On writing - reflections

I have made good progress across almost two months of writing, sprinkled with a little bit of reading.

This week, I will be doing the final sweep and proof reading of the book I have been working on since late last year. It has been an interesting and mostly fulfilling journey. The work that went into the book was mostly squeezed in between all the usual activities and challenges of a busy work schedule. However, pecking away at the writing meant I could consolidate my thoughts as the writing progressed. Some ideas had to be tossed out and other more relevant options brought in to help substantiate and support the narrative and argue through the book.

The last couple of months have been devoted to the polishing of the many chapters. My grateful thanks to Professor Stephen Billett for the time he put into supporting my endeavours last month. It was good to have him critique each chapter and for me to tighten the many themes woven through the book and to ensure each theme was well supported and argued through.

The next two months will be targeted at aupporting and working with several other tutors towards publication of their work on the eassessment project. I also hope to get a few journal articles started off as next year is already shaping up to be rather busy!!

The priviledge to be able to write for several months has really been useful. Being able to concentrate on  wrestling with the tasks of writing and its accompanying 're-writing' process has been productive. I have been able to put more time into reviewing the progressive work in greater depth and to make adjustments / improvements as they fit in. In the past, through a lack of time, I have had to usually 'park' this aspect. Often, the 'additional' items can be reworked into other articles etc. but not always.

So on with the next stage of the study leave :) I hope to fit in some R & R as well - biking and tramping - as these opportunities refresh the brain and provide the opportunity for mulling through thoughts and ideas that percolate through the process of physical activity.

Exploring Virtual expeditions

The introduction of VR into classrooms is now possible through the lowering of the cost of hardware and a building range of open resources to support VR field trips / virtual expeditions. Here in NZ, we are not short on natural landscapes but visits to culltural and historical sites are more challenging. Therefore, there is a need, in some discipline areas, to explore the possibilities of applying VR to enabling access to physical resources which are more engaging when learners are able to 'be there'.

Here are some resources to inform the processes of introducing and supporting virtual expeditions.

For a start, teachhub provides a good overview of virtual field trips possible with the use of Google. There is a link to a spreadsheet of shared virtual trips, mostly geographical but several historical as well.

Hardware for VR is summarised by techradar, although a bit dated from 2016. There is also a good list of alternatives to Google cardboard from vrlife.

Pros and Cons are discussed by pcarstensen.

Reform of Vocational Education - NZ - amendment bill

As part of the NZ reform of vocational education, the wheels have begun to move with the first official step - the passing of the Education (Vocational education and training reform) Amendment bill. This bill sets up the regulatory framework for the future structure and governance of the sector and is going through its first reading. When all sorted, the structures commence 1st April 2020 and the bill sets out transitional arrangements to shift the entire sector.

The bill will establish:
- the new framework
- workforce development councils (to replace some of the standards setting function of current Industry training organisations
- the one entity NZ Institute of Skills and Technology (combining the 16 current institutes of technologies and polytechnics)
- the transitioanal arrangements for a smooth transfer.

Submissions are being gathered through parliament and there will be some 'tweaks' before the final passing of the amendment bill.