John Heap : Weblog

Does the e-framework work?

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:21:49 GMT

I have just been re-reading parts of the e-framework (well, it was a 'slow news day') so that I could offer colleagues on the Streamline project advice on creating Service Usage Models (SUMS). Everytime I look at the framework documentation, I find it 'worthy but dull' ... and I suspect the framework itself is worthy but doomed.

When I look at how many people (such as the Emerge community) are using, linking, connecting, modifying technology ... I see no evidence of any underlying framework .. though of course I am conscious of the standards and protocols lurking in the depths.

I don't see SUMs for using Twitter .... I see enticing and exciting case examples... not written to conform to a template .. but written to express the user's excitement (or sometimes disappointment) with the technology or service.

These rich and involving stories convey the message and 'spread the word' more effectively to me ... or am I just some kind of gadget-phile but technophobe who should know better?

Back from ...

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:04:37 GMT

I have not posted a blog entry for a long time ... but have been keeping up (more or less). Why resurrect this blog. Well, no particularly good reason .. just that at a recent project meeting (Streamline) it seemed that we were engaged in considerable activity to document current activity rather than make further progress. I understand that we have to be accountable for public funds but .... and then, of course, it hit me (I know, I know ... I must be slow on the uptake but I plead old age ... it takes a big blow to get through) that blogging was the perfect medium for documenting activity (well, perhaps not perfect, but it does have the advantage of being both informal and instant). I am sure we will have to provide formal reports and other documentation ... but if we have blogged well (define 'well?), we should have the source material to build on . So, I really blogged this to register my relief!

A Wii Game

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:52:00 GMT

I bought a Nintendo Wii recently - for the family of course! Actually, I wanted to see how well the 'innovative interface' (I'd read so much about) worked in practice.... and it works remarkably well. It has put a range of technologies together in a novel way to create an entirely new experience - at least in the mass market. And yet .... I have no idea who is responsible for this innovation. I know who designed the iPod (another hugely successful piece if interface design) but can anyone help with the identity of the Wii designer?

Priorities!

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 17:05:43 GMT

I'm a School Governor and last week was involved in the appointment of a new Head Teacher .. gruelling and the reaon for my lack of involvement here! As part of the process each candidate talked to a group of students - one from each year group ... about technology, bullying, homework, etc. When asked about the use of Smart Boards and other teaching technologies, the students came up with ... "We want Toilets, not TVs ... the Year 8 toilets are disgusting!"

Help wanted - apply within!

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:45:58 GMT

I am currently doing some work with an FE college .... and trying to establish whether the difference in the age/level of learners makes a difference to their expectations of, and use of, e-learning. My experience, so far, of the academic staff is that their expectations and use are as varied as in the HE community. Anyone have any knowledge of available data? Data on the JISC site talks (yes, I know it should be 'talk' or a different verb altogether, but I'm a Wittgenstien man myself) about technology generally but is not very helpful in relation to e-Learning.

Ppphhheewww!

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:40:35 GMT

Back from Majorca. Tanned (a bit). Fit (a bit less). Thought I'd catch up. the online days looked to have been fun ... but I get the impression that I'm not running fast enough to keep up (never mind, raise a barn). Is this how students feel ... and if so, how do they address the problem. Perhaps I'll go and see Janet (Finlay ... same institution, same team) and get some counselling!

Speed Read

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:17:24 GMT

This community (not surprisingly) is an active one. Great! But it does mean there's a lot to read and a lot of points of contact to monitor. I am on holiday next week and likely to be at least partially out of touch. Evidence from students suggests that a pile of un-accessed postings on blogs and discussions is intimidating - often to the point of complete disengagement.

Wish me well on my return!

Help! Quick! don't panic! Just do it!

Thu, 31 May 2007 19:18:09 GMT

Activity 7 already. I don't remember the original email. They (the powerful ones) will never believe I didn't receive it. How do I get my community entry up? Where? When? No time. Too busy in Second Life!

Professor Janet Finlay (intimidating working with a real Prof) and I are the team looking at "Social Networking to Aid Resource Discovery" - believing that the failure of academic staff to engage with structured metadata might be ameliorated (is it OK to use big words in a blog .. and is that the right one?) by allowing them more sophisticated ways of 'phoning a trusted friend' to locate the resources they need.

Is that enough? It is for me. I go on holiday on Saturday and I have no idea where my flip-flops are!

Why do I learn?

Mon, 28 May 2007 14:09:45 GMT

Yesterday, I asked about "How do I learn? .... but perhaps it is more pertinent to ask "Why do I learn?" because this possibly dictates the "How".

I seem to be learning a lot at the moment just to 'get things done'. Sometimes I resent the time it takes when I could be doing 'other things'. Often, thankfully, the process of exploration is interesting and enjoyable for its own sake. (Second life, second childhood?)

How do we ensure our students engage with learning in ways that they enjoy? By offering choice?

How do I learn?

Sat, 26 May 2007 16:44:41 GMT

I've just managed to get a picture of me as my icon ... rather than the silhouette used earlier. (In fact the silhouette was better looking!)

How did I work out how to do this .. by 'exploring', by remembering how I'd done it elsewhere ... and, of course, by just doing it - trying it to see what worked.

This is how our students learn ... they rarely use manuals and instruction sheets. their gaming experience has taught them that trial and error (scientific method?) is often just as fast .. and usually more fun.