Ed/Tech must-reads 020724

Lecturers’ Perceptions of a Learning Management System Migration at an Open Distance and e-Learning Institution from IJEDE

This study from Piera Biccard and Phumza Makgato-Khunou (University of South Africa) shows that it doesn’t matter where you are, large scale change will make lecturers anxious about extra workload, and support needs to be very carefully thought out in advance. They surveyed 83 lecturers during an LMS migration process and analysed responses using a Unified Theory of Acceptance and use of Technology model (who says there is no theory in ed tech). I like that in addition to the common themes tied to training, resources, communication and infrastructure, they picked up the emotional aspect of the experience. They noted the drain of having to re-do work due to system issues. This side is too often overlooked but i suspect it impacts uptake more than anything else.

Proposing a Competency-Based Tool for Assessing the Capability of University and OPM Learning Designers and Learning Design Teams from Partnering with Online Program Managers for Distance Education

It’s probably not surprising that this chapter caught my attention, given my own interests on the liminality of these kinds of third space roles and the challenges of finding ways to better define them. (Though not necessarily too rigidly). Dawn Gilmore and Chinh Nguyen (UniMelb) have developed a pretty solid tool for identifying capability in learning/instructional design to inform decision making about recruitment and capability building. I’m particularly happy to see skills in training and development identified as a key area of LD work - something which is sometimes mystifyingly absent elsewhere.

Aligning the Vision for Technology-Enhanced Learning with a Master Plan, Policies, and Procedures from Technology-enhanced learning and the Virtual University

Continuing my apparent theme of institutional deep dives this week, this is also another chapter from a book I have mentioned previously. Kevin Ashford-Rowe, Holly Russell, Nona Press and Judith Smith (QUT) discuss the ins and outs of structuring digital transformation and the importance of a whole-hearted approach to this. (In my experience, truly getting the entire community on board with change is one of the hardest jobs in the sector). Remembering that it is more about the learning and teaching experience and less about implementing technology is a vital part of this.

What’s the Difference Between Mastodon, Bluesky, and Threads? from Electronic Frontier Foundation

This sounds like the set up to a joke and I’m sure that someone funnier than I could come up with a zinging punchline. Now that the mass migration away from Twitter (X whatever) is largely done, it does seem like a good time to compare and contrast the competing options. I tend to prefer to have an each-way bet, so I’m still haunting all of them to some extent but I have been wondering why recently. It’s generally because of one or two friends who are nowhere else. This is a good, slightly techy/wonky but accessible read comparing key qualities of these platforms: user experience, culture, privacy, moderation and more. As much as I hate to admit it, I have probably been consistently seeing more relevant content on LinkedIn in the last year or so. (I’m @gamerlearner pretty much everywhere if you’d like to say hi)

Third Space Symposium - call for proposals from TELedvisors Network (Due Sept 1)

I will try not to overdo the 3SS posts - but it is such an exciting event. We are now calling for proposals for both the Symposium and the online Slowposium - check the site for full details.