Friday, April 30, 2010

Bit out of order and a rant

Three months in and what has been learned from my perspective

Okay.. so I am normally or have been in the past... a consistent blogger because I have wanted my students to do this... and as every good teacher knows demonstrating by modelling the desired behaviour is good professional practice.

If you don't believe me check out these 2 examples.. My xanga blog and this one I am using for this PALM project at blogger.com
So here goes... I am thinking that I need to get some clarity around what is occurring in this PALM project by going back to the initial plan (presentation) and model of PD that we proposed and checking what has been done and what issues have arisen that are providing us all with some learning in this pilot PD program. The model of PD being used in this project is an amalgamation of sorts that has been formed by my experience and research in both state based Framework projects, a TAFE Qld innovation project and formal study completed as part of the masters of learning innovation at QUT sponsored by DETA in 2007-2008)


Key research and reports I have used to inform the PD model are below:
  • Innovate and integrate Framework research
  • Reframing the Future publications re staff PD approaches, including this Peter Skippington report on workbased learning with relevant case studies
  • Breuleux. A. (2001). Imagining the present, interpreting the possible, cultivating the possible: Technology and the renewal pf teaching and learning. Education Canada , Vol 41 (3)
  • Other references and things that I have read and viewed can be found in my del.icio.us account under professionaldevelopment or workplace learning tag and or the networks that I have in my del.icio.us account.  You can access my bookmarks on the top right hand corner of this blog site





So this model was about PD renewal. Doing things in new ways but with a new spirit confirming and reiterating an established practice but with a focus on renovation and the development of a rich learning culture for all. Plus the brief was related to a problem based learning approach. Mmmmm... how to meld these together and meet the key performance indicators of the signed MOU's. Well like any focused project manager I parked that issue and got started assuming revisions to these would occur in the future. In hindsight probably not a good idea.


February 2010

So here I am in February 2010, a team of one trying to plan and develop the model to ensure it is implemented to meet the June 30th deadline. So as a visual learner I needed to draw the vision and the communication and connections that would need to be explored for this PALM project. I used a free tool called bubbl.us to help in this process. Link here to view all my planning bubbles under various headings



We were aiming to clarify needs, connect, communicate, collaborate and create an innovative professional development approach for TQR Institute teachers focused on three core areas of e-learning, assessment and instructional design. With a view to promoting reinvigoration of current teaching practice in what amounts to a 5 month timeline. This model of PD represents a consolidation of PD practices that have been occurring in an adhoc fashion across TAFE Institutes over the last 10 years and supported with a variety of external funding from Reframing the future, the Framework and the Department. However the sustainability and funding of these approaches has been quite piece meal and not necessarily aligned with strategic imperatives, new structures or the requirements of changing AQTF client and industry requirements and teaching professional development options.
In the following blog entries I will document the activities and issues that have arisen against the Phases of the initial project design. I will document from my perspective how we have been clarifying, connecting, communicating, collaborating and creating enhanced learning options for the participants in this PD model.

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