Learning visits

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Dear ITC ILO colleagues,

DELTA is working on guidelines to ensure that learning visits (and tours) are an integral part of the learning process. The visits can be considered as a unique value our Centre can add to a training activity and we are looking for new modalities and formats to enhance the learning results.

Have a look at this concept map. (Please note that much information is contained in the notes you can find in the 2° page).

The visits are conceived as a 3-phase process: the ‘get ready’, the ‘visit’ and the ‘debrief’.

  • The ‘get ready’ focuses on the exchange with the hosting organization and the ILO field office;
  • The ‘visit’ can take different formats: multiple/elective; learning pills; multi-perspective;
  • The ‘debrief’ includes the work with the participants on the lessons learnt and the sharing with the colleagues on the visit’s major strengths and weaknesses.

Let us know what you think about it: what you would add, modify, erase. Contact Rodrigo (r.filguiera@itcilo.org) to be activated as writer in the online map (http://www.mindmeister.com/).

When visiting, participants should have at hand a diary that helps them to record, jot down ideas, link concepts and draft proposal for adaptation. We are thinking of designing a simple, small and portable booklet: what items do you think should be there? Have a look at this example and tell us how you would improve it.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Monica

Visualizing with Infographics

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Information graphics are visual representations of information, data and knowledge. It is an ideal instrument to present or communicate complex information in a simple way. This makes it also a useful tool for learning and training. It quickly conveys knowledge and it engages viewers.

In comparison with the mindmapping technique the visual factor of infographics is more important. It includes usually visual elements such as signs, charts, maps, or diagrams that enhance comprehension of a given text-based content.

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Using backchannels in learning events

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DELTA is currently contributing to a learning event on South-South cooperation in Cartagena, Colombia. To explore new formats of organizing events we want to try out the backchannel. As the name suggests it’s an additional channel of communication which takes place in the background to the main channel which in the case of learning events is occupied by speakers or panels of experts  The backchannel is projected at a second screen next to the main screen where participants can send messages, comments, feedback or questions.

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Interact with your audience

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During the first Learning Link we have tested out our new audience response systems. It allows audiences to participate in presentations by submitting response to interactive questions using a handheld device. Charts and graphs are displayed in real-time which generates interesting input for rich discussion. In order to integrate this completely in the pedagogical approach of activities  we will need to explore best practices for using them effectively to enhance interaction, engagement and learning.

One of the main challenges will be the diversification of the multiple choice questions. Feel free to add suggestions for what kind of questions or variations on MC questions can be asked to the audience.

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Tools for Learning

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In the past years DELTA got numerous requests of what kind of learning tools are available for a range of specific learning outcomes. While we are developing the learning toolkit COMPASS we would like to share already some useful learning tools. Jane Hart made a selection of 25 tools for Learning Professionals, based on a research of what learning professionals use most frequently. Have a look at them and if you want to apply them in your own learning and training context do not hesitate to contact us.

[slideshare id=1448214&doc=25tools2009-090517130050-phpapp02]

Web2practice: emergent technologies and innovative practice

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The participatory web, one of the central themes of the Lifelong E-Learning course at ITC-ILO welcomes the downloadable web2practice guides from JISC. In a way they are related to the Web2.0 in Plain English guides which were blogged in an earlier post. It aims to help you to enhance your working and training practice by understanding the potential of web2.0 tools.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ixYaulyt70]

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Practical use of participatory learning methodologies

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After reviewing the statistics of this blog we discovered that blogposts related to facilitation methods are most popular. Among them are posts about ‘world cafe‘, ‘fishbowl‘, ‘open space‘ and ‘peer assist‘.  Last year the LED conference was organized at the Centre (LED = Local economic development) and used in a systematic way a lot of these participatory methodologies.  To illustrate this we integrated  an overview of the methods that were used in the LED conference. In this way you can see how these learning techniques are applied in practice.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psij6gS2ZMk]

UN microblogging. The rise of twitter.

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Twitter has been non-stop in the news lately. According to EDUCAUSE we could consider Twitter as an on-line application which is part blog, part social network application and part mobile phone/IM tool. Users update on a regular base their network in 140 charachters on their projects, ideas, experiences, thoughts, …  and it this way Twitter creates a interconnected network of users. People either access it through the internet or through their mobile phone.  Organizations start to pick up twitter as a tool for external communication, public relations and continuous dialogue with their stakeholders. Development organisations use it to promote their mission statement. A series of UN agencies (UNHCR, UNDP, FAO, IAEA, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNODC, UNESCO, WFP, UN Staff College, UNITAR)  are already involved and other organizations do so too  (World Bank, OECD).  The Web2forDev site identifies microblogging as a useful tool for internal knowledge sharing.

twitter_love

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UN e-learning Kampus

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UN Staff College initiated a United Nations knowledge campus last week in order to share knowledge and experiences on technology enhanced learning in the different UN agencies. The on-line campus hosts a catalogue of e-learning courses available within the UN system and highlights some interesting e-learning exhibits. This week several discussions will be organised on specific topics including:

– The pedagogical potential of blogging.
– Serious gaming as learning and development.
– Learning in the Web2.0 area. Integrating social software in blended learning programmes.
– Developing a LMS in UN system organizations. Best practices.
– Techniques to deliver real added value in the web2.0 area.

Go to www.unkampus.org and join the discussion !

unkampus

Dare to share

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While working on the CoMPASS (the ITC-ILO in-house toolkit on learning methodology and technology) DELTA has been reviewing several toolkits. For this blogpost we would like to highlight one of them. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation launched a knowledge management toolkit for knowledge sharing and learning, called “Dare to Share“. More than 20 useful methods are explained and can be applied  at personal, team and organisational level. Several of the methods have been blogged already here (Peer Assist, Open Space) but the site will give you additional techniques for learning and training with a specific emphasis on knowledge sharing. Are you aware of any other interesting toolkits? Let us know.

daretoshare1