Creating a cooperative community for your classroom

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Creating a cooperative community for your
classroom

• Valentina Dodge
• Università degli Studi LOrientale
• TheConsultants-E.com
• http//www.24hours.it/Dodge031106.ppt
• http//www.24hours.it/Dodge031106.doc
• valentinadodge_at_24hours.it

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Web 2.0 a new ICT scenario?

• Social software in language teaching/learning

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Which tools?

• NICENET www.nicenet.org
• a web-based tool (Internet Classroom Assistant)
• WEBLOG www.blogger.com
• a flexible blog-based virtual learning
  environment (VLE)
• MOODLE www.moodle.org
• a sophisticated course management system
  (CMS)

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Why adapt learning technologies?

• enhance communication
• increase interaction
• create community of learners
• link to resources
• provide a new depth and share opinions
• encourage interconnected project work
• access multi-cultural global settings
• make www become a read write web
• permanent easily retrievable archive

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NICENET

• A free internet classroom assistant

www.nicenet.org
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NICENET dynamic web-based site

• Options
• discussion forums
• posting assignments
• publishing links
• calendars
• low graphics environment
• low PC resources, slow connectivity rates

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Create a classroom
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Create a classroom
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Nicenet features
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Why Nicenet?

• Advantages
• student emails not required
• course key
• as many courses as needed can be set up
• No html or php or any form of web knowledge other
  than basic word processing skills needed
• low graphic style ideal for slow connections
• Disadvantages
• No glossy photos
• No back-up features
• No uploading documents

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BLOGGER
www.blogger.com
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BLOGGER

• Options
• Publish thoughts
• Share photos
• Add audio
• Give and get feedback
• Organized content multiple authors
• High aesthetics no technical knowledge
• Fully integrated with other tools

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Create a blog in 3 steps
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Step 2 -Name your blog
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Step 3 - Choose a template
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BLOGGER
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Example class blog www.brazilargentina1.edublogs.o
rg
Carla Raguseo in Argentina and Carla Arena
Brazil.
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Why blogger?

• Advantages
• Posting entries is easy
• Learners can be invited to join a blog member
  protected
• Nice graphics with no technical knowledge
• Compatible with other web2.0 tools
• Disadvantages
• Requires broadband connections

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MOODLE

• An open source (CMS) course management system

www.moodle.org
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MOODLE

• Options
• Discussion forums
• Virtual areas for group work
• Integrated wiki, blogs, journals
• Electronic assignment submissions
• Embedded ShockWave Flash files
• Reports on student activity
• Poll, Glossary, Survey
• Self-assessment quizzes and online testing
• Links to external Web pages
• RSS

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Moodle
Download http//download.moodle.org/ Read
documentation http//docs.moodle.org Join moodle
community http//moodle.org/course/view.php?id5
Start using Moodle http//moodle.org/course/categ
ory.php?id1
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Why Moodle?

• Advantages
• Open source
• Free
• Customizable
• Sound pedagogical principles
• student-centred environment
• constructivist approach
• Disadvantages
• Pay for hosting space
• Team - administrator, technical support, tutors
• Training beneficial to maximise full potential

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Creating Collaborative Classroom Communities
CONCLUSIONS

• endless opportunities
• new dimensions to thinking and debating
• two-way information flow
• encourages connectivity
• sharing and interacting
• autonomous learning
• expands horizons..

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Creating Collaborative Classroom Communities
CONCLUSIONS

• be clear about our objectives
• help learners who are unfamiliar with ICT
• give clear instructions
• keep the ICT tools alive
• be aware of the language aspects

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Exchange
http//dekita.org/
highlights and showcases the writings and other
artefacts shared online by EFL/ESL students
involved in open courses
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Share and Support
Join a Yahoo! Group
http//groups.yahoo.com/group/evonline2002_webhead
s/ http//groups.yahoo.com/group/learningwithcom
puters/
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Further Training
www.theconsultants-e.com
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Thanks-)
Keep in touch valentinadodge_at_24hours.it