This week, the Library Team is presenting at Mohawk College’s annual e-Learning conference, Connections! For that reason, we have only a short post this week and it’s all about the Connections Conference!
Keynote Speaker Curtis Bonk Kicks off Connections Conference With a Bang!
We were really fortunate this year to have Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University and President of CourseShare and SurveyShare, Curtis Bonk as our opening keynote! Dr. Bonk was electrifying in his opening talk today, “How the Learning World Became Flat” (which we hope will be posted here soon.) He described three large trends affecting learning: 1) the availability of tools and infrastructure for learning, 2) free educational content and 3) a culture of open access and global information sharing. Then he launched into a description of ten forces that flattened the learning world; for example, open source LMSs such as Moodle and Sakai, online learning object repositories such as PLoS, MERLOT and CAREO, virtual collaboration tools such as Skype and Google Talk, Massively Multiplayer Online Games, and learning mobility and portability (podcasts and wireless devices). His second talk of the day, R2D2 to the Matrix was jam-packed too!At this one he gave us ideas for igniting our online classes!
What’s the Library @ Mohawk Up To at Connections?
The Library has its very own stream at Connections again this year! Today we presented on assignment design in the online world, the new Knowledge Ontario initiative and KO databases, and Second Life. Tomorrow, we’ll be speaking on wikis and blogs, online search tools (hands-on!), and we’ll feature a library quiz show – all the facts you wanted to know about the Library @ Mohawk but were afraid to ask in quiz show format! Woo hoo! Want to know how many of us wear buns and glasses to the Library every day? Well, I’m not telling – you’ll have to come out to the quiz show to find out! Watch this space for postings of our presentations!
Get Yer Learning Materials in facultyspace!
Dr. Bonk tossed us some tremendous e-learning resources today (and all while dressed up as Obi Wan Kenobi) – watch the facultyspace as we’ll be adding them there over the next week or so! Also, drop by the facultyspace table during the Technology Gifts session tomorrow…I’ll be wearing my facultyspace hat and would be pleased to give you a personal tour!
Welcome to our sister blog!
The Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research (CTLR) has just launched their very own blog, teaching & learning @ Mohawk! Welcome to blogging, CTLR! Check it out to learn about the latest events, services and news items from this department!
