moodle moot using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

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Using Portable Moodle and eReaders to Enhance Learning at a Distance for Incarcerated Offenders Helen Farley, Des Janke, Angela Murphy, Jonathon Fowler

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Incarcerated offenders face a number of additional challenges to those faced by most other students studying at a distance. Lack of internet access is especially problematic for those studying in a sector that is increasingly characterised by online course offerings. This paper outlines a project underway at the University of Southern Queensland and the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre in Gatton that is aimed at addressing this challenge. A standalone version of Moodle is being developed that will run on a server and an isolated network of computers within the education centre of the prison. Satellite Moodle will run independently of the internet and will not be able to connect to any computers or networks outside the education centre. The features of Moodle will be modified to allow students to access their coursework and engage in forum discussions. Library resources and course readings will be provided on eReaders, without internet connectivity. It is expected that the project will result in numerous benefits, among them: students will be participating in learning experiences more closely related to those experienced by students outside of the prison system; they will be learning relevant IT skills, e-literacy and e-research skills; USQ will be fulfilling its obligation in relation to equity of access; and will be addressing the Federal Government’s agenda of increasing participation by socially and economically disadvantaged groups in higher education. Satellite Moodle will also enable USQ to provide internet independent versions of courses to students in other areas that do not have access to the internet. Moodlemoot 2012 Theme: •Slip, Slop, Slap - Breaking Barriers The project supports at risk students in the form of incarcerated students who are often from Indigenous or low socio-economic backgrounds.

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Page 1: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Using Portable Moodle and eReaders to

Enhance Learning at a Distance for

Incarcerated Offenders

Helen Farley, Des Janke, Angela Murphy, Jonathon Fowler

Page 2: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

USQ’s Mission

Enable broad participation in higher education:

– Quality professional education opportunities that are

accessible, flexible and borderless;

– Create fulfilling experiences for all students based on the

commitment of skilled and caring staff;

– Develop graduates who are positioned to meet the

challenges of a rapidly changing world;

– Pursue world-class research, innovation and practice in

sustainable futures; and

– Engage with communities, business and government

through ongoing and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Page 3: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

accessible, flexible and borderless …

Page 4: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Incarcerated offenders

face additional

challenges to those faced

by most other students

studying at a distance.

Lack of internet access is

especially problematic for

those studying in a sector

that is increasingly

characterised by online

course offerings.

Page 5: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

The learning landscape is changing…

Increased online

course provision

Digital learning

environments

Interactivity and

collaboration

Elimination of

exceptions handling

Withdrawal of support

for incarcerated

students

Difficulties providing

equivalent learning

experiences to students

without internet access

Difficult for incarcerated

students to develop the

skills required for

success in future

employment or study

Further exclusion of the

already socially excluded

Page 6: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Enrolment of correctional

students in the TPP

course at USQ have

increased by 92% since

1990 with 256 in QLD in

2010.

Page 7: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Choice of courses is increasingly influenced by the

extent to which a course requires internet access

• Materials are delivered to students in hard copy format and CD roms.

• Educational officers are responsible for researching and printing learning material and liaising with the university.

• Limited access to resources and opportunities for obtaining digital literacy and researching skills.

• Students study independently with little opportunity for collaboration or discussion with peers.

• Increasing demands on USQ lecturers, library and student support personnel to provide alternative materials and activities and print and post the resources and materials required by students.

Page 8: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

mutually beneficial partnerships ….

Queensland Corrective

Services (QCS)

Department for Correctional

Services (DCS)

Serco Australia - Southern

Queensland Correctional

Centre (SQCC)

University of Southern Queensland

Page 9: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

The project consists of 2 components:

Stand Alone Moodle

(SAM) e-Readers

• Internet-independent version of the USQ StudyDesk

• Loaded directly onto a virtual computer within the education centre’s computer network

• No access to prison computers or outside world

• Coursework materials

• Relevant library resources

• Provided to students to take back to their cells

• No access to 3G or Wi-Fi

• No SD card slot

• No removable batteries

Page 10: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

innovation….

Page 11: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Stand Alone Moodle (SAM)

• Offline course content

• Replication of USQ’s

study environment

• Research & digital literacy

skills

• Engagement &

collaboration

• Comparable experience

Page 12: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

SAM Features

• Open Source application

• Open source virtual machine

• Packaged with content

• Internal interaction but no

external integration

• Future is efficient data

exchange

Page 13: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

E-Readers

• Extends learning beyond

the computer lab into

personal time.

• Ownership of own

research and learning.

• Advanced search skills.

• Experience with digital

technology and digital

literacy skills.

Page 14: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

ePub

• Open format may give flexibility

• Convert existing content

• Compatible with mobile online

delivery

Page 15: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

meet the challenges of a rapidly

changing world….

Page 16: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Project Prototype

• Trial project

• 17 students

• Southern Queensland

Correctional Centre in Gatton.

• TPP7120 Studying to Succeed

within the Tertiary Preparation

Program.

• Prospective students over 18 and

can’t gain entry via traditional

pathways.

• Trial commences in Semester 2,

16 July 2012.

Page 17: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

26% of the students

enrolled in the TPP at the

start of the 2010 academic

year were offenders in

custody.

74% were in Queensland

correctional centres.

Page 18: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

fulfilling experiences….

Page 19: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Expected outcome…

• e-literacy and e-research skills required in future studies and work environments.

• Reduced workload and more efficient use of time for USQ staff.

• Reduced costs, particularly printing and resources.

• Improved access to materials required for successful completion of coursework.

• Improved employment opportunities.

Page 20: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Enhanced potential for active, asynchronous and

social learning

• Thinking and reflection

• Conversation and interaction

• Experience and activity

• Evidence and demonstration

Page 21: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

Learning designers have

access to current technologies

whereas students may be

struggling with technology that

is old, unreliable or non-

existent.

These technologies offer

transferable solutions that

broaden rather than narrow

the access to education.

Page 22: Moodle moot   using portable moodle and ereaders to enhance learning

fulfilling lives….

“From a scholarly perspective, prison education reduces

recidivism, enhances life skills, and is a cost-effective

method of crime reduction…”

But from a humane and ethical perspective, prison

education allows those who want to change their lifestyle

the opportunity to do so.” Christopher Zoukis , former

prisoner and contemporary author

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8703640.htm /