The Learning Landscape Model by Dr. Will Thalheimer

The Learning Landscape Model by Dr. Will Thalhe…, posted with vodpod

Seven key skills of workshop facilitation #FO2011

There seven key skills that makes a great facilitator. Learn about them in this short video presentation.

10 Ways Mobile Sites Are Different from Desktop Web Sites, by Shanshan Ma, March 21, 2011

I found this great post by Shanshan Ma on UXMatters.com where 10 fundamental ways mobile site design differs from desktop are identified.

The original post is here.

I’ve re-posted the summary below:

Summary

Based on my company’s research, which looked at a number of mobile sites from various industries, I’ve discovered 10 ways in which mobile sites differ from desktop Web sites:

1. In comparison to desktop Web sites, which usually contain a wide range of content and information, mobile sites usually include only the most crucial and time- and location-specific functions and features.
2. On desktop Web sites, horizontal navigation at the top of a page is a widely accepted way of structuring and presenting a site’s content. However, vertical navigation replaces horizontal navigation on more than 90% of the mobile sites we analyzed.
3. Hypertext is the signature component of the Internet and the Web. However, on mobile sites, there are few or no hypertexts on pages.
4. On desktop Web sites, designers use graphics for many different purposes, including promoting, marketing, and navigating. Mobile sites avoid using promotional and marketing graphics and use minimal graphics for navigation.
5. Various types of navigation are available on desktop Web sites. Some are global, so are consistent across a site, while others are contextual and change depending on where users are on a site. In contrast, while most mobile sites have global navigation, contextual navigation is rare on mobile sites.
6. On desktop Web sites, footers typically provide either links to content users might expect to see on a site’s home page or quick links that are available across a site to provide access to content users often need. Mobile sites employ a minimal form of the first type of footer, but they do not use footers containing quick links.
7. On desktop Web sites, breadcrumbs reassure users that they are on the right page and let them backtrack on their navigational path. Breadcrumbs are rare on mobiles sites and really aren’t necessary, because of the relatively flat structure of mobile sites.
8. Process funnels on desktop Web sites frequently use a progress indicator at the top of each page to guide users through the process. Such progress indicators do not appear on mobile sites.
9. Mobile sites offer better integration with phone functions—and present marketing opportunities such as facilitating direct orders by phone or sending promotional text messages.
10. Mobile sites can take advantage of technology that automatically detects where users are to present local search results. When users set up their preferences or profile, personalized search results become even more relevant and valuable to them.

Communities, networks and what sits in between #FO2011

Nancy White on the differences between communities and networks in 3 minutes

Did You Know 4.0 #FO2011

I was pleased to see this video in the course syllabus for #fo2011. The original version by Karl Fisch (Shift Happens) and all the subsequent versions have been a great tool for communicating the need to drive and embrace change. The idea that we are ‘preparing students for jobs that don’t exist using technologies that haven’t been invented’ (Did You Know 3.0) is hard to convey. Ongoing professional (personal?) development has become critical to survive in the workplace. Suddenly we have a need for a personal, professional space that will outlive our job, the transition from University to industry and even survive a career change.

Did You Know 4.0 focuses on how the webscape has changed: the rise of mobile and social media, the impact of the decline of print and unofficial downloads, and the risks of having a digital identity.

Week Two: Facilitating Online 2011 #FO2011

This week we have been asked to think about what we want to achieve during this course.

I work in a stakeholder support role and so I help to provide support for teachers and learners. More and more teaching and learning happens online and the teachers, in particular, require support and guidance on how best to deliver content and facilitate online communities. The more I can find out about this topic the more I can contribute effectively to creating that guidance. It’s really interesting for me to hear other people’s opinions on the topic too.

In addition to my role at work I am hoping to begin some research in September. This will be an action research project and I’m hoping to set up an online community to facilitate this.

Clive’s video describing what virtual classrooms are and they role they play in blended learning programmes is really interesting and easy to understand. Most people have no problem with using asynchronous communication tools (and it certainly overcomes the issue of timezones!) but I know from experience of studying online that synchronous communication is a great help in building relationships and fostering community.

• What do I want to learn to facilitate?

My priority is to gain some insight into learning how to establish a community for my research project. I think this is quite tricky. Even if you get the initial response to then maintain interest and encourage participation.

• What are I’m doing now in terms of online facilitation?

Day to day I do very little but I do have some experience from my post-grad course and a previous role.

• What I would like to achieve, change or do more of?

I have no expectations of this course. I’m happy to hear other people’s opinions and connect with like-minded people but it would be useful to consolidate what I know and improve my skills in online facilitation.

• What do I need to do or make happen to achieve your goal?

I need to contribute to the course every week by reading and commenting on all our amazing blogs, I need to follow the twitter stream and I need to post to my blog at least once a week specifically about #fo2011.

I didn’t make the first meeting and I’m not likely to make the second I’m afraid. The timing is really bad for me but the one on the 23rd is a better.

Want to know about QR codes?

Want to know about QR codes? , posted with vodpod

Week One: Facilitating Online 2011 (#FO2011)

Today is the first day of #FO2011: an online course ‘designed to help people to access and interpret models, research, and develop professional expertise in online facilitation.’

So… hello to my new classmates. I’m an e-learning enthusiast, currently working in ESOL, with a particular interest in e-portfolios, m-learning and social learning (online). I have a background in teaching (ESOL) and training and got into e-learning a few years ago after discovering how engaged children were when I integrated technology into their lessons. I went back to University to study for a Masters in Interactive Teaching Technologies which I have nearly completed (just a Research study to do!!) and since the beginning of last year I’ve worked in a specific e-learning role. I’m also on Twitter, LinkedIn and I have an e-portfolio.

I have to admit to not being completely new to the topic having completed a ‘Learning In Networked Communities’ module as part of University of Ulster’s MSc (Interactive Teaching Technologies). In saying that it was only the briefest of introductions and I’m really looking forward to building on what I learned. I’m also looking forward to discovering some new blogs and following some new people on Twitter – any excuse to connect with like-minded people

Who’s Really Scanning All Those QR Codes? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Are We Wired For Mobile Learning? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Click on the image for the original (larger) version.