Summary Description of e-pd project activities 2004

An e-pd package was written by Project Writer, Pat Pledger during Term 1. This kit provides an introduction to online ICT tools available to teachers to enhance their professional learning opportunities, with an emphasis on literacy.

Pat then conducted three workshops on the package, the aims of the project and outlined the tools to be used in Term 2 of the project. Three face-to-face workshops were held during May, at Barmera Primary School (4 May), Technology School of the Future (6 May) and Port Lincoln Primary School (13 May). A total of 29 teacher librarians participated in these workshops.

Experiments with a blog developed at: http://slasaepd.blogspot.com/2004_05_01_slasaepd_archive.html.

Many participants then joined the slasae-pd, slasanet and/or oztl_net email discussion lists, and the Eyre Peninsula facilitator started a new email list for teacher librarians in her region.

At the workshops participants were encouraged to take part in the ASLA Online conference ‘Constructing communities of learning and literacy’ held 15-31 May: http://www.asla.org.au/onlinecon.htm.
There were 27 SA participants in this online conference.

On 9 September the e-pd project participated in an online chat in conjunction with The Network, Department of Education and Children’s Services Literacy, entitled: Literacy and ICT connections in learning.
Guest facilitators were the Literacy and ICT Policy & Programs Officers, DECS. Archive: http://forum.edna.edu.au/uploads/edChatLog_659_29Sep2004_10_30_57am.htm

Another online chat took place on 17 November to discuss the new Choosing and using learning materials guidelines from DECS. Archive: http://forum.edna.edu.au/uploads/edChatLog_690_18Nov2004_11_51_03pm.htm

Ongoing contributions and feedback from facilitators and participants in this project have been collected and will assist the association address some of the issues surrounding online professional development.

On-line conference

The ASLA on-line conference has begun.
If you have registered for this you are now able to join in the discussion groups.
To help familiarise yourself with the process join the orientation list before moving on to the strands.
Sue J

Discussion list archives - oztl_net

Discussion list archives can be a useful source of professional information, especially if they are searchable.
OZTL_NET's searchable archive at http://www.csu.edu.au/cstl/oztl_net/arch.html is unfortunately currently (April 2004) unavailable.
There is a month-by-month archive of postings (OZTL_NET has around 500 posts most months).
This is available at: http://listserv.csu.edu.au/pipermail/oztl_net/
To browse posts about literature and literacy:
Open a month by Thread, and use your browser's function (Control F) to search for CH LIT.

RSSReader

The e-pd blog works fine now in RSSReader v.1.0.88.0 which means it will be easy to keep track of new postings as soon as they are made by participants in the SLASA e-pd project.
If you would like an example of an RSS feed to add to an RSSReader, there is a new noticeboard available from EdNA Online which highlights Conferences and Events for Library and Information Services staff. It is not restricted to school library conferences and events, but does list a significant range of events of interest to the school sector.
Add the following feed to your RSSReader: http://service.edna.edu.au/service/noticeboard/5372 and see if it works for you.

Introduction

Thanks for setting this up Pat. The email invitation you sent worked well.
The biggest problem was finding a username which hadn't already been used. Sometimes it would be helpful to have a very unusual name or regular log in. Now I am going to have to work out a way to remember this unusual username.
Hint to self:
1. Send an email to myself (at home and at work) now which includes my Blogger username and password.
2. Create a Blogger entry in my Outlook address book and include the url for this blog and my username and password.
3. Set up this blog as a favourite in my browser (at home and at work).
4. Write it down on my notes for the e-pd project.