[RebeccaOGM]

Hi everyone,

I think these questions are very useful to both the student and the teacher/facilitator/school.

We have to remember that everyone has different circumstances and different abilities and a school should provide support for these.  The surveys help establish any potential problems that someone might have studying online and in their own time and learning space.

For the student the surveys help highlight areas where they might need support and also suggest links to places they can go to for support.

I studied by distance while living in Bangkok and would have some times where the internet was very slow and I couldn’t download materials.  I also couldn’t buy some support text books (not online) as the book sellers would not post to Thailand.  The instructor was aware that I might have some issues and was able to find other ways of support.

Surveys like these are incredibly insightful for establishing a starting point and highlighting any potential problems someone might have learning online or by distance.

 

[RebeccaOGM]

Hi everyone,  I might be a little bit slow onto this but still enjoying going through the provided materials.

I have just been reviewing the ‘online readiness’ surveys and it bought me back to a similar exercise I did at a school I was working at in Bangkok.  The school was upgrading its classroom technology and like most things change came slowly to some and quickly to others.

I went through the classroom and did a small ‘tech readiness’ survey.  We had projectors in each classroom, as well as computers and were introducing electronic whiteboards.  It’s such a good wake up to (once again) realise that not everyone is the same as you and that content/materials are addressing people’s needs.

I found that some teachers still used pen and ink to write down all their teaching information and were quite intimidated by using a projector.  Some teachers were completely into using the technology and had online student-centered projects that could use all the technologies available and also use students own tools.  Then other teachers were somewhere in the middle.

Maybe this is coming into the idea of ‘change’ but finding out people’s starting point is absolutely crucial to the success of anything, especially when using online or tech tools.

 

Any thoughts?

 

[RebeccaOGM]

Hello there, yes, I’m still here!  Apologies, I have been swamped by things that are going on here in Sydney.  change of season colds, yes winter is coming and it rains all the time.  So, I haven’t yet committed much time to OCTEL although I do read through the newsletters.

Yes, I’m a lurker!!!  I’ve got to catch up on everything and participate with something useful rather than just chat.  Although chatting is fun.

Yes, vocational skills – it will be a challenge to put together a great course that engages people to learn mechanical skills, but there’s nothing like a good challenge.

Welcome to the group Amanda.

[RebeccaOGM]

Hi Scott,  That could be a really interesting change moving into research, especially if you’re able to directly apply the research to real world practices.  Australia is all well and good.  We just have a holiday in Thailand, where we were living before moving here and we (husband and I) are exploring the possibilities of moving back there.  The ideal situation would be that we are able to get enough work online for us to easily live in Bangkok.  I’ve had a few online course design and writing projects but it’s still early days.  Sydney is very very expensive.  No snow here but winter is just around the corner.  If you’re doing more research does it mean you can work by distance? – take your cardiologists advice!!!!!

[RebeccaOGM]

Hi there,

My name is Rebecca Ogrady-Marshall and i’m definitely interested in a smaller group focusing on vocational education.  This post grabbed me because Scott replied *hi Scott* we’ve been chatting online for awhile.

I have more of an academic background and have been teaching in international schools for a few years.  i am a firm believer in making good education accessible and making it easy and simple to learn.  This especially applies to vocational training.  I’m also a big fan of OERs.

Currently I’m also working in the wine industry (living in Sydney, Australia) which is sales driven and I’ve found there is a constant need for skills ‘refreshers’ and ongoing learning.

Looking forward to chatting,

Rebecca

 

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