I’ve been invited to give a presentation & a short workshop on “Developing the use of Mobile Technology and Virtual Learning Environments for STEM subjects” for the LSIS North West Regional STEM meeting, tomorrow at Daresbury Labs. Now, as I don’t yet know how many delegates will be there… I’m a little unsure as to how I’m going to tackle the workshop.
In action...
The presentation is not a problem – anyone who has witnessed my previous attempts will testify that I’m not one for over-rehearsing. In fact, I tend to run with a general theme of a few relevant (or sometimes irrelevant/irreverent) slides topped-off by a stream of verbal consciousness. And that’s largely it. OK, I ramble on and probably repeat a few things over – but they’re usually points that I want to ensure people remember. I’m not a pro-presenter and I hate sitting through boring slide shows – so I like to try and be informal and feel that I’m chatting with people rather than talking at them. Maybe that’s why I like the Pecha Kucha style?
So, to the workshop… Eeek!
Well, I’m going to run through our VLE (Moodle), nothing too techie (that really DOES switch people off!) – if anyone wants technical info, I can always go over it afterward. Really, I guess it’s a matter of demonstrating what a VLE can and can’t do for STEM subject areas… I like to give a realistic and truthful demo – after all I’m not a salesman. If something doesn’t quite function in a usable way – then I’ll offer up an alternative. Personally, I think the Wiki feature in Moodle is awful – so why not use something like Wiki Educator? The blogs are also naff, so why not use WordPress? Whatever tools you choose, shouldn’t really matter, so long as they function and they are relevant.
Finally got round to matching up my Pecha Kucha slides from JISC RSCNW10 (June 2010), Reebok Stadium, Bolton – with the audio file that Kev recorded as I was presenting. Sorry about the poor audio quality, the wireless mic was playing up a little. I was also a tad nervous, because I was first up to do my presentation that day – so I tended to ramble on… and on… and on… anyone who knows me will realise I tend to do this anyway when I’m talking about educational technology… I find myself opening-up far too many trains of thought and it pours out as a stream of scouse-esque techno-babble.
This year I was privileged to be asked to run a stand with colleagues from KGV College, Southport and also our own BSFC stand at the JISC RSC North West annual event. [I still like to think of this as our JISC NW annual conference] Not only that – but Kev Hickey also asked me to ‘perform’ a Pecha Kucha… no pressure there then?
The slides I put together for this Pecha Kucha, we’re long forgotten about – so I really did have to wing-it on the day, thankfully after of 5 cups of coffee I felt the vibe. But that’s what Pecha Kucha is all about. Never tried doing one? I highly recommend it – you get a real buzz and no two presentations are ever the same. I feel that the audience sits up and listens a bit more because of the short-sharp delivery style. OK – I probably talk too fast and I know I have a habit of going off on a tangent – but I like to think that makes for a more interesting conversation.
Here’s the video of my Pecha Kucha – hope it’s a reasonable size and sorry about the sound quality (thanks to David Sugden for filming it for me) I returned the favour and filmed his – which will no doubt be available via his blog.
Last year, I uploaded a few presentations that I’d made on to Slideshare. Although I’d been happy with the actual presentation, the slides don’t really stand-alone without the audio. I only really gathered that once I’d uploaded them. In fact – they’re pretty useless without vocal explanation.
To be honest, I’d forgotten all about them until earlier on this evening when I uploaded a Pecha Kucha that I’m going to do at this years JISC RSC NW Annual Event, in June. Pecha Kuchas are supposed to be done live, on-the-fly, so it doesn’t really have any audio at the moment – I’ve got to make it up on the day I do have a pre-recorded Pecha Kucha on my Slideshare from last years RSC NW conference – that has audio (though I sound like I’m submerged at one point!)
Anyway – I thought I ought to try to add some audio to one of my slideshares… The technique is called a ’slide-cast’ on Slideshare.
What did I do?
I recorded the audio on my iPhone using iPadio – straight forward just uploaded it to iPadio as usual. Then in Slideshare I edited the existing presentation and chose to create a slide-cast. At this point you can either upload or link to and existing mp3 file. Once the audio has been imported, you can drag out the markers on the audio timeline underneath the slides – just match it up as you want, then preview & save it.
I’m rather pleased with this first effort. A lot easier to follow, rather than just looking at a load of slides without really understanding what is going on. Really good presentation slides shouldn’t have too much information on them and are only there to enhance the presenters chat – so having them online without audio is not so good.
I’m really pleased to have been invited on James Clay‘s next Podcast (April 21st), along with David Sugden… I think we’re going to be discussing something about online safeguarding/online persona.
Also had a request to perform/do a Pecha Kucha at the JISC North West annual event in June. I’m looking forward to that. I’m also going to be on a stand with KGV and also working on our own BSFC stand – so that’ll be a busy day.
Just putting the finishing touches to my part of a collaborative Pecha Kucha presentation on Learner Owned Devices set in the context of mLearning. We’re working independently, with limited funding, to develop practical integration of students’ own technology, whilst ensuring teaching and learning is pedagogically driven.
You can see this presentation and further work we have been undertaking on LODs at our exhibition stand at the JISC Northwest Annual Event June 24th & 25th – Southport Convention centre. #JISCRSCNW09 – Look out for ENGAGE @ BSFC.
So this afternoon I started-out looking for inspiration and content for a Pecha Kucha show… and true to form – I’ve gone off on a slight tangent – which according to one of my colleagues, who is head of psychology – is not a bad thing and is ‘just the way my inquisitive brain is wired’.
I’ve been working on an action research project where we are looking at the formal incorporation of Learner Owned Devices into teaching and learning. This is what I’m supposed to be writing 5 Pecha Kucha slides on.
Typically, what I’ve come up with so far.
encouraging the use of LODs is advantageous because:
1. there is little or no TOC to the institution.
2. technology owned by learners, is more likely to be kept up-to-date, than if funded by the institution.
3. learners have 24/7 access to their own equipment, as they also do to the institutions’ webbed services.
4. staff do not have to spend time training learners how to use equipment.
5. variety of equipment within a group should produce a variety of output.
6. learners can take ownership of content and projects.
7. encourages further collaboration.
some disadvantages:
1. LODs may not always be 100% compatible with institutions core services.
2. there is no guarantee of equipment availability within some groups.
3. some LODs may not have advanced functionality required for some tasks.
4. there is an assumption that learners should bear the cost of upload/downloads on their own tariff.
5. security of the institution computer systems could be compromised, if not secured and managed correctly to allow ‘unauthorized’ devices to connect.
6. staff expectations may differ – teaching staff encourage LODs, technical staff may discourage.
So I need to think over these points and perhaps add some more…
A lot easier to follow, rather than just looking at a load of slides without really understanding what is going on. Really good presentation slides shouldn’t have too much information on them and are only there to enhance the presenters chat – so having them online without audio is not so good.
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