1. Megan Rademeyer
Uploading a
Learning Activity to
the Partners in
Learning Network

2. If you have not yet joined the
Partners in Learning Network
– Join and sign in
www.pil-network.com

3. Uploading a Learning Activity is one half of
applying to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator:
Expert
At www.pil-network.com you will
need to:
• Upload a Learning Activity
(which includes a two minute
video that you have made
describing your Learning
Activity)
• Complete the Microsoft
Innovative Educator – Expert
Application
You can do these steps in any order – but you will need to do both to be eligible to win
a trip to the SchoolNet conference (closing date 3 June 2013) or Global Partners in
Learning Forum (closing date 30 September 2013)

4. What is a Learning Activity?
Can be a simple activity run over one or
more lessons that makes use of one
tool.
Example: Hafeeza Mayet - Tessellations
Can be a project based learning activity
that incorporates a number of tasks
using multiple tools done over a longer
period of time.
Example: Caroline Adelaar and Kendra
Smith – “Trees for Africa”

5. What information needs to be
provided in my Learning Activity?
Title – think descriptive yet catchy
Three objectives – what are you trying to
do?
Description – how would you describe
your lesson in a lift?
Select: “I have been invited to present…”
Author and Co-author
What tools have been used? – think
careful selection for sound purpose rather
than quantity
Keywords - help others find your activity
What hardware is required? – what would
be needed to replicate your activity?
Learner Age and Subject

6. Which 21st Century Skills has your Learning Activity developed?
Collaboration – learners worked together to create a
common product or achieve a common goal. They shared
responsibility and made substantive (meaningful) decisions
together.
Global Awareness & Civic Literacy – beyond the
classroom for community benefit.
Knowledge-building and Critical Thinking – learners
use higher-order thinking skills to build understandings that are
new to them - interpretation, analysis, synthesis and
evaluation.
Student self-assessment – learners planed and assessed
their own work; took responsibility for assigning roles; activity
lasted more than a week.
Communication – learners produced well developed,
coherent organised texts (written or using other mediums) that
provide evidence to support case
ICT for Learning – technology was used not just for
productivity but to achieve learning goals and to acquire skills
and knowledge. Impossible without ICT.
Problem solving and innovation (creativity) –
challenged to address authentic real-world problem and
implemented solution
When you select supporting
documents and talk about
your Learning Activity in your
video emphasise how your
activity built these skills.
Highlight these in your
description. Use the buzz-
words!

7. Coming up with an idea for your
Learning Activity – or maximising
what you already have…
• What topics will you be teaching anyway?
• How could you incorporate some ICT for learning into your existing
lessons on this topic?
• How could you make the learning activity collaborative?
• How can you help your learners to construct knowledge around your
topic?
• Can you set up the learning activity to allow for self-regulation?
• Can you think of an activity where learners will produce an example of
skilled communication?
• Could your learners address a real-world problem related to your topic?

8. What instructional approach?
• Be sure to describe in
your supporting
documents and
description.
• Use some of the buzz
words here!
Direct instruction – lecture-style,
teacher driven (not recommended!)
Project based learning – learners are
given authentic learning activities that
engage interest and motivation
Independent study – learners plan
their own projects and work on these
on their own or in small groups.
Personalized learning – learners
complete different activities suited to
their individual learning styles,
interests and skills.
Other – another approach not listed
here.

9. The 2-minute video
• Create a video that describes your Learning Activity
• Upload it to YouTube
• Share the URL
• The judges will stop watching at 2-
minutes.
• The video can be as simple as you
talking about your project for two-
minutes – filmed with a cell phone
• Or you can put in pictures, captions,
clips of learners, special effects
using Windows Live Movie Maker
etc.
• Use some of the buzz-words.
• Practice on a friend.
• Plan what you are going to say.
• Speak with passion, expression and
enthusiasm!

10. Share photos and other videos –
provide some evidence
We want to see: your learning environment,
evidence of learners doing activity, examples of
products
• Put all photos in one folder on
desktop to make it easy to find
when you are uploading
• Think upload challenges – best 10
photos – maximum 6MBs
• Show variety of images – not lots
of pictures of similar things.

11. Add Supporting Resources to
flesh out the picture
Measurement Rubric – related to
objectives, showing 21st Century Skills,
showing fair assessment and
opportunities for planning; more than
one if a cross-curricular project
Examples of student work – samples to
show evidence of completion – scans,
photos, videos, links.
Additional resources – e.g. worksheet,
blog-post about project, website mention
of your project, newspaper clippings.
• Here is your chance to
prove you did all of the
things you claimed earlier.
• Know what judges are
looking for – and help them
to find it!
• Make it easy for someone to
replicate your activity.

12. 12
Once you are happy – submit
and share
Save often! Get all your bits together
before you start.
Check all the components are there
before you hit submit.
Make allowance for upload challenges!
Once you have submitted your Learning
Activity will go into the queue – and will
be available in 48 hours. (Upload by due
date)
Share your activity – send the link to
your friends and encourage them to
“Like” it.
Copy the link to your Learning Activity
into the comments box of the 2013
South Africa and Lesotho Partners in

13. 13
Next steps, links and contacts:
• www.schoolnet.org.za
• www.pil-network.com
• megan@schoolnet.org.za for info
about the competition
• fiona@schoolnet.org.za for webinars
and online support
To apply to be a Microsoft Innovative
Educator: Expert you will need to go
to www.pil-network.com to:
• Upload a Learning Activity
(including 2 minute video)
• Complete the Microsoft
Innovative Educator – Expert
Application
• Do this by 3 June 2013 if you
want to win a trip to
Bloemfontein for the ICT in the
Classroom Conference
• 30 September 2013 is your last
chance to apply to be a
Microsoft Innovative Educator:
Expert