Welcome to the September/October TechDem Newsletter.

Our theme is 'Telling your story....' What is your story in education? When applying educational technology? When improving practice? When connecting with others?

The October TechDem CoP focused on reimagining assessment and digital storytelling - resources are below. In 2024 we will run a series of digital storytelling workshops for you to develop this craft and share with your students potentially and potentially reimagining assessment. There are also strong links to student portfolios and reflection through storytelling.

Have you heard about the AI for Learning and Teaching Collective? This is an inclusive university wide (everyone) coming together in order to ".... comprehensively address the opportunities and challenges presented by the intersection of AI and education."

Organised by the Educational Technology unit within Learning and Teaching Futures, the Collective encourages input, sharing, suggestions and opportunities for gathering (such as the Symposium - see below).

Explore AI tools on the Potential Tools page.

Browse and contribute to the AI News and Info Padlet. Did you know one good way to browse a Padlet is in slideshow view. Here is the SLIDESHOW LINK to the AI Padlet. Enjoy!

ICDE is a global network collaborating to make change through accessible, quality open, flexible and distance learning. It is an independent, self-governing, non-profit and non-governmental organisation. It is governed by its members, who are represented or elected as representatives to three key decision-making bodies. Read more HERE by exploring their website.

Why are we sharing this? UniSQ again has an institution-wide membership to ICDE. That means everyone can access resources and opportunities for you and your students.

Access the Members area on the website using the password: icde2023member

Sign up via the website to receive their regular newsletter - lots of events, resources, articles and more to explore.

You might be interested in the Global Doctorate Consortium (GDC) for post-grad and doctoral students - a great opportunity to network internationally. Or get involved with the Global Advocacy Campaign (GAC).

The UniSQ main contact for ICDE is Dr Julie Lindsay. Please get in touch if you have questions.

Linked from the ICDE Newsletter, October 27, this paper shares global narratives around what open education is and why it is needed at this crucial moment. This statement may resonate with you:

"Openness in Education is a complex and ever-evolving field that fundamentally revolves around the liberation of people, knowledge, and learning. It emphasises sharing as the default mode of operation, with a focus on reciprocity, networking, honesty, and transparency." p. 78

Download and read more:

Bozkurt, A., Gjelsvik, T., Adam, T., Asino, T. I., Atenas, J., Bali, M., ... & Zawacki-Richter, O. (2023). Openness in education as a Praxis: From individual testimonials to collective voices. Open Praxis, 15(2), 76-112.

At the October TechDem CoP we explored digitally infused assessments including student portfolios, use of audio, artefact creation such as posters and digital storytelling. Conversations centred around reimagining assessment using the affordances of educational technology, especially for those moving from a semester to trimester calendar, and those looking for new ideas and inspiration 'beyond the quiz' to redesign assessment in courses or programs.

The videos below have been edited to share each segment of the event.

View the online SLIDES with hyperlinked resources.

Lisa Jacka and Lisa Ryan share ideas and examples of successful approaches to using online student portfolios for assessment and skill development.

In the media file below (audio with some slides) Lisa J, Lisa R start the conversation about how they are designing for a new course and exploring audio files for assessment - extending them into actual podcasts. Anna G joins in and shares her experience developing a professional podcast from the School of Health and Medical Sciences.

As we all know a podcast is not just an audio file, here is one definition:

Example podcasts:

• Balancing the Shift - created by TechDem's Lisa Jacka and Julie Lindsay, LTF
• The Unify Podcast - created by Anna Girardi and Jessica Levick, SofHMS
  

In the video below Jo Southern, School of Nursing and Midwifery, shares how she combines three edtech tools to support a group assessment:

• Engageli
• Student WordPress Portfolios
• Canva

In the video below Julie shares an introduction to digital storytelling for developing student reflective practice, digital fluency and assessment artefacts. She shares the Bernajean Porter definition of digital storytelling:

Digital Storytelling takes the ancient art of oral storytelling and engages a palette of technical tools to weave personal tales using images, graphics, music and sound mixed together with the author’s own story voice. While the heart and power of the digital story is shaping a personal digital story about self, family, ideas, or experiences, the technology tools also invite writers and artists to think and invent new types of communication outside the realm of traditional linear narratives.

She shares a few digital stories created by a range of contributors including high school students and those impacted by COVID. Here are links to the videos.

Fear of Clowns

The Cajon - A short digital story

Broad Beans on the Wall

No End in Sight

Do you want your students to use online portfolios for learning - perhaps to support the First Year Experience, WIL and/or Employability objectives?

The Create@UniSQ project is now business as usual for all members of the university. This means your students could have a WordPress portfolio and be fully supported technically through our outsourced host, CampusPress. In addition, the EdTech unit of Learning and Teaching Futures, led by Dr Julie Lindsay, will provide pedagogical and strategic support, advice and hand-holding....no worries.

Read more:

Getting started - https://create.usq.edu.au/getting-started/
Teacher Guide - https://create.usq.edu.au/for-staff/

Portfolios for learning mini-course

Please fill in your details via this ONLINE FORM and we will be in touch to get the ball rolling. This is for Semester 3, and into 2024 - we want to hear from you! Even if you have used WordPress portfolios in the past we want to make sure you are on our list again.

Questions? Contact edtech@unisq.edu.au

You will find the DQ (Digital Intelligence) website interesting as it shares excellent charts and resources and 'who is doing what' globally to support digital literacy, skills and readiness.

Don't forget to browse the digital framework page...scroll down for 12 Future Readiness Skills.

In this TED Talk Sal Kahn, Founder and CEO of the Kahn Academy, shares the opportunities he sees for students and educators to collaborate with AI tools -- including the potential of a personal AI tutor for every student and an AI teaching assistant for every teacher -- and demos some exciting new features for their educational chatbot, Khanmigo.

Apart from everything (just about) above....have you engaged with these resources yet?

Recent posts:

• Student voice: Engageli - Katrina shares ideas from our TechDem Student Representative, Damian Lowe, around the use of the learning platform, Engageli.
• Nolej: Implementation with intent - Featuring the work of Dr Chris Gaviglio and his use of the AI tool Nolej.
• Introducing Python integration in MS Excel: A way to elevate data analytics - Nina shares this latest update from MS re Python integration. How does it impact you?
• Revolutionising education with Bing chat enterprise and search progress - Did you miss the last MS for Teaching SIG? Nina shares Bing which she demonstrated at the SIG recently.

Episode 12: Flexible Learning

Julie and Lisa talk about their experiences of flexible learning to support learners in higher education. This is linked with a number of presentations, including the Regional Universities Network (RUN), view the slides.

Listen to all episodes of Balancing the Shift - yes this is a real podcast - you can subscribe through Spotify and other services

Save the date!

On Wednesday November 22, 10-12pm, as part of the Learning and Teaching Showcase, Dr Julie Lindsay and Dr Lisa Jacka will host a synchronous workshop focusing on exploring tools and pedagogies in order to engage and empower students. This is an excellent opportunity to kick-start new approaches for 2024 or consolidate current understandings. Tools explored in this creative, collaborative and hands-on session include:

August 2023 - Learning's endless road

June/July 2023 - Making the Most of Opportunities

May 2023 - Moving towards Innovation

April 2023 - Join in and Collaborate

March 2023 - Innovation & EdTech

February 28, 2023 - AI and ChatGPT

February 1, 2023 - Creating the Future

ARCHIVED Newsletters from September 2021

ADD QR CODES below

Technology Demonstrators (TechDems) is a UniSQ initiative designed to foster educational innovation, through active experimentation with, pilots, evaluation of and research into educational technologies and virtual platforms to continuously improve learning and teaching.

Connect with us! Email: edtech@unisq.edu.au

Dr Julie Lindsay

Senior Education Technology Advisor

Learning and Teaching Futures

Email: julie.lindsay@unisq.edu.au
Phone: +61 7 46312890