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
Category: Learning
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
Media Player module now supports HTML5 video
There has been a lot of debate about Flash and HTML5 video ever since Apple and Steve Jobs took the decision to block Flash from their iOS operating system. Currently, iPhone and iPad users can’t view video or audio deployed on Moodle. Now the Media Player module for Moodle brings support for HTML5 video tags… Continue reading Media Player module now supports HTML5 video
Making the transition from the classroom to on-line
As elearning becomes more popular and more learners’ expect elearning in some form as a part of their course, more schools and academies are thinking about adopting a learning management system to meet their expectations. So how does an organisation make the transition from the classroom to on-line learning activities? What can you successfully transfer… Continue reading Making the transition from the classroom to on-line
Book review: Moodle 1.9 for Second Language Teaching
Moodle 1.9 for Second Language Teaching By Jeff Stanford 522 pages Moodle is the world’s most popular and widely used open source learning management system (LMS) in the world today with over 45,000 registered sites, 32 million users, 3 million courses in over 200 countries in 75 languages. In his book, Moodle 1.9 for Second… Continue reading Book review: Moodle 1.9 for Second Language Teaching
Top nine reasons to use a learning management system (LMS)
Installing a Learning Management System (LMS), creating online learning resources, and training your tutors and administrative staff to use it is a big commitment for any learning and teaching organisation. So why do it? What are the benefits? Here is a quick run down of what I think are the top nine reasons to use… Continue reading Top nine reasons to use a learning management system (LMS)
New Media Player module for Moodle
In this article, I’m going to give you an introduction to the new Media Player module for Moodle. It’s a flexible, robust and feature-rich method of deploying video in Moodle as an activity. The Media Player module for Moodle using Searchbar and Playlist features In November 2009, I started the FLV Player module for Moodle… Continue reading New Media Player module for Moodle