PPDLA

University of Hawai`i | USDLA | Virtual Office

PPDLA Events

Past Events

Fall 2008 Membership meetings

Spooky Computer Workshop

Frankenstein Computers

New-Again Computers for Ma'ili Elementary (Waianae)

Saturday, November 8, 9:30am–3:00pm

87-360 Kulaaupuni St, Waianae

Volunteers used the proceeds from the preceding fundraiser workshops to create a new Linux thin-client computer lab from hardware that was destined for e-Waste. The resulting lab will dramatically reduce maintenance time, free the school from licensing fees, and provide students with powerful new software. This service project was sponsored by the Pan Pacific Distance Learning Association and Hawaii Open Source Education Foundation.

"Wow! The lab is so great! From the new look to the faster connection, what you guys did for us is nothing short of a miracle. I am already feeling the benefits of teaching in a cleaner environment. (The other dell's blew around lots of dust!) The students are eager and excited to try the new learning programs. Its very user friendly and easy for the children to manipulate. The new lab gives them a sense of independence, instead of me constantly showing them what to do. But what I appreciate most from the laptops, is the fact that my little ones don't have to struggle over those big computers to see me when I'm teaching, and I don't feel like I have to yell over all the confusion. Its an all around bonus!"

"Thank you again for coming out and helping our school. We appreciate everything that you guys did and are continuing to do for us! Come down anytime and see the kids in action! I know the keiki would love to meet the people who helped transform our lab!"

- Lauren Kamalei Terukina, Computer Teacher, Ma'ili Elementary

Photos from the Ma'ili Elementary project:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7755809@N08/sets/72157608773190492/

UH Press Release:

http://www.hawaii.edu/cgi-bin/uhnews?20081115110058

Honolulu Star Bulletin press coverage:

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081117_newswatch.html

Resurrecting the Dead Computers

Friday, November 7, 5:30–7 p.m.

Wist 233

Did you know that older computers can become “dumb terminals” that use a speedy new server as their fast-processing brain? Wouldn't it be nice to avoid

scrapping old computer labs and simply upgrade them for a fraction of their original cost? HOSEF continuously does this for Hawaii schools. In this hands-on workshop, participants learned how a thin client computer lab is set up from old hardware and how to make Ethernet cables. Participants were prepared to become volunteers for the Ma'ili Elementary School service project.

Photos from Resurrecting Dead Computers workshop:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7755809@N08/sets/72157608777747545/

Computer Guts - See What Makes Computers Work

Friday, October 10, 5:30–7 p.m.

Wist 233

Most of us treat computers like cars—we know how to operate them, but opening the hood scares us. In this workshop, we'll take a perfectly functional computer and break it down into its component parts. We'll then put it back together and turn it back on. Come join us as Scott Belford, head honcho of the Hawaii Open Source Education Foundation (HOSEF), removes our fear of the dark insides ofthe computer. $10 suggested donation—all contributions go toward the Ma'ili Elementary computer lab on November 8.

Click here for photos of the event

Spring 2008 Membership meeting
"Open Content, Open Software, Open Learning"

April 22, 2008 (Tuesday), 5:30PM HST

2424 Maile Way, Saunders Hall 713 [map]

University of Hawaii-Manoa

Honolulu, HI 96822

Click here for photos of the event

TCC 2008 Preview Event

TCC 2008 Preview Event: The New Internet: Virtual Worlds in Education (March 13, 2008)

This was a free, live preview webcast of TCC 2008 jointly organized by PPDLA, Technology, Colleges, and Community (TCC), New Media Consortium, Learning Times, Educational Technology Department, UH Manoa & Osaka Gakuin University.

The session included presentations about the role and value of virtual worlds in education and getting started quickly in these new learning environments. The session was followed by in-world virtual tours of Second Life and There.

March 13, 2008 (Thursday), 2:00PM HST (8:00PM EDT)*

2:00-3:00 PM: Panel session featuring Dr. Cynthia Calongne, Colorado Technical University (Second Life), and Mr. Frank Whiting, Shasta College (There.com)


Cynthia Calongne Colorado Technical University	Frank Whiting Shasta College

3:30 PM: Second Life in-world tour.
4:30 PM: There.com in-world tour.

Download archive of webcast to view off-line:

Elluminate Unplugged! standalone recording (executable file 12 Mb)
Audio Podcast (mp3 file 14 Mb)

Click here to download PDF of presentation PowerPoint slides

Member Events from the Recent Past:

Resources for Distance Learning Professionals
Lectora Multimedia Web Authoring Software
Flash Animation Primer
Google Sketch-Up: Free 3D Design Software
Instructional Design for e-Learning

Major Changes in 2007

Website

~We moved the website to a UH-hosted server to eliminate recurring fees,

~Redesigned a website with updated layout and content,

~Implemented a Virtual Office for PPDLA members on Officezilla.com, and

~Obtained Adobe Contribute software for succeeding PPDLA webmasters and content delegation.

Membership

~We've increase registered members to 74 by December 2007, and

~Used Officezilla's email forms to broadcast personalized communications.

Resources

~We negotiated for unlimited use of UHM COE's Elluminate server for PPDLA events/business, and

~Uploaded website notes and historical documents to virtual office for continuity of workflow

Events

~We've hosted 2 in-person/on-line combined membership events,

~Recruited presenters for seminars on Google documents, Sketch-Up, and Podcasts,

~Cooperatively promoted COE seminars on Flash, Lectora, Web 2.0 Applications and more, and

~Planned PPDLA collaboration with TCC Online Conference for 2008

Leadership

~New president, Dr. Peter Leong will continue PPDLA leadership for 2008, and

~Several new members will take officer positions for 2008, promoting new leadership.

Preliminary 2008 Projects

~Plans include Panel review of virtual worlds for distance education: Second Life and beyond

~Virtual scenerio development and related software, and

~TCC Online Conference - PPDLA peer-reviewed contributions

Upcoming Events

Available only in Members' Virtual Office