I’m taking leave from the Polytech work to speak at the 2008 Skills Tasmania conference and a couple of TAFEs and Vocational Training services next week. Given the status of the other speakers, I have in mind a talk with equal or more punch than Teaching is Dead Long Live Learning. But I dunno… almost everyone who dares talk to me about that speech seems to have fundamentally missed the point I was trying to make.
On the one hand Tasmanians can be a little parochial (according to Wikipedia editors of the word 😉 and haven’t always taken kindly to outsiders challenging their practices on their home turf. But on the other hand – challenging speeches are what I’m known for and is probably the reason I have been invited? So what to do?
I probably should have been thinking about this talk a lot sooner, but I am just too busy every day (and most nights) with Polytech stuff (I’m getting better with that though) to really be able to think about things beyond my immediate future. So up until now, I really haven’t had a clue what I was going to say. But now I do, I its probably going to be a doozy.
Well, I’ll check with the conference organisers of course, but in the lead up to a conference that they have been spending the last 6 months planning for, they can understandably be a little over cautious and erk on the safe side. And once I get an idea brewing that seems like a good’n to me and my trusted colleagues, I find it hard to let go and change tracks.
I hope I can work this out. I want an opportunity to speak about this in a challenging and political way. It is sure to spark another round of smackdown learning.
Oh, and by th way! While we’re on the topic of Tasmania, controversy, skills and industry:
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May 24, 2008 at 6:29 pm
helenlindsay
Well what is this idea you have a’brewin, do tell us if its a good’n, you’ve got my interest now
May 26, 2008 at 9:17 am
graeme
I don’t know if you have ever been to Tassi before Leigh but that pulp mill looks nothing like a place down south in the middle called Queenstown (I think) where they mined copper for years. I drove through one cold early morning and it was like descending into hell. What was even worse was that the government wanted to replant the ravaged hills etc and the locals stopped them because they thought the place looked beautiful the way it was. Sad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenstown,_Tasmania
May 26, 2008 at 9:49 am
Robin Petterd
Hi Leigh,
I’ve heard your Teaching is Dead Long Live Learning talk and it great. The audience will be more bureaucrats than teachers. So a talk more about the nature of knowledge, open knowledge and the need for high levels thinking skills instead of just nuts and bolts skills could be great. Lots of stuff about open source and network models of production would be good as well and the nature of innovation in elearning. Maybe even some examples of innovation and open source that has helped business outcomes.
Hope to catch later in the week
Robin
May 26, 2008 at 1:15 pm
bronwyn hegarty
Prob too late now but i agree with robin – an emphasis on open content and social networking for sustainability in education for the workplace. It fits with the direction of the conference – “important role in ensuring that infrastructure and resources are deployed to respond to individual and enterprise skills development needs to ensure Tasmania’s economic, social and environmental sustainability.”
have a good week. 🙂
Bron
May 26, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Leigh
Hi Helen, Robin, Bron. Thanks a lot for the comments. Robin, I am sitting here now and my head is fried with stats and policy planning. I feel sorry for the minorities around me.. the ones dressed in jeans and tshirts, who like me just struggle to relate to such high altitude views on such overcast days. The talk I have in mind, I have toned down a little.. or perhaps it was never the doozy I at first thought it was. I’ll try and get my slides up tonight.
May 26, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Leigh
And Graeme, nearly missed your comment there. Yes I have been to Tazzy a few times before… my first trip in 1996 where I saw some of the things you mention – especially down the West when they were building the ‘Tarkine Road’.. its what made me a ‘greeny’ for life.
May 27, 2008 at 10:22 am
Sarah Stewart
Have a great trip. Look forward to hearing about it when you return.
May 27, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Roger Stack
Hi Leigh – a great presentation today which I think fitted perfectly into the conf program with just the right mix of challenge and politics – and well chosen backgrounds 🙂
I agree that institutional solutions to the provision of online learning environments have often resulted in too much isolation for both students and teachers. Using google/youtube/wiki solutions brings authenticity and accountability to learning particularly for older students – while also helping the learner establish networks which are one of the essential ingredients for the innovation and creativity which we are trying to promote.
I was interested in your take on myspace/facebook. I know they are closed systems but I still value them because most of my students (15-18 year olds) are using them and for this reason alone I think we need to there as well. We don’t need to necessarily use them as formal learning environments but we can model how one can set up a professional digital identity and network – how to create a social and professional space that will get one hired and not fired. There is possibly also room there for some informal learning and RPL/RCC.
Thanks again for today and I’ll certainly be supporting your key messages in parochial Tasmania 🙂
May 28, 2008 at 12:41 am
alexanderhayes
Hi Leigh,
Perhaps seeing as the Premier has gone back to the docks you could climb a tree and hoist a flag in the courtyard of the conference reading ‘ open for suggestions’.
Or …………ask your extended network to contribute one slide until you have 40 to quickly flick though and then get down to the Hobart pubs and get some decent pies and Guiness into your frial frame.
Or……use permaculture as the analogy through which to ellucidate points about global open education REFORM
Or……seeing as you’ve opened the floor for suggestions you could laminate two hundred copies of this – http://www.flickr.com/photos/71477195@N00/421005108 – and then conduct your skills laden knowledge-fest with all present complete with a bunny-suited bingo boingo awarding prizes in a shrill tone befitting the squeal of yet another ancient forest grinding itslef into a nice new sheath of Reflex.
Best of luck with any of the above or if it’s really cold then a combination of all four with 30 mins for discussion 🙂
ps. say hello to Madam Axewell while your at it.
May 28, 2008 at 1:02 am
alexanderhayes
….but seriously, let them have it which ever way.
Your a brilliant speaker and if there’s not enough feedback then make sure you take the axe closer to the Marshall stacks 🙂
May 28, 2008 at 9:34 am
Leigh
Hi Roger, thanks for your comment. You are right of course – those services that people are using (all be it a clear minority in Tasmania 😉 are important for us (the public service sector) to know thoroughly, and have some sort of presence in. What I was trying to convey is my worry that due to the general disengagement by teachers and policy makers towards everything participatory Internet, that all the right supports for people using the Internet are not in place and that we are missing fantastic opportunities. Do the Youth services have a strong and active presence online and in what ever spaces that kids flock to? Does the Tasmanian Archive have a seamless way to capture and store Tasmanian cultural artifacts on their way out to Youtube and Flickr? Do the farmers comprehend the benefits of online journals for their land use and a network of others talking about pests and diseases and successful methods? Do the Tasmanian land managers appreciate the qualities of this type of data over time if farmers kept land use journals online? Does the tourism sector understand how their millions spent promoting tourism in Tasmania pales into insignificance when tourist have the ability to connect online anywhere in Tasmania and upload their Youtube movies, geotag their Flickr photos, create Google maps, call back on video skype etc? And do the tour operators know how important it is to get that happening on their behalf?
I know you know all this Roger… I think most people in the room knew it intuitively.. its just a trick of how to cut through all the new speak and case of too many cooks in the management of skills, education and training, and see that the capacity to self direct one’s learning is at its maximum for individual Tasmanians. Once we can say that, then we should come together again and talk about ways in which the cooks (Skills Tas, TAFE/Polytech, Training something or other, VET in Schools, Schools, University, Apprenticeships, Tas Qual Authority etc etc) can maximize their bottom lines through the development of stronger uses of the Internet.
May 28, 2008 at 9:41 am
Leigh
Alex! As always, your ideas angeling in from the left field and I wish I hadd even half your wit. The scene you paint with the Bingo and bunny suit is a classic! How can we make these conferences anywhere near ready to accept such stimulation? Just do it of course. Perhaps the angle is in the entertainment and booths? I saw a bit of it at NZ’s recent eFest. There was a young group of culture activists called the Midnight Assembly asked to set up a booth and give a workshop. It was great to see amongst all the elearning drudgerly – a stnd of band T shirts and CDs and passionate misfits side swiping the crowd with essential messages. I reckon all these conferences should have art installations and anything alse that will help everyone “think outside their comfort zones”. Thanks for the brilliant suggestions.
May 28, 2008 at 7:11 pm
alexanderhayes
Be the DJ.
Picture it …..and then paint it back to them as a benificent – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WQkJ2luDyg
Damn…..it’s blocked for the most worthy.
Maybe access reform could also appear on the agenda. It seems not to have escaped my scrutiny of late.
May 29, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Gail
Hello Leigh,
thank you for showing us the learning / sharing / teaching (dare I say it) possibilities available via socially constructed media (this is new so I want to say it). So much potential, I think you have shown educators what they can expect in the future. The wikieducator platform has so much potential. Creatively sharing content is a great idea, you make IP and Copyright appear less scary (altho still serious). Creative Commons makes alot of sense.
I agree with Alexander, you are a great speaker, very passionate, please keep it up, keep up the blog and maybe we’ll see you in SL! Best wishes with the poly, the garden, fruit trees and family 🙂