line | | Session Overview | Presenter |
|---|
 | Powerful eLearning | Integrating technology into classroom environments has the potential to improve learning outcomes. Powerful eLearning allows you to explore different pedagogy methods to cater to a greater number of students, who possess diverse learning aptitudes. It can make learning exciting, engaging and compelling, drawing your audiences senses by emphasising interactivity.
Blending traditional teaching styles, workshops and coaching with eLearning tools, creates unique learning experiences and increases students’ competencies and skills bases.
Leading exponent of eLearning technologies and digital media, Marco Torres, will discuss the advantages of adopting powerful eLearning principles and why emerging technology plays a vital role in pedagogy.
| Presenter: Marco Torres |
 | Embedding Technologies into Teaching & Learning | The power and potential of technology within the classroom is enormous. The debate over should we invest in ICT within our schools is well and truly finished. The question now is how can we embed rather than add on ICT, so that it becomes a part of everyday learning.
Mark will explore a structure which will assist teachers in their ability to manage the complex issues of embedding ICT into everyday teaching and learning. | Presenter: Mark Dixon |
 | Embedding ICT Change in Whole-of-School Planning | Teachers and principals have a critical role in developing students' ICT skills and understanding. The elearning Unit encourages Victorian educators to lead by example and integrate ICT into their teaching, learning and management practices.
DEECD's eLearning Planning Guide is being redeveloped to capitalise on 21st Century learning opportunities, including emerging technologies, the student "m-generation" and 24/7 learning environments. | Presenter: Rita Ellul |
 | Designing Creative Learning Spaces | The typical classroom has evolved over the years and in the 21st Century; technology has played a significant part in its evolvement. The ability to access high quality digital learning resources is altering the educational landscape.
There is a need to blend technology and space to create a learning environment that is conducive. Understanding what constitutes an effective blueprint is critical in the design of creative learning spaces. The most practical are those that are productive and instil confidence, flexibility and inspiration in those who utilise them.
Mary will take you on a journey to discover a kaleidoscope of creative design strategies to enhance the learning classroom and experience. | Presenter: Mary Featherston |
 | Developing Multiliteracies through Digital Stories | Digital storytelling not only captures the imagination of teachers and students but also extends across all VELS strands.
Mark will explore the process of creating digital stories with students. It is intended that participants will leave the session with a classroom strategy to assist their students in the creation of digital stories - planning, producing, sharing, accessing, adapting and celebrating.
Mark will take you on a virtual ride down the innovation highway to explore the changing landscape of technology and the way we use it to communicate and educate. | Presenter: Mark Dixon |
 | Web 2.0 Policy Development | The Worldwide Web is a business platform and to fully understand its potential and strengths, the utilisation of Web 2.0 tools such as weblogs, social bookmarking, wikis and podcasts is imperative. This session on Web 2.0 Policy Development will explore the current issues schools face in relation to the application of Web 2.0 tools and the policy development process, incorporating key learnings from schools, leading to its implementation.
There will be time for discussion from participants and an opportunity to provide feedback on the issues that you presently may be experiencing. Elizabeth welcomes any input in terms of current usage issues and concerns surrounding the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies in education, and the types of policy issues - or emergent issues - you find pertinent to discuss. | Presenter: Elizabeth Ring |
 | Benchmarking and Assessing through the ePotential ICT Capabilities Tool | Neil Carmona-Vickery is a fan of the ePotential ICT Teacher Capabilities Tool and he uses the survey results as his main reference when opening discussions around the use of technology with other school leaders. He has found the results have been well received by the school community. The information generated has allowed for smarter allocation and use of human and financial resources, surrounding the adoption of ICT in real and online learning environments.
Join Neil as he discusses a number of benchmarking and assessing tools that can be implemented with the use of the ePotential ICT Capabilities Tool. | Presenter: Neil Carmona-Vickery |
 | Optimising Network Performance for Powerful eLearning | Victorian schools invest a considerable percentage of their budget in ICT infrastructure and services. Most schools are unique in their mix of hardware, software and online services and it is often difficult balancing each component to ensure the entire network is optimised.
Optimising network performance is a continual process as new devices are connected to the system and usage patterns change throughout the year.
The session will look at the new and emerging technologies available in the marketplace that offer new ideas for optimising network performance such as, bandwidth management tools. | Presenter: Greg Curmi (Commander) |
 | What does Powerful eLearning Look Like? | This session focuses on how a school can transcribe their eLearning vision to observable behaviours that teachers, students, leaders and parents can recognise in the classroom - and then be captured with digital photography!
The session will lead the participants to develop a list of attributes that define powerful eLearning during a highly interactive online experience. Resources provided during the session include; (1) tips for taking great photos, (2) resources to help schools develop an eLearning vision and plan, and (3) a matrix for your school to identify your current level of eLearning.
| Presenter: Jason Callaghan |
 | Open Source Software Leading Network Change |
The Yarra Valley eLearning Community has implemented a student notebook program with over 1,200 devices. Open source software has been a key feature of this program to:
- reduce cost
- reduce licensing paperwork and management
- increase home-school links through students being able to use the same software at home
- provide students with high levels of access to a rich suite of creative, productive and educational software titles
- guarantee compatibility across platforms and future readability
In this session we will outline and discuss the issues involved in using open source software and demonstrate the surprisingly rich range of applications available to all schools at no cost.
| Presenter: Cameron Bell |
