Category: Professional Development
Categories
MRER Lecture Series
Date: Thursday, 25th February 2016
Venue: Open Access Area, Rm.224, Faculty of Education, Old Humanities Building
Time: 5.00pm
Chairperson: Prof. Carmel Borg, Editor, Malta Review of Educational Research (MRER)
Title of Lecture: Of MOOCs, ARGs, and other acronyms….how can we engage citizens effectively?
Lecturer: Vanessa Camilleri
Abstract:
Engaging citizens in activities that improve their quality of life and that of others in the community is one of the key strategies driving lifelong learning policies in a number of countries. A UNESCO report (2014) proposes a view of lifelong learning as “a paradigm for continuous, seamless, multifaceted learning opportunities and participation that deliver recognised outcomes for personal and professional development in all aspects of peoples’ lives (pg.5).” The Connectivist approach is considered as a self-directed process driven by online and offline connections, and residing in communities, networks, as well as various databases. Initiatives involving online and virtual communities have been emerging in the forms of massive open online courses (MOOCs) or social alternate reality games (ARGs). MOOCs arise from a need for education that is open, accessible, flexible, just-in-time and modelled around the learners’ needs. In parallel, social ARGs are the response to social problems by using games that use crowd intelligence to create a positive and tangible impact on people about some of the current global issues. The questions we ask and attempt to discuss in more depth during this lecture are:
– What are MOOCs and what is their importance in lifelong learning?
– How can ARGs involve citizens actively?
– In what ways can online networks be designed to support a more active citizen engagement?
Dear PSCD Teachers,
In the past short training seminars MPSDA has always asked its attendees to recommend topics for future talks. Pornography was always one of the highly recommended topics. Hence MPSDA has invited Dr Nicholas Briffa to hold an informative talk about pornography and the daily challenges PSD teachers are encountering with regard to this subject. This seminar will also include space for any attendees to voice their concerns and queries about pornography.
Subject: Pornography
Date: Wednesday 17th February 2016
Time: 5.30 till 7pm
Venue: National Curriculum Centre, Hamrun
Speaker: Dr Nicholas Briffa
Price: 5 euro for members of MPSDA, 8 euro for non-members
Those interested should sign up for this seminar by contacting MPSDA’s President, Ms Amanda Bezzina on 79255070 by not later than Friday 12th February 2016. One should then send their payment to PO BOX 10, Malta PSD Association, RABAT. Otherwise, payment on the day is also accepted (but still notify us that you are coming).
Regards,
MS Tiziana Axiaq
(MPSDA Assistant Secretary)