WSI Workshop

V.1 17.07.2006

Searching and Accessing Digital Learning Resources to support teaching and learning in TAFE

Vijendra Lal

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Presentation Outline

1. How do teachers search for learning resources – 0ur research findings

2. Some useful places to find learning resources

3. What difficulties teachers have in accessing learning resources – our research findings

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1 How do teachers search for resources – Our Research

Aim

• To better understand how teachers within DET who regularly use online learning resources discover, access and use such resources to support learning

Respondents

• 198 School Teachers

• 77 TAFE teachers

Research Methods

• Online survey

• Some interview

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Online Survey Results: How did the teachers discover online learning resources?

Resource Discovery Source Percent response

Search Engines eg Google 81.2 Professional Networks 79.3 Subscriptions to RSS feeds, email alerts

31.7

TaLe 31 Other DET websites 29.9 Suggestions from Students 13.7 TAFE Curriculum Centres Gateway 12.9 Other 11.8

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Online Survey Results: How did the teachers use the online learning resources in their teaching?

Use of learning resources Percent response

Customised it to suit local needs 84.7 With a student worksheet 53.4 As a complete stand alone package 37.3 With a Learning Management System (Janison 41%, Moodle 30.9%, MyClass 10.3%, LAMS 6.2%, Blackboard 6.2%)

21.6

Save on CD for use in class 20.1 With an interactive whiteboard 15.3 Other (in computer lab, with a data projector, for research, for home work etc)

9.3

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2 Where to Search for resources

■ Teaching and Learning Exchange (TaLE, Centre for Learning Innovation, DET, NSW) www.tale.edu.au/tale/index.aspx

■ CLI Learning Reference Repository http://lrr.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/MainPages/index.aspx

■ Google Suite of Resources http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/options/

■ A Repository of multimedia assets (wikimedia) where multimedia creators share materials freely with others. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

● Users are allowed to copy, use and modify the material so long as its source is attributed and users provide their copies/improvements to others under the same condition

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Where to Search for resources

■ Instructional videos from Teachertube http://www.teachertube.com/about.php

● A site where teachers can post videos designed for students to view in order to learn a concept or skill

■ Film Australia http://www.filmaust.com.au/learning● A free, national educational online resource for teachers and

educators that features over 1000 free Australian video clips to view or download, combined with dedicated curriculum-based notes and class activities.

■ The Toolbox Repository is a bank of learning objects available for teachers and trainers to download for free use with their learners. http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/repository/index.htm

■ LORN - cover a range of vocational course areas including business, tourism and hospitality, community services, electrotechnology, horticulture and more. http://lorn.flexiblelearning.net.au/lorn/go/home

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3 Accessing resources – our research finding on how teachers access resources

Access method Percent response

Opened and used it on their own computer

91.9

Saved it for later use 78.2 Printed it 63.5 Other 12.9

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Difficulties teachers encounter in accessing and using the resources – our research findings

Difficulties Percent response

Did not have network permissions to install, upgrade software, plug-ins etc

43.1

Slow download of large files 42.1 Limitation of school / college computing infrastructure

40.1

Resources did not work on school/college computers

33

Locked PDF files which could not be adapted

27

Did not have the technical skills to do adaptations

23.6

Unable to print files 15.4 Other (poor navigation, log in issues, filtering and blocks)

14.6

Problems in integrating with LMS 13.9

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How are we enabling teachers to easily access resources

■ Designing and Packaging learning resources to learning technology standards for interoperability and accessibility

■ Providing various tips and guidelines via TaLe and the LRR

■ Developing a capability building/ professional learning site for teachers