Community Engagement

In the humid surrounds of Cairns, community leaders and interested parties gathered to learn about this year’s incarnations of the Community Engagement project. You can find presentation slides on the wikispace, and add your comments via the “discussion” tab.

Kaye Bowman highlighted the successes from the three years of projects, and Gail Short told a remarkable tale of sustainability in partnerships, while Michael Coghlan gave some stirring insights into further possibilities around the warmth and depth of connections in online communities.

Tremendous efforts from the community leaders of 2007 projects, who had spent the day before in a session of celebration and debriefing.

Thanks to all who participated, including project leaders and workers, keynotes and speakers Gail Short, Michael Coghlan, Kaye Bowman, and Vaughan Croucher who facilitated discussions.

Michael spent some time with the people at ACE Byron Shire: Richard, Rob, Kirsty, Diane and Rex. Things were hectic, because most of them were also involved with the Online Facilitation course run by Frankie and Josie.

A good time of year for this crew, as many aspects of their project are coming together. Part one is all about getting their sustainable housing project online, while part two focusses on allowing the people in local government to more actively connect with local communities.

ACE Byron has been running their sustainable housing course for many years now, and this project was an opportunity to put the course online, to enable people to study and interact from many different locations. Rex put the course into a web site, while Rod used wikispaces to set up an interactive companion site, inviting trial course participants into collective discussion and publishing.

The local government in Byron Bay Shire has been wanting to interact more closely with their community around issues of concern. But there aren’t really any models of community engagement using online technologies.

Kirsty and the team from from ACE Byron spent time interviewing council members on topics of local environmental importance, then Rex put this audio online.
So then, to enable community interaction trials, Rod has installed some open source forum software known as “phpbb2″.

This software has just moved to version three, and Rod found this version much better than the earlier model. One requirement of the council, was the ability to moderate discussion very pro-actively; it looks like the new version will allow this.

The team has shown considerable good sense in this project, trialling each aspect before going public. They’ve had plenty of obstacles but due to good spirits and good teamwork, have managed to overcome all their difficulties so far.

The community engagement project is about to embark on their third and last online facilitation course for 2007. The final group of 20 teachers across the 6 projects in Queensland, NSW, Tasmania and Victoria, are getting ready!

The project has partnered with Gippstafe in Victoria to deliver their very popular three week intensive online facilitation skills course. This course is delivered by Frankie Forsyth – an internationally recognised expert on online facilitation - and supported by Josie Rose, member of the national project team.

Although a very intensive three weeks, previous participants from all 6 projects have found it very worthwhile, as they are presented with a highly structured yet immensely workable model of online facilitation. The knowledge and skills they gain form the course is immediately transferable to their own e-learning projects.

Participants gain skills in how to facilitate synchronous ( text and voice chat as well as Elluminate) and asynchronous (discussion topics) events.

Previous participants have commented that they found the discussion topics, which make up the majority of the work tasks, the most useful aspect of the course. They commented that they enjoyed the discussion topics because of the range of ideas and the different perspectives that others expressed as well as appreciating the support from the facilitators.

Some comments from individual participants were:

• I think the debates around topics such as “assess or not assess” - “private or public” were great. They were informative and gave lots of different views.
• Being new to e-learning I found it very user friendly and engaging.
• I thoroughly enjoyed the course.
• Thank you! I have really enjoyed being part of this course. I wish all of my trainers could have done it.
• I personally have enjoyed the interaction I am now looking more closely at toolboxes and am glad that I am able to continue to learn even with the course finished.

It is often difficult to know as a project team how we can best support our projects, and to what measure. This online course enables us to help practitioners discuss and debate issues that they are likely to face online and work together as a group to come up with strategies. It has provided them with models, skills and tools that will be of direct benefit to them in delivering their project outcomes.

We look forward to welcoming the final group starting on the 24^th September!

In the lush surrounds of the University of Tasmania’s Launceston campus, many people - co-ordinators, volunteers, mentors and more - came from all around Tasmania for the annual Online Access Centres (OAC) conference / networking days. There were many enjoyable sessions:

• Kathleen led people through an induction into their new moodle-based networking environment;
• Cheryl and Tina shared some terrific strategies for building partnerships;
• One session demonstrated progress in a home-grown computer booking system;
• Michael caused some chaos while exploring a wikispace, and embedding audio/ powerpoint;

Highlights for me included Andy Norris’ brief history of the OAC network - and what a history they’ve had! One pivotal moment was the research which showed the deep and positive impact these centres have had in regional Tasmanian communities, connecting people and providing much needed access. A fundamental feature of these centres is the one-to-one support they give people who need to learn new ways with information.

There is plenty of enthusiasm amongst people in the network for future possibilities, and some concern around coming changes; as considerable re-structuring occurs within Tasmania. The OAC network and centres are being re-configured within a larger model of joining together Adult Education, Branch Libraries and OAC, in Adult and Community Learning Services. Andy Norris assured people that they would be well placed for the changes.

Selected co-ordinators and mentors are creating ‘negotiated projects’ to build capacity within their region. Several people are interested in enabling local groups to build and share their local histories.

(by michael chalk)

On Friday the 15th June the East Gippsland Online communities launched their project with great success and tremendous enthusiasm.The day started with partner organisations meeting to discuss project business, and at lunchtime a crowd of about 30 had gathered for the launch.The launch was attended by local members of the East Gippsland Shire Council, library staff members and two guests from the Yarra Plenty library services, who will be supporting Denence and Jan in the introduction of the 23 things program into the more remote communities of East Gippsland. The project was also pleased to acknowledge the attendance of both East Gippsland Institute of TAFE and GippsTAFE (as a previously funded project) to the launch.

The project was officially launched by Ray Ferres OAM – Director of Community College East Gippsland (CCEG). Ray spoke about the tyranny of distance, the tremendous potential of e-learning to reach remote communities, and the importance of projects like this and programs like 23 things to give communities experiences with and exposure to theweb, and its potential for personal and professional development.

In the afternoon Josie conducted a session for project partners and other interested attendees on how the Community Engagement project uses web 2.0 tools to promote the project, and support the community leaders. The participants were on a steep learning curve but very excited by the potential for their communities. Jan and Denece were well pleased with the level of excitement and enthusiasm generated by the end of the day. Everyone is looking forward to the training day on the 28^th June, where they will be meeting the first of their 23 things!

SO, what are these 23 things?

Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library in North Carolina developed a self-discovery training program called “23 Things”. These are 23 small exercises you can do on the web to explore and expand your knowledge of Web 2.0 tools and new technologies.With support from Helen Blowers of Public Library Charlotte Mecklenberg County (PLCMC) and Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Melbourne, Denece and Jan have incorporated the “23 Things” into their project. The East Gippsland library service have set up access to the project and the program though this link at egipps.vic.gov.au/

Denece told us that Helen Blowers is in fact coming out to Australia later this year, and may have opportunity to visit them – a fabulous example of how community education and regional library staff are working together to forge international partnerships and at the same time develop opportunties for greater access to education in East Gippsland.

Certainly for our 2007 project leaders, the recent Community Engagement project induction workshop, created an agreed ‘wow’ factor. Our twelve community leaders returned to their communities and project planning committees with a range of new ideas, resources and tools to support their project’s aims and objectives throughout 2007 and beyond.

The two-day workshop, held in Sydney, brought together projects from Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales who shared their project aims and objectives and also were given an opportunity to have a ’shared understanding’ of the expectations and operating environment for the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework).

Well known Framework identities including Jeff Saul and his NSW team, Clint Smith, Cathy Baxter, Hayley Beck, Rhonda Appo, Carole McCulloch and Phil Wheeler helped to create a feeling of commitment, enthusiasm and excitement. Jeff ’set the scene’ with his official welcome in place of Simon Paine who at late notice was unable to attend the workshop. Robyn Jay handled the microphone with great professionalism. After hearing from Jeff, Robyn and Shane we all have a better understanding of e-learning in New South Wales.

Phil’s session left us all excited about the range of free tools available, where to find them and how to customise and upload them. Clint wowed us with a session on the Designing E-learning online resource, using the Tasmanian Communities Online as an exemplar.

Carole introduced us to the notion of personal learning environments and we are now ‘iGoogle‘ enthusiasts madly creating our own online presence. So much learning and so much fun!

Our two project community leaders representing 2005 and 2006 (John Tucker and Carole McCulloch) facilitated a study circle experience for the 2007 project community leaders using the following questions to stimulate the discussion:

• What are your best hopes for adding technology to teaching and learning?
• What are your worst fears for adding technology to teaching and learning?

The conversation was captured on a visual mind map which helped to summarise the main points providing a range of thoughts and perhaps challenges for the project team and project community leaders to consider as we move forward with the 2007 Community Engagement projects.

Other participants included Ron Anderson from Adult Learning Australia and Dr Kaye Bowman who is conducting an evaluation of the Community Engagement project.

It seemed everyone left the Community Engagement project induction workshop with a lot of energy and a sense of working together to achieve the project’s aims to create sustainable demand for and use of e-learning in communities, building human capacity and facilitating adult learning. You’ll find a collection of photos at flickr.

The Milang Old School House Community Centre (a 2005 Framework Community Engagement Project) was recently awarded the inaugural Australian Community ICT Award for the “Best use of software in non profit settings”.

MOSHCC received the award for its innovative use of open source software to deliver educational and engaging ICT experiences for people who participate in volunteering and adult learning programs in the region.

Karyn Bradford, Shirley Smith and Stuart Jones were at the Connecting Up Conference Dinner to receive the Award.

The MOSHCC team are really pushing ahead in embedding e-learning in their community, another success for the team was the news that they were a selected network within the 2007 Framework E-learning Networks Project. The MOSHCC team will work with the Community and Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association in South Australia.

The project - CANH E-NET - will support Centre coordinators and ACE workers to investigate and develop e-learning strategies, while also strengthening the communication and partnerships between SA centres through enhanced IT strategies and understanding of available technologies. Links with other interstate ACE providers will also be made.

In 2006 MOSHCC were also the winners of the South Australian Adult Learners’ Week (ALW) “Learning Community of the Year”.

Well done to everyone at MOSHCC!

During the month of March, twenty leaders -past and present - as well as a few invited guests, participated in an online facilitation course. This course was funded by and specially designed for the Community Engagement project, and highlights the project’s continued commitment to providing practical and accessible professional development opportunities for past community leaders and their partner organisations.

The course was delivered through Gippstafe and facilitated by Frankie Forsyth and Josie Rose.

Highlights were the fabulous support provided by Vanessa and her team at GippsTAFE, the enthusiasm of the participants, and the expert facilitation - particularly Frankie’s fabulous modelling of good online facilitation in a range of online tools, but specifically, Elluminate. Although we are still waiting for the outcomes of the evaluation - we are confident that all the participants, who hailed from as far away as NT, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria, not only had a great time, but also found it a valuable and productive learning experience.

Participants were able to explore a wide variety of topics in the asynchronous discussion forum which ranged from why lurkers lurk, to online conflict, designing online activities and many more. They were also able to explore the potential of voice boards through having Brad Beach as a guest speaker talking about his flexible learning journey, including his experiences in the virtual world Second Life. Every week they participated in a synchronous activity, first a teleconference, then a text chat, and the highlight of the course - an Elluminate session.

Frankie took participants through the functionality of the room, explained the intricacies of WebCT through the desktop sharing tool, and then took participants to the e-learning on a shoestring website as a web tour. Everyone had plenty of opportunity to get to know each other and have fun - a choice of chairs being a particularly engaging ice breaker activity. Needless to say the lounge chairs of varying descriptions went first!

Although the course has only just been completed, initial evaluations indicate that it was a great success. The project team plans to conduct a further Elluminate session in a a few weeks’ time to discuss how participants are implementing these online tools and newly gained knowledge and skills in their course delivery. We are particularly interested in how professional development like this is contributing to their ongoing sustainability.

Well done everyone!

The Community Engagement project will fund six new projects in 2007. Application forms can be downloaded from the Framework website at flexiblelearning.net.au/ communitypartnerships. Already the Project Manager, Mary Hannan, has spoken to over twenty potential applicants who have discussed their proposed models of e-learning, their target clients and the potential input from a range of community partners. All suggested proposals have been innovative, exciting and importantly have clearly articulated the needs of their individual communities.

Let us hope that all these potential applicants take that final step and apply! Applications close at 9.00am AEST Friday 23 March.

Dr Kaye Bowman has been appointed to conduct a Community Engagement project evaluation. Kaye recently met with members of the project reference committee with whom she discussed the strategy she will undertake to measure the success of the projects funded in 2005 and 2006. This will also provide an opportunity for Kaye to consider and evaluate the project as a whole.

A new staff member joins the Community Engagement project team. Janie McOmish is presently the Public Relations Officer for Adult Learning Australia and will support Mary for one day week. Janie before commencing with Adult Learning Australia, coordinated the ACT Adult Learner’s Week and supported the ACT Adult and Community Education Council. In earlier years Janie has been a High School Teacher. She will bring to the team a great knowledge of the adult and community education sector nationally.

On Tuesday the 22^nd November the 12 Community Leaders of the 2006 projects met for the final time in Melbourne for an evaluation/ sharing day. The venue was colourful, made more so with the use of flowers, balloons and colourful cloths used at the induction workshop.

The day started with some music from Louis Armstrong, and an exercise developed from ARED, where participants were asked to reflect on the song titles chosen and how this represented their e-learning journey. Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off saw a few nods in the room!

The day was facilitated by Delia Bradshaw, a good friend and valuable contributor to our project this year.

Delia asked the projects to reflect on a key achievement for both learners and teachers. A key theme was quite clearly one of awareness raising in the community, and having created a manageable, sustainable demand for e-learning in their communities.

Teachers reported on changing teaching methodologies and a growth in confidence, knowledge and the development of a whole new repertoire of skills.

Community leaders also reported back on their partnerships by discussing their collaboration charts. Each project created a chart at the beginning of the project in April and again yesterday.

They also discussed sustainability, partnerships, stakeholder interests and strategies to help the projects towards sustainability into the future. We also discussed their on going professional development needs, and how this could be supported.

The day ended with Ron Anderson, ACE member on FLAG, presenting each project with a certificate of participation.

Our sincere thanks to Delia for her support and input in making the day such a success.

If you would like to see some photos of the day, please visit our wiki at elearnala.wikispaces.com