Martine Fryer :: Blog

Games

CATS or could be Computer Assessment Techniques for online learners.

eLearnMag has a list of best practices. Although nothing new listed since September 2007.

Being a bit of an insomniac at times - well certainly an early riser, I really like this e-book:

Late Night Worries of Learning & Training Colleagues

By: Elliott Masie

Student web activities

• Miniquest - research on scenario based activity
• Webquest - as above - but larger
• Scrapbook - Wiki could be helpful with this

Tips for Developing Student Web Activities

Chatbots - a new technology to help online learners with online discussions. (Google Dadorac Chatbox and Oddcast) - perhaps a new module for Moodle!

PDF booklet to download - definitely worth looking at

There is an interesting discussion on the JISC Champ-curriculum listserv about the usefulness of e-learning. The CPD annual survey report 2008 on Learning and Development. The report states:

• the expected use of e-learning has possibly been overanticipated, with less than half (47%) using more e-learning and a quarter (26%) saying they don’t use or no longer use e-learning. This is possibly because few feel it is the most effective learning and development practice (7%). 
• More than three-quarters (79%) of respondents feel e-learning is not a substitute for classroom-based learning, while the vast majority (92%) feel that e-learning demands a new attitude to learning on the part of learners.
• Almost all (95%) feel that e-learning is more effective when combined with other forms of learning.

The Becta survey of FE learners and e-learning (October 2007) has some interesting key findings that relate to students finding using computers/IT useful in their studies. However, I would say that it mainly concentrates on the e-equipment, eg VLE, mobile technologies rather than the actual e-activities. There is mention of quizzes and tutor feedback but no indepth research on actual e-learning.

The MSc in eLearning Technologies (University of Portsmouth) course that I am presently studying has been delivered entirely online. I agree that to maintain the motivational momentum over the past two years has been difficult at times (especially for a procrastinater, like me!). However, the course was well structured and I have learnt a lot, especially through the online tutors, forums and the group and individual assessments. I agree that some online courses or e-learning activities can easily be clicked through without much (if any) learning taking place.

My dissertation is on How can the College make better use of the VLE (Moodle) as a learning tool? There is a lot of evidence of Moodle being used primarily as an intranet and/or a resource repository. I would be very interested in finding out how many further education colleges are running effective/successful e-learning and/or blended learning courses? and, also, what makes the course effective/successful? 

 

Not really!  However, about 5 weeks ago my computer decided to crash on a regular basis. Time for a complete FDISK. Anyway, it was still not 'quite right' - so during this holiday I have reformatted the harddrive again, partitioned it and now loaded up all my favourite things! Working beautifully - better than ever before (for some reason). My colleague (specialist in hardware) recommends doing this every 6 months or so - and I can see why. However, it takes such a long time, but there is software you can use to take an image of the hard drive which would save the time.

I am covering security in my ICT classes this week. To start with I thought it would be interesting what I could find out about my students using Google, Facebook and MySpace. It is surprising how much info can be found - not stuff I would think they would want to share with their teacher or their parents for that matter!

Of course, this Facebook malarkey becomes additive - so now have searched further and found pictures of my son and girlfriend ..... drinking and kissing - oh and my nephews and their wife/girlfriend. I even found a picture of my sister - who surely doesn't know that she is on Facebook! Must get back to my research !!!