incorporating moodle into an existing model for distance delivery of literacy training 2009
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INCORPORATING MOODLE INTO AN EXISTING MODEL FOR DISTANCE DELIVERY OF LITERACY TRAINING presentation for CanadaMoodlemoot 2009TRANSCRIPT
INCORPORATING MOODLE INTO AN EXISTING MODEL FOR DISTANCE
DELIVERY OF LITERACY TRAINING
Linda WrightSioux Hudson Literacy Council
Moodlemoot 2009Edmonton, ABApril 2, 2009
Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
would like to acknowledge all of the
First Nation’s Elders, Learners and Practioners
who have opened their hearts and minds to the idea of e-Channel Literacy Learning.
• Background information
• Existing Model
• Integration of Moodle
Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
• Sioux Lookout, ON
• Operated onsite learning program in Sioux Lookout
Literacy
• Provide adult learners with the opportunity to upgrade their skills such as math, reading and writing and other essential skills
• In the province of Ontario the government funds four separate streams through MTCU
Native Anglophone
Francophone Deaf
Native Stream
• By government definition ‘Aboriginal’ people include Status and Non Status Indian, Métis, and Inuit
• We use the terms Aboriginal, First Nation and Native interchangeably
Native Stream
• 26 MTCU funded Native literacy programs across Ontario
• All these programs are community-based agencies
• They are located across the province from Kenora, on the Manitoba border, to Windsor and Moosonee, on James Bay, to Peterborough
• Some operate on reserve, some work with Friendship Centres in urban locations and some are ‘stand-alone’ independent programs
• Programs are represented and supported by the Ontario Native Literacy Coalition
Native Programs• Create and use culturally sensitive
material
• Respect traditions and beliefs of the aboriginal culture
• Many times the instructor becomes the learner
History
• Treaties 1689 - 1920– Grossly one sided– Believed that the Aboriginal leaders who signed these
treaties on behalf of their people didn’t fully understand what they were signing
• Residential Schools• Until 1951, the Indian Act of Canada
forbade Aboriginal persons from attending university unless they voluntarily relinquished their status as an Indian under a process called enfranchisement. (The Indian Act, 1876)
The Result
Mistrust and fear in education and in government
Statistics
31% of Aboriginal people living on reserve in Ontario have less than Grade 9 or no formal education at all, compared to 10% in the non-Aboriginal population - more than triple the rate.Registered Indian Population by Region and Type of Residence, December 31, 2005. … , Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development – 2006
Aboriginal high school graduation rates reports a 33% successful high school graduation rate compared to the “mainstream” population rate of 66% (Stats Can, 2001).
History of Project
• Responded to call out for proposals by Ministry of Training Colleges and University in Spring 2003
• Sioux Hudson Literacy Council’s “Good Learning Anywhere” proposal and business plan accepted December 2003
• Project was coordinated by AlphaPlus Centre in Toronto
• Four organizations approved at this time for pilots to run from January 2004 to March 2005
• Project continues and is funded through to March 2009
• Initially focused on the area North of Sioux Lookout, but as of 2007 service all of Ontario
Good Learning Anywhere
• Mandate to provide programs to learners:– who live in isolated or remote areas and do
not have access – Cannot access regular onsite programs for
other reasons
• It is also a supplementary aid for onsite programs
The Traditional Distance Learner
Grill, 1999 speaks of predisposed characteristics of distance learners -these learners tend to be motivated, well educated, middle-class, Caucasian individuals who want to continue their education
Good Learning Anywhere learners…
– 67% grade 7-12 highest level of schooling– 24% unemployed– 57% aged 27-39– 34% English is second language– 86% female– 87% want to be able to stay in their own
community and still take courses– 67% need study time that can be arranged
around their work/family schedule
What is the “digital divide”?is the growing global phenomenon that is creating greater distance between those having access to information and communications technology (ICT) and those who do not due to geographical and social isolation, poverty and political factors (AISR, 2006; Brescia & Daily, 2007; CBNC, 2006; Hunt, 2001; Miller, 2006)
Employment statistics for the global Indigenous population indicate that as employment skill requirements reflect the growing technology trends of the global market, the gap will widen between those with technology and those without; imposing a significant threat to under-skilled Indigenous people who will be excluded from new economic and employment opportunities (Greenall & Loizides, 2001; Miller, 2006)
Reaching Our Learners
MailTelephoneFloatplanes and
AirplanesFaxVideo and DVDs
Existing Model
• Static Website• Centra – synchronous online platform• Textbooks and materials are mailed out to
learners• Courses:
– 1 to 2 hours long twice a week
– 6 – 12 weeks in length
• Assignments and homework are emailed or faxed • All courses are free
Courses
• Teachers Assistant Career Training (TACT)• First Nations Management Training• Empowerment Through Learning – Math,
Reading, Social Studies, Science and Writing
• English Upgrading• Essential Skills for Heavy Equipment
Operators
Learning from home communities
Pros of this model• Live time• Builds community• Interactive• Visual• Recording and playback
feature• Learners learn from home
community
Math….Fractions!!!
URL’s…
Text Chat
Having some fun!
Goodbyes
Limitations of existing model for SHLC
• No tech staff on site with website design knowledge• Materials for courses are on individual instructors’
computers• Emailing websites and homework after each class
can be tedious• Some learners do not want email addresses• $/course for instructor limits number of courses that
can be run• Learners are at various levels and have specific
needs
Moodle and literacy in Ontario
• Alphaplus in Toronto, ON offered a course to literacy practitioners in Ontario
• Offered opportunity to develop and instruct entire courses on Moodle
SHLC and Moodle
A five stage process
1st stage
Course Page• Link to
Centra• Registration
form
2nd stage
• Used to hold information for GLA instructors
• Encourages instructor’s to get familiar with the platform
• Easy access to forms
3rd stage
Use for existing Centra courses
3rd stage
4th stage
• Plato – asynchronous platform
• Existing pathways and material that is unable to be modified
• Does not have the capacity for community building or peer support
• Moodle can be used to support Plato:– Additional activities– A place for information to be posted– Forums for interaction with others
5th stage
• Develop entire moodle courses for learners
• This will allow us to:– Offer independent learning for higher level
learners– Ability for courses to be available anytime– Create our own content
Lessons learned
• Learners get comfortable with one way of learning
• Make the changes slowly
• Asynchronous learning takes more motivation from the learner
• With both platforms, a lot of support is needed by the instructor
Miigwech
Linda Wright
905 635 5839
www.siouxhudsonliteracy.com