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In this issue: Any dud links, typos etc, please let me know
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DEANZ Conference Paper Deadlines I welcome all DEANZ members to this March issue of flier. The major focus right now is the upcoming DEANZ 2006 conference, and I am looking forward to collaborate with most if not all of our members in this flagship event. The theme of the conference is focused on "enabling" aspect, be it the learner, the infrastructure, the teaching or the process of change. The conference will be an excellent opportunity for networking with distance practitioners across New Zealand, some of whom will be recognised in our prestigious DEANZ awards. Deadline for non-reviewed papers and posters is 31 March, which is not so far away! We are also looking towards improving opportunities of international collaboration for our members. If you have interest in exploring collaboration opportunities in European sector, you should contact Mr Marcello Allegri at
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. With regards,
Kinshuk
President, DEANZ DEANZ conference 3-5 July 2006 - Auckland University of Technology (AUT) - Auckland, New Zealand
Not so random thought of the month On the relationship between eLearning and distance learning, a comment from Sir John Daniels of COL
REF: http://www.col.org/3yp0609/0602_Plan_Draft.pdf "Already the growing use of 'eLearning' as a synonym for 'open and distance learning' poses two challenges. First, the international development agencies that fund COL often combine conservative views on educational methods with scepticism about the value of hi-tech solutions in developing countries. Just when they have realised that mass open and distance learning (ODL) is the only way to scale up access to education beyond primary level, the renaming of ODL as eLearning is unhelpful because it makes the activity sound much more 'electronic' than it really is - even in industrialised countries. Second, the disappointing track record of 'pure' eLearning (i.e., online learning) in the industrialised world risks creating doubts about the effectiveness of ODL generally, just at the time when traditional mass ODL systems are beginning to have a major impact in developing countries. So far online learning in the richer countries has rarely contributed either to open learning or to distance learning because many online enrolments are simply campus students seeking more flexible study timetables. Far from extending access and reducing costs, pure eLearning may in such circumstances actually curtail access for remote students and increase overall costs by adding new options for campus students without compensatory savings." And this comment from Mark Nichols: This quotation is consistent with the claim of an article by
Guri-Rosenblit in Higher Education (2005) 49:467-493. In her article"'Distance education' and 'e-learning': Not the same thing" a strong case is made that treating the two terms as synonyms is entirely incorrect. Most e-learning practice is actually associated with on-campus courses; it just so happens that most of the useful theory associated with e-learning happens to be written by distance education practitioners. Even e-learning literature is yet to break free from the on-campus and DE contexts in which it is applied; e-learning is not yet, and may never actually become, a distinct activity. E-learning is firmly bound by the f2f or DE context in which it is applied. Already use of the 'e' is becoming reduced; consider the term (e)learning, used to signal that the 'e' is temporary. Eventually, perhaps, the 'e' will merely be subsumed. 'E-learning' was never a new paradigm of education. Instead it has always been a catalyst for further development in f2f and DE practice. Guri-Rosenblit's article is highly recommended for those wanting to explore the issue further. The implication for DEANZ as an organisation is that we need to ensure that we are not distracted from our core representation of distance educators, in all of their wonderful diversity of practice.
BlogHui update This is on THIS WEEK. Check out http://bloghui.org/ Featuring in the education doman: One paper topic from BlogHui:
How do we get teaching staff interested in using blogs for learning and teaching? Do professional development workshops actually make a difference? (from Carol Cooper and Peter Gossman) Check out her blog at carol-cooper.blogspot.com  Sunday has a Blogwalk. Here is a snap from Blogtalk Downunder (where there was some heated conversations about people appearing on the net without permission)
The blogo-shpere can be a tough place: check out this blog entry suggesting BlogHui is a scam, simply because a famous NZ political blogger did not find out about it immediately:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/archives/013037.html (David Farrar's blog) And also associated with BlogHui is a writers workshop.
Conferences coming up in New Zealand BlogHui: next week. CPE: May 2006. Continuing Professional Education Conference (CPE) 2006 - Out of Bounds and Borders: A Trans-Tasman Collaboration
"This conference focuses on exploring, breaking, crossing and redefining the boundaries and borders of continuing professional education" While not directly DE in focus, there is a lot of overlap, as professional development often occurs in distibuted communities. Featuring Etienne Wenger. DEANZ: 2006 conference. e-Fest: 2006 From the e-fest committee: Black out from the 27th-29th of September, 2006, as eFest is on again at the Wellington Town Hall (with workshops being held on the 27th). This years conference is set to highlight and inform the education sector of issues, trends, developments and exciting opportunities in eLearning which are creating huge opportunities for New Zealanders and worldwide. eFest will bring a global perspective by featuring keynote speakers of international standing, while also providing opportunities for practitioners to share experiences gained on home ground. The theme of eFest 2006 is |
