Keynote Speakers

Thursday, 15th July, 2010

 

Opening Keynote:

Implementing a constructionist approach to collaboration through a ‘learning design support environment’: balancing users’ requirements with researchers’ theory-informed aspirations

Professor Diana Laurillard and Liz Masterman

[Abstract] | [Slides] | [Audio]

In this joint presentation our speakers will address the conference theme of support for collaboration and sharing in the practice of learning design. Both are currently; involved in a design research project to develop a ‘learning design support environment’ for lecturers to expand their design skills and knowledge. The project builds on our previous work on pedagogy planner tools and is intended to provide the means for lecturers to take a constructionist approach to learning design in collaboration with their peers.

Taking lecturers beyond their current practice includes helping them to engage productively with theories of learning, both explicitly (through drawing their attention to appropriate theories) and implicitly (by embedding theory in the software infrastructure). In developing the LDSE, therefore, we must balance users’ stated needs and preferences rooted in what they do now (the “demand” side) with our own theory-informed aspirations for what they might do (the “supply” side). In this keynote we will illustrate how we are striving to achieve this balance.

 

Closing Keynote:

A Differential Model of Effective Advice for Implementing Learning Designs

Professor James Dalziel

[Abstract] | [Audio] | [Slides] | [Paper]

While Learning Designs can instantiate effective pedagogical approaches, there are many kinds of advice (for educators) that can accompany a Learning Design. At a micro-level, advice can be given about the framing of individual elements of a specific activity within a design (such as how to phrase an open question for students). At another level, advice can be given about a whole design, and this advice may come in many forms such as: background education theory, existing experience from using the design, practical details on implementation and advice on how to adapt/edit the design. At a higher level, advice can be provided on different types of designs and why one pedagogical approach might be chosen over another. These examples illustrate different levels of advice that can be provided to accompany designs, and much research remains to be done on the effectiveness of different types (and amounts) of advice. From another perspective, certain types of advice may be more useful at different stages in planning for teaching - different advice may be relevant to a whole of course redevelopment project as compared to a teacher who has very limited time to finalise their lesson plan for an impending class. This presentation will consider different types of advice to educators that can accompany Learning Designs and develop a model of their relationships at different levels and over time within planning processes.

James is the Director of the Macquarie University E-Learning Centre of Excellence (MELCOE) iin Sydney, Australia, and also a Director of the LAMS Foundation and of LAMS International Pty Ltd. James is known nationally and internationally for his research into and development of innovations in e-learning, and technical standards. He has directed and contributed significantly to e-learning projects such as the Meta-Access Management System project (MAMS), The Collaborative Online Learning and Information Services project (COLIS), and the Learning Activity; Management System project (LAMS).