This presentation outlines practical strategies which have been used within a region of over 300 NSW schools to develop capacity and the integration of effective use of ICTs to support learning. These strategies have been employed throughout a time where the same schools have been inundated with a rollout of Laptops for Learning, as part of the National Secondary Schools Computer Fund, and with the NSW Connected Classrooms program.
The keywords, Connect, Collaborate and Create are expanded to look at the imperatives to:
• Connect - people and ideas, zooming between big picture and narrow focus views and taking account of the challenges presented by cultural and generational differences. Examples will be given of a range of ways that these connections have been forged and harnessed to build capacity.
• Collaborate – The power of collaboration is unmistakable. Examples are given of the regional use of a number of Collaborative Online Workspaces, (COWs) which provided self managed environments for the delivery of online professional support and content as well as providing an environment for sharing and exchange of ideas. A range of platforms, including SharePoint, Moodle, blogs and micro-blogs are discussed.
• Create – A highly valuable outcome of the other Cs described is the ability of students to create new objects and knowledge which have authentic meaning and which demonstrate learning outcomes. Examples are provided of this ‘create’ step and its outcomes in terms of real and robust learning.
The presentation will utilise a variety of media, including audio visual and live music performance integrated with visual metaphors presented within a dynamic presentation. Elements of the presentation will build on successful keynotes and workshops presented at the NSW Computer Education Group 2008 Conference, the NSW P&C Federation state conference 2009, the NSW Glenfield School Leaders Conference 2008, the NSW Primary Principals’ state conference 2005 and a large number of similar presentations across NSW and in international online conferences.
As well as describing process and intent, this presentation looks at the deeply human imperatives which are about shifting from a paradigm of ‘School Planning’ to one of ‘Planning School’: taking account of who our learners are, and what the world context in which they live means. It encourages optimism and the creation of a learning world which is future focused and full of hope.
