Accessing the latest research and innovation in global e-learning practice is now more social. Edition 9 focuses on social networking and mobile learning and is presented in social software. Yes we have joined the blogosphere!

This means the e-journal is available through your browser, as usual, but also through Really Simple Syndication, or Rich Site Summary (RSS) technology, for feeding to your aggregator and mobile device. Don’t worry, this tutorial will help.

We have some great contributions for you. So get into the conversation! Make the most of the social software by providing comments to the authors at the bottom of each contribution and subscribing to those pages, so you can keep abreast of others’ views on the topic. As usual text files are available in downloadable format for printing and you can even listen to mp3s, podcasting the dulcet tones of the contributors themselves. :o)

Joanne Jacobs, seconded from the Brisbane Graduate School of Business, at Queensland University of Technology to project manage collaborative projects, research and commercialisation at the Australasian Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Interaction Design, writes our lead article ‘The Knowledge Tree Goes Social’ on the impact of blogging and social software on education, publishing and play.

A live online ‘conversation’ with our lead writer allowed users to discuss and debate articles and surrounding issues in greater depth. Click to view the archived live conversation with Joanne Jacobs.

The Knowledge Tree live ‘conversations’ run in conjunction with activities run by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s (Framework) E-learning Networks Project. Click to access more information about the ‘conversations’ and how to participate.

Ian Robertson, of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, considers the extent to which Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) teachers use 21 identified e-learning functionalities in our peer reviewed article titled ‘Surveying online technology-A matter of design‘.

Dr. Michael Thomas, Associate Professor at Nagoya University of Commerce and Business in Japan reviews mLearning: Mobile Learning and Performance in the Palm of your Hand by David Metcalf.

James Farmer of Deakin University, clarifies the benefits of using social software for educational purposes, eg. Word Press Multi User, in ‘Why blog together?’

Marcus Ragus of TAFE Tasmania, describes ‘Mlearning: A future of learning’ with his latest ‘round up’ of ideas since mLearn 2005 in South Africa.

Margaret Robson, of Canberra Institute of Technology, discusses strategies to assist adult learners to find their voices online and feel that their contributions are heard and valued in ‘Finding your voice online’.
For further information contact the editor, Jo Murray on tel: +61 (0)3 6253 6029 or email: jomurray@southcom.com.au