The UK’s Open University has launched a free online gamified learning interaction to help users learn about web privacy. Web privacy and surveillance are serious and overly ignored issues in education and elearning which I’ve highlighted in a previous article here. The OU’s page says: “Have you ever thought about what your personal information might… Continue reading OU releases new web privacy awareness game
Category: Learning
Why use a Learning Management System for elearning?
Many teachers and organisations are now experimenting with collections of free online platforms and systems by commercial service providers such as Google and Yahoo! to use in their teaching practices. Some of the more popular uses are things like encouraging learners to submit course work via email, using free online discussion forums, wikis, microblogging, and… Continue reading Why use a Learning Management System for elearning?
Diaspora* goes public
Hi, I don’t normally repost other people’s articles but in this case I believe I should make an exception. Diaspora* is a project I’ve been watching closely and it’s finally coming into fruition. It’s an open source, distributed, social networking alternative to closed source, profit driven, corporate networks like Facebook and Google Plus. If you’d… Continue reading Diaspora* goes public
Using the Moodle Chat activity module for learning
The Moodle chat activity module is a simple, basic chatroom platform specifically designed for learning and closely integrated with Moodle courses. Learners can chat, teachers can monitor and participate. Chats can be whole class or in small groups. Moodle saves the transcripts of all chat sessions. This means that teachers and learners can copy transcripts… Continue reading Using the Moodle Chat activity module for learning
Dr. Rod Ellis: TESOL Written Corrective Feedback
Professor Rod Ellis, gave a presentation which is available on YouTube.com. In it, he focuses on written corrective feedback. I’ve written a basic summary below. Get a drink, a snack, your notebook, make yourself comfortable and enjoy an allusive, informative explanation of the current state of affairs regarding written corrective feedback; the types and strategies,… Continue reading Dr. Rod Ellis: TESOL Written Corrective Feedback
Safe social networking alternatives
In a previous post that I co-authored with Jeff Dionne, A thorny issue: Protecting teachers’ and learners’ right to privacy, we highlighted some of the ethical and legal risks of using popular commercial social networking and micro blogging sites such as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter for educational purposes. Although modern LMS’ built on Social Constructivist… Continue reading Safe social networking alternatives
A thorny issue: Protecting teachers’ and learners’ right to privacy
Introduction Elearning is booming and many schools are investigating the advantages and opportunities afforded by using the WWW to enhance participation in learning activities and add value to the courses they offer. The following guide is intended to help schools and teachers avoid some of the risks involved in encouraging or requiring learners of all… Continue reading A thorny issue: Protecting teachers’ and learners’ right to privacy
An alternative approach to EFL/ESL course design
The following article is a tentative presentation of a few ideas for an alternative approach to EFL/ESL course design that incorporate the rapidly evolving technologies and social norms of the 21st century. The ideas I’m presenting here are by no means new or my own. My intention is to share my thoughts and hopefully stimulate… Continue reading An alternative approach to EFL/ESL course design
What is Moodle?
Moodle is my learning management system (LMS) of choice. I’ve contributed two widely used plugin modules to it (the SWF Activity Module and the Media Player module) and use it with groups of volunteer students for my research in course content development and online learning approaches and strategies. What is Moodle? “Moodle (abbreviation for Modular… Continue reading What is Moodle?
EFL elearning course content design criteria
Elearning presents new challenges, both technological and pedagogical, to EFL course content developers when transferring their knowledge and skills to on-line learning. In all learning, there are critical considerations to take into account when developing effective, motivating and engaging courses. However, it’s easy for teachers and content developers who are unfamiliar with web technologies to… Continue reading EFL elearning course content design criteria