Assessment One - last post (I hope)

Here I have taken the marking criteria and attempted to match to what I have done over the semester.

I don't think I have a good job of this but I must remember my trepidation at doing this course. I had explained to Oriel that I would only do one this semester as Evaluation would play 'second fiddle' to any other.

Picture to show feelings

(Not many can say they have an inflatable Scream to provide a picture)

Investigate evaluation theory and processes in your context - Okay I know about ADDIE and think that is theory I definitely saw as something I could understand. A needs evaluation fitted my situation but I will be interested to see how the other forms of evaluation worked for others as I didn’t get a chance to really get a grip with what other were doing especially in the case of Jon and Kevin’s. I also would be interested to see how they relate to Bronwyn’s comments about how things can be done differently next year. They fact that Jon had to take the lead so much from Kevin (the situation dictated it) and also the issue they had with contacting past students. I felt they had a lot more bridges to cross than maybe other groups.

I found the whole evaluation theory interesting in relation to my work place as I don’t think it is always something that is done to any great level with just maybe just the surveys done and results not always looked at (I came across an example at school while doing my report). Presenting the final report won’t happen until next year and again in what form it will take I will not know.

· Demonstrate evidence of reflective learning about the process of evaluation - this was an area I felt I worked at a lot at as evaluation in this context was new to me. Normally I would look at my lessons, children's learning but not in a more holistic wider approach as required by this course and the assessment that we needed to complete.

In one blog post as I was deciding on what was to be the topic I looked at how 'tools vs. purpose'. I looked at the school situation, talked to colleagues, talked to others in a similar situation and also looked at documentation that would help my understanding further. This also allowed me to change my original ideas. I still feel further work will be needed in the future about tools but purpose and in this case professional development played a greater part.

I have looked at eLearning guidelines; related them and used them within my report.

* Reports and reflects on the progress of the evaluation project – I have regularly given updates on how my project is going and also what steps were to be undertaken next. The language and pictures used were aimed at lighten the mood.

* Critiques at least two other evaluation projects of participants in the course.

I worked constantly with another course member to construct our joint report. In a way this was a critique as it involved looking at another's work along side your own.

I regularly commented on others work both on the discussion page when the projects were being created and within the blog: sometimes the purpose was to communicate about issues you were having. Other times it was to reflect on what they had written.

On the completion of reports I have commented on others’ work.

* Discusses and critiques the findings of their evaluation project – I did this briefly on the discussion page on wikieducator and also in my second to last blog post. This I did not feel I have done as well as time I felt did not allow for a full and frank discussion as such reports should be given.

Well everyone have a good break and I hope to meet some of you next semester or in the real world. Thanks Bronwyn for you vampire skills. I need to acknowledge my husband support here - proof reading and playing solo dad on a number of occasions. I will leave you with a picture of our shared desk which will see became multiscreened (most I have had is 3) something I highly recommend.

Final report - enjoy!

Here is my final report.

Finished it last week but was having problems publishing in Google Docs (oh it was such a simple problem - be in edit mode!)

A Quick Summary of report:
A needs assessment was conducted with a primary school’s teaching staff at the conclusion of a three year ICT cluster contract. This type of evaluation was chosen to investigate what professional development needs to be put in place for teachers to continue to teach ICT effectively.

Recommendations:

• Improve sustainability practises so all staff have a point of reference to refer to that is well documented.
• Any professional development to be in line with the level taught, short in form, opportunities to revisit and non-negotiable.
• Collaborative learning needs to be formalised across the school.
• Teachers to be given opportunities to learn within a group, given formal input (from inside and outside the school), opportunities for directed sandpit time and further support both in the form of colleagues and/or documentation.

To use a language all would understand - good practices are being lost and lacked direction. I plan to publish my report for the staff first through management. This I feel would be the right protocol even though I am doing this course/report outside my position.

Some of the recommendations will be looked into and addressed through my 'Special Topic' to be completed next semester where I plan to create a wiki/website to support staff. I will use some of their recommendations as to how they learn to help with this.

Identify and rationalise eLearning guidelines

I must have missed this bit. I definitely read the work on it as I have used two of them for my assignment so I will rationalise them here as to why I used them. (actually just found a comment from Bronwyn on this in one of my blog posts - Oops!)

Identify and rationalise two eLearning guidelines which can be used to measure quality in your context.

TD11 Should staff use a team approach to develop the ICT skills they require, and to teach ICT applications confidently?

TO10 Is good eLearning practice available to staff in a way they can adopt and adapt in their own work?

I found the guideline layout with the cube interesting and spent a lot of time clicking the different options. When looking at these two within the context of my situation they were chosen as they allowed me (wearing my evaluator’s hat) to look at staff and best practise and then relate them to ICT (Information Communication Technology) which I teach part-time to some of the school. (as a footnote in my survey this came up about only part of the school having someone teaching ICT)

To explain further in my present situation as a part time teacher within a school that previously I was a senior teacher I have previously wore a number of hats but at present are more of an observer. I have a feeling that that ICT contract has not always worked as well for some when it came to ICT as other element took over (see the final report for more on this – will provide the virtual popcorn). I saw the team work and best practise definitely fitted the school’s need as not all staff has had the same experience over the three years – they had voiced this to me informally.

Interestingly as I have worked through my project from the plan to report stage collaboration and sustainability two areas also used within the guidelines featured in my work. So on reflection and revisiting the guidelines others could also have been used.

Not final post

Just spent ages doing Assignment One when I good be enjoying finishing my report and it wont post to my blog for some reason so will try and do in my lunch hour tomorrow!

Rather annoyed - have to learn how to swear

Pressing the Flesh

Love that saying 'Pressing the Flesh'! Used it to describe that I had the pleasure of meeting a number of our class in person. This was at MIT for a working lunch! Lovely food Vicki! Present were Oriel, Dana (he has 11 cats!), Mareena, Misha and Me and the guest of honor Bronwyn who we made work for her money by seeing her afterwards about our assignments. Nice to meet those who I feel I know.

I have made some general notes which I will write up and link in my next blog post once I have made sense of them.


By the way those involved in the discussion the other night that the plan should be 50% and the report 25% Bronwyn agrees. (Doesn't mean it will change now)

The reason for the potato picture is we are all getting to the stage that the fruits of our labour will be showing - ie survey results coming in. These are the fruits of my labour involving three grow bags. Harvested now so I can get the tomatoes in.

The Famous Five Met

A small group of us still met online tonight - Dana, Lousie, Liz (from very hot Perth), Rachel and Me. Allowing for Bronwyn apologising before hand that she may not make it we still spent an hour plus looking at issues we have had, any help we can give (Rachel tried her hardest - thanks!) and also looked at our special topic (yes the next course). Dana has nearly completed his and the rest are due to do ours next year. So we looked at what we thought we would do. We even looked at the fact that the plan is 25% of the course but the sweat and blood involved was more like 50% so maybe Bronwyn should swap the marks around with the final report.


Is it time to revisit my previous photo just to remind you of how we felt.


Data collection - I now have 11 completed surveys and sent out the survey to 16. Some teachers had issues with doing the survey online. I think user error is involved so I have given those that contacted me a paper copy.

Also I have completed two interviews using Audacity so I could record and listen to it later. Each interview has taken around 20 minutes. I hope to interview two more teachers and ideally one more who is a lead teacher and a team leader. I feel her interview will bring a balance between the two 'sides' I have talked two so far.

Next point: the rest of the interviews and surveys, looking at the exemplars provided and think how I will structure my final report.

Survey started

Lisa and I have both released our survey out onto the staff. So far between us we have 16 results in. I marked my email so I could see who have read it. (10 read emails and 7 completed surveys)

One teacher was unsure about privacy which I had mentioned verbally so have sent out an additional email addressing this issue and mentioned that they can see me if wishing to know more. With Obsurvey we only know the city location which means nothing in this case.

Having a few issues timetabling my interviews as I have had two shorter weeks (and I work part-time) because of PD and Union meeting so will have to try and fit them in next week. Have set up Audacity as my recording device on my laptop and will save them as MP3s.

Hope all one has had a good long weekend.