Catholic sector

The Teaching and Learning site for the Catholic Education Office – Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese has The Le@rning Federation-specific information.

Professional Learning Pages for the CEO is password-protected, but if you wish to visit please contact Thea van Os for a username and password.

Learning objects report from Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, March 2005

It seems like years, and it has been, that learning objects have been the various agendas within the CEO and our schools. Yet is has been a relatively slow journey to raise the awareness of the wonderful learning objects and a much longer journey when one focuses on the integration of objects into the classroom.

We have been involved in a number of trials regarding delivery of the objects from local- to central-based-repository access through BELTS, a release of a CD containing a September 2004 release of the objects, and of course through the Myinternet portal and even uploaded through Moodle.

By far the most successful way has been the release of the CD. This has enabled our teachers to take the objects home (many are still on very slow dial-up so the CD is a viable alternative).

Although in all our communications we stress that learning objects should be used as part of an entire learning sequence, we have found that teachers really need time to play, familiarise themselves with the objects and even gain confidence before they are ready for the pedagogical mind-shift that encourages the effective use of the learning objects in the classroom.

As the Archdiocese has agreed to a system-wide purchase of the Myinternet desktop and Myclasses, this is the preferred option for accessing and embedding the learning objects. Although we are working closely with Myinternet there have been a number of issues that have prevented us truly promoting the delivery of the objects by this means.

The Myclasses desktop has been a welcome addition to the Myinternet suite as it takes away the need for students to physically add properties to a desktop portal, but the ELF (e-learning folio) and the incorporation of the learning objects has not been a smooth process to date. Myinternet has been very helpful in rectifying issues such as multiple delivery of the objects within one ELF and the searching function for finding the objects has improved dramatically. We still find that for teachers to find the latest objects released, BELTS has been the most effective way to access these objects. Therefore many of our teachers are finding the specific learning objects in BELTS and creating a text and image property in Myinternet in order to provide access for the students. Through this manner, teachers can also provide learning objects through the Myinternet desktop and again referencing either the BELTS box or Myinternet repositories.

Although one can say that currently there are pockets of users, the momentum is growing. Currently, we have a number of programs that highlight the learning objects at any opportunity. Not only are the latest learning objects that are freely available on The Le@rning Federation site linked to our VISION website but also programs such as our ALT (Achieving with Learning Technologies) program where learning technologies officers work closely with particular schools on a regular basis. In addition to this our current professional Learning Opportunity such as Learning in an Online World also focuses on the use and integration of the objects in the classroom. Some teachers are beginning explore the use of learning objects and interactive whiteboards with excellent results.

Teachers are finding learning objects an excellent way to provide differentiate curriculum and learning experiences that would otherwise not be available. As mentioned earlier the Catholic Education Office is working hard with Myinternet to streamline the access issues surrounding the learning objects embedded in their product. Recently the ACT Education Department and CEO began working together to establish a Myinternet management committee, which will focus on Myinternet but, no doubt, also the delivery of learning objects through the Myinternet suite.

In consideration that The Le@rning Federation is only one of the roles of our officers, rather than having an officer dedicated to the use and implementation of learning objects, the uptake and use is steadily growing with pleasing results.