Activity Plan: 21 Century Curriculum Content

This paper provides a description and project plan for the 21 Century Curriculum Content activity within the Technical Standards for Digital Education project.

This document is a work in progress: it will be updated in collaboration with the focus group for this activity.

Table of Contents

• 1.Activity summary
• 2.Expected outcomes
• 3.Deliverables and timeframes
• 4.Methodology
• 5.Related standards activities
• 6.Related projects
• 7.Communication and dissemination plan
• 8.Further information

© Copyright 2009 University of Southern Queensland

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1.Activity summary

Web 2.0 technologies open new possibilities for learning, teaching and collaboration in schools, and is driving demand for digital learning content which is dynamic, interactive and social. Web 2.0 content challenges many of our traditional notions of content because it can be hosted in the “cloud” and is embeddable in many systems. Such content can also potentially communicate with school systems (e.g. identity management, collaboration forums). There are increased demands for schools to embed and utilize more technology for teaching and learning to prepare students for their post-secondary study and work. However, there are a number of challenges with using web 2.0 content as it can be difficult to regulate and control.

Schools face a challenge to create web 2.0 curriculum content that can be safely embedded into learning environments. This activity will explore technical requirements for supporting appropriate use and reuse of web 2.0 enabled content across the sector, enabling collaboration and engagement.

2.Expected outcomes

Document current trends and web 2.0 usage in Australian schools sector

In collaboration with a national focus group with broad representation from across the schools sector, the team will identify current trends in the usage of web 2.0 content, particularly where this relates to publicly funded content. This information will be collated with the aim to identify patterns as well as collaboration opportunities across the sector. In particular, the investigation will focus on how existing digital content creation and use is being impacted by web 2.0 technologies.

Develop demonstrator with web 2.0 integration

A demonstrator system will be developed to showcase ways of integrating web 2.0 content with curriculum content. It is expected that the demonstrator will inform further analysis on the safety and security concerns of such content.

Identify and describe technical requirements for supporting “safe” use of web 2.0 content

Based on sector consultations, the team will research and investigate candidate technical solutions and standards which may address policy requirements and concerns with web 2.0 content while enabling digital content use in the sector to benefit from the flexibility and collaboration that web 2.0 functionality promises. This will require careful investigation in order to adequately address all identified issues.

Recommendations on future work and collaboration opportunities

This activity will result in appropriate recommendations to support schools sector use of “safe” web 2.0 content. Candidate technical standards for further investigation and adoption will be identified where appropriate.

3.Deliverables and timeframes

4.Methodology

In collaboration with Focus Group:

• Gather requirements for web 2.0 curriculum content
• Identify standards for web 2.0 curriculum content
• Participate in IMS Common Cartridge & IMS Learning Tools Interoperability working groups and monitor W3C web applications working group to collect intelligence on emerging standards for web 2.0 curriculum content
• Develop a demonstrator showing how standards based web 2.0 curriculum content can be embedded within a learning environment
• Demonstrate demonstrator system with focus group and gather feedback
• Complete final report with findings and recommendations.

Sector consultation plan

• Establish focus group through sector contacts, with at least three meetings, including one face-to-face. Focus group to stay in communication through EDNA Groups.
• Approval of nominees for focus group.
• Circulate background brief to focus group and key stakeholders. Integrate feedback.
• Ongoing consultation on requirements and current developments in web 2.0 enabled curriculum content.

5.Related standards activities

6.Related projects

7.Communication and dissemination plan

It is critical for this activity to achieve its goals that the information it gathers and produces is disseminated effectively to the appropriate audiences. The focus group will define the communication strategies it will employ, taking advantage of existing channels relevant to each member's organisation and jurisdiction. Communication to the sector generally may take advantage of wider dissemination methods such as web site postings, blog posts and sector-wide mailing lists and events.

8.Further information

Activity lead: Owen Oneill

Project team members: Nick Nicholas, Caroline Drury, Yvonne Cheong, Nigel Ward

Focus Group: TBA

Link Affiliates: http://www.linkaffiliates.net.au/

The Technical Standards for Digital Education project is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)