Welcome back to the last school term of the year - and it's a short one, too, so time to concentrate on what's most important for our students. This is a bumper round-up: two weeks' worth of e-learning action in one!

Member of the week

Each week we'll profile someone who has made a valuable contribution to our e-Learning community. This week, it's....

• Gerard Macmanus: Gerard is Head of Digital Technologies at St Bede's College, Christchurch. He posts frequently in the Virtual Learning Network and across other social media. His passion is helping teachers get to grips with developing e-learning and getting technologies in place to assist them with the change.

Group of the Week

• e-Learning Planning Framework Group: This group supports the consultation into the e-Learning Planning Framework. All information on how to participate and the background to the framework can be found here.

A sneak peek: e-Learning across the VLN Groups

Leadership

• The conversations continue on the leadership poll: Can a principal be a leader of e-learning without leading this themselves?

Bringing your own devices (BYOD)

• What are you doing in your school?: Derek Wenmoth has started this discussion on BYOD - what's your answer?

  Bring Your Own Devices - How do you do it or How do you get there?: Shared by Barbara Reid.

• Student Owned Devices: A resource by Steve Wheeler, shared by Barbara Reid.

• BYOD: An ethical dilemma

• Why BYOD? - What do you want to achieve?: New thread from Robert Douglas, building on his recent article in Computers in NZ Schools.

Professional Learning

• Finish this sentence: When I go to ULearn, I will be focusing on....what did they go looking for?

• e-Portfolios for appraisal - what do you think? A discussion started by Philip Buchanan in the Rotorus Lakes Cluster.

• The Draft e-Learning Planning Framework (Term 3) went with some lively debate and discussion. To view this session: View the Blackboard Collaborate recording. See 'Events' below for an opportunity to attend the next workshop.

• Using MyPortfolio....Do you use MyPortfolio? Here's a space to share tips, tricks and questions on how the tool works for you. Please note there has also been a recent update, as shared via the MLE Reference Group.

• Teachers as Learners: Improving Outcomes for Māori and Pasifika Students through Inquiry - a resource shared by Mary Loveless.

Professional Learning Events

• REGISTER TODAY! Webinar: Introducing the eLearning Planning Framework - 2 November: It will briefly inform you about the history and context of the draft eLPF, how it will aide schools in addressing critical success factors (in regards to working towards e-Maturity) and how this will affect your role in schools (free). 

• Learning@School Conference: (26-27 January 2012)

• The Virtual Professional Learning Development programme (2012): The VPLD team is very keen to hear from NZ teachers, Principals, APs and DPs, who are interested in participating in the next VPLD intake (programme beginning in February 2012).

• iNET Educator Online Conference | Learning in the hands of students (14-21 November 2011). Currently calling for papers.

• First Online Course for REAL ePortfolio Academy from Helen Barrett now available.

Teaching and Learning  |  Digital Citizenship

• One way that I'll be using ICT to support teaching in term 4 is.....Finish this sentence. And have a look to see if anyone doing what you're doing.

• Support from the Digi-Advisors: Feedback and discussion on how you can use Digistore and be supported by the Digi-Advisory team.

• Research supporting the benefits of technology in reading and writing: A compilation of research that outlines the benefits of technology in supporting readers and writers, from the Innovative Educator blog. The reports have US lens on them at times, but it is a useful starting point.

• Culturally responsive pedagogy and assessment in primary science classrooms  |  Whakamana tamariki: Chrissie Butler shares this research report into effective teaching for Māori students.

• e-Registered Teacher Criteria: Suzie Vesper (via Enabling e–Learning on Facebook) has added information on evidence gathering and workshop materials to the Registered Teacher Criteria wiki. All feedback welcome. 

Technology

• Is wireless safe?: A post from Derek Wenmoth on potential issues with wireless technology.

• Tablets: Iona Rait asks what tablets people are using in their classes and for what purposes. 

• What's a screen reader?: Guidance for any of us creating content online that supports access for all users.

• Kid Pix ipad alternative: Shared by HeyMilly, here is another option -  Doodle Buddy (an iPad app)