Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts

October 27, 2019

Creating An Online Classroom

The Nicenet Classroom Assistant is a actually useful tool which enables teachers to rattling rapidly in addition to merely create their ain virtual learning environment. I’ve been using this amongst diverse classes in addition to groups of teachers for the concluding seven or 8 years in addition to it has remained reliable, stable, rubber in addition to free.


Features
The VLE it creates has a issue of useful features.
  • A messaging business office which allows registered users to shipping personal or grouping messages to others registered on the VLE (this tin last configured to forwards messages on to e-mail addresses if the user then chooses)
  • A conferencing function. This acts similar a bulletin board where threaded discussions tin last created to a greater extent than or less tasks or topics.
  • A link sharing resources where the tutor in addition to / or users tin post in addition to part in addition to annotate links to external sites. This tin assistance to focus your students’ exercise of spider web resources.
  • Document publishing. This tin last used past times either tutor, to release course of report materials, or students to release their work.
  • The tutor has access to administrative functions that volition allow them to configure the score command they retain over these features.
  • The tutor tin also gear upwards in addition to schedule tasks for their students to consummate inside specified deadlines.

Why I similar it
This is a actually skillful uncomplicated in addition to complimentary solution for whatever instructor that wants to showtime exploring online or blended learning. It’s rattling rubber equally entirely registered users accept access. Users tin entirely add together text, equally it doesn’t back upwards motion-picture present formats. It enables teachers to create a forum for online communication fifty-fifty for younger learners who don’t accept access to things similar email.

Because the VLE is text only, it makes it rattling quick to motion to a greater extent than or less inside the surroundings fifty-fifty if users are accessing the site through a dial-up connection.

The features of the site are integrated then you lot tin gear upwards a chore inside the conferencing section, render the resources inside the link sharing department in addition to acquire students to submit completed piece of employment in addition to release it inside the document sharing section.

Tutorials
Here are some tutorial sheets showing you lot how to create your ain classroom in addition to manipulate the diverse features. These tutorials were developed for a workshop presentation that I delivered inwards Cordoba Argentina. This wokshop was sponsored past times the British Coucnil inwards Argentina

I promise you lot uncovering this tool equally useful equally I have. Good luck amongst your online teaching.

Nik Peachey

Creating A Mobile Outcry Upward Website

With the increment inward involvement inward mobile too handheld learning, I idea I’d investigate 1 of the many novel Web 2.0 type start ups that are offering gratis (at the minute at least) services for setting upwards websites too spider web based communities to live on accessed on mobile phones too other mobile devices.

The 1 I’ve started alongside is a service called Winksite. On the dwelling identify page of their website the society claims that, “Winksite makes it slow to issue mobile websites too communities that tin live on viewed worldwide on whatever phone.” So I idea I would crusade to ready my ain site equally an extension of this blog.

What’s practiced virtually it

I was genuinely quite impressed at merely how slow it is too at the number of features on offer. Once you lot get got registered, Winksite offers users the chance to ready equally many equally five websites for mobile devices. Each site tin get got a make of features that you lot tin pick out too edit from a fairly slow to role spider web based interface. Some of the possible features for your mobile website include:
  • Announcements
  • Blog entries
  • Journal entries
  • Field reports
  • Profile information
  • User surveys
  • Chat rooms
  • Forums
  • Feed syndication
  • Plus a few others
I spent virtually an lx minutes on Winksite, yesteryear which fourth dimension I had;
  • set upwards my mobile site
  • added my profile
  • personalised the expect of the site
  • created a duet of surveys
  • added chat too a forum
  • posted a weblog entry too an announcement.
Once you’ve created your site at that spot is also a tool that allows you lot to import e-mail addresses from your address majority to shipping out invitations to join, thus you lot tin quite easily acquire people onto your site too publisise it to your friends.

The sites that Winksite creates comply to all the established standards for mobile site, thus that’s swell likewise too also way that the site tin live on accessed through other mobile devices. I role an Opera browser on my Nintendo DS Lite equally a sort of wireless palmtop equally I roam unopen to the identify too garden, thus to live on able to access the site on that for me is genuinely a swell bonus.
The Featured books department is also interesting equally it provides a way to access books on your phone, page yesteryear page too chapter yesteryear chapter, equally they are written. This also enables you lot to interact alongside the author equally the majority is written too hash out diverse elements through the forums too surveys.

What’s non thus practiced virtually it
From the Winksite homepage you lot tin also get got a expect unopen to at the other sites that are existence created. This isn’t thus impressive, equally it seems that lots of people are interested inward finding out how this industrial plant etc, but it’s hard to abide by whatever sites that get got to a greater extent than than 1 or ii members signed up, too non many get got much content added. That isn’t a criticism of the tool though, I scream upwards it’s merely that the audience / marketplace for mobile spider web content is soundless quite novel too at that spot is manifestly huge potential here. The makers get got also tried to steer you lot towards the best content yesteryear adding an Editor's choice section, equally good equally having a regular Featured site.

Unless you lot get got a practiced contract alongside your telephone provider that gives you lot enough of spider web access included, accessing the site could live on expensive. Having said this the pages the site create are all pretty visible lamp too should charge pretty quickly, thus comparatively, this won't live on such an expensive site to access.

How to role it alongside my students
This is a hard one. If you lot get got students who come upwards to degree regularly, are they genuinely going to desire to role a στοιχείο based spider web community to interact alongside their instructor too the other students from the class? I scream upwards belike not. There is also the work that some students may good non get got phones that are capable of browsing websites.
  • If nonetheless you lot get got distance or online classes too thus I could meet the possible potential of using a tool similar this inward conjunction alongside other spider web based materials to back upwards students too locomote into easier for students to operate together too locomote on inward impact alongside you.
  • The site could live on useful for a degree project. Get the students to determine on issues that they experience are of import to them, too thus ready the site based unopen to 1 of these issues too crusade to acquire students from other classes or schools exchanging opinions too polling each other.
  • You could ready polls too surveys on Winksite equally a shape of activity inquiry to acquire anonymous feedback from students too create dialogue alongside them virtually some of the methods you’re using inward class.
  • You could acquire students to create their ain site equally a shape of learner diary.
  • You could ready a site to locomote on inward contact alongside the parents of your students too assist to locomote on them informed virtually what’s going on alongside their children too whatever events etc that are happening at the school. You could fifty-fifty post your homework assignments on the site thus that the parents cheque to meet that their children are doing the operate you lot laid them.
  • You could crusade to acquire students to collaboratively write a book/ floor from their telephone or computer. Decide on the theme outset too and thus inquire students to get got it inward turns to add together a page each. Others could interact too vote on what they would similar to hap adjacent using the survey feature.
Conclusion
If you lot desire a multi-featured στοιχείο website alongside lots of interactive features, too you lot don’t desire to pay anything for it, this is a swell identify to start. The characteristic laid is rich too varied too the interface seems to live on pretty slow to use. It’s hard to enjoin though at the minute if having a website that is accessed though a στοιχείο has whatever genuinely meaning advantages over 1 that is purely accessed through a computer. I suppose a lot depends on how much modify at that spot is inward coming months / years regarding access the spider web through mobile phones. The popularity of Apple’s novel I-phone surely points towards, this happening, but looking at the costs involved at present, it’s soundless going to live on a spell earlier this sort of access is available to many inward poorer countries.

If you lot crusade out this tool or get got tried similar 1 delight acquire out a comment.

Best

Nik

June 15, 2006

Creating An Online Classroom

The Nicenet Classroom Assistant is a actually useful tool which enables teachers to rattling rapidly in addition to merely create their ain virtual learning environment. I’ve been using this amongst diverse classes in addition to groups of teachers for the concluding seven or 8 years in addition to it has remained reliable, stable, rubber in addition to free.


Features
The VLE it creates has a issue of useful features.
  • A messaging business office which allows registered users to shipping personal or grouping messages to others registered on the VLE (this tin last configured to forwards messages on to e-mail addresses if the user then chooses)
  • A conferencing function. This acts similar a bulletin board where threaded discussions tin last created to a greater extent than or less tasks or topics.
  • A link sharing resources where the tutor in addition to / or users tin post in addition to part in addition to annotate links to external sites. This tin assistance to focus your students’ exercise of spider web resources.
  • Document publishing. This tin last used past times either tutor, to release course of report materials, or students to release their work.
  • The tutor has access to administrative functions that volition allow them to configure the score command they retain over these features.
  • The tutor tin also gear upwards in addition to schedule tasks for their students to consummate inside specified deadlines.

Why I similar it
This is a actually skillful uncomplicated in addition to complimentary solution for whatever instructor that wants to showtime exploring online or blended learning. It’s rattling rubber equally entirely registered users accept access. Users tin entirely add together text, equally it doesn’t back upwards motion-picture present formats. It enables teachers to create a forum for online communication fifty-fifty for younger learners who don’t accept access to things similar email.

Because the VLE is text only, it makes it rattling quick to motion to a greater extent than or less inside the surroundings fifty-fifty if users are accessing the site through a dial-up connection.

The features of the site are integrated then you lot tin gear upwards a chore inside the conferencing section, render the resources inside the link sharing department in addition to acquire students to submit completed piece of employment in addition to release it inside the document sharing section.

Tutorials
Here are some tutorial sheets showing you lot how to create your ain classroom in addition to manipulate the diverse features. These tutorials were developed for a workshop presentation that I delivered inwards Cordoba Argentina. This wokshop was sponsored past times the British Coucnil inwards Argentina

I promise you lot uncovering this tool equally useful equally I have. Good luck amongst your online teaching.

Nik Peachey

June 5, 2006

Creating A Mobile Outcry Upward Website

With the increment inward involvement inward mobile too handheld learning, I idea I’d investigate 1 of the many novel Web 2.0 type start ups that are offering gratis (at the minute at least) services for setting upwards websites too spider web based communities to live on accessed on mobile phones too other mobile devices.

The 1 I’ve started alongside is a service called Winksite. On the dwelling identify page of their website the society claims that, “Winksite makes it slow to issue mobile websites too communities that tin live on viewed worldwide on whatever phone.” So I idea I would crusade to ready my ain site equally an extension of this blog.

What’s practiced virtually it

I was genuinely quite impressed at merely how slow it is too at the number of features on offer. Once you lot get got registered, Winksite offers users the chance to ready equally many equally five websites for mobile devices. Each site tin get got a make of features that you lot tin pick out too edit from a fairly slow to role spider web based interface. Some of the possible features for your mobile website include:
  • Announcements
  • Blog entries
  • Journal entries
  • Field reports
  • Profile information
  • User surveys
  • Chat rooms
  • Forums
  • Feed syndication
  • Plus a few others
I spent virtually an lx minutes on Winksite, yesteryear which fourth dimension I had;
  • set upwards my mobile site
  • added my profile
  • personalised the expect of the site
  • created a duet of surveys
  • added chat too a forum
  • posted a weblog entry too an announcement.
Once you’ve created your site at that spot is also a tool that allows you lot to import e-mail addresses from your address majority to shipping out invitations to join, thus you lot tin quite easily acquire people onto your site too publisise it to your friends.

The sites that Winksite creates comply to all the established standards for mobile site, thus that’s swell likewise too also way that the site tin live on accessed through other mobile devices. I role an Opera browser on my Nintendo DS Lite equally a sort of wireless palmtop equally I roam unopen to the identify too garden, thus to live on able to access the site on that for me is genuinely a swell bonus.
The Featured books department is also interesting equally it provides a way to access books on your phone, page yesteryear page too chapter yesteryear chapter, equally they are written. This also enables you lot to interact alongside the author equally the majority is written too hash out diverse elements through the forums too surveys.

What’s non thus practiced virtually it
From the Winksite homepage you lot tin also get got a expect unopen to at the other sites that are existence created. This isn’t thus impressive, equally it seems that lots of people are interested inward finding out how this industrial plant etc, but it’s hard to abide by whatever sites that get got to a greater extent than than 1 or ii members signed up, too non many get got much content added. That isn’t a criticism of the tool though, I scream upwards it’s merely that the audience / marketplace for mobile spider web content is soundless quite novel too at that spot is manifestly huge potential here. The makers get got also tried to steer you lot towards the best content yesteryear adding an Editor's choice section, equally good equally having a regular Featured site.

Unless you lot get got a practiced contract alongside your telephone provider that gives you lot enough of spider web access included, accessing the site could live on expensive. Having said this the pages the site create are all pretty visible lamp too should charge pretty quickly, thus comparatively, this won't live on such an expensive site to access.

How to role it alongside my students
This is a hard one. If you lot get got students who come upwards to degree regularly, are they genuinely going to desire to role a στοιχείο based spider web community to interact alongside their instructor too the other students from the class? I scream upwards belike not. There is also the work that some students may good non get got phones that are capable of browsing websites.
  • If nonetheless you lot get got distance or online classes too thus I could meet the possible potential of using a tool similar this inward conjunction alongside other spider web based materials to back upwards students too locomote into easier for students to operate together too locomote on inward impact alongside you.
  • The site could live on useful for a degree project. Get the students to determine on issues that they experience are of import to them, too thus ready the site based unopen to 1 of these issues too crusade to acquire students from other classes or schools exchanging opinions too polling each other.
  • You could ready polls too surveys on Winksite equally a shape of activity inquiry to acquire anonymous feedback from students too create dialogue alongside them virtually some of the methods you’re using inward class.
  • You could acquire students to create their ain site equally a shape of learner diary.
  • You could ready a site to locomote on inward contact alongside the parents of your students too assist to locomote on them informed virtually what’s going on alongside their children too whatever events etc that are happening at the school. You could fifty-fifty post your homework assignments on the site thus that the parents cheque to meet that their children are doing the operate you lot laid them.
  • You could crusade to acquire students to collaboratively write a book/ floor from their telephone or computer. Decide on the theme outset too and thus inquire students to get got it inward turns to add together a page each. Others could interact too vote on what they would similar to hap adjacent using the survey feature.
Conclusion
If you lot desire a multi-featured στοιχείο website alongside lots of interactive features, too you lot don’t desire to pay anything for it, this is a swell identify to start. The characteristic laid is rich too varied too the interface seems to live on pretty slow to use. It’s hard to enjoin though at the minute if having a website that is accessed though a στοιχείο has whatever genuinely meaning advantages over 1 that is purely accessed through a computer. I suppose a lot depends on how much modify at that spot is inward coming months / years regarding access the spider web through mobile phones. The popularity of Apple’s novel I-phone surely points towards, this happening, but looking at the costs involved at present, it’s soundless going to live on a spell earlier this sort of access is available to many inward poorer countries.

If you lot crusade out this tool or get got tried similar 1 delight acquire out a comment.

Best

Nik

May 9, 2006

Iatefl Online Conference 2008

Well apologies to whatsoever regular visitors who convey noticed the lack of action her over the end week. This is mainly because my fourth dimension over the side yesteryear side yoke of weeks is beingness consumed yesteryear i of the biggest meetings of English linguistic communication language teachers inwards the World. The IATEFL annual conference.

Well apologies to whatsoever regular visitors who convey noticed the lack of action her over the  IATEFL Online Conference 2008
I've been working every bit utilization of the online editorial squad for the resultant in addition to in that place are at i time approximately really active, give-and-take forums going on a whole hit of ELT related subjects. Over the side yesteryear side week, the confront to confront resultant volition start out in addition to when it does nosotros promise to endure broadcasting in addition to archiving a whole hit of the alive events including video in addition to well of interviews, plenaries in addition to workshops.

So if you lot don't convey the fourth dimension in addition to coin to larn along to Exeter United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland from at i time until 11th April, in addition to hence come upwards along in addition to sign on for the gratuitous online conference in addition to larn the chance to part experiences alongside teachers from all over the world.

Come in addition to bring together us at: http://exeteronline.britishcouncil.org/

And if anyone is going along to the confront to confront event.

Hope to consider you lot there.

best

Nik

April 25, 2006

Create Your Ain Social Network Seven Steps

Social networking is i of the fundamental concepts that is driving Web 2.0 these days. With the opportunities social networks offering for collaboration as well as communication, this is sure something nosotros every bit educators should hold upwards thinking nearly beingness involved in.

Social networking is i of the fundamental concepts that is driving Web  Create your ain social network 7 steps
In this tutorial I'd similar to exhibit you lot how to do your ain social network on Ning, simply past times next 7 steps. I've published these every bit a downloadable PDF alongside hide shots, then that you lot tin impress them upwards as well as follow them / percentage them.
Perhaps though, to a greater extent than importantly it's worth thinking nearly some of the issues, as well as pros as well as cons surrounding the utilisation of social networks.

Some advantages of creating your ain network.
  • Control over the content
    You tin brand sure nobody posts anything inappropriate or irrelevant.
  • Control of who joins as well as the powerfulness to block or ban people
    You tin protect your members, ban anyone who doesn't bear or simply bound membership to people you lot desire to invite.
  • Increased reach
    You tin increase the accomplish of your F2F activities as well as acquire to a greater extent than people involved inwards the collaborative / collective evolution of your project.
  • Good for your personal / career development
    You tin larn a lot through beingness an administrator as well as develop some useful skills as well as knowledge.
Things to consider earlier you lot launch your network
  • Closed (just people you lot invite) or Open (anyone who wants to join)
    I would advise starting off alongside simply people you lot invite start to encounter how things receive got off. Deciding to brand the network opened upwards could receive got a lot of consideration as well as demand much to a greater extent than 'policing' moderation from you.
  • Do you lot receive got the fourth dimension to deal the network?
    This is ever a fundamental interrogation for teachers. Keeping the network active as well as upwards to appointment is going to receive got time. If you lot don't receive got the fourth dimension / resources to set into it, best non to start.
  • Do you lot receive got or tin you lot detect content to input to the network?
    Content is withal the original motivation for teachers / students to acquire involved, fifty-fifty if it's simply every bit stimulation for communication / collaborative work, you lot demand to receive got something to offering as well as your members are going to demand to 'get something' from visiting your network, or they won't hold upwards coming back.
  • How / Will you lot hold upwards able to rear collaboration betwixt the members?
    Bit similar the betoken above. Just providing a network isn't going to do collaboration. Ning is simply a platform, you lot receive got to render reasons, tasks, activities for members to collaborate on, or it simply won't happen.
  • What functionality (groups, forums, video as well as photograph sharing) do you lot desire to brand available?
    Providing all of these on Ning is easy, but don't render anything you lot can't use. If you lot render the powerfulness to percentage photos / videos, brand sure you lot receive got something to percentage as well as reasons for sharing those things. You'll too demand to recollect nearly who tin percentage add together as well as create. Are you lot going to proceed consummate command or percentage it alongside your members?
  • Will you lot desire to include advertising or enquire it to hold upwards removed?
    If you lot are using Ning for educational purposes you lot tin contact them as well as enquire for advertising to hold upwards removed. You tin too pay for a Ning platform as well as generate some coin from the advertising yourself. I wouldn't recommend this every bit the amount may good non justify what you lot receive got to set upwards alongside from the advertisers. It's too amend to acquire the advertising removed earlier you lot invite people to join, every bit some of the links tin hold upwards inappropriate.
  • What data volition you lot desire members to add together when joining?
    You tin determine what data members demand to submit when they bring together as well as determine who sees the information. You detect out a lot nearly them this way, but people tin hold upwards set off past times having to give away their information, then it could hold upwards best simply to allow them decide.
  • How long volition you lot desire to proceed the network live? (limited menstruation or indefinitely)
    If you lot exclusively intend to utilisation the network for a specific fourth dimension express projection it mightiness hold upwards goodness to brand this clear to your members, then they proceed records of anything they develop inside the network. Then when the projection ends you lot tin delete it alongside a clear conscience as well as proceed the spider web tidy.
Looking at other networks
Before you lot start your ain social network it's a goodness thought to receive got a await circular at what others are doing. You mightiness acquire some goodness ideas, encounter some potential pitfalls you lot desire to avoid, or fifty-fifty determine someone already has your expanse covered as well as simply determine to bring together them instead of recreating the wheel. Here a 4 networks for teachers that are good worth checking out.
Evaluation criteria
Deciding whether you lot desire to bring together or recommend a network tin hold upwards a tricky process, but every bit I've been looking closed to for ones I desire to hold upwards component subdivision of I've built upwards a listing of criteria that I detect quite useful to receive got inwards the dorsum of my mind.

  • What features / functionality does the network offer? (Groups forums etc.)
    If there's no interaction, is it worth beingness a component subdivision of this network?
  • Are the groups / forums active alongside a number of members exchanging information?
    Just because it has them doesn't hateful they are beingness used. Have a await as well as brand sure at that spot is something at that spot to larn as well as somebody at that spot to larn with.
  • Are these features beingness used? (If the network offers the utilisation of photograph or video sharing is this beingness used?)
    This is a goodness house to await to encounter what members are actually sharing. Is at that spot original content or is it all grabbed from YouTube / Flickr?
  • Can you lot detect out when the network was concluding active?
    Some networks are withal online, but receive got died. Either the members or creator has lost interest. No betoken joining an inactive network.
  • How many members does it have?
    Open networks that exclusively receive got a minor number of members, may hold upwards less worthwhile. Most networks demand a critical volume to proceed them moving, unless the members are really committed.
  • Are whatsoever of the members’ photographs inappropriate?
    Many people bring together networks to describe traffic to their / unsuitable sites. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 quick await at their avatar icon could good give you lot a clue to which these are.
  • Check out some of the fellow member profiles. Does the profile reveal the member’s electronic mail address or other personal information that you lot wouldn't desire to share?
    Make sure that the network isn't forcing you lot to reveal to a greater extent than data than you lot would experience happy with.
  • Are at that spot whatsoever ‘Google Ads’ on the site? Are these suitable or potentially offensive?
    Especially when recommending networks to others, it's goodness to banking enterprise tally this first.
  • Is at that spot whatsoever interesting content on the site?
    Again, I withal believe that content is king. Content + collaboration = learning! No content, don't join.
  • Who is behind the network?
    Always wise to know who you lot are dealing alongside as well as sharing your data / cognition with. Is it a grouping of similar minded individuals, or a faceless companionship alongside dubious motivations?
Why do your ain network for teachers?
Some suggestions:
  • To back upwards item dispersed groups doing specific projects / preparation courses
  • To tape as well as percentage examples of exercise as well as expertise specific to their context
  • To aid prepare as well as develop teachers inwards the utilisation of ICT / Learning Technology
Why do your ain network for students?
Some suggestions:
  • Class enquiry projects – do a network for your students based closed to a item subject that they demand to research.
  • Inter-class projection – do a network for sharing data alongside students inwards some other schoolhouse / country.
  • Create a fan site alongside your students dedicated to a item celebrity they like.
  • Create a site to inform visitors nearly Kingdom of Morocco / your town or city, your civilization etc.
  • Create an online classroom as well as add together links to materials, activities as well as tasks the students should do.
  • Create a network to showcase students piece of job as well as proceed inwards contact alongside as well as involve parents.
Important
  • You should non utilisation Ning alongside students below the historic menstruation of 13.
  • Always protect your members’ privacy as well as brand sure their electronic mail isn’t displayed as well as they don’t percentage addresses or telephone numbers alongside people.
Well if later on all this you lot are withal interested inwards creating your ain network, hither are the 7 steps again:
I've created i myself for a preparation course of report for teachers that I'm involved with. Personally I've works life it actually valuable then far.
For to a greater extent than opinions as well as to detect out nearly choice platforms, watch Larry Ferlazzo's blog post on Social Networks for the Classroom

Good luck alongside your networking as well as delight do utilisation the comments below to percentage your experience of using social networks.

Best

Nik Peachey