e-learning systems efl classroom support with on-line discussion forums don hinkelman sapporo gakuin...
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e-Learning Systems
EFL Classroom Support with On-line Discussion Forums
Don Hinkelman
Sapporo Gakuin University
第２０回 JALT 北海道学会2003.10.25
Accelerated Learning
Why do students learn fast abroad?
Frequent Feedback Meaningful Communication Task or Purpose that is compelling
Why not the same accelerated learning here in our classrooms?
Do you want to…? Announce school and class activities Publicize events, send email to a whole class Automatically grade quizzes and tests Keep student-teacher journals Share files and photos Run a discussion board or chat Collect a semester of assignments and marks
on one screen for final grading Create a sense of ‘community’ in your class
Then you need a CMS!
What is a “CMS”?
Class Management System Course Management System Or generically called a….
Content Management System Or sometimes called an…
e-Learning System
Today
We will look at four points.
1. What is Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC)
2. How to Make a Blended Learning Environment
3. Why an open source software.
4. How to make our own CMS
1. Computer Mediated Communication
One-Way Communication Announcements, Text, Images
Two-Way Communication E-mail Discussion Board (BBS) Chat Survey Ratings, Comments, Assessments Quizzes, Tests
Community = Shared Database
Public comments Posted files, reports, presentations Common images, photos Growing, evolving
2. Case Study of Computer-mediated Communication
Four year private university in northern Japan, 5500 students, co-ed
Four classes completed first semester 1st year, general English, psyche majors 2nd year, general English, commerce majors, 3rd year, ICC seminar, English majors, 14 4th year, ICC seminar, English majors, 9
Four classes in-progress 1st year, general English, psyche majors, 32 2nd year, general English, commerce majors, 25 3rd year, ICC seminar, English majors, 14 3rd year, ICC lecture, English majors, 70
2. Blended Learning Environment
Face-to-Face: Classroom 60%
Online: Home, Computer Lab 25%
Fieldwork: Home, Community,
International Exchange,
Internships 15%
Classroom Activities
Structured conversation, pair Free conversation, pair Lecture, explanations Group role play, interviews Textbook reading, quizzes, exercises Presentations to classmates, teacher Games and simulations
Online Activities
Quiz Forum Journal (web log) Chat Journal Group Project
3. Why Open Source?
Low cost start up Individual teachers can begin without
school-wide adoption Flexible, adaptable Community of teachers sharing new
extensions and improvements
Why not open source?
Some schools ready to commit to a Commercial CMS
Blackboard $295 per course per year WebCT
site license starting from 800,000 yen eCollege Microsoft
Classroom-focused Tools
1. Claroline Open Classroom Integrated phpBB with classroom tools News, Assignments, Texts, Photos could
all be posted Multi-lingual But…
Classroom-focused Tools
2. Blackboard Easy to install Good support But…
Classroom Focused Tools
3. Courseforum Lower cost. $80 multi-courses Very flexible, very responsive developer Easy for students to post Not obvious, not fun for me to design No quiz module, too little structure
Classroom-focused Tools
4. Moodle “Modular object oriented distributed learning environment”
Easy to install Excellent, enthusiastic support Large community of educators Array of activities, strong quiz module Easy to design a class Free
But…
Blocks to setting an e-Learning system
I don’t have a web server. I don’t know how to program. I have never made a web page. I have no computer budget. I don’t teach in a computer room.
Where to make a website School (free but no control, no personal
stuff, no interactive boards) Personal Office (no limits) Provider (1000-3000 yen per month)
NetMondo.com (2500 yen/year) Yahoo Groups (free but ads, set template) .Mac (12,000 per year, no interactive tools
-- no cgi, php)
To host yourself, do you have?
PC with Windows, Linux or Mac OS X 24 hour internet service with IP address Domain Name Apache, PHP, MySQL installed*
*go to hotscripts.com, find a one-step installer
What is the best provider? Go to a provider rating site i.e. www.webhostindex.com: My recommendation: netmondo.com Cost: $22/year paid by credit card Features: 500mb space, free domain name,
100 email addresses, 20 mailing lists, 20 MySQL databases
My Experience: 2 hour service response time (I expect 24 hour response)
Thank You!