The benefits of online learning technologies are no longer a question in my mind, however, just exactly how the practical application of such technologies would work in the classroom still presents a question mark. Part three of our interview with Karen Walstra, from Karen Walstra Consulting, was a discussion on how the practical application of technologies such as MOOCS, Teacher Tube and the Flipped Classroom approach would work in the common South African classroom if included into teaching methods on school level.
MOOCs for teachers
MOOCs, Massive Open Online Courses, are a collaboration of free online courses sponsored by universities from across the globe and presented through advanced learning management technologies to anyone with an internet connection and the desire to study. In the South African school environment, MOOCs would play a huge role in up-skilling teachers on the subjects they teach, as mentioned in the previous article, granting them and their students a world of benefits.
“The MOOC promotes independence of learning and independence of thought. The Khan Academy and Coursera.org are two great institutions who offer MOOCs.” – for more on this topic see ELearning Explodes!
TeacherTube for the scholars
Learning through video is encouraged!
“Video connotes entertainment in our minds, which means that the term signals an expectation to be entertained. This, along with the fact that image satisfies our thought capabilities, motivates someone to watch a video…An animated image with combined audio grabs and holds attention. …The combination of visually interesting material and well written audio scripts incorporating jingles and music will affect the level of concentration and discipline that students hold.” - For more on this topic, see Think with Vision: Communicate visually with Online Video
Karen introduced me to TeacherTube. Similar and based on YouTube, TeacherTube is a knowledge platform specifically developed for school teachers and children. It also does not only provide educational videos, but documents and audio as well, plus these are categorized into channels that one can subscribe to, for example, the Maths channel. In the classroom situation, teachers could assign video links, document links etc. to learners as recommended or compulsory study material. Even more ideal is that such links could feature within learning management portals and eBooks, for the learners. In this way, teacher-prescribed viewing material would be a click away.
No tablets?
Tablets for scholars would be the ideal. Yet, if budgets deny this ideal, perhaps computers at home or computer labs at schools made freely accessible to learners could suffice. Here the Flipped Classroom approach, as explained by Karen, would work fantastically. Children study the materials prior to attending class and the teachers use classroom time to answer questions, explain concepts and engage with scholars. Class time would also then be utilized better as acquired knowledge can be interpreted and applied to various circumstances – moving away from the dead-end parrot fashion methods still employed in many South African schools today.
For more on this topic, see The Flipped Classroom - Blending ELearning with a Modern Classroom
Learning management systems at the core
Crucial to the management and order of the process of employing online learning technologies in the classroom, is through a sufficient learning management system (LMS). Such a system makes the supply of eBooks, videos, external links, assignments and quizzes available in an orderly manner, at scheduled times, and arranged to suite individual school. It is the foundation that ties it all together – eliminating the struggle, fear and frustration that many people reveal when it comes to using new technologies. In my opinion, for the practical application of online learning in the classroom to work smoothly, the practical learning management system must be well structured, user friendly, flexible and customisable.
Sound Idea Digital specialises in Learning Management Systems and eLearning developments | soundidealearningmanagement.co.za
Carla van Straten is a Writer for Sound Idea Digital | Carla@soundidea.co.za
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