detailed Action Plan and financial forecast which was agreed and is monitored by LSN, the funding body.
Karen Bilous is on leave until Monday (she who posted the infamous "We're in the money" Blog) On her return we will put together an informative interim report on activities so far and how we intend to continue with the excellent work carried out and sustain developing staff skills.....I hesitate to say - watch this space! However I will ensure that some info will be blogged your way in the next 2 weeks.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jane, Thanks for your reply.All very useful.
Diana

lizzie g said...

I've been using the camera and some of the rest of the kit for some time and now feel comfortable about using the camera, laptop, projector and docucam. Yes the camera is straightforward, but it took some time before I felt confident about using it in the classroom without distracting myself and my students from the learning goals of the session. I learnt that some students really didn't want to be photographed or filmed, they weren't used to the technology and I feel it is very important to respect this.
I've had ongoing support through this Blog and through phone calls and emails from colleagues. I made a decision to put time into getting to know the equipment, to experiment and to build my confidence. I'm still learning.
I do believe the kit I've used can be used to enhance learning and to record progress and achievement.
While the camera is quite straightforward, time is needed to download photos and video clips, file and edit them. As Di Gash has said, the workload and pressure on tutors has increased. I believe paid training and ongoing support is essential for tutors to feel happy about spending the required amount of time in incorporating the use of technology into their teaching.
Yes Gill, we've taught ourselves, you and Jane Carter-Dunn have been fabulous, as I say I've chosen to make the time and have enjoyed and am still enjoying the learning, I believe my learners have benefitted immensely, but I would be concerned if use of the equipment became something that was expectated of tutors.
I'm pleased an open discussion is taking place on the Blog.

Gill said...

Absolutely, Lizzie - it's so difficult to communicate directly with tutors, many of whom are so busy simply doing the day job! This blog has made it so much easier to chat and share ideas and information.

I think you're right that there is a good deal of pressure on tutors these days, maybe as a result of the whole business of Adult Education becoming more professional and quality-driven. I don't think all of this kit is for everyone and much of it isn't really appropriate for some situations. But some things - docucam! - can make the tutors job so very much easier. I'm thinking of all those times when I've struggled to show a large group a teeny tiny stitch or something, that the investment of time and energy getting to grips with it has more than paid off for me.

As you know, I'm a bit critical of the (very little) training I've had and ultimately have found that my time was better spent sorting it out for myself with the support of colleagues and an instruction manual (which I'll admit is my last course of action!) When I buy any new gadget, I've usually got to give it a while to play about and experiment before becoming confident enough to go public.

Do you think we are approaching the stage where we can claim to have taken out some of the RARPA sting by using the camera to record evidence?

I'm happy to advise/support/assist with any of this kit by email 24/7 - I'm hoping Diana might fancy giving it a go, together with any other tutors who feel that they might explore the potential of technology to enhance their work. Jane C-D can advise on the equipment still available and like me, is delighted to think that it's all being used and the results shared with colleagues.

lizzie g said...

Yes Gill the docucam is fabulous when showing a technique to a large group. As you so well illustrate in recent posts, trial and error, many hours and much patience are necessary before we feel confident with the equipment.

We can learn so much from training which wasn't very useful, trainers can adapt and improve, tailor the sessions according to their learners.

When AdEd tutors are asked to experiment with the technological equipment which we luckily have available to us, I hope there will be paid training available. The Blog in March letting us know about the success of the AOW bid, did suggest that this was the case.
As you say Gill, variable hours tutors are so busy doing the day job!

We look forward to reading the interim report from Karen Bilous.