eLearning Forum Asia 2008

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29 May 2008 (Thursday) | 30 May 2008 (Friday)

29 May 2008 (Thursday)

9.00am – 9.15am

	Opening Address Professor Er Meng Hwa, Senior Associate Provost, Nanyang Technological University Watch Video Presentation here.

9.15am – 10.00am

Keynote Session #1
The Challenge of eLearning in China

The Challenge of eLearning in China

eLearning, bred in an inner chamber with no fame in China! Dr. Xu will talk about the direction of education and utilization of educational technology in China generally, and eLearning developments at Renmin University. What are Chinese student’s demands when educational technology has made such a rapid progress nowadays? It is a key topic with increased interest and debate. Dr. Xu will also mention some links with other countries and institutions in eLearning field. It is a small world! And everything is possible, isn’t it?

Speaker:
Dr Xu Erming
Professor of Management and Deputy Dean, School of Graduate Studies,Renmin University of China.

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10.30am – 11.15am

Plenary Session #1
Online learning pedagogy: Strategies and approaches for effectively applying ICT to support learning

Online learning pedagogy: Strategies and approaches for effectively applying ICT to support learning

These days online learning happens all the time in almost every corner of the globe. Mostly it happens with very little teacher input and direction. Increased access to technology and Internet communications has moved much of the power in learning away from teachers and delivered it to the learners. There are many powerful ways for teachers to harness and value-add to learning with online settings. This presentation will explore and discuss the forms of online learning environments that most effectively sustain and enhance learning in higher education.

Speaker:
Professor Ron Oliver, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning),
Edith Cowan University

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11.30am – 12.15pm

Plenary Session #2
Blackboard: Client & Product Strategy

Blackboard: Client & Product Strategy

Blackboard's clients in Asia continue to set a high bar for our global practice as we look at the ways in which institutions continue to evolve the use of online technologies to engage their students and assess institutional progress. Since the merger of WebCT and Blackboard, we've worked with hundreds of clients from around the world to incorporate the increasingly sophisticated uses to which the Blackboard Academic Suite is being applied, taking advantage of new Web 2.0 capabilities, and updating our company and client strategy to meet the challenges of a new generation of students. Paul Grist, Product Marketing Director, International at Blackboard, will take us on a tour of some of these developments.

Speaker:
Mr Paul Grist, Product Marketing Director, International, Blackboard

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1.30pm – 2.15pm

Plenary Session #3
Rising Pedagogies in Blended Learning: Are we baking a Soufflé?

Rising Pedagogies in Blended Learning: Are we baking a Soufflé?

Advocates for technology in education have rallied the faithful around the call for blended learning. This call has had a significant impetus in the rise of certain pedagogies. However, the rise of inquiry-based, problem-based, project-based and other pedagogies has not lead to a significant incorporation of technologies & dramatic transformation in teaching and learning as many educationalists would hope. One concern many teachers have is whether these pedagogies actually have the substance that matches the rhetoric. This presentation will explore the question of substance versus form amongst these rising pedagogies.

Speaker:
Mr Glen O'Grady, Director, Centre for Educational Development,
Republic Polytechnic

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2.30pm – 3.00pm

Presentation by Sponsors

Creating Effective eLearning

Creating Effective eLearning

When an enterprise decides to support elearning as a strategic imperative, the organization's teaching and learning professionals will find themselves dealing with an array of new opportunities and challenges. Setting plans in place to deal with potential problems is one of the best ways to ensure that the impacts of such problems are minimized. This underscores the importance of being aware of what some of the potential problems may be. This session addresses the challenges reported by elearning professionals working in a variety of teaching and learning settings and solutions that can be used to determine if learning objectives have been achieved.

Speaker:
Mr Titu Minhas, Education Solutions Manager, Southeast Asia, Adobe Systems

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Wimba Collaboration Suite: Enhance Learning, Improve Outcomes and Increase Student Retention

Wimba Collaboration Suite: Enhance Learning, Improve Outcomes and Increase Student Retention

This session will expand on Wimba’s foundational belief that technology doesn’t teach people, people teach people. It will introduce the latest releases of the Wimba suite of products (Wimba Classroom, Wimba Voice, Wimba Create, Pronto) that can be used to enhance the teaching and learning experience for both staff and students. Wimba’s Multi-Modal Suite supports virtual classes with full voice over IP, web cams, shared white boards and screens, podcasting, a rich educational instant messaging network and content creation in a variety of standards such as IMS and SCORM.

Speaker:
Mr Allan Christie, Managing Director, NetSpot Pty Ltd

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Coping with the Information Explosion

Coping with the Information Explosion

With today’s explosive data growth in the eLearning arena, having a sound Data Protection and Retention (DPR) strategy can provide a host of improvements and enhancements to the Information Technology plan. For example, you can achieve higher storage utilisation through de-duplication of data and thin provisioning technology; and, using the same physical storage for disaster recovery test and development, you can back-up changed data only and implement best-of-class data management. Get a step ahead in backup and recovery with 95% faster backups, and recovery in seconds rather than hours.

Speaker:
Mr Dennis Loo, Business Development Manager, Avnet Technology Solutions Pte Ltd

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3.30pm – 4.30pm

Breakout Session #1

Track 1

Track 2

Track 1A:
Collaboration and Interaction in Virtual Learning Communities

Collaboration and Interaction in Virtual Learning Communities

Promoting active and collaborative learning is readily attainable in the online learning environment. The fundamental requirement is the existence of a virtual learning community in this environment. Thus, educators must be very careful in creating, maintaining and supporting virtual learning communities. Attendees to the session will learn a number of strategies in not only creating and sustaining this community but also in designing and implementing web-based collaborative activities.

Speaker:
Associate Professor Cristino
Carbonell,
University of Santo Tomas

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Track 1B:
Effectiveness of eLearning by Cooperative Learning Method

Effectiveness of eLearning by Cooperative Learning Method

The common approach to elearning focuses on developing study materials. However we realized content alone would not drive learning. We designed pedagogically sound activities, particularly cooperative learning, supported by quality materials, and applied them to the topic “Numerical Integration” for two semesters. The students’ performance during tests and exams improved compared to that in previous semesters.

Speakers:
Mdm Ong Chwee Sim,
Singapore Polytechnic
Dr Xiao Shu,
Singapore Polytechnic

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Track 1C:
The Affordances of a Learning Management System : Engaging learners within a dynamic environment

The Affordances of a Learning Management System : Engaging learners within a dynamic environment

The LMS comes with a plethora of tools built into the system, allowing the educator to create a dynamic learning environment, provide rich interactivity, whiles ensuring adequate support and scaffolds are present to ensure the learning objectives are met and that effective performance is achieved. This presentation provides real-life situations of how the affordances of an LMS has been tapped on via case studies within the NIE learning context to provide for enhanced student-focused pedagogies.

Speakers:
Dr Marissa Wettasinghe,
National Instittue of Education
Mr Mazlan Hasan,
National Institute of Education

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Track 2A:
Using Web 2.0 Tools for the Institutional Support of a Culture and Language Immersion Scheme

Using Web 2.0 Tools for the Institutional Support of a Culture and Language Immersion Scheme

CityUHK initiated a Cultural and Language Immersion Scheme to develop students’ intercultural awareness and English language skills through immersing them in an overseas English-speaking environment. Students have to reflect on their learning by writing reflective journals using blogs on our Blackboard platform. This enables our English teachers to monitor students’ progress while they are abroad, hence assess their learning outcomes. In the presentation, we shall share our experience of the Scheme and our preliminary findings.

Speakers:
Professor Lilian Vrijmoed,
City University of Hong Kong
Dr Eva Wong,
City University of Hong Kong

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Track 2B:
Cascading modes of communication in edveNTUre for knowledge sharing

Cascading modes of communication in edveNTUre for knowledge sharing

We present a case study on Professional Seminar – a course attended by around 200 post-graduate students each year on the topics relevant to information professionalism. Cascading modes of communication supported by Blog, Forum and Wiki Web 2.0 technologies is integrarted and deployed to facilitate adult learners in peer-to-peer learning. Online records will be analyzed to demonstrate how the cascade can effectively help learners achieve knowledge sharing, which otherwise would be hindered by miscommunication, in a natural discourse of learning from reflection, dialogue to consensus building.

Speaker:
Dr Paul Horng-Jyh, Wu,
Nanyang Technological University

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Track 2C:
Pedagogy 2.0: Creating a Social Learner Ecosystem

Pedagogy 2.0: Creating a Social Learner Ecosystem

The presentation considers the ramifications of the social networking phenomenon for the formal education system and the future of learning management systems in particular. The position taken is that ‘Web 2.0’ is changing the role of the learner in that they are now both consumer and producer of knowledge. Given this new dynamic, the role of ‘teacher’ needs to be reconsidered.

Speaker:
Professor Jeremy Williams,
Knowledge Universe Education

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30 May 2008 (Friday)

9.00am – 9.45am

Plenary Session #4
Achieving Success through Partnership with Blackboard Global Services

Achieving Success through Partnership with Blackboard Global Services

Improving the learning and teaching outcomes of an institution needs to be achieved within the framework of a unified vision. This presentation will focus on case studies, where institutions working in partnership with Blackboard Global Services have successfully embraced the goals of individual stakeholders within the broader context of the institution's vision. Examples of successful outcomes as a result of mapping institutional goals to well designed implementation strategies, will be highlighted.

Speaker:
Mr David Wilson, Regional Manager Global Services - Asia Pacific Blackboard

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10.30am – 11.30am

Breakout Session #2

Track 3

Track 4

Track 3A:
eLearning for Workers’ Skills Qualification

eLearning for Workers’ Skills Qualification

eLearning is an important enabler in training as employees can learn anytime and anywhere. How can it serve the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Framework? This presentation aims to share the experience gained in designing and conducting public-funded eLearning programmes for workers’ skills qualification supported by the Workforce Development Agency.

Speaker:
Mr Anthony Chan, Sigma Solutions HRD Consultants Pte Ltd

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Track 3B:
Incorporating Student-Centred Formative Assessment into a Scaffolded-Blended Learning Curriculum Model

Incorporating Student-Centred Formative Assessment into a Scaffolded-Blended Learning Curriculum Model

The presentation provides insight into how two pedagogies; scaffolding and blending were used to design and implement a curriculum model on a full-scale to teach English Proficiency at the Nanyang Technological University. The need to cope with increasing class sizes and reduced contact time with faculty were addressed in the design. Strategies on how student-centred formative assessment was used to promote learning will be the main focus. The model has the potential of being adapted and customized for other learning contexts within Singapore and beyond.

Speakers:
Ms Santhakumari Thanasingam, Nanyang Technological University
Mr Alan Soong,
Nanyang Technological University

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Track 3C:
Using Blackboard Statistics for Accountability & Faculty Engagement

Using Blackboard Statistics for Accountability & Faculty Engagement

At the institutional level, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Singapore) uses Blackboard usage statistics as evidence for management accountability and an instrument of engagement with faculty members. Sample usage statistical charts will be presented to highlight trends and student learning activities patterns over the 6 years. We will share how we use the statistics to establish in-house definitions on “Active Collaboration” and “Active Access” to help rally shift towards learner-centered learning at an institutional level.

Speakers:
Mr Ch'ng Beng Hin,
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Mr Lim Peng Heng,
Ngee Ann Polytechnic

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Track 4A:
Lecturer Resistance:
Managing Issues in Technological Innovation

Lecturer Resistance: Managing Issues in Technological Innovation

With the continual need to reform education so that it encompasses a greater spirit of inquiry and currency to global trends, emerges a growing need for the engagement of technological innovations. This presentation explores issues that surround lecturer resistance toward such technological improvement efforts in current curriculum development. A framework which maps the levels of resistance and the proposed rectification of such acts of anti-reform are discussed.

Speaker:
Ms Joyce Tan,
Singapore Polytechnic

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Track 4B:
Converting to Blended Learning: Are You Ready?

Converting to Blended Learning: Are You Ready?

The presentation will explain a seven-step hierarchical process for a professor to follow in converting his/her university engineering course from being lecture-based to one that is blended with eLearning mechanisms. There are basic assumptions about the course structure and the level of blending, plus two fundamentals of time spent on learning and the conversion following small steps.

Speaker:
Mr Kevin Jones,
Nanyang Technological University

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Track 4C:
A Rapid, Extensible, Affordable and Scalable Content Development (REASCD) model for Distance Education

A Rapid, Extensible, Affordable and Scalable Content Development (REASCD) model for Distance Education

The NTU Distance Education 70/30 model features a 70 percent asynchronous and 30 percent synchronous content delivery process which reflects the successful application of a rapid, extensible, affordable and scalable content development (REASCD) process cycle to provide reliable and quality online DE programmes locally and regionally.

Speakers:
Mr Paul Gagnon,
Nanyang Technological University
Associate Professor Ling Keck Voon, Nanyang Technological University

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11.30am – 12.30pm

Keynote Session #2
Developing a community and evidence base for eLearning to support institutional planning

Developing a community and evidence base for eLearning to support institutional planning

Technology is essential to teaching and learning in the 21st century. While eLearning is a key item in University planning and budgeting, the literature remains littered with stories of expensive initiatives with sub-optimal outcomes. At The Chinese University of Hong Kong we are planning for eLearning on the basis of three key principles: 1) Good communication and robust networks must exist within the University. 2) A strong evidence base is essential to inform planning; this includes information about current preferences and information about likely future needs. 3) Evaluation plans are required for all projects. In the keynote talk I will explain how we have implemented these three principles and will describe our monitoring mechanisms which look at technical requirements as well as educational uses and outcomes.

Speaker:
Professor Carmel McNaught,
Director & Professor of Learning Enhancement, Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

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12.30pm – 1.00pm

Panel Disscussion & Close
Implementing Blended Learning: Considerations

Implementing Blended Learning: Considerations

The panel will focus on the current challenges related to supporting and encouraging both faculty and learners in today’s Internet driven and rapidly changing social networking environment.

Panelists:
Professor Carmel McNaught, Director & Professor of Learning Enhancement, Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Doug Vogel, Chair of Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong
Dr Huarng Kun-Huang, Chief Librarian, Feng Chia University
Associate Professor Daniel Tan, Director, Centre for Educational Development, Nanyang Technological University
Mr Glen O’Grady, Director Centre for Educational Development, Republic Polytechnic

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