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Innovation & Next Practice School Grants and Professional Learning Programs

Home Web 2.0 PLP Applications

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The application process for Round 2 of the Web 2.0 Professional Learning Program is now closed.

Further rounds will be offered throughout 2009.


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About the Program

KnowledgeBank: Next Generation (KB:NG) is a two year Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) strategy harnessing the power of ‘Next Generation’ ICT services and devices.

We are seeking innovative teachers who can help us answer questions like:

How can YouTube be made safe for education, or is there a better alternative we should support through DEECD policy?
How can we reduce the cost of streaming media to make it more accessible for all schools?
Is there a place for Facebook and MySpace in education?
How can these new technologies be used to create new and powerful learning experiences for students?

Your participation in the program will assist DEECD to create policies and tools for the safe, accessible and effective use of Web 2.0 in education.

All participants are supported by up to $4,000 additional funding, a DEECD supported policy environment to trial these tools, the KnowledgeBank: Next Generation team, and of course all other participants.

Application is through a simple online form. Teachers from Victorian government and non-government schools are eligible to apply.

Successful applicants participating in the program will:

• Spend two days in Melbourne to participate in an induction (8 and 9 September 2008)
• Participate in four full days of online professional development during Term 4 (every second Friday - CRT replacement is provided through the $4,000 grant)
• Prepare a basic project plan with an action research question, aligned with term 4 classroom planning
• Collected data before, during and after their action research project
• Include an approach to literacy / multi-literacy / VELS / PoLT with their action research
• Provide formal and informal collaborative support to other program participants.

Applications for 2008 programs close on 13 August 2008.


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Applications

Applications for Round 2 of the Web 2.0 Professional Learning Program are submitted using the online form. If you have any problems with the form, please contact Kate Wynack (details at the end of this section).

Please note:

All applications must be endorsed by the school principal.
Applications are limited to one application per school.
You will be asked for your 8-digit DEECD/Edumail pin number/ password when you save your application.
Do not start filling in the application form if you do not know your pin number and password.
You need to have saved your application within 20 minutes of starting it. Otherwise your connection to our system may time out.
You can save a draft application and come back later to finish it.

Applications will not be accepted after 5pm EST 13 August 2008. Only completed applications saved onto the system at that time will be assessed.

To apply for a place in the Professional Learning Program, click here.

To view your current / saved application click here.

Non-Government Schools/Users: Teachers currently working non-government schools who would like to apply can download the application here and email to Kate Wynack on wynack.katherine.l@edumail.vic.gov.au (telephone on 03 99471818).


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This program is funded by the following agencies:


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Support Material

Please read through all application materials before applying.

Web 2.0 Professional Learning Program Summary - click here to download (PDF)
Web 2.0 Technologies for Term 4, 2008 - click here to download (PDF)
Teacher Participant Expectations - click here to download (PDF)
Program Calendar: Round 2 - click here to download (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions including scoring sheet for applicants - click here to download (PDF)


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Contacts (click to open this text box)

More FAQs (click to open this text box)

Q: What is streaming media?

A: Streaming media is a type of video or audio that starts playing instantly, while it is loading. A good way to see the difference between streaming media and normal media is to view the Rich Picture Case Studies on the current KnowledgeBank at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/knowledgebank/browsecasestudies/2006_collingwood_dollard.asp

The media here is listed at the end of the page, and needs to be completely downloaded before it can be seen using a separate piece of software. Streaming media is media placed in context, opens quickly and easily and can be seen within a standard internet browser.

Streaming media is usually less than 10 minutes in duration, is low quality so it can 'stream' quickly and usually looks 'home-made'.

Effective and popular streaming videos usually have a short life span. They can be are incredibly popular (millions of hits in a week), but this usually only lasts for a short time.

This is because streaming media offers its users the ability to re-record the content, repsond to the content with new content or find new and better 'clips' of media to replace the original version.

We are looking for teachers to conduct action research projects that will help us understand how this medium can be most effectively used in schools.

Q: What is social networking?

A: Social networking is actually part of most Web 2.0 technologies. It allows people to find, tag and share information within a defined group. Facebook and Myspace are examples.

We would like teachers to tell us about other technologies that students may have access to, or find ways that the popular social networking technologies can be used safety for powerful learning.

Q: Can I use YouTube and Facebook for my trial if it is blocked at my school?

A: Teachers may use common tools such as 'YouTube', 'Facebook' and 'MySpace' for the program. However, participants will need to satisfy DEECD and their school Principal that appropriate strategies are in place to ensure cybersafety, student privacy and issue escalation during the trial. KBNG will provide limited support to enable these services at participating schools.

Q: What dates during Term 4 will the professional learning sessions be conducted online?

A: 17 and 31 Oct, 14 and 28 Nov.

Q: If I am already accessing TeacherTube can I contribute to this program?

A: Simply accessing technology is not the same as teaching and learning with technology. For example, we can all access Spanish podcasts from the internet, but this doesn't make us all proficient Spanish speakers able to effectively communicate with people who live in Spain.

'Teaching' is much more than simply making a video and uploading it to a streaming media site. 'Learning' is much more than watching a video online. We want to know what are the most effective ways of using these technologies as part of the rich learning activities that happen in the best classrooms.

These trials will show us how teachers need to work with the technology to ensure students are engaged, challenged and empowered. Our trials will explore if/how technologies can be aligned to PoLT, and/or what VELS areas the technology is most suited to.

Q: What type of projects are you looking for?

A: We believe innovation means being open to the new ideas and opportunities teachers have. However, we are targeting the areas of cyber-safety, accessibility and academic rigour.

Your action research idea will need to specifically address ONE of those areas.

Q: What if my action research idea covers more than one type of technology?

A: We have learnt that we can best support teachers when they have a clear action research focus. This usually means prioritising ideas to one or two main outcomes over the term.

Q: This sounds like a great challenge. What help do I get?

A: Our team of nine professionals are available to help you with technical issues, curriculum planning, assessment, administration and communicating with school leaders and school communities. We can also invite a range of established teacher 'experts' to help you with your action research.

Q: I am already a leader in the use of technology. How can I use the PLP opportunity?

A: All programs are custom made to your needs. If you are proficient with the technology and are looking at establishing international partnerships, we can help with that. If you need high level support to overcome copyright issues, we can help with that also.


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Current Teacher Participants (click to open this text box)

Tom Gamble from Rosebud Primary School will be using Podcasting to find how it can engage both boys and girls in poetry and reader's theatre.

Judy Harrington from Horsham West Primary School will be using Blogs to determine the pedagogical practices that exploit students' proficiency with collaborative and reflective Web 2.0 tools and mobile wireless devices to engage them in learning.

Matthew Crowe from Lilydale Heights College will be using Blogs,in conjunction with social networking, to enhance students' use of digital portfolios to encourage peer assessment and reflection.

Huw Derwentsmith from Wodonga Middle Years College will be using Blogs to increase student participation in online collaborative thinking exercises that focus on philosophical dialogue.

Craig Cummings from Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College will be using Podcasting to maximise the integration of student owned portable ICT devices with existing school based resources.

Julie Boyd from Belvoir Special School will be using Blogs to motivate and engage students with an intellectual disability and low literacy skills to achieve their VCAL learning outcomes.

Dajarra Golding from Lalor North Secondary College will be using Blogs to track student progression in Mathematics.

Kristy Graham from Distance Education Centre Victoria will be using Podcasting to create a series of videos / animations focused around progression Point 4.7 of the Working

Mathematically dimension to support her year 8 students.

Lyndon Regan from Anderson's Creek Primary School will be using Podcasting to find models of how teachers and student can use this technology to improve literacy.

Helen Kreeck from Grovedale West Primary School will be using Blogs to communicate within and beyond the school to engage students and teachers in powerful, meaningful learning.

Maryna Badenhorst from Echuca Special Education School will be trialling Podcasting as a transitioning tool for students with Autism.

Paul Jorgensen from Marlo Primary School will be using Podcasting to enhance teaching and learning capabilities/ opportunities for teachers and students in rural and remote schools.

Lachlan Rhind and Megan Johns from Aspendale Gardens Primary School will be using Blogs to present a digital reflective journal, demonstrating how simple advances in technology can significantly increase communication and personal learning.

Kaye Trotter from Lal Lal Primary will be using podcasting to engage her students by recording their learning experiences and knowledge in a form that will be easily accessible to others within the school and wider community.

Altan Riffat from Taylors Lakes Primary School will focus his action research on manageable cybersafety for Blogging in student centred classroomsp.

Kirsten Dickins from Mooroopna Park Primary School will be using Podcasting to record student oral narratives to assist indigenous and non-indigenous students from Grade 4-6 to achieve improved VELS standards of writing.

Vern Hardie from St Albans Secondary College will be using Podcasting to create powerful learning through broadening accessibility to learning opportunities and increasing engagement for students with severely interrupted or no schooling backgrounds.

Richelle Hollis from Bendigo Senior Secondary College will be using Blogs to research when the act of blogging, either as on author or contributor, become powerful learning.


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