SiMERR Hub Progress Report

Hub Name	SiMERR Tasmania
Report Period	1/6/2006 - November 2006

ACTIVITY NAME

 Using ICT tools in project-based learning

PROJECT OUTCOMES

· Completed stage one of the project: teacher profiles and interviews collected and analysed; Collaborative Design Workshop delivered, and book chapter written (see attached)

· Presentation as part of Faculty Research Seminars

· Completed collection of second stage observations and interviews: observation of the tools in use for the first time, interviews with 2 teachers and five students. Data analysis is underway, and a report back session has been organised.

· IRGS (UTas internal grant application) written and awarded to extend this project to other parts of the State

· Presentation given to the TAFE Learning Managers Team

PROJECT MATERIAL

· Appendix 1: Material used in the Collaborative Design Workshop - program, PPT, handouts (photos of doors and windows not included)

· Appendix 2: Book chapter for Technology & Teaching edited by Jeff Sigafoos to be published late 2006 or early 2007.

· Appendix 3: IRGS application

· Appendix 4: Presentation to TAFE Learning Managers Team

NEW ACTIVITIES

As indicated above an internal competitive grant was awarded, and the work undertaken in this SiMERR project will be extended. The discussions with TAFE Learning Managers indicates a need for a change management process to move teachers towards a reconceptualisation of flexible learning, to clearly differentiate flexible learning from flexible delivery, and to assist and encourage teachers to move towards a constructivist rather than instructional pedagogy. There are historical and systemic issues that need addressing as part of this process.