Ideas for working with learners

Confession time … at first it's difficult to see how computers can possibly be used for learning in groups … until you discover discussion forums and then chat rooms, and then voice boards and… (by then you'll be hooked!).

So, for those of you who’d like some fun learning things to do with computers, mobile phones and other ‘techy’ things, here are some ideas. If you aren’t sure how to use them – ask a colleague, or search through the fourteen projects from the E-Learning Creative Communities.

(You'll also find links to useful tools on the Links page.)

Photo and Video Sharing

One of the best ways to engage with your learners is through photos and imagery. Sign up your group for a photo sharing site, where they can upload their images, for the world to see. Many of these sites allow users to comment on each other's work. (eg Flickr, Buzznet, Zoomr*).

People can also share their videos with the world: either a short intro/commentary, or something more complex and scripted. (eg YouTube, Google Video, BlipTV*).

You can add more layers (voice as well as image), by using a site for making digital stories (eg Bubbleshare).

Email/Vmail (voice email)

• Create an email group list so you can easily send out info to your clients and participants - make sure you comply with the new spam legislation (for Australia) though. (eg EdNA Lists)
• Show those who don’t have an email address how to get one for free. (eg yahoo, hotmail, fastmail, or email addresses)
• Or check out using voice email. (Details at "Beyond Text".)
• Create a series of 10 or 15 min activities and send out one per day for 15 days.

Discussion Board

• Set up a discussion board and provide short activities for your participants to work through. (eg EdNA Groups)
• Ask participants to share photos and experiences with you to get them used to posting.
• You can use either text or voice board (more info at Beyond Text).

CDs, discs

• Provide resources in different ways: via CD or discs as well as online – old paper equivalents, Power Point presentations, records of online chats and discussions, assessment practices, simulations

Text/Voice Chats

• Hold a text chat with your clients or participants to check how their learning is going.
• Hold a text chat to brainstorm ideas.
• Provide a text chat space for group work and a discussion board to post the results.
• Try out a voice chat (options here on our Wikispace)
• Keep an eye out for improvements to video chat software too!

Resources

• Check out any photos, graphics or cartoons that you own and scan into the computer for use in online activities. Create your own library for appropriate occasions, eg. box of choccys, gold stars, computers being broken.
• Access free graphics from the web.
• You can search Creative Commons (find some great images via the Flickr tab, with a range of licences).
• Review your filing systems so that you can easily find the resources you need, when you need them, in the format you want them.
• Share your bookmarks or favourites on del.icio.us or furl or set up a group tag.
• Convert your presentations (e.g. Power Point) to web or flash format (?).
• Record your presentations on audio and provide on the net or on CD or podcast it.
• Use one of the many flexible learning toolboxes from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.
• Use a digital camera/ smart phone/ personal digital organizer (PDA) to take pictures and put into presentations, Power Points, handout material on the discussion boards, website, blog.

Mobile Technologies - Phones/PDAs/MP3 players

• SMS your participants your congratulations when they first come online.
• Send them the timetable.
• Notify them when their next chat session, assignment is scheduled
• Ask your participants to take a photo/video of themselves at work in their workplace to share with other participants – have them SMS it to you/them.
• Pre-record some information and make it available for download.
• Download some podcasts (regular audio broadcasts) for listening on the move (eg abc.net.au/, or Internet TESL Journal).

Blogs

• Keep a reflective journal of your teaching experience and what you’re learning from your learners.
• Post learning related information, calendar, events, tasks, assignments.
• Publish (with permission) examples of exemplary work.
• Ask your learners to comment on issues, web sites you’ve provided or answer questions you’ve posed.
• Ask your learners to create their own blogs to present their evidence.
• Get learners to comment on each other’s work (provide constructive criticism/feedback guidelines).
• Create a blog around an issue or topic and have everyone contribute.
• (Start a blog, eg at blogger, wordpress, liveJournal ..*)

Surveys and quizzes

• Create an online survey for entry and exit feedback purposes. (eg SurveyMonkey*)
• Create a quiz for learning or assessment purposes. (eg use Hot Potatoes*)

Games

• Provide information about fun typing games for novice typists (eg TyperShark (not free), Tux Typing *).
• Incorporate ice breaker games online before meeting face to face (*).
• Organise a webquest (Bernie, Designing *)
• Get some ideas for other games from Thaigi(*) and Marie Jasinski(*) for free plus you can subscribe to a newsletter.
• Play the AQTF game with your staff (*).

RSS feeds

• Use RSS feeds to compile your learners’ blogs into one easy spot (eg Feedburner, Bloglines, LiveJournal?* ).

Left Field

• If you are a part time teacher working for many organisations, consider setting up your own e-system (eg moodle, Elluminate, writely.com, EdNA Groups). This becomes an asset which you can use regardless of your employer’s e–capacity.
• Share your list of favourites/bookmarked sites.

Thanks are due to Wendy Jakeman, Kim Edgar, Leigh Blackall and Peter Allen from whose work some of these ideas have been adapted.