Technology has invaded our working and recreational lives to an extent that few envisaged 20 or 30 years ago. We'd be fools to avoid the developments in personal, mobile, and wearable technology. Even if we tried we'd still have to deal with other developments and distractions in classroom and learning technology like smart boards, blogs, video, games, students-led learning, virtual learning environments, social media, etc. More than this, however, is how the advances in technology, the economic and physical miniaturisation of computing devices, have impacted education: the students, the teachers, the classrooms, the spaces, the connections, the aspirations, etc. 'The Really Useful #EdTechBook' is about experiences, reflections, hopes, passions, expectations, and professionalism of those working with, in, and for the use of technology in education. Not only is it an insight into how, or why, we work with these technologies, it's about how we as learning professionals got to where we are and how we go forward with our own development. In this book respected individuals from different education sectors write about many aspects of learning technology; from Higher Education (Sue Beckingham, Peter Reed, Dr David Walker, Sheila MacNeil, Terese Bird, Wayne Barry, Inge de Waard, and Sharon Flynn), Further Education (Rachel Challen), to Museums (Zak Mensah), workplace learning (Julian Stodd, Julie Wedgwood, and Lesley Price) and primary schools / early years education (Mike McSharry). With a foreword written by Catherine Cronin, from the National University Ireland, Galway, the breadth and depth of the experiences here are second to none. The knowledge these leading learning practitioners, researchers, and professionals, share, under the same cover, is a unique opportunity for you to read about the variety of approaches to learning technology, the different perspectives on the same technology, and how technology is impacting our culture and learning infrastructure, from early-age classrooms to leading research Universities and from museums and workplace learning providers. It is about our passion for our work and our desire to make our work better through our own learning and development. Contributory authors: Catherine Cronin: Foreword David Hopkins: Introduction Wayne Barry: "...and what do you do?": Can we explain the unexplainable? Zak Mensah: "Why do we do what we do?" Peter Reed: "The structure and roles of Learning Technologists within Higher Education Institutions" Rachel Challen: "Learning Technologists as agents of change? Blending policy and creativity" Julie Wedgwood: "Developing the skills and knowledge of a Learning Technologist" Dr David Walker and Sheila MacNeill: "Learning Technologist as Digital Pedagogue" Lesley Price: "Times they are a changing ...or not?" Sue Beckingham: "The Blended Professional: Jack-of-all-Trades and Master of Some?" Julian Stodd: "How gadgets help us learn" Terese Bird: "Students Leading the Way in Mobile Learning Innovation" Inge de Waard: "Tech Dandy, or the Art of Leisure Learning" Sharon Flynn: "Learning Technologists: changing the culture or preaching to the converted?" Mike McSharry: "This is your five-minute warning!"

Technology has revolutionised every aspect of our lives and how we learn is no exception. The trouble is; the range of elearning technologies and the options available can seem bewildering. Even those who are highly experienced in one aspect of elearning will lack knowledge in some other areas. Wouldn’t it be great if you could access the hard-won knowledge, practical guidance and helpful tips of world-leading experts in these fields? Edited by Rob Hubbard and featuring chapters written by global elearning experts: Clive Shepherd, Laura Overton, Jane Bozarth, Lars Hyland, Rob Hubbard, Julie Wedgwood, Jane Hart, Colin Steed, Clark Quinn, Ben Betts and Charles Jennings - this book is a practical guide to all the key topics in elearning, including: getting the business on board, building it yourself, learning management, blended, social, informal, mobile and game-based learning, facilitating online learning, making the most of memory and more.

These black and white squares have appeared everywhere from billboards at the side of the road, roof tops, cola cans, buses, magazines, etc. So why not in your library, textbook, assignment, project, or classroom display? The ability to use them to direct students or colleagues to online resources (presentation slides, websites, video, book location, etc.) is powerful and engaging and, when well implemented, can offer a level of interaction and engagement. It's not about what they are but about how we use them and what they can offer me in an educational setting. Whether you're a teacher, student, parent, school governor, or on the PTA, you ought to know about QR Codes – what they are, how they work, and how you can leverage them to increase student participation in and around the classroom. They offer the ability to share digital content from teacher to student, from student to student, and even from student to teacher. Go on, try it! This eBook will explain everything and put QR Codes in context.Using computers and technology in educational environments can be exciting and challenging. Implementing QR Codes within your student's learning is just that: exciting to see how students of all ages use and interact with them, and a challenge to make them usable, informative, applicable, and appropriate. This book draws on established examples from the commercial and corporate world as well as from established users of QR Codes at all levels of education; from primary schools up to Universities. Not only will you find examples of how QR Codes have been used but you will find out how you can design, create, and implement your own QR Code treasure hunt, library resource, student group work, orientation activity, conference or event feedback, etc.David Hopkins has developed a respected reputation among educational technology networks for his use and research into the uses of QR Codes. He has been active with QR Codes at Bournemouth University and more recently at the University of Leicester since 2008. This book draws on David's QR Code experience with poster projects, classroom activities, and workshops and delivers these through a practical and up to date guide.”What are people saying about QR Codes in Education?“All you ever wanted to know about using QR codes in Education is in this eBook. It takes you from the very basics of what these delightful square barcodes are, how to view the information they link to, how to easily create your own and, most importantly, a vast array of ideas on why you would want to use them! Whilst not a newcomer to QR codes, I came away from reading inspired and with new ideas of how QR codes could be used to enhance learning and teaching.”- Sue Beckingham (@suebecks), Educational Developer, Sheffield Hallam University“The information is concise and user-friendly. The 'Planning, Creating, and Monitoring your QR Codes' chapter offers everything you need to get going with QR codes. Because of David's extensive experience, you won't have to learn the hard way. He's made it easy. The book is well-balanced, but keep in mind – David's examples and suggestions for using QR Codes in Education are very persuasive.”- Brian Bishop (@bbishop262), CEO, Virtualwirks“David's book is a great place to begin for those educators who wish to start using QR codes in their classroom. The book begins by explaining what QR codes are and then delves into examples of use in education and Libraries. A veritable treasure trove of inspiration, the book should be read for this alone [chapter: QR Codes in the classroom] and I will be definitely trying some out.”Julian Wood (@ideas_factory), Sheffield Primary School Future Learning Technologist

Written specifically for all FE and post-16 teachers, this book will help you to develop your digital capabilities and give you the skills to convert traditional learning and teaching resources into engaging and interactive online material. The impact of the pandemic means that it is abundantly clear to all that digital capability is vital for learners, no matter what subject they study. You should therefore develop your digital capabilities as a basic competence in order to embrace current digital tools, apps and techniques to the pedagogy of teaching FE. The book provides you with the knowledge and skills required to source information learning technology (ILT) and content to convert traditional learning and teaching resources into engaging and interactive online material. It is designed around each aspect of the teaching and training cycle - identifying needs, planning and designing, delivering and facilitating, assessing and evaluating – and includes: when to use ILT / eLearning barriers to implementing digital learning the importance of digital capabilities ways of keeping up to date and continuing professional development.

Practical advice for managers on how the Web and social media can help them to do their jobs better Today's managers are faced with an increasing use of the Web and social platforms by their staff, their customers, and their competitors, but most aren't sure quite what to do about it or how it all relates to them. Organizations Don't Tweet, People Do provides managers in all sorts of organizations, from governments to multinationals, with practical advice, insight and inspiration on how the Web and social tools can help them to do their jobs better. From strategy to corporate communication, team building to customer relations, this uniquely people-centric guide to social media in the workplace offers managers, at all levels, valuable insights into the networked world as it applies to their challenges as managers, and it outlines practical things they can do to make social media integral to the tone and tenor of their departments or organizational cultures. A long-overdue guide to social media that talks directly to people in the real world in which they work Grounded in the author's unparalleled experience consulting on social media, it features eye-opening accounts from some of the world's most successful and powerful organizations Gives managers at all levels and in every type of organization the context and the confidence to make better decisions about the social web and its impact on them

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In spite of the proliferation of online learning, creating online courses can still evoke a good deal of frustration, negativity, and wariness in those who need to create them. The second edition of Essentials of Online Course Design takes a fresh, thoughtfully designed, step-by-step approach to online course development. At its core is a set of standards that are based on best practices in the field of online learning and teaching. Pedagogical, organizational, and visual design principles are presented and modeled throughout the book, and users will quickly learn from the guide’s hands-on approach. The course design process begins with the elements of a classroom syllabus which, after a series of guided steps, easily evolve into an online course outline. The guide’s key features include: a practical approach informed by theory clean interior design that offers straightforward guidance from page one clear and jargon-free language examples, screenshots, and illustrations to clarify and support the text a checklist of online course design standards that readers can use to self-evaluate. a Companion Website with examples, adaptable templates, interactive learning features, and online resources: http://essentialsofonlinecoursedesign.com Essentials of Online Course Design serves as a best practice model for designing online courses. After reading this book, readers will find that preparing for online teaching is a satisfying and engaging experience. The core issue is simply good design: pedagogical, organizational, and visual. For more of Marjorie Vai in her own words, listen to this 2011 interview from the On Teaching Online podcast: http://onteachingonline.com/oto-16-essentials-of-online-course-design-with-marjorie-vai/

The core purpose of this distinctive book is to offer academics working in higher education practical support in achieving formal accreditation of their teaching practice with the Higher Education Academy (HEA). It maps a range of key themes against the UKPSF (United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework) and invites readers to engage with the all-important dimensions of practice. This book is relevant both to those who are in the process of preparing an application for an HEA fellowship and to those who are preparing assignments they might be producing for a PG Cert (HE) programme. The book explains the dimensions of practice in detail and offers readers suggestions for ways in which they might engage with particular aspects of the UK PSF at the end of each section and thus evidence the quality of their teaching practice. Each section also offers suggestions on ways to develop teaching as related to the themes. Its distinctive features include: Linking explicitly to the UK PSF (UK Professional Standards Framework) and offering practical advice to those making a fellowship application. Integrating this practical element with some of the wider debates about the purpose of higher education Incorporating a thread of student engagement throughout the book, including students' own perspectives on the themes of the book. Not only will the book support academics following an accreditation route, the book will also be a useful companion text on taught courses since the UK PSF is the overarching framework for people working in HE in a teaching capacity. Whether you are working in higher education or working in college based higher education then this is the book for you.

An accessible, practical and up-to-date book on digital learning and teaching, relevant for all those involved in teaching and assessment in higher and further education (HE and FE), whatever your academic or vocational specialism. It is essential reading for HE or FE practitioners, or those undertaking level 3, 4 and 5 qualifications in Education and Training, Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCEs), Certificates in Education (CertEds) and Postgraduate Certificates in Academic Practice (PGCAPs), as well as those in learning technologist roles. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of understanding and developing your digital capabilities as a basic competence in order to embrace current digital technologies and pedagogies to improve student outcomes. This book provides you with the practical knowledge and skills required to source and apply technology enhanced learning, teaching and assessment (TELTA) and adapt traditional learning and teaching materials and approaches for an online environment. It is designed around each aspect of the teaching and training cycle – identifying needs, planning and designing, delivering and facilitating, assessing and evaluating – and also includes: • how to build a positive and effective relationship with digital technology; • guidance on topics such as selecting appropriate digital technologies and creating digital and online activities, resources and assessments; • an emphasis on digital well-being and accessibility issues, and digital leadership; • ways of keeping up to date and continuing professional development.

A Science “Reading List for Uncertain Times” Selection “A must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in the present and future of higher education.” —Tressie McMillan Cottom, author of Lower Ed “A must-read for the education-invested as well as the education-interested.” —Forbes Proponents of massive online learning have promised that technology will radically accelerate learning and democratize education. Much-publicized experiments, often underwritten by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, have been launched at elite universities and elementary schools in the poorest neighborhoods. But a decade after the “year of the MOOC,” the promise of disruption seems premature. In Failure to Disrupt, Justin Reich takes us on a tour of MOOCs, autograders, “intelligent tutors,” and other edtech platforms and delivers a sobering report card. Institutions and investors favor programs that scale up quickly at the expense of true innovation. Learning technologies—even those that are free—do little to combat the growing inequality in education. Technology is a phenomenal tool in the right hands, but no killer app will shortcut the hard road of institutional change. “I’m not sure if Reich is as famous outside of learning science and online education circles as he is inside. He should be...Reading and talking about Failure to Disrupt should be a prerequisite for any big institutional learning technology initiatives coming out of COVID-19.” —Inside Higher Ed “The desire to educate students well using online tools and platforms is more pressing than ever. But as Justin Reich illustrates...many recent technologies that were expected to radically change schooling have instead been used in ways that perpetuate existing systems and their attendant inequalities.” —Science