I'm not the expert - a cautionary tale

Last week, I was looking forward to presenting to a group of new HE tutors who were just starting their Postgraduate Certificate course. I had been asked to tell them about the technology enhanced learning tools. So, the day before, I went to the location and checked that the computer was working and that the internet could cope with a video that I was going to show. It did.
I didn't twig that the mouse was a Mac mouse; I was just using it as normal. Although I'm familiar with Macs - I have a Macbook pro - I'm not familiar with their mouses.

On the day - I was assembling things and I knew that some of them were on a new memory stick. Here's a way to impress one's new boss - I put the stick into the computer, to show what I'd been doing and the stick didn't work. ALL MY WORK... there was a backup but it was IN A SAFE PLACE... (a euphamism for "I'm not sure where..."). 
After trying several options with the stick and the computer... I suddenly realised that I'd put the stick in the wrong way. This particular slimline stick didn't stop me from putting it in upside down.

In the afternoon, I started to give my demonstration and I couldn't log into the VLE.  And the hundreds of times that I had logged in before... just when I wanted to demonstrate some great features. And I couldn't log in. I had been locked out. In trying to recover, I suddenly noticed the mouse and that it was different (without two buttons) and this didn't help as I wanted to right click. Eventually, I  recovered, but things were a little sticky for a few moments.

So - I need to be aware of a plan B. Not necessarily the stick either. I'm working on it. I need to be aware that if I make any changes, then the backup also needs to be changed too. Also, during a demonstration, to go quickly and seamlessly to plan B, as if that were the plan A.
And to be aware of the many alternatives that are in a room when I present.
The video worked fine by the way. But it showed me that I will never present myself as "the expert", as things are just as likely to go wrong when I'm using the technology. 


During the morning, I had spent some time helping someone by ascertaining whether some software was working. It required me to put in my user name and password to enable publishing to the VLE. Unfortunately the settings weren't correct but eventually I managed to succeed. This may have caused the lock-out.

Star Rating

My comments on a "star-rated" system for online learning

I'm referring to Moodle here because that's what's used at Coventry University.

I think that a "star-rated" system would be great and would be one way of rewarding those who do well. I agree that it could also be used as a method to encourage tutors who need to improve their online presence.

I think that a "star-rated" system, if supplied with the right criteria, push, leadership and rewards, could be made to work.

Nearly there...

And a complete rethink on the format of my learning object. Using exe http://exelearning.org/ to collate the commentary and the examples - because it can embed an html page into the page and you can interact with it . Not too hard but I need the URLS up.

Just discovered that what I wanted to happen does work!

Simplified the TW: removed the left hand navigation column and the title because it took up space that was badly needed elsewhere. Did this by changing the stylesheet, so if the title is needed, I can just reinstate it! Also changed the background colour so that it wasn't white.

Why so late? Couldn't do a lot until the Curve repository was launched last Monday. Tuesday - Thursday I was writing a paper on the object. Friday finishing a report for TechDis on Portable Fx and DSpeech http://firefoxdspeech.pbwiki.com/ and away at the weekend. So - set to yesterday. Will I finish it by Thursday? I hope so!!!!

Student Guide

Now we have to change the cover so that it conforms to the Corporate. Mixed feelings as something that has always been in our hands has been taken away. However, I did mention in a small voice about getting them involved before. Possibly it's a good thing as I think that the cover would have benefited from a professional look. However, I am afraid of it coming too anonymous. At least they are not looking at the inside. That would be too much if they did. Still not sure about the changes that they have done. I don't like making a decision without the portal people being involved - [edited] - Great - a Portal Person has come up with a good compromise. Sufficiently small change and linking it to the original cover. Looks good.

Busy week

Online @ Coventry University now finished and ready for printing. I hope that the Portal and VLE work as well as the book will! Great that there's more that we can build on. Andy's suggestion of the green arrows was just right.

Posters for Dundee being sorted out. Just the descriptions to do.

My first course at CIPeL as a member tomorrow. Must get an early night. Sticks and the minimum of documentation sorted. Other things can be accessed via the Internet.

Still got to sort out the schedule for the workshops. Will just assign dates. Hopefully all will come out in the wash.

Looking forward to visiting Dundee. Hopefully the conference will be more relaxing as all I've got to do is put up two posters and do a ten-minute session.