The Learner Experience - JISC RSW Summer Conference 09
We shared the presentation slot with Exeter College talking about their information literacy work, issues etc. They are using CILIP's information literacy definition and looked at Rudyard Kiplings wise words "I keep six honest serving men ... Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who" to inform their rational, aims and objectives leading to a strategy and a mission to "raise the profile of Information Literacy in the college by creating greater awareness across all sectors of the Exeter College community". They have also been:
- carrying out some research into what skills students from the colleges link schools are coming in with
- developed Explore & Discover Information Literacy Tools - 3 modules which include lesson plans
- a new learning portal that has an i-zone
Some interesting work being done with the potential for greater collaboration in the South West region of England through the JISC Regional Office. Will be interesting to see how they get on.
Other sessions of interest included Dr Neil Witt, University of Plymouth who has been involved in several JISC projects including a JISC project called Web2Rights "to develop practical, pragmatic and relevant Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and other legal issues toolkits to support ... in their engagement with next generation technologies." Have a look at their website Web2Rights which includes a six minute animation, resources and toolkit. Also UsPaCe which "aims to support the needs of WBL learners and mentors via the creation and sharing of resources and by providing online student support for learners in the work-place to be accessed via desktop or mobile devices. Additionally UsPaCe will support and allow tutors, mentors, learners, employers to interact, communicate and share ideas experiences and knowledge." as Neil said "not reinventing the wheel but re-using the wheel to make a better vehicle.
As to be expected with e-learning there was talk about e-portfolios (Elgg and Mahara) and iGoogle (looks on a quick look to be similar to Netvibes) which I need to investigate at some time as I don't really know anything about them and much talk about Web 2.0 and a range of e-tools but little about the necessary skills required. Although in one of the sessions information skills was mentioned by an academic and the 'digital native theory' was discussed in another again by academics who felt that the theory was unfounded and based on second hand results.
Once the conference presentations are available I'll provide a link.