ASCILITE NEWS

Reminder: ASCILITE 2019 Call for Papers closes 26 July 2019

The ASCILITE 2019 Conference Organizing Committee would like to remind you that contributions describing critical perspectives on the use of educational technology under the themes and submission types outlined on the conference website here are due 26 July 2019.

The 36^th International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in the Use of Educational Technologies in Tertiary Education Conference will be hosted by the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore, from 2 – 5 December 2019.

All submissions must be made via EasyChair. If you have any queries, please email the conference organisers.

New TELall Blog about Deakin’s first suite of online digital and professional literacy modules

In our latest blog post, Simone Tyrell (Faculty of Business and Law Digital Literacy Programs Librarian, Deakin University Library) discusses the Professional Literacy Suite (PLS), Deakin’s first suite of online digital and professional literacy modules created at a course wide level that resulted from digital and professional literacy and employability skills that were identified as educational skill gaps in the course renewal process for Deakin’s largest undergraduate course, the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom).

Tasked with creating a systematic, sustainable solution to enable reuse by other courses, the Deakin team built a suite of embedded digital literacy modules that ensure students develop digital literacy skills, professional insight and support employability.

Simone and the Deakin team were recipients of the ASCILITE Innovation Award in 2018.

Visit the full blog post here and while you’re at it, why not subscribe and receive email notifications of new posts: An ASCILITE Live! webinar on the PLS is scheduled for 29 July and you will find full details and a registration form for that session here.

Next TELedvisors SIG webinar: AR/VR and Mixed Reality technology in Education

Join the TELedivsors on Thursday 27 June at 12 noon AEST as we head into another reality with three dynamic presentations on current work and thinking in the AR/VR and Mixed Reality technology in Education.

Jaime Donally
Presentation: Experience to Creation with Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality.
The growth of immersive technology has brought many new resources to our students to experience learning like never before. The engagement and enthusiasm have peaked and many of our students are eager to use more AR, VR, and MR in the classroom. While it’s easy to use these tools to capture our students’ attention, the shift from experience to creation is vital for their future skills.

Matt Bower
Presentation: Blended Synchronous Learning
Blended synchronous learning aims to unite on-campus and distributed learners in the same live learning experience using real-time technologies such as video-conferencing, web-conferencing and virtual worlds. The OLT Blended Synchronous Learning project compared and contrasted seven authentic cases of blended-synchronous learning taking place in Australian universities to derive an evidence-based framework for blended synchronous learning design. This presentation provides a brief overview of the cases and the design framework that emerged. Findings will then be related to my more recent book “Design of Technology-Enhanced Learning – Integrating Research and Practice”.

Kevin Lucas
Presentation: Virtual reality to build cultural understanding.
The work from Kevin Lucas combines traditional storytelling techniques with the latest mixed-reality technologies. The project proposes a new method of two-way engagement between remote communities and cultural institutions to open up a new avenue to develop a better understanding of Indigenous culture. It is a multi-layered process-led documentary that reveals its narrative through customary and contemporary threads that highlight how a community is using its traditional knowledge and practices to realise its dream for a united and stronger future.

The prototype concept centres on the larrakitj, a hollow log coffin used by the Yolngu of north east Arnhem Land in the funerary rites. The mixed-reality environment is used to explain the meaning and significance of the larrakitj designs and give the viewer the feeling of being right in the community through the virtual environment and the immersive soundtrack.

You can join the session at https://bit.ly/TELedsinar

Regards
Wendy Taleo
Convenor of TELedvisors SIG

Transforming Assessment (eAssessment SIG) News

Next webinar: Making technology enhanced assessment effective: what works? 17 July 2019.

A joint post-conference panel webinar organised with the Assessment in Higher Education conference secretariat will be conducted on 17 July 2019. The Panel Chair will be Prof Sally Jordan (Open university, UK) and panel presenters are Mira Vogel (King’s College London) on “Students and assessors in conversation about authentic multi-modal assessment”. along with Maria Rosaria Marsico (University of Exeter) on “Online tools to enhance students experience: assessment”.

For further information and to register visit the SIG website.

2018 TA-SIG Recordings Available

Video recordings are available for all 2018 sessions and the e-Exam Symposium. A special thanks goes to all the speakers from our 2018 series and to those who presented at the e-Exam Symposium held in November 2018. The 2018 webinars may be accessed here and the e-Exam Symposium 2018 recordings may be accessed here.

Request for support: Safe Exam Browser and Moodle HQ integration project

We are posting on behalf of Thomas Korner, Innovation Management & Head of Moodle Service, ETH Zürich in regards to their free, open source “Safe Exam Browser” (SEB) co-developed with Moodle HQ and which you will find here.

The next phase of development for SEB will entail significant improvements to the core integration of SEB with Moodle. This will bring usability improvements, improvements to reliability and the streamlining of the process for setting up and running secure e-exams in Moodle. This will simplify and strengthen the running of secure e-exams in campus labs and via bring your own laptops.

Plans are now in place with Moodle HQ and are formally part of the Moodle roadmap. All that is required now is the funds to implement it. Currently the project has been crowd funded to 65% with universities in Europe having committed significant funding.

Your support for this exciting digital assessment initiative would be greatly appreciated, work from which we will all benefit. Contribute a little or a lot – it all helps.

For further information or to pledge funds to support this valuable digital assessment project please email Thomas Korner.

Reminder: EOIs to attend the annual ASCILITE Spring into Excellence Research School close 5 July

EOIs are invited to attend the annual ASCILITE Spring into Excellence Research School which will be held 2 – 4 September 2019 at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW. This event, which will be hosted by UNE, will feature guest speakers and presenters including Professor Barney Dalgarno, Associate Professor Michael Henderson, Associate Professor Sue Gregory and Dr Chris Campbell.

The aim of the ASCILITE Spring into Excellence Research School is to:

Provide support and guidance to participants in developing and progressing Technology Enhanced Learning research initiatives including but not limited to:
– Formulating a relevant and effective TEL research project.
– Collecting appropriate TEL research data.
– Identifying what data is most appropriate for TEL research.
Assist participants to identify and plan a contemporary TEL research project.
Enable opportunities for participants to link with like-minded collaborators from other universities and potentially to establish viable cross-institutional research collaborations.
Guide participants in developing a grant application or research plan for a TEL research project. This would include both projects that have already been conceptualized as well as new projects that have not yet been conceived.

At the end of the ASCILITE Spring into Excellence Research School participants will:

Have gained a sound understanding of current topical areas and methodologies for TEL research
Have broadened their professional networks
Have a well-developed and comprehensive plan for a TEL research project
Appreciate how to be successful in publishing manuscripts in journals
Be able to confidently review a manuscript and provide constructive feedback;
Have a strategy for identifying potential funding opportunities and developing funding applications

The ASCILITE Spring into Excellence Research School is most suited to:

Early to mid-career researchers
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) enthusiasts
Teaching intensive academics
ASCILITE mentors and mentees
Anyone interested in applying for a TEL research grant
Anyone interested in TEL research collaborations and cross-institutional research projects
Academics seeking to incorporate research into their TEL practice and approach
PhD supervisors

This 3-day Research School, which includes lunches, morning and afternoon teas and 2 nights accommodation (2 & 3 September 2019), is $750 for ASCILITE members and $950 for non-members (less $230 if accommodation is not required). The Research School will begin at 12:30 pm on the 2 September and finish at 3pm on the 4 September.

Expressions of interest to attend the 2019 ASCILITE Research School are due by 5 July 2019. Please note that there are limited places available so don’t be disappointed, register today.

EOI outcome notifications will be sent by 16 July 2019 and successful applicants will be provided with registration and payment options at that time.

If you have any further questions, please email Sue Gregory at the University of New England or Chris Campbell at Griffith University.

OTHER NEWS

RESCON: International Flipped Learning comes to Brisbane, 18 – 19 October 2019

RESCON will be held at Griffith University, Southbank Brisbane on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October 2019 with a Masterclass on Thursday 17 October.

RESCON, (Reach Every Student conference) will tackle some of the biggest issues facing teachers and schools with a focus on Innovation.

Jon Bergmann, one of the pioneers of flipped learning with open the conference with a keynote address: Reconnecting with why you teach and how to stay motivated for the long haul.

An amazing group of experienced educators will lead Cohort sessions, workshops, and discussions across the two days. Some of the sessions on offer are: Implementing active student-centered learning in tertiary education; Engaging every student in the group space – solving the 2 sigma problem; Back to the Future: Becoming a part of the education revolution; Students’ Collaboration through Cool Apps; Your Students are Accountable Learners; Active Learning ideas for developing 21st century skills; Creating Classrooms conducive to Collaboration just to name a few.

Take a look at the comprehensive program on the website

IEEE TLT Special Issue on Early Prediction and Supporting of Learning Performance

The April-June 2019 issue (vol. 12, no. 2) of the IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies (TLT) has now been published. This is a themed special issue on ‘Early Prediction and Supporting of Learning Performance’, guest edited by Prof Cristóbal Romero and Prof Sebastian Ventura of the University of Córdoba, Spain.

The Guest Editorial to the special issue is freely available here and it provides an overview of the 11 articles that constitute the issue.

The full issue is available through IEEE Xplore here. (Click on the ‘Current Issue’ link). Most university libraries have subscriptions to TLT via the IEEE Xplore Digital Library, so you should have access if you are using a device connected to your campus network.

TLT’s next special issue, which will likely be published in early 2020, is on the topic ‘Data Capture and Analysis for Supporting Learning Engagement’. The Guest Editors of that issue are Dr Ilaria Torre of the University of Genoa, Italy; Dr Olga Santos of UNED, Spain; and Prof Abelardo Pardo of the University of South Australia.

Job Vacancy: Senior Learning Designer, UTS

Continuing full-time role
Salary range: $100K-$114K pa (HEW 8) + 17% superannuation
Join a dynamic and creative design team engaged in exciting new initiatives

Our vision is to be a leading public university of technology recognised for our global impact. We are a dynamic and innovative university, ranked by the Times Higher Education as Australia’s top young university, and located centrally in one of the world’s most liveable cities. With a culturally diverse campus life and extensive international exchange and research programs, UTS prepares graduates for the workplaces of today and tomorrow.

UTS has a strongly practice-focused, experiential learning and teaching framework called ‘learning.futures’ which has enabled UTS to rethink the experience of our students in every faculty. As part of this framework, the postgraduate.futures initiative is now transforming the experience of postgraduate-by-coursework learners at UTS. In a 21st century University of technology, postgraduate students engage in flexible and digitally supported learning, designed for their needs.

About the Role
We are looking to appoint an experienced Senior Learning Designer to our team to coordinate the design and development of quality postgraduate teaching and learning experiences in liaison with faculty management and teaching staff.

You will lead and manage a small team of learning designers, and lead strategies for the promotion of an innovative culture of digital teaching and learning at UTS.

About You
You have a solid understanding of and experience in the application of learning design principles relevant to higher education. You have the ability to foster productive stakeholder relationships with well-developed negotiation, conflict resolution and influencing skills.

You will also have:

demonstrated expertise in the design and development of high quality learning resources for tertiary students
familiarity with current tools and platforms that support on-line and blended learning
experience managing a small team with proven ability to establish goals, coordinate workloads and manage staff development and wellbeing.

For the full list of the selection criteria and role responsibilities please click apply and download the position description from the UTS website.

Remuneration
This appointment is full-time and will be made on a continuing basis. Base Salary Range is $100,317 to $114,250 pa. (HEW 8). The role attracts 17% superannuation in addition to the base salary. Employee benefits include flexible work practices, child care centers, generous parental leave and salary packaging opportunities.

For full details on how to apply, visit the UTS website here.

The closing date for applications is TBC 2 weeks at 11.59pm (AEST). Applicants must have current and valid work rights in Australia.