Learning – Page 2

A limitation of direct instruction and what we can do about it

Teachers in professional development sessions, discussion forums, and informal conversations often recognise that there are issues affecting their learners’ attention and learning, despite their best efforts to design and plan clear, concise, interesting, engaging, purposeful, and meaningful lessons. I’ve frequently heard teachers, novice and experienced alike, searching for ways to make their classes more engaging… Continue reading A limitation of direct instruction and what we can do about it

Ratings systems on social platforms can have unexpected effects

This is a quick post to share a recently published paper, How Community Feedback Shapes User Behavior, that examines the effects of ratings systems and up/down voting on social networking platforms and services. I go on to discuss some questions it raises for online social learning. Abstract Here’s the abstract to How Community Feedback Shapes User… Continue reading Ratings systems on social platforms can have unexpected effects

What can learners and teachers do to limit corporate surveillance while working online?

Since security and surveillance expert Edward Snowden blew the whistle and leaked damning NSA documents to investigative journalists Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald, the implications and ramifications of the NSA’s dragnet surveillance, partly enabled by IT giants like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, have been cause for concern everywhere, and not least in elearning. As educators… Continue reading What can learners and teachers do to limit corporate surveillance while working online?

Using chat to facilitate more interactive classes

Here’s how you can make your face to face lessons more inclusive and interactive quickly and simply by using a chat session during class, and open up a range of benefits that aren’t immediately apparent. How does it work? Before a face to face lesson or lecture begins, the tutor/teacher/TA opens or schedules a chat… Continue reading Using chat to facilitate more interactive classes

Am I a learner-centered or a teacher-led teacher?

There’s a lot of talk about social learning and social constructivist approaches to learning these days. One of the key features of these approaches is that they are learner-centered/self-directed. But what does this mean? How does this affect curriculum development and learning and teaching practice in the classroom and online? This article is an attempt… Continue reading Am I a learner-centered or a teacher-led teacher?

Specifying elearning resources and strategies

A common challenge facing those about to embark on elearning projects is knowing just what their options are and what they have to offer. Novice project managers, teachers, and curriculum developers often find themselves at a loss as to where they should start and what they should be looking into. This article is not intended… Continue reading Specifying elearning resources and strategies

Free online interactive c-test generator

C-tests are a reliable, accurate method for assessing learners’ language proficiency at any level. I’ve decided to create a simplified version of my C-Test generator MILA (multimedia interactive learning application) and to make it publicly accessible so that learners everywhere can use it to help them with their reading, anywhere at any time. What is… Continue reading Free online interactive c-test generator

Are you using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch for your blog project?

If you’re considering running blog projects as part of your curriculum or even as a pilot project, here’s a quick article that outlines a particularly awkward pitfall with potentially disastrous consequences if you’re not prepared for it. If you expect that any of your learners or teachers may want to use their iOS devices (iPhone,… Continue reading Are you using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch for your blog project?