Empowering education: A glimpse into FLANZ’s APODE Week 2023
We are thrilled to share the success of the Asia-Pacific Online Distance Education (APODE) Week 2023, organised by FLANZ in collaboration with the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia (ODLAA) and global partners EDEN Digital Learning Europe, Coimbra Group Education Innovation, Doctoral Studies Working Groups, and the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). The three webinars held from 7 to 9 November 2023 brought together professionals, researchers, and educators from diverse backgrounds for enriching discussions and insights.
Over 150 professionals, researchers, and educators actively participated in these webinars, contributing to rich discussions with our presenters. The diverse perspectives and experiences shared during APODE Week 2023 truly made it a valuable and impactful event. Read on for the highlights and resources for each webinar.
Highlights
Digital assessments: A form of flexible learning
Associate Professor Kwong Nui Sim (Sydney International School of Technology and Commerce) facilitated this webinar. We explored the critical role of digital assessments in the evolving landscape of education. Participants engaged in discussions about leveraging technology, including artificial intelligence, to create pedagogically sound and student-centred digital assessments. The session set the stage for discussions leading up to the 2024 FLANZ conference.
You can access the recording of ‘Digital assessments’, which includes corrected sub titles, and a full transcript.
Getting started with UDL for open, flexible, and distance learning
Annette van Lamoen and Michael Grawe from Ako Aotearoa joined us for the second webinar in which they introduced the free, self-directed course on Universal Design for Learning (UDL).It provides educators with practical insights and resources. This interactive session showcased UDL practices suitable for open, flexible, and distance learning contexts, offering participants a chance to explore and continue their learning journey through the Ako course.
Resources:
- Recording of a conference presentation by Annette and Michael on the topic that formed the basis for the input part of our session (there is no recording of the session during APODE Week)
- Pathways Awarua from Ako Aotearoa
- Pathways Awarua specifically for UDL for educators
- Free monthly Pathways Awarua webinars
- Overview of the UDL guidelines
Lifelong joy: Promoting the joy of online learning across context, audience, and time
This dynamic panel discussion focused on the emotional impact of online learning, emphasizing the importance of joy in educational settings. Dr Dawn Gilmore (RMIT) was joined by the panellists Associate Professor Sarah Prestige (Griffith University), Dr Chinh Nguyen (Curio), Lina Du-Lazzara, Anitra Nottingham, Toni Jones (all RMIT) to explore joy in teaching and learning. Key discussion points included the impact of positive emotions on cognitive processes, strategies for designing joyful learning environments, fostering inclusivity and empathy, and overcoming challenges in online joyful learning.
Watch the recording for ‘Lifelong joy’ and read transcript for ‘Lifelong joy’.