technology

22 – Online Learning Past and Future – Stafford Lumsden

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{bleep bloop bleep} I booted up cyborg teacher Stafford Lumsden to talk about online learning and the changing perception of what exactly a classroom is. We are more connected than ever and this shift in technology is changing the options that students have and how we teach. We discuss….

  • distance learning
  • e-learning vs online learning
  • Is online education as ‘good’ as offline?
  • Basics of having a repository
  • LMS – Learning Management System – create assignments, give feedback, students upload and interact with each other and the instructor
  • The pros and cons of a fully online classroom
  • No one-size-fits-all with online teaching

Useful resources:

Google – heard of it? add dot com. It’s quite good.

Google Sites – make your own web pages

classroom.google.com – education specific ‘classrooms’. Students can submit and track assignments. Teachers can receive and give feedback on assignments all within the Google eco-system.

wix.com – make your own web pages

moodle.org – open source LMS. Requires some computer savvy to use

Blackboard.com – pricy. Would require financial support from your department

 

 

20 – using TED talks (and other videos) in ESL EFL class – Roger Fusselman

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MOT 6 - brain 1400

I caught up with Roger Fusselman after his KOTESOL conference presentation on using TED talks and videos in general for language teaching. This is a MUST listen for anyone using visual media in the classroom.

We cover the DOs and DON’Ts of choosing videos as well as his principles of using media:

Challenge / Meaningful / Support / Choice / Integration (connecting ideas) / Variety / Application

Video Sites referenced:

http://www.ted.com/talks

http://bigthink.com/

http://www.ideacity.ca/watch-talks/

Specific videos referenced:

How to start a movement

Power poses for confidence

 

Build the suspense in team activities

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I’m currently teaching at an intensive winter camp for adults. Each week there is an activity where the groups should break into teams and complete a series of activities, often in different locations on campus.

As this requires scores to be consolidated from different locations, I hit on the idea of how to do this in the most efficient way, whilst simultaneously keeping the students involved and excited.

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