CENet Presentation

One of the presentations made at the Leading Technologies for Learning forum last Thursday was a brief introduction to CENet. The main question it tried to answer is, “What is CENet?”

CENet is a Virtual Learning Environment

A short answer, but one perhaps requiring further explanation and detail, is “a Virtual Learning Environment” (VLE). CENet brings together a range of facilities for the management and conduct of online learning and teaching. The main facility our schools will most likely use is that called myclasses, where online learning activities can be managed, shared and undertaken. Around and within this are other features such as web-based email for staff and students, file storage, forums and discussion boards, and resource collections, such as the Learning Federation learning objects. Essentially, CENet takes our school Intranet concept further, providing features such as home access, sharing and collaboration tools that were beyond our means as an individual school to provide.

Above is a screenshot of a CENet class I created as a test, given that I have had absolutely no training whatsoever. The creation process took no more than a minute.

The best answer I have at present about what is CENet is this:

CENet is what you make of it.

OK, this sounds like a cop-out, I know, but it’s true! CENet is a collection of tools that give us the opportunity to engage our students in relevant, meaningful and exciting 21st Century learning. The CENet experience in other dioceses reflects a range of use and quality of use from one teacher to the next. Quite simply, exceptional use of CENet relies on a sound, contemporary teaching and learning pedagogy.

CENet is part of our school’s Professional Learning and Learning Technology Agendas for 2007 and beyond

Initial training and professional learning for CENet will commence later this year once we establish a timeframe with the Learning Technologies team at CEO. From that initial PD, we will need to continue to commit ourselves to developing not only the skills required to operate CENet, but to ensuring quality teaching and learning to make the CENet journey worthwhile.

All staff now have access to CENet through the “Resources” menu in Staffnet. A default password has been set (available from the LTC), which can be changed after you first enter CENet to match your password for Novell/Staffnet/GroupWise/etc.