Who's Zoomin' Who?

After begging me for the best part of a year, I finally relented and asked him to talk to me again. Tom Farrelly is back to talk about #GastaGoesGlobal 2 - One Year On which is being held on Tuesday 13th April.  Reflecting on the year that was, what worked and what didn't and what all this might mean for the future of online teaching and learning.  This time he knows each of the speakers talks about last year and speculates on what they might bring this time. With an appearance from SAMR, OER, Creative Commons and a smattering of other TLAs - Tom shares both his edtech and education philosophy.

Ken mostly laughs, pokes fun at Tom but occasionally makes some sense but says absolutely far too many times!

In episode 16 (Season 2 Episode 2) of Who's Zoomin' Who?  WIT lecturer Hazel Farrell talks about developing a new online music module, her experience of teaching online before, during and perhaps after the pandemic.  Screen-free weeks for students, an examination of assessment and how sometimes less is more also form that basis for this conversation.

Hazel also talks about the recent National Forum funded webinar that she hosted featuring Bryan Mathers form Visual Thinkery.  With some suggestions for a classical music pandemic playlist, Hazel once again extolls the virtues of minimalism.

Ken is pretty much the same as always but the umming and ahhing has noticeably improved.

In this first episode for 2021 featuring Dr Terry Maguire from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, she talks about the probability of the impossible, the response across the sector to the pandemic and what lessons might be learned if we take the time to listen to both our students and staff.

With commentary on the Index survey, capacity building across the higher education landscape and some of the foundational work played by the National Forum in building collaborative partnerships she looks forward to an even brighter future.  With a very ambitious and exciting work plan, Terry sees a busy future ahead for the National Forum.

Ken (as per usual) mostly nodded along has managed to keep his umming and ahhing problem in check reminisced about distance education and occasionally once again offered some insights into his own educational philosophy.

In this first Summer Special Episode featuring a slightly longer conversation with Professor Mark Brown who talks about building leadership capacity in the sector, the generosity that was demonstrated during the COVID19 crisis, overcoming the deficit language around online education, lessons learned from MOOCs and the promise of micro-credentials. Posited through a lens that looks at both the similarities and some of the differences between his native New Zealand and his Irish home.

With some crystal ball gazing and looking towards September and beyond Mark also talks about the "new norm" and how the "digital dimension" can be part of the solution for both our immediate and longer-term challenges.  He also offers a defence for the traditional lecture and talks to culture and becoming a social learning organisation.

Ken mostly nods in agreement and is trying to keep his umming and ahhing problem in check while reminiscing about the College Bar and occasionally offering some insights into his own educational philosophy.

In episode thirteen of Who's Zoomin' Who?  there are not just one but two guests featuring Lorraine Gallagher and Trevor Boland from AHEAD who talk about their recent series of webinars on the accessibility features of Word and PowerPoint, the AHEAD response to COVID-19, a look at what September 2020 might hold and some practical tips and pointers around UDL (Universal Design for Learning).

Ken McCarthy thought that the umming and ahhing would be after getting better by now and is still desperately trying to ask some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In episode twelve of Who's Zoomin' Who?  Eamon Costello from DCU turns the tables somewhat and manages to ask Ken a question, talks about Springboard and DCU Connected, the challenges of assessment,  the diversity of modern life, academic writing, sanctuary scholars and he even manages to mention Tipperary hurling.

Ken McCarthy is still umming and ahhing, trying to sound in some way intelligent and is still trying to ask some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In episode eleven of Who's Zoomin' Who?  Tom O'Mara from UCC talks about the lexicon of learning, the connected university, digital badges in UCC and the challenges of COVID-19.  Tom also looks forward to September and what the new academic year might hold while outlining some of the steps that they are taking in UCC to prepare for next semester.

Ken McCarthy is still using his new headset and it still doesn't help with the umming and ahhing, but he is still trying to ask some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In episode ten of Who's Zoomin' Who?  Carina Ginty from GMIT  talks about the iNote project and the recently launched DigitalEd learning environment which aims to equip CUA (Connacht Ulster Alliance) - GMIT, IT Sligo and LyIT staff with the necessary skills to teach online. Carina also reflects on the rapid move online and ponders on what the future might hold.

Ken McCarthy did get a new headset but doesn't think it has helped with the umming and ahhing, and is still trying to ask some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In episode nine of Who's Zoomin' Who,  Brian Mulligan talks about his long history of innovation and discovery in online learning and educational technology, the IT Sligo online model, their response to the COVID-19 crisis and imagines what future legacy might emerge from where we are now.

Ken McCarthy still hasn't gotten any better at umming and ahhing, gives a somewhat damning opinion on exams and yet still asks some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In episode eight of Who's Zoomin' Who,  Gearóid Ó Súilleabháin from CIT talks about their recent move to Canvas, about the resilience and anti-fragility of the educational technology systems that we use, the CIT MA in E-learning, Design and Development, and the OER resources available on TELU.me

Ken McCarthy still umms and ahhs, gives a somewhat dubious Cork geography lesson and yet still asks some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In episode seven of Who's Zoomin' Who, Catherine Cronin from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education talks about the recently published findings from the INDEx survey, shares her Open Education philosophy and discusses the impact and possible legacy of the COVID-19 crisis,

Ken McCarthy hasn't really got any better at umming and ahhing, manages to misquote Hemmingway and yet still asks some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In the sixth episode of Who's Zoomin' Who, Oisín Hassan from the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP) talks about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the project, defining an Irish definition of Student Engagement and plans for the rollout of their National Forum Digital Badge and other online training and development activities.

Ken McCarthy still umms and ahhs, often forgets to turn back on his mic and deals admirably with a neighbour's noisy dog while still managing to ask some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In the fifth episode of Who's Zoomin' Who, Marie O'Neill from CCT College talks about the impact of digital technology on libraries, some of her favourite developments both nationally and internationally in higher education and a collection of open-source digital tools that she recommends.

Ken McCarthy didn't get much of a chance to umm and ahh but that is probably a good thing and still manages somehow to ask some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In the fourth episode of Who's Zoomin' Who, Sharon Flynn from IUA (Irish Universities Association) talks about the Enhancing Digital Teaching & Learning project, her experience as an online educator, the resilience shown by staff and students alike in these challenging times and imagines what the future might hold.

Ken McCarthy probably needs to get some professional help with his umming and ahhing but manages somehow to ask some sensible questions.

Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.

In the third episode of the new vodcast/podcast called Who's Zoomin' Who, Orna Farrell from DCU talks about #OpenTeach an online short course about teaching online that ran recently, her thoughts on the pivot to online teaching as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and educational technology and what the future might hold for online teaching in general.

Ken McCarthy is getting better at umming and ahhing and manages to ask some sensible questions. Sometimes funny, mostly serious, but hopefully entertaining.