A Piece of Cake of Workshop on Development GDLN for Distance Learning

I have been here since 10-12 November  for attending the "Workshop on Development GDLN for Distance Learning" this workshop initiated by Directorate of Higher Education as one of IMHERE project for INHERENT (Indonesia Higher Education Networks) activities. The participants of this course are the representative of lectures where their institution joined in Global Development Learning Networks (GDLN). The goal are to make them can describing how to integrate technology in learning process and knowing how to develop web based material for blended learning. 

At the beginning the concept  of the workshop delivering in plenary session for participants gathered more knowledge in technology itself and integration the technology in learning process mainly for blended learning. So far the explanation were too general and i saw that most of participants were not interesting in following the session. Since the time nearly to parallel session, i am still not find yet what is my role exactly in this workshop till finally i met Pa Gatot from Centre of Resources UI and from his explanation i got to know that the workshop were not preparing well. It's more like a sudden event and everything so rush including preparing the term of reference of this workshop.

Since i know that he will be one of the speaker at parallel session, and most of the context presentation were Prof. Paulina usually presented, so i just can say that i will be with you in this session. But suddenly the committee asked me to be a moderator for this session, so just following the flow then. The parallel session divided into two rooms which is the first room is focus on the method of learning process and the second room is focus on the experiences of UI, IPB and ITB in conducting e-learning. Most of participants preferring stay with Pa Gatot in the first room. So the session began.....the results were 4 questions from participants at the end.

The one that i surprised then when i knew that committees were still confusing for the next session tomorrow morning. From the scheduled that i got, it was explained that they will be divided into groups and they have to discuss then. But when i asked them what the expected output from this session is...well they couldn't answered. Finally Me and Pa Gatot suggested them to revise this concept being meaningfully for participants with the output such as program mapping and far more is designed already in the LMS. I asked the committee not to divided the participants in the different room based on competencies then, but just let them blend in one group each. And so we made this group more like a simulation for a e-learning team development where as usually there three roles inside which is subject matter specialist, instructional designer and multimedia/ICT specialist. Surprising that all of team member agreed and so we change the scenario of this workshop then. But i have to stayed up late to create the presentation explaining the group works scenario for tomorrow and preparing the template and brief explanation as well and so the participants can understand well since they just got a few of a whole picture of e-learning development this afternoon. So just try my best to provide all for tomorrow.

The day has come for participants sit together for group work and i have to lead them starting by describing the scenario today. Continuing with some of explanation about kinds of program mapping that they have to develop during the session. We are using the example from UI Lecture a complete of program mapping, learning object and the result in LMS and so they can see the correlation on its. Some of them in group working in designing program mapping and preparing the learning object, and some of them start by designing the LMS and choosing some of tools that might students need in their online course. They also designing the appearance of learning environment and so nice to look and helping in uploading and aggregate some of learning object that finished. They have to work together finally to designing the interaction in terms to achieve the learning objectives that they set before.

I can see that just because they sit in a large group (15 person/group/facilitator and there is 10 group) and so some of them seems like enjoying their own world. It's so pity that we have to encourage them finally by saying at the end of this workshop we will give them a post test which is as a measure and consideration for the committee inviting them again  for the next year program. Since that time i can see that they are have spirit more and trying to blend in discussion and working in group and try hard to understanding both of technical and substance matters. However they have come up with the result to be present by evening.

After they present all the works done, the committe evaluate represent by Pa Ucok from UI and Pa Gatot. Overall most of them are familiar with LMS already but they are still need to understand more how the pedagogical things arrange on its. It's not wonder also since i know that this workshop just helad in 2 effective days. However with this method all participants try to blend and understanding the concept as much as they can since they know there will be the post test at the end.

Wish that the next workshop in next year will be better then and preparing well more than currently we have.