"Web Wonders" Presentation

Topic

Exploring modern teaching & learning uses of online resources that are accessible to everyone.

> Commercial e-learning systems like Blackboard/WebCT or Skillsoft are expensive and only accessible through the organisation.

> Sophisticated, free e-learning systems or tools like ATutor/Moodle normally require a degree of setup and tech-savviness.

> Our focus is on websites, resources & tools that are freely available on the web and have very simple startup and usage requirements.

Interactive Language & Numeracy Practice

> UK DFES interactive learning - literacy, language & numeracy practice.

Fun, Educational Participation/Community sites

> wikiHow - read and write how-to guides for everyday life.

Participation Tools for Class Teaching & Learning

> Wikispaces - Ex 1

> Blogs: Edublogs Ex 1

Podcasts & other Audio tools

> Freelanguage podcast list - specifically for learning English

> podOmatic - create, find and share podcasts

> Chinesepod

Video, Animation & other Rich Media

Finding Online Content for Teaching & Learning

> Wikipedia > Wikimedia > Internet Archive > Podcast Alley > Picasa > Photobucket > Webshots > Yahoo CC

> Reference list

Online Curriculum Resources

> MIT

> Connexions

> Curriki

> Curriculum podcasts > EPN podcasts

> techLearning

Assessment Tools

> Chalkface

Visual & Presentation tools for Learning

> Flashcard Exchange - use and create flashcards to learn anything

> Empressr - online presentations

> Formatpixel - online graphic publishing

Free Online Courses & Units

> Openlearn - free, mainly text-based topics

Online Portfolios

> Digication - Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3

Social Networking for Education

> You've heard of MySpace Check out > Elgg.org

> ELGG.net - for teachers: Ex 1

> Ning - Ex 1

Tools for the Classroom

> Quikmaps

> Google Earth Showcase

Website Creation

> Weebly > Google Page Creator

Useful Websites for Students

> World Newspapers

> Global Voices Online

Organisation & Class Tools for Students & Teachers

> Mynoteit

> Schoopy

> Engrade

> Chalksite

Technology Guides for Educators

> Google for Educators

> EdTechLive podcasts

Simple, Integrated Tools for Schools

> Google Apps for Education

Getting your Content Online!

> Google Docs & Spreadsheets

> Slideshare

> Scribd

> Zoho

Tool, Resource & Site Reference Lists

> Web 2.0 Directory

> Web 2.0 Teaching Tools

> Blendedlearning resources

What Else is Going on?

> Second Life meets Moodle

Current IAT e-learning Activity

In developing new e-learning initiatives & solutions, it's important for us to identify all existing uses of technology for teaching and learning at any school or program in IAT. These existing examples will be very valuable in generating ideas & discussion and making sure that the new solutions developed support these needs.

Many of these examples will be online and we will link to them here. However, other electronic resources (e.g. multimedia, desktop applications, etc) should also be listed here.

Websites, Blogs & Wikis

> Omar's EFL site - used for teaching English by Omar Al Nousri at Al Ain.

> Al Ain GHQ Wiki - GHQ Global English

> Al Ain IAT Rocks blog - a simple tool for students to think, reflect and interact in English.

> IAT 10.07 web journal - allows students to post their reflections about the class on an individual page during the program and receive feedback from the teacher.

> Stewart's ICT site - contains material for Dubai ICT classes and photos.

Learning Management Systems (e.g. Moodle)

> Metwally's Moodle classroom - interactive tools & learning in an online environment

Online Video, Audio, Pictures & Multimedia

>

Desktop Applications & Resources

E.g. language programs, presentations, media.

>

Al Ain Technology PD Sessions

There has been a strong consensus on the need for professional development activities as part of this project and the first (pilot) organised sessions are intended to be held at the Al Ain campus every two weeks. The initial session is scheduled for 3:10pm in the Library on the 28th of Feb.

Objectives

> To develop a core group of staff (mostly teachers) at a campus who will subsequently be able to drive and facilitate the effective use of technology for teaching & learning more broadly in the school and among teaching staff.

> Enabling teaching staff to actively participate in the evaluation, selection, design & implementation of technology deployed by IAT to support teaching and learning.

> Using practical pilot intitiatives to identify and address many of the specific challenges and issues relating to the usage of technology for teaching & learning at IAT. E.g. How do we make the tools we use engaging and appropriate to the type of students and program at each IAT school? Can we ensure that all students have the skills & access to participate?

The PD/Workshop Program

> Is intended to be structured with a schedule of activities and outcomes developed.

> Will be focused on practical activities with online tools, "sandboxes" and demo systems set up and made available.

> Should identify and trial desired/suggested learning resources & tools.

Participants

> Murray Grant. Al Ain Coordinator. Email: murray.grant@iat.ac.ae
> Adrian Lobo. Technology Facilitator. Email: adrian.lobo@iat.ac.ae

Teaching Staff: Elmetwally Elmenshawy, Kamal Ben Selama, Kevin Carillo, Omar Al Nousri, Shikha Dhanak, Ismail Fayed, Walid Shawish

Schedule

Session	Agenda
1 - 28th Feb	- Assemble group and introduce participants - Discuss ideas and form consensus on program aims & structure - Identify issues/challenges to be tackled or resolved through program (e.g. large variation in tech-savviness of students and teachers) Actions: (a) Teachers to provide specific requests & suggestions for program (b) Adrian to come up with recommended tools and solutions to trial
2 - 21st Mar	- Review & confirm suggested ideas & recommended solutions to explore - Provide overview of access to tools & solutions - Discuss how participants will proceed in their exploration & usage Tools / Resources (1) Wikis: About, Comparison, WS, PB, WP Education References: EW TH (2) Blogs: About, B2, WP, EB (3) e-Portfolios: About, Dig, Ref: Wip, EPL, (4) Rich Media Usage (Pics, Video): BS, FL, EPN, WS, (5) Finding Free Content (Media): About, WM, YCC, (6) Complete LMS: ATutor, Features, Hosting, Content, (7) Teaching & Learning Tools (e.g. Quizzes): 4t, EL, KS, QB, OP, CF, FE, (8) Learning Resources: Curriculum - TL, DF, Ed Websites - HSW, WP, BBC, Organise by subject - English, Maths, Science, IT, Vocational English: BBC, Science: BBC, BF, Social Science: BBC, Maths: BBCS, (9) Public Community Sites: WH, AN, EH, Actions: (a) Explore chosen tools and commence individual projects (b) Contribute examples and input for common projects (c) Homework reading: CL, LT, (d) Adrian to provide support & advice for all activities (e) Teachers to prepare initial demos on projects for next session
3 - 17th April	- Discuss and settle on all pilot projects - Review demos of new projects - Decide on how these projects will be progressed between sessions Draft Project List (1) Wikis for Teachers: Kevin Carillo - (2) Wikis for Classes: Omar Al Nousri - GHQ English (3) e-Portfolios: Tools - Edublogs, Wikis. Who? (4) Blogs for teachers or classes. Who? Ex 1, Ex 2 (5) Discover & use suitable online education resources. Who? TL, DF, HSW, WP, BBC, ML (6) Choose and utilise Web-based Teaching & Learning tools. Who? 4t, EL, KS, QB, OP, CF, FE (7) Find and integrate rich media content. Who? PO, WM, IA, PA, PI, WS, PB, YC (8) Implement a Learning Management System. Who? Suggested tool: Moodle
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e-learning 2.0

Things have moved a long way since the WebCT vs Blackboard era of discussions about how to use technology to aid teaching & learning. In this topic, we'll be looking at how IAT can best facilitate the use of modern technology & resources to provide a student-centred learning environment - both in the classroom and outside of it; collaboratively and individually.

What is e-learning 2.0?

Let's start with some enlightening articles about the new methods of "e-learning" so that we can all get up to speed on the current state-of-play.

> How web technologies are shaping education

> e-learning 2.0 (Wikipedia)

> e-learning 2.0 overview (a longer article with background & links)


Useful e-learning Blogs

> George Siemens elearnspace

> Brainpath

> Learning 2.0

Traditional e-learning Technology

Learning Management Systems (LMS) and "Virtual learning environments" (VLE) are still the most popular methods of using online technology for learning purposes. WebCT, Blackboard and Moodle are three such systems. In this section of the topic, we'll discuss where these systems are currently at, the alternatives available and discuss people's experiences with them. Examples of current usage or suggested practice are also welcome.

> Virtual Learning Environments (Wikipedia)

> Eduforge Projects

e-learning 2.0 Tools & Technology

Here we'll look at some of the new tools & methods used in e-learning and discuss how these might be used at IAT.

> A summary of some e-learning 2.0 technology options

Please submit your ideas & examples of these tools and how we can use them...

(1) Blogs

(2) Forums

(3) Podcasts

Example e-learning Usage & Resources

For examples of current practice and existed & suggested online learning resources.

> UK DFES Embedded Learning (suggested by Keith Shaw for VDEC)

e-learning Reference

Categories of e-learning Mindmap