Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
Eighty per cent of the student population at the University of New England are enrolled through distance education. The Bachelor of Education (EC) is a two-year degree within the School of Education, and builds on students’ previous study and work experience. Currently, the course is only offered at a distance, in one of two online Learning Management Systems. The majority of the students are working full-time in a variety of early childhood settings while enrolled part-time in the degree program. Situating our course in the workplace allows us to respond to the ongoing professional development needs of Early Childhood professionals in Australia. The course focuses on the birth to eight year old age group and comprises of 16 courses of study covering areas such as philosophy, leadership, exceptional development, play, literacy, mathematics, relationships with families and communities, creative arts and science as they relate to young children, learning and teaching. For further information, please visit http://www.une.edu.au/study/early-childhood/#item5
At UNE, the courses within a degree are called ‘Units’. For this Award, we are submitting 8 Units. The duration of each of the 8 Units within the Bachelor of Education(EC) course is one semester (150 hours). Each Unit exists within Version 2.4x of Sakai. Our submission of 8 Units is unique to this Award, however, it is important that we continue to recognize that each of these 8 Units represent the collaborative pedagogical inquiry work we have undertaken in redesigning our online teacher education pedagogy for the Bachelor of Education (EC).
The lecturers coordinating the 8 units ~ Dr Brenda Wolodko, Ms Ros Littledyke, Dr HelenEdwards, Dr Nicole Green & Dr Margaret Brooks.
Rachael Adlington,Educational Designer ~ assisted lecturers in matching learning experiences and materials with Sakai tools; provided professional learning support for lecturers in learning how to use tools in Sakai; developed support materials for students and staff to use with tools; for example, how to edit the Wiki, using the Wiki to work in groups and how to use images.
Di Swann, Administrative Assistant ~ assisted in uploading content to Sakai Units; emailed survey introduction letter and reminders to students from each Sakai Unit; emailed philosophy statement of course and letter introducing changes in teaching and learning in Sakai to students from each Sakai Unit.
ITD Help Desk ~ The Information Technology Directorate at UNE provided technical support for lecturing staff and our students via email, telephone, or in person at the Service Desk.
Although there had been some migration from paper-based course materials to online teaching and learning prior to 2009, the units of the Bachelor of Education (EC) existed in the Learning Management System of BlackBoard. This version of BlackBoard that UNE supported did not allow for the kinds of interactions between students we wanted to facilitate. For example, Blogs were individual and did not allow other participants to leave comments. With no Wiki tool (or equivalent), BlackBoard also narrowed our options in terms of the ways we wanted students to express and share their experiences, evolving philosophies and professional knowledge. In January 2009, we turned to Sakai, a Learning Management System that we hoped would support our online pedagogy more effectively.
Continuing the migration process from paper based materials to teaching and learning online in Sakai underpins a progressive redesign paradigm involving the close examination of our teacher education pedagogy. Our goal was to put pedagogy first, and to use the tools of Sakai to enact a strong, socio-cultural theoretical pedagogy that aimed to open up more dialogic teaching and learning possibilities. We have engaged in rethinking content, assessment and learning tasks and activities within the Bachelor of Education (EC) to reflect a social constructionist view of professional growth.
Throughout our reconceptualisation of online teaching and learning in Sakai, we discussed, debated, negotiated and agreed on a shared philosophy for our course. Our Units in Sakai gave us the opportunity to develop our early childhood pedagogy within this framework. Like within any group of learners, individual lecturers have varying perspectives and philosophies. Evident in our Units is that we are all at different points in this reconceptualisation and redesign journey.
We believe that our students are members of wider learning circles - within UNE, early childhood contexts, and local communities and beyond. We value students’ previous experiences, values, understandings, beliefs and insights, and acknowledge the unique contribution of the personal professional knowledge each student brings to each unit. Opportunities to communicate, reflect, share and respond to and about their sociocultural histories are facilitated in Sakai.
We value the importance of social interaction to an effective learning process; interaction among students plays a central role in learning. Our Units in Sakai are based on this understanding and have been designed to facilitate a more authentic form of interaction, which is meaningful, supportive and takes place because the students want to engage, rather than because they have been instructed to do so.
We honor multiple ways of students demonstrating their knowledge, abilities and understandings;and multiple ways of reflecting and communicating. Our Units in Sakai include open-ended assignments and encourage the use of video, audio, photographs, PowerPoint and other publishing software.
We are also guided by the intention that our Units are preparing students for varying employment opportunities in communities. The tools in Sakai scaffold students’ engagement with, and in, contemporary knowledges, cultural sensitivity and understandings, and diverse leadership, problem solving and collaborative relational skills – all requirements in the complex profession of teaching.
During the past year we have moved towards an online presentation of course work that has made significant changes pedagogically, psychologically, epistemologically, and socio-culturally for our students and ourselves as teacher educators and learners (Hong & Sullivan, 2009).
Within Sakai, our pedagogical underpinnings have moved from “efficiency of knowledge appropriation” to facilitating participation and nurturing growth toward “knowledge creation”. For example, we added a Web Content link to a series of HTML pages created in Sakai focusing on Assessment to provide information in an easily accessible place for students. We added this tab in the left hand with links to an overview of all assignments to inform students of university policies regarding assessment and plagiarism. Each assignment is also outlined in full in separate pages. Assessments in each of the Units expect students to work in groups within the course, as well as engaging them in learning experiences which require collaboration with colleagues, families and children. We believe in the students’ ability to take an active, responsible approach to their development, personally and as a professional. Rather than regurgitating the information they have received through lectures and readings, our Assignments and the tools in Sakai which support each, provide a context for the information. Students are expected to engage with the content and critically consider how it could be used within their practice.
Psychologically, we have journeyed from a controlled process with barriers towards understanding barriers as a means to progressive problem solving. For example, in the Forums, the topics engage students in discussions and debates about timely and important ideas, concepts, theories and contemporary perspectives. Forum topics embody key concepts within each unit, making clear connections for students betweenunit outcomes, materials, learning experiences and assessment tasks. The Blog provides students’ with their own web space within the Unit environment for reflective journaling or professional dialogue with each other as educators in early childhood centres across Australia. The Blog tool in Sakai supports communication processes for students to provide feedback to their peers and to be responsible to each other in discussing the readings and otherresources provided. Some lecturers are using the Blog tool as an assessment tool. For example, students post photographs and scan documents that represent their learning journey. Other students comment on their content, creating a community of learners. We recognize students’ commitment and positive orientation to their work with children, families and communities, and we share in their passion about new ideas, possibilities and professional growth. Both the Wiki and Blog tools provide students with the opportunity to share their experiences and expertise in a respectful and supportive context.
Epistemologically, we have journeyed from a routine “know-how” and a predefined “know-that”, towards an adaptive know-how and an emergent know-that. For example, the Wiki, as a group collaboration space, has pedagogically assisted in developing a community of learners who build acollaborative knowledge base through resource sharing and personal reflection. One way the Wiki tool has been used focuses on building upon what students already have experienced and what they already know, and what is possible within their own sociocultural environments. In Wiki, the students have flexibility as a group in how to arrange their learning environment for creating joint documents and other forms of presentation. As the students knowledge and understandings evolve, they can change or modify the content and have access to this record of development by viewing ‘history’.
Socio-culturally, we have journeyed from scripted cooperation to a knowledge exchanging and collaborating culture. We have created a "Start Here" tab in the left hand menu. Our students begin each Unit with varied experiences in using technology and have a range of familiarity with Learning Management Systems. This rebadged Syllabus tool directs students where to begin and provides the appropriate information to facilitate their continued exploration of the Unit in Sakai.
In addition, the Study Guide Module tool was developed by web developers at UNE to meet our need to centralize some learning materials in a modular fashion and include Learning Modules to guide each student’s study pathway; including reference to text/s, article readings, audio and video files and website links. Our Units in Sakai guide students to source appropriate resources within and beyond the online environment through the provision of direct active weblinks and accessible audio, video, word document and PDF files.
PDF files of examples of the Sakai tools discussed are also provided further in this Award Application.
As faculty, we found heightened collegiality in the process of collaboration that led to reaffirming our professional identities. Migrating to Sakai has allowed us to concurrently examine our teaching and the process of students’ learning through our weekly meetings. Loughran (2006:29) reminds us that such an approach to pedagogy "requires a need to accept that it carries inherent vulnerability because learning through such meaning is a risky business." It is in the unpacking with colleagues, and at times our students, that we have become aware of the multiple layers and complexities involved in enacting an online pedagogy of teacher education in Sakai. This process has enabled critique of our assumptions, whilst looking in depth at our practices and how they fit with our beliefs. The act of putting pedagogy ahead of technology has allowed us to achieve more effective delivery of our online distance education course in Sakai (Ascough, 2002). Our pedagogical inquiry work was important for modeling the process for collaborative learning to our students.
Evidence in Student feedback demonstrates collaborative learning and authentic communication:
Student email 26/11/09: …being able to connect with other students and get motivation also contributed to my efforts.
Student email 14/09/09: I think it has been a learning experience for all. It shows us that we have to be very organised and not leave things to the last minute. Initially I was apprehensive about the group work, but then working with S. and F. was a great opportunity when we are all external students. It felt good to be able to bounce ideas off one another and work together. Not feeling so isolated with university! I would encourage UNE to continue group projects.
Student email 01/10/09: I found it difficult to provide any feedback on areas to be improved on in our group. I felt that they were so easy to collaborate with and each group member had something worthwhile to contribute. I hope this is ok, I know the purpose is critical reflection, which I can do quite easily on myself, however I felt that my group was soooo good that I can't even think of any constructive criticism. Thanks again for all of your hard work and support, it has made getting through this part of the assessment a breeze!
Student email 03/10/09: Because this is a group assignment, so I believe we need to work collaboratively for each question. I put myself in the team position where everyone discussed and shared our ideas together to reach the common goal. We had very good time chatted online by used the particular chat room and I did responded to everyone’s questions and completed all the tasks. During this assignment, I had improved much better written skills by chatting with my group members, and working together for completing all the tasks. I understand that English is my second language so I showed my initiative for doing this assignment, and shared my knowledge with each member in the group.
Migrating from paper-based materials to online teaching and learning in Sakai allows us to act more responsibly toward the environment and care for our planet. Lecturers and other University staff are now not required to print the large quantities of paper, which once constituted the Units Notes and Readings for each Unit. Rather, Sakai supports the availability of a range of content – such as PDF readings, YouTube video links, Podcast and other audio recordings from iTunes – to be viewed, downloaded and, if chosen by the student, to be printed.We are also able to cater to our diverse student population in the resources we provide access to (e.g. learning styles, dis/abilities, language).
Furthermore,the eSubmission tool allows our students to submit their assignments electronically. Lecturers are able to mark/grade assignments online using AdobeAcrobat Pro. The entire process now requires no printing of paper, and no postal services (e.g. gas emissions, envelopes) for returning Assignments to students.
Evidence in Student feedback demonstrates their response and engagement with the LearningMaterials:
Student email 25/11/09: I really enjoyed this module and learning how to use Sakai. It is a great learning tool.
Student Blog: I never thought I’d say this but I am actually enjoying Maths right now. It is a very interesting shift in my thinking and 3 weeks ago this would not have been the case. I believe it has a lot to do with the social aspect of learning. In the Blog we share our stories, our beliefs, and our goals and somehow it appears as if we are all achieving them. Cobb, Wood and Yakel (1990:8) in Mathematics For Children (2009) believe that it is through interaction that mathematical knowledge is constructed. So, it appears that I have relaxed into the unit and I am looking forward to more challenges.
Chat Room 10/03/2010: Although I have completed the survey, I am surprised how conducting the survey has inspired other staff members (where I work) to look at their own practises as well as what we would do as a team to promote mathematical learning. We are brainstorming together and bringing forward great ideas. Most importantly we are really working well as a team and some much needed energy is now occurring at the centre.
Sakai has provided the tools to enable students to learn experientially about the process of socio-cultural pedagogy.Through the opportunity to share knowledge between peers and work together to problem solve and construct group responses to assessment tasks the students are able to create and embody new knowledge. We are working toward journey away from authentic assessment which retains a focus on assessing what was learned (albeit in an authentic way), toward using the assessment as the vehicle for teaching itself.
Evidence in Studentfeedback demonstrates how students view the Assignments in relation toachieving the Learning Outcomes:
Unit Evaluation 21/01/10: I really liked the way the assessments were broken down. It made them clear and allowed enough time to gather information, do readings and answer questions. I loved the group assessment, however initially I wasn't so sure how it would go. But, I was very impressed with this and found the encouragement was very beneficial to get to the end. I just really liked how it all flowed together. It was step, by step and it worked for me. The readings were excellent, the online work was excellent. In fact I think it was my best unit to date. The style of it really suited my hectic lifestyle. I also loved getting back assessments online. Ilive in Queensland and it is very stressful waiting for hardcopies to comeback. When I saw Nicole’s assessment back, marked and with distinction online,I nearly cried, actually I think I was crying!!!!!! with relief.
Unit Evaluation 21/01/10: The delivery of information made it easy to read, access and learn. Range of different types of assessments enabled us to use and learn many new skills. Group work assessment has been the best format so far for engaging and connecting with other students.
Unit Evaluation 21/01/10: The difference in the online expectations, although tricky at the start it seemed to make a lot more sense to have the online component as part of assignments rather than just forums where you feel like you have to go to just read and write stuff for the sake of the marks. The group assignment was great and I learnt a lot, and the annotated resource list in Wiki was fun to do as well as a GREAT!! resource for the future!
Evidence suggests that current difficulties experienced in many teacher education programs are the direct result of pre-service programs that remain insular and unconnected (Standing Committee on Education and Vocational Training, 2007). Our collective goals in journeying to Sakai included that we ensure links,connectivity and consistencies across the Units. Sakai has allowed us to develop a common interface for our Units to provide students with another layer of consistency across the Units within the Bachelor of Education (ECE) degree program. For example, the Left hand menu and the rebadged Assessment tab.
Sakai allows students to simultaneously create their own learning contexts, access the intended content in multiple forms, and finally, represent their own interpretations of both the content and theory/practice in publishable and public forms.
Evidence in Student feedback demonstrates the pedagogical possibilities of the tools of Sakai:
Student email 25/11/09: I really enjoyed this module and learning how to use Sakai. It is a great learning tool.
Student email 28/09/09: Technology is a great way to bring students together that otherwise would pose an impossible situation within the time frame.
Unit Evaluation 21/01/10: I really enjoyed the live interaction and group assignment. Although at first I thought I would least enjoy this aspect of the unit, once I overcame the challenge of not 'seeing' other classmates/group members, I found this to be a very rewarding and stimulating experience. It was great to engage with other students in such meaningful ways.
Across the Bachelor of Education (EC), we have been working through the idea of “teaching through assessment” (Edwards, 2010) by merging technology and assessment to create contexts in which our students can work towards authentic communities of learning.
Evidence in Student feedback demonstrates supported one another in within collaborative learning groups:
Unit Evaluation 02/02/10: As Pelo (2202:3) states, ‘culture gives individuals self-confidence and self esteem, as well as providing them with a sense of belonging to a supportive network like-minded people’. This quote I believe relates to how my pod (group) worked together as a team. Although each individual from our group came from different cultures and backgrounds, our cultures, study of this unit and each member of our pod sharing the same ideals and values of early childhood education brought us all together. Through the majority of the semester, each member of Pod X, was supportive of one another. This was evident, as our pod faced many obstacles throughout the two terms, which included a group members leaving our pod. Overall, I believe our pod worked together successfully as a team to overcome these hurdles.
Unit Evaluation 02/02/10: The group experience…was positive as everyone was supportive of one another and were helping each other out for the majority ofthe semester. It was also great to work with other peers in the same field and learn of their experiences and issues they faced in their workplace. It also taught me a lesson on how to deal with conflict resolution especially in the last few months, and just try to work as a team, even though ‘it’s not smooth sailing’, as this is what happens in the real world. Therefore, to conclude, I enjoyed studying this unit with my pod and working with a team of successful women who share the same common values, hopes and ideals, not only for children but early childhood education.
Chat Room 2/03/2010: “Hi Denise, I checked your Blog and sorry the photo's are still not there. My suggestion is to email Rachel or Brenda and explain what you've tried and ask for help. They are both very prompt with responses and their input may make you feel a little better about the situation. I too was very frustrated with the technology as it's not my strongest point, but cooperative learning is all about others having an inputinto how we learn, sometimes we need the help from those around us. It's certainly going to be a big learning curve for all of us!”
Chat Room 03/08/2010: Hi There, I also think that the Blog option for posting our assignments would be beneficial for us for a number of reasons. Firstly we can gain feedback from one others and also have the opportunity to share with one another.
Chat Room 8/03/2010: Hi everyone. I too am happy to submit through the Blog, because like Brenda said it means less restriction on the file size and it also gives us the opportunity to see what everyone is doing, therefore providing feedback and ideas.
“Teacher education represents a unique form of teaching in which both the content of the teaching and the practice of the teaching form the basis of what is being taught” (Edwards, 2010). The paper-based materials and initial work on BlackBoard for our Bachelor of Education (EC) at UNE were defined by enhancing the efficiency of “knowledge appropriation”. The knowledge the students needed to acquire was pre-defined and the community was not emphasized. Sakai has allowed each lecturer to regain control of her professional identity and reframe her online pedagogy to reflect her philosophies of socio constructionist teaching and learning. We are now teaching in a way that we are suggesting students might like to try in their own practice (Edwards, 2010).
Our faculty collaboration in migrating from paper-based materials and changing to Sakai required an engagement with the literature and systematic inquiry – we have moved from a position of compliance - that is, we were individuals working alone or in pairs trying to implement the institutional changes to distance learning increasingly being imposed on lecturing staff, and hoping we were doing the “right thing” - to now sharing a commitment as a team to our online teaching and learning pedagogy.
As you will understand, our work continues and extends beyond what is described in this Award Submission. We feel strongly that there is never a time when a course or Unit is ‘finished’. We met weekly as an entire team in 2009 and we continue to share our emerging knowledges with a smaller research group in 2010. Our experiences affirm Wells (2004, p.17) statement, "that there are many situations in which no-one is an expert; yet, as each brings his or her own past experience to the solution of a common problem, the group together is able to achieve more than any single member could have done alone.”
The files attached below represent how the use of Sakai and its associated tools helped
to create contexts in which theory/practice were viewed as an integrated
process. What was realized pedagogically in our Units was that the
tools allowed the students to collaboratively learn together.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Blog_Example.pdf | 5.47 MB |
| Wiki_ Example_ResourceList.pdf | 772.53 KB |
| Assessment_Example.pdf | 125.09 KB |
| Forums_Example.pdf | 146.71 KB |
| Wiki_Example.pdf | 64.81 KB |
| StudyGuide_Example.pdf | 197 KB |
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