One year on
Posted by Zak Mensah on Monday 10 August 2009 at 12:20pm
Tags:
e-learning |
Today marks one year on as JISC Digital Media’s sole e-Learning Officer and being back in Bristol. Due to a lack of memory I wont reflect too much but noticeable points include the following:
I made a decision that I wanted to speak at 5 events in my first year and I can safely cross that off the list having spoken at least twice that. From this I have learnt to speak at a normal pace, stop saying the word “obviously” quite so much and actually enjoy the opportunity. If you would like me to contribute to any event you're running please do ask as I'd probably say yes.
I now use twitter. I was at the 9th annual blackboard users conference and after my presentation was asked by several people what my twitter name was. I explained I didn’t quite see the point of me personally using it, 1 hour later I was convinced to try and haven’t looked back since, thank you Sarah. Sorry if you follow me and are constantly bombarded lol.
In February this year we went from TASI to JISC Digital Media and did a bit of a tour, from which I’m sure we should start a hire vehicle blog. I helped build our website CMS using Expression Engine and lived to tell the tale.
I delivered my first workshop in July under the team banner and look forward to doing more this year.
Met a bunch of talented people and made some super friends which is a bonus.
Looking forward
Already in motion for release before the year is out are regular webcasting support sessions and tips online from myself and the team.
More speaking engagements (mobile, using digital media for teaching and learning, etc)
Harnessing mobile device for teaching and learning as over 2 billion people using them cannot be ignored.
Seeing if VLEs can shake their current rep for being outdated and too slow to run with all the new kids on the block.
Greater collaboration with our sister services as there is a lot of talent in the other camps.
If you want to get in touch you can find me here, here and here:
PS
Oh and we purchased our first home.
Comments (3)
2 of 3
Comment posted by Zak Mensah on 10 August 2009 at 2:15pm
Hi James,
I think we are beginning to see some solid steps forward, having now spent too much time looking at this area i see that:
Unlimited (mostly) web data such as provided with the iphone as a positive thing - now we can use the web without fear of a hefty bill
Using small handheld devices to control other devices to overcome some of the small display issues
Better user interfaces making using the things easier!
I think a device is considered mobile when its easy and simple to move with us without breaking.
I can use my iphone for example to do 80% of what i need a laptop for. If it could connect wireless to tv/pc screen then perhaps that could rise to 95%. For consuming the web i think my mobile already does a great job. The only aspect it cant handle is my creating of content. Perhaps devices like the rumored apple table/kindle start to also fill that gap. Im finding it interesting enough to want to find out more!
Cheers
3 of 3
Comment posted by Distance Learning on 22 August 2009 at 6:42pm
So you spoke at over 10 e-learning conferences in one year? That’s quite the circuit you must have been on. I almost signed up to go to one in the states, but I ended up having a scheduling conflict. Would you say that you got more out of the sessions or the networking at the e-learning conferences?
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Comment posted by JamesM on 10 August 2009 at 1:28pm
Mobile devices have been touted as the future for so long now that it’s about time that some real innovation was seen. It’s interesting to see smaller, consumer-level devices (i.e. netbooks) make it into the e-learning arena, but when does a device cease to be “mobile” or “portable”? How can something the size of an iphone be truly useful for delivering meaningful content?