E-Learning is not about creating content! An awesome computer instructor, Somebody who get's it! Tou Poon, and Poodles.

We have been very busy the last few days. Tuesday I spent preparing for a presentation that I will give on Thursday summarizing my experiences looking at the E-Learning section of Non-Formal education. The web site that I have created is at www.cysewski.com/sabbatical/elearningexamples/

There is a massive amount of effort in Thailand to put educational content on line. At STOU, at Non-Formal Education and the Commission of Technology. There is also effort to distribute content by radio and television. What I have not seen is effort being put to using Internet technology to teach or learn. What I am recommending is to spend some time focusing on using technology for communication and process instead of content development.

The content that is being created is based on and similar to material already in print! Many of the CD's are of high quality and professional, but they are using the Pre-Test, Content, Multiple Choice Review, Post-Test methodology that is boring and fake! For the television programs and the Multimedia materials being created there is little connection between the production and the users. In a sense many people are creating text books, but there is no follow up marketing. Since people do not sell the material there is no consequence for unused materials.

Before the Internet we did the same thing, does anybody remember all the HyperCard stacks that teachers created. There used to be large catalogs of educational CD's for sale, some of them excellent. I remember spending $700 one Christmas for a CD player for my computer and a bunch of educational CD's for my daughters. The Internet has changed all that.

In Thailand there might be a need to develop materials on line because of the Thai language, but I am not sure why the material should be on-line if there are already workbooks. I do not see innovative or interesting new uses of the on-line opportunity to inspire independent learning. In any case I created a paper and some material to share so that people could see a broader view of e-learning. The Word document at http://www.cysewski.com/sabbatical/elearningexamples/ELearningIdeas.doc and the supporting web site are to start the conversation.

2/1/06
Wow, we visited a wonderful teacher and a wonderful school this morning. Satri Si Suriyothai School is in downtown Bangkok, Nick and Nook go there, It is a girls school. The computer teaching at the school, Poonsak Sakkatatiyakul has created excellent learning tools focusing on student communication and support. His knowledge and educational approach are astounding. You can see the web site at www.thaigoodview.com . The school was selected as a Microsoft Partners in Learning ICT Model School. The information about the award is at this location http://www.thaigoodview.com/ict/. The school web site in Thai is at http://www.suriyothai.net/ Thai students from all over the world use this site, the web log is amazing.

There is an exchange student from Alaska at the school, she is a 10th grader from Anchorage, it was great to talk a little about Alaska.

In the afternoon we saw a presentation on Multimedia Educational CD's and VCD's. for the Division of Educational Technology. The quality was excellent, but I have many questions about whether developing educational content, even of high quality, is E-Learning!

We also visited the Non-Formal Education Center for Target Groups. Jit is interested in people in Alaska taking advantage of the Thai learning resources, we have all the paper work, and sample course content to share with people when we return.

2/2/06
We met another amazing talent today, Rangsun Wibook-uppatum with the Bureau of Information and Communication Technology. He gets it, his description of working to bring teachers on board with effective use of technology as a learning tool was masterful. He understands teachers. He is also aware of the process of stimulating change in a non-threatening way. He has used the Intel Teaching to the Future curriculum to use ITC training as a means to teach about student centered and constructionist learning. Information on the curriculum as at both these web sites http://www.tmd.com.au/education/ and http://education.qld.gov.au/smartclassrooms/strategy/tsdev_intelteach.html . The content is very good, and is similar to what we might do in our Computer Business Applications course. He has many innovative programs. It was great to hear him in morning. Much of what we discussed were points I wanted to emphasis in my afternoon presentation.

In the afternoon I made a presentation about my observations and thoughts. I used the web site I created. The Director of the Education Technology Commission also showed up for the later part of the presentation. We spent some time discussing process and content. I really do not think he understood what I was talking about. I think one of the purposes of the meeting was to have me talk with him. He is a road block to innovative uses of technology!

Jit and I have made a contact with Stewart to talk with the E-Leaning people, he would be an excellent employee or consultant because he knows current technology that can be used to support education. I hope it works out.

In the evening I got sick, I think it was a slight case of food poisoning. Living over a canal can be very convenient. Also a dog bit Jit yesterday, she was invited in a house and the dog bit her when she came in. How people could invite somebody in, when they have a poorly mannered dog is a little murky. It had rabies shots though. People in this community do not have a clue about how to raise dogs or dog behavior. There is only one half decently trained dog in the whole community. I think that dogs are used as watch dogs and are probably abused. It is irritating.

2/3/06
Today is Margaret's birthday, she will be 21. We will be home in two weeks. I am looking forward to a good Pizza and fast Internet access. Today we are going to Pantip to get the computer parts for Tohn's computer. He will assemble it and bring it home. We spent three or four hours waiting for the computer teaching and selecting parts. We brought the Monitor home and Tohn will bring the computer. When the computer arrived home it still needed software so Tohn will go to Pantip to get the software tomorrow. He will continue to work with his computer teacher. We are going to get up early in the morning to go to Jit's Uncle's house, it has been 100 days since his wife died and there will be a ceremony and meal. I try to go to sleep, but I am restless.

2/4/06
We get ready and go with Juke, he will drive us and Jit's aunt to the gathering. It is early. Star has it set up to sleep in the back of the car, Juke, Star, Nook, and Nick all leave for school between 5:30 and 6:00 and arrive home after 6:00 in the evening, they need all the sleep they can get. We arrive at the gathering, there are many people we know, nine monks arrive, there is chanting, a meal a meal is served afterwards, and there is a lot of visiting. I wander around and do some photography. The area is a center of lumber and woodworking, there are many lumber and finished wood product stores. The road is very narrow, when a truck stops for delivery the traffic backs up. When we leave we drive to the end of the road, I am amazed by the number of wood related stores in the area. The area is Tow Poon.

Last weekend I posted a picture of the road to Jit's Uncle's compound, the narrow road. I walked around and explored, the compound and neighborhood.. There is a beautiful small garden in the compound and up on the roof of a surrounding building there is a very colorful rooster.

People are following the news on satellite TV, they are interested in the demonstration today, people are talking about what could happen. The King's statement last night calmed things a little bit, but there is a lot of discussion. There is a band with "Stop Thaksin" shirts playing on TV. The regular channels are not covering the demonstration, but most of them are government controlled or owned by, or used to be owned by, Thaksin.

Tohn is working on his computer installing the operating system, Norton Ghost, Anti-Virus, and Microsoft Office (Thai Version). I am observing, but not intruding.

We have a lot of work to do to prepare to return home. Monday morning I will watch the Super Bowl, I have followed Seattle, where I was raised, since the Seahawks began, I guess I should watch them when they finally make the Super Bowl.

Today I saw some more ornamental dogs, usually white poodles being carried, It is a pretty irritating fad, I never see the dogs walk. Sick dog, neglected dogs, mean dogs, scavenger dogs, and ornamental dogs, sigh!