Forum K - 12 Schools Forum: Re: Interview with Debbie Evans – Principal Glenorie Primary School

By: Debbie Evans

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I was deployed to work at Macquarie University ICT Innovations Centre in 2003. One day I went along to a lecture that James Dalziel was giving about an innovative tool for e-learning. I didn't really know what e-learning was, to be honest! His lecture was very thought-provoking and during my deployment I spent a number of hours playing with the tools and designing very ordinary sequences as part of my project. I was particularly interested in investigating whether LAMS could be used to deliver Homework on-line. I was wondering if it would be too difficult for Primary students to cope with.
When I returned to my school in 2004, I began authoring sequences for my Yr 5/6 class and found that students were becoming interested in the lineal sequence approach that I had used, to investigate and collaborate. They particularly enjoyed the Q & A, survey and voting tools.I worked with Donna Gibbs and Robyn Phillips from the Macquarie University School of Education on their research project during that time.
After using it on a class-basis in 2004, I introduced a number of staff on the Technology Committee to LAMS in 2005 by designing a sequence called 'Are you having fun?'
The NSW Department of Education began a trial through the Centre for Learning Innovation so I volunteered myself and a number of staff who embraced the idea.
I created accounts for all students in the 2 yr5/6 classes and 1 Kinder/yr1 class. Karen May picked it up and ran with it for her Stage 1 class and Jacqui Green also became a LAMS convert with the other 5/6 class.
In mid-2005, I felt that the students were ready for a new venture, so Stage 3 classes began using LAMS as their main source for Homework. Now all students complete their Homework by logging onto LAMS each week.
We have a number of other sequences which run all term (so students must remember NOT to hit FINISH). In particular, there is one called 'Reading Forum' where students add their favourite books that they are reading. Other students can go in and comment on those books. There is also a sequence where students can log Homework problems. I find that students are using it to help each other with their homework issues. I find myself doing minimal monitoring of this.
At the end of last year, I imported survey questions from DET surveys to create sequences for staff, the parents and students to collect data for our Annual School Report. This was very successful! We did not need to spend any time on the tallying of results and spent more time analysing results of these surveys. LAMS created the graphs instantly and the collection of this data was easier, more innovative and therefore more engaging for the participants. Therefore, our response rates were much higher too!
We have also used LAMS to evaluate school programs such as our Peer Support Program. Our Yr 5/6 leaders complete a survey and forum after the training program and again after the actual program has run. It helps me to determine which activities to run the following year and which ones the students do not enjoy.
I have since trained another staff member, Mitchell Squires (Ist yr out teacher, ex-Mac Uni student & digital native) who is now authoring and monitoring sequences for our Stage.
I am currently working with GATS students who I have given Author rights to. They are designing simple learning sequences which we will be trialling later this term.
We run Parent Information Nights each year and get many interested parents come along. OUr next one is tomorrow night. I'll let you know how it goes. I always create a sequence for parents to complete after these evenings to collect information about the night.
Parents have even come to me and asked me to create forums for them so that they can plan school events such as the school fete and Yr 6 Farewell without even leaving the comfort of their living rooms! Some of our clientele live long distances from the school so it is much easier for them to communicate through a forum. They create topics in the forum such as catering where all participants can contribute.

Posted by Debbie Evans