Cathryn Whitwam :: Blog

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2006/09/tutors-comments-on-day-one.html

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2006/09/teaching-learning-support.html

Today is the first Saturday school, a chance to meet the tutor and the other students. We are a small group from very different backgrounds, Primary school, learning support, teaching support, IT support, and have reacted well towards each other. We have discussed our reasons for attending, our hopes and fears, and it would appear that we will continue to interact online as well as at the monthly sessions. Our tutor is very focussed but allows us to progress at our own pace, some of us grasp concepts more quickly then others and she is patient and helps us either collectively or individually.

I already feel part of the group and am looking forward to learning a great deal over the coming weeks!
SueC

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2006/09/first-impression.html

The first session was very informative and mapped out what I will be doing within the first year of my Foundation Degree in E-Learning. The first year is split into 4 modules these are as follows:
1.Introduction to E-Learning: In this module I have to read the Dfes E-Learning Strategy Harnessing Technology and create a MindMap to show the key points of the stragety that are relevant to Adult Learning. I then also have to write a report showing what aspects of the strategy we are doing or intend to do. This module needs submitting on the 21.10.06 and 25.11.06.

2. ICT in Practice: In this module I have to use E-Learning within a teaching session, I can use any aspect of technology for this module. I will then record the session as it is taking place by either digital video recorder or digital camera. I will then write an evaluation of the session and discuss how the session was prepared and how it went.This module needs submitting on the 21.1.07, 4.3.07 and 31.3.07.

3. Creating Digital Resources: I have to create a digital resource that will be used in the classroom or within the team/service. I will then have to write a report on why I created the resource and how it was created and whatr impact it had within a teaching session. This module needs submitting on the 3.2.07 and 24.2.07.

4. Learning Theories: In this module I have to write a seminar paper on Learning theories and then produce a report. This module needs submitting on the 28.4.07 and 11.5.07

Thank you for your support and co-operation
Karen

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2006/09/first-day-at-uni.html

After a nervous drive from home this morning to attend my first day at Huddersfield University, thoughts run through my head. Why am I doing this at this time of a morning??...I should still be in bed watching TV and haveing my frosties and coffee!!....I can't believe they chose today....Town are playing at home!! ;-)

Within a short time of arriving however, Cheryl, the course tutor, had run through this years course content, opened up discussions as to where peeps could go from once they had graduated, and I remembered why I was here!

Through a mist of 'HTML' 'BLOGS' 'mindmapping' and other phrases seemingly sounding like fluent swhahili, I realised that I am one of only a few being at the start of something new and exciting, with many uses in and out of my work life, and hopefully giving me a unique edge in my career development.

Meeting new peeps with different backgrounds and skills gives me a first impression of diversity of use, but with common goals for the future.

one last thought....I cant believe after over 30 years of not having any.....we've all been given homework on the first day :-( ....welcome to the reality of being a student!!

Steve Horsfall

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2006/09/day-one.html

Our first Saturday morning together as a group was an enjoyable but intense experience. We introduced ourselves and then looked at content of the course.
As our first module is to produce a Mind Map of the Dfes e-strategy, 'Harnessing Technology', ( good bedtime reading!) we were introduce Mind Genius which is a easy to use piece of software that enables you to create a Mind Map quickly.
Our task was then to produce a Mind Map showing the different modules we had to complete in the first year, which consisted of Introduction to e-learning,Creating Digital resources,ICT in Practice,and Learning Theories.

Cath

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2006/09/first-day-impressions_16.html

There are 7 of us on the course and we introduced ourselves and explained why we were here. We were shown how to use the course web pages and how to sign on. We then looked at the assessments we will be doing in our first year. This morning we created a simple mind map as a practice, as our first assignment to create a mindmap on the Dfes e strategy.

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2006/09/foundation-degree-in-e-learning

I am looking forward to the foundation degree...there are so many Opportunities within e-learning. The first session has been very interesting and helpful.

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2007/03/march-cath-w.html

I can't believe that this is our last Saturday school. The time has passed very quickly, especially assignment deadlines! I feel I have left my Comfort Zone on more than one occassion!!!! but I have really enjoyed the course.

I have handed in the ICT in Practice module which consisted of three assignments and the Digital Resource module which had two. Feedback should follow shortly.

Today we had a new tutor David Neve. He introduced us to our next module Learning Theories.After introducing ourselves we looked at the module specifications, breaking them down into different areas. We need to produce a seminar paper (2500 words) on two digital resources, post it on a Blackboard's Discussion board and comment on other students seminar papers by the 30th April.

To complete the module we then have to write a report (1500 words) on five different digital resources which needs to be completed by 11th May.
This module has quite a tight timescale of 7 weeks,which also includes the Easter holidays.

After a break we looked at different learning theories and E-learning.

Lunch was followed by how we might research for our paper, develop questionnaires (Qualitative & Quantitative), and analyse data.


Yet again another busy day.

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2007/01/cath-w-test.html

just creating a new post to see if it feeds into elgg blog

http://foundationemployers.blogspot.com/2007/01/january-update-cath-w.html

I have completed assignment three, ICT in Practice, but as yet not received any feedback.
My next assignment is to create a digital resource. This involves creating the resource and a 2000 word report about how I created the resource and what learning theories I have used.
We can use either our blog or a standard report format for this assignment.

Todays Saturday school was delivered by Tom. He gave us a very interesting overview of the history of video recording which spanned 50 years. We looked at the different media which has been used over the year to record video on to.
We then went out and recorded several clips. Using Apple Mac computers and imovie software we looked at editing our video reordings. It was very easy to use and navigate. Perhaps we could look at using Apple Macs to improve our multimedia facilities at school.
After lunch we took a more indepth look at how to create our digital resource. We looked at planning the resource, learning theories and software available. I used Cam Studio which is a piece of free software which allows you to capture a recording of the screen of your computer and use it as a learning tool. We talked about 20-20 ( free image capture software) which is also a useful tool to use when creating handouts or digital resources.
We also looked a wikis which are webpages you can edit and add your own thoughts.
www.wikispaces.com allows you to create a wiki and limit who has access to that wiki.
Could be used to create a story, with each learner having some input as to where the story goes.

Another busy day.