ascilite Live!

Webinars for ascilite Members

ascilite offers up to ten interactive webinars each year as a professional development activity and for Communities of Practice outside of the annual ascilite conference. The ascilite webinar initiative commenced in October 2009.

Webinar Chair

If you would like to know more about ascilite Live! Webinars or offer your services to present a particular topic, please contact Oriel Kelly or the ascilite Secretariat.

Registration Procedure

To register for webinars, simply email the ascilite Secretariat with "webinar registration" in the subject line followed by your full name and institution and whether or not you are a current member.

Ascilite webinars continue to be open to members and non-members so attendees are welcome to share webinar invitations with colleagues.

Once registered, attendees receive an email with login details on the morning of the webinar.

Next Webinar: Engagement Strategies for Blended Learning

Date: Tuesday 30 April | 1pm AEST | 3pm NZST.

For additional time zones, visit the date/time website.

Abstract: Blended approaches to learning seem to offer opportunities for extra learning time and learning experiences not present in traditional face-to-face conditions. The type of media used appears to have only a small impact on effectiveness. Instead, it's the type of strategies used to engage students in the dual context that is the key to effective learning. The challenge is to support teachers to implement principles of good practice in a blended situation. This webinar reports a study that developed a framework of student engagement strategies from the literature then tested these in a blended learning environment.

Ten key engagement strategies were identified, each of which related to a particular time frame for: capturing engagement; maintaining engagement; and, re-engaging those who have either never engaged or have become disengaged. The results indicated that the ten strategies improved student engagement levels; teachers played a critical role as gatekeepers to the student learning experience; students create their own blend of behaviours and activities that have personal relevance and efficacy for them; and, disengaged students can be retrieved.

Presenter: Lynn Jeffrey is an Associate Professor at the School of Management in Massey University (New Zealand). An important focus of her research is identifying and developing competencies to improve workplace performance, including the preparation of graduates for work. She also has an interest in improving adult and tertiary learning and the role that technology might play in achieving that end. Technology that Lynn has developed includes a computer-based, examination-on-demand system (CALES) which was used by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority for pilot theory examinations; a learning style website that can be used by tertiary students to get advice on improving their learning and by teachers for developing more relevant teaching methods; and a learning style evaluation website for workplace training.

Her current research focuses on student engagement in blended learning environments, occupational competency identification and teaching international students.