Suzi's Notebook

Events round-up

Some (potentially) interesting events that I've heard about recently.  No firm plans to go to any of them at the moment.

13 March - JISC Conference - Birmingham

22 March - Shock of the Old 6 - Oxford - £90 (academic)
A one day conference in Oxford on Web 2.0 (and "related collaborative technologies").  Call for papers currently open.  Looks very broad.

16 May - Virtual Fieldwork in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences - Worcester - Free
"This one-day conference seeks to explore, in a relaxed, informal atmosphere, some of the pedagogical and technological aspects of virtual fieldwork... In addition, there will be an opportunity to try out some of the equipment and software used in producing virtual fieldwork content.

10-11 July - Computer Aided Assessment Conference - Loughborough - £460 (early bird)
Topics covered are expected to include accessibility, case studies, evaluation, free text and speech, item banking, national and international initiatives, novel question and assessment design, peer and group work, pedagogy, policies and procedures, services, standards, student experiences, training and support as well as tools and services.

Math teaching of the future

Keith Devlin in Edge's questions for 2007 (what are you optimistic about) thinks that we are finally in a situation to get maths teaching right.

At one end of the spectrum he suggests that mobile phones to deliver learning materials in poor countries - and takes a swipe at the $100 laptop project.  At the other he also suggests that 3D virtual worlds are an ideal environment to teach mathematics, particularly basic mathematics.

Maybe not the beacon of hope the reader might have been looking for in these days of doom and gloom, but something to distract you for a few moments none the less.

Keith Devlin's response: http://edge.org/q2007/q07_2.html#devlin
Edge's questions for 2007: http://edge.org/q2007/q07_index.html

Geography elearning projects funded by GEES

There are two elearning projects among the small projects funded by the Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences subject centre (GEES) for 2006/07.

e-Learning or a-Gimmick? Evaluating the use of rich media in Geography fieldwork
A project based at Exeter, looking at the use of rich media in onsite fieldwork.  They'll be using ipod, PSP and mobile phones to deliver the material and evaluting the technology compared to (and/or combined with) traditional formats such as workbooks and handouts.

Enhancing Feedback Opportunities for Students through the use of Podcasting
Based at Chester, the project is not entirely clear to me from the description but it sounds like staff will be providing individual verbal feedback to students in the form of podcasts.  This feedback will be delivered using the students eportfolios.  The process will then be evaluated.

For a complete list, see the small scale learning and teaching projects for 2006/07.