Beyond the blog and wiki Exploring learning objects and digital resources on Digistore Presenter: Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz http://thevirtualclassroom.pbworks.com

Part One: Introduction to Digistore

What is Digistore? Te Pātaka Matihiko; Digistore is New Zealand's gateway to thousands of free items of digital curriculum content from the Ministry of Education and The Le@rning Federation (TLF). You can find interactive learning objects, images, audio files and movie clips via browse, search and filter technology. Digistore allows you to tag and rate favourite resources, and create learning paths, to ensure quick access for both you and your students.

What is a Learning Path? An exciting new feature of Digistore 2.0 is the ability to create Learning Paths, a collection or sequence of learning content interwoven with teacher comments and descriptions that can be created for a particular audience eg: Students, Teachers, parents or as a personal collection. Later this year all NZ teachers at registered schools will be able to access Digistore using their Education Sector login (ESAA). Until then learning paths should be created under a school's username and password. Teachers will be able to copy any school learning paths to their ESAA login once they are made available.

Why would I use this in English?

Effective use of Digital Content The use of digital learning resources provides a ‘real’ learning opportunity for English learning alongside identified learning outcomes in other learning areas. e-Learning as inquiry has also been developed to support teachers to explore how the use of digital content, software, and other e-learning strategies can be integrated into literacy teaching and learning.

Part Two: Digistore Tour

Digistore Tour Go to: http://digistore.tki.org.nz Make sure you check out the links: Using Digital Content http://digistore.wikispaces.com/ Learning Paths English

Part Three: Creating a Learning Path Activity

Why create a learning path? To support an identified sequence of questions or comments for students to explore. To identify a collection of digital content, selected to support a specific concept or focus that students are able to revisit for maintenance. To use in conjunction with other relevant digital content and learning experiences To enrich an existing programme of learning designed within an online learning space.

Questions to consider at the planning stage Is creating a Learning Path vs linking or embedding digital content a more effective option? What are the benefits to the learning process? How can I re-purpose content and what are the possible opportunities for shared learning? Is this an effective use of time?

Useful Links http://digistore.wikispaces.com/ (the user guide wiki) Check out FAQs to get code for imbedding links http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ For free graphic organizers to embed into your learning path comments