E-Learning/CALL

Ask your learners what they think of e-learning and the chances are there will be one word that trips off many of their tongues - boring. Whether you are a seasoned e-learning designer or you are about to embark on creating e-learning for the first time, instructional design training can help you better understand how to develop boredom-busting e-learning first time and every time.

Why do we need to integrate technology with a K-12 classroom? Many schools and colleges are using or in the process of implementing various online technologies and solutions to enhance communication amongst students. According to the educational authority, it is the students at large who are demanding the introduction of highly advanced technology in the classroom.

Technology has become a part over everyday life and is essential to us now in order to communicate with people and get around. Cars, phones and the Internet are all essential to the vast majority and technology has moved in leaps and bounds in the last ten years alone. Pay phones that were once common and plentiful are now often left abandoned and unused - everyone carries a mobile or has some access to the Internet through Wi-Fi in a local pub or café.
Children now don't spend their time playing outside, but are on video games, watching TV and texting their friends. Some say these advances are having an adverse effect on children, their education and ability to communicate.
However, a study has shown that texting and the use of abbreviations it is common-place amongst young people, in schools it is not having an effect on their language studies or ability to write in proper English. However, despite this there are arguments that technology is actually affecting children.
· Attention ...

With the increasing popularity of ed-tech, teachers have a variety of tools available to improve their workflow or enhance their students' learning experience. Web tools for teachers add a little fun to the learning; they can make the connection with students more effective. Fortunately, many of these tools are either free or freemium and can be used almost immediately after signing up. Here are some of the most effective tools recommended by educators in the community:
SlideShare
This presentation platform makes it easy for teachers and students to upload and share their slideshows to the public or to a specific audience. With many slideshows shared publicly, teachers can find interesting, relevant content to share with their classes.
Google Docs
When naming some of the best tools for teachers, we can't forget Google Docs (accessed via Google Drive). This comprehensive set of tools can help you create/share documents and presentations with your students and allow them to collaborate ...

Project-based learning (PBL) is a method teachers employ that requires students to integrate and synthesize skills from different subjects to solve complex, real-world problems. It focuses on active learning through the completion of hands-on projects rather than passive absorption of information. PBL is not a new technique and it can certainly be argued that this process has been the foundation of all learning since the earliest times. However, in our digital age the PBL method can be enhanced remarkably when combined with the use of digital portfolios or ePortfolios as they are more commonly called. Students and teachers can now use ePortfolios to collaborate on projects in real-time and develop perceptive skills while obtaining feedback from their classmates and teachers on their work. ePportfolios can be especially useful in group projects as they facilitate student collaboration. PBL through ePortfolios provides distinct advantages for students:
 
Students are encouraged to ...

As we have increasingly moved into a digital age, everything we do has become more technical. The way we communicate, the way we socialize, the way we entertain ourselves, and even the way we learn - all of these things are now done increasingly on digital platforms.
One learning tool that is often used in the educational and corporate world is LMSs, which stands for Learning Management Systems. These systems provide a very effective learning tool that can be rolled out to specific groups based on the environment and sector in which you are using the system. Of course, in order to enjoy the full benefits that an LMS can offer, you need to make sure you choose the right one for your needs. However, once you have determined which LMS is the right one for you, you will be able to look forward to a range of benefits.
Some of the main benefits of using an LMS
There are a number of benefits that come from using an LMS. Some of these include:
Greater consistency: Because an LMS provides a ...

If you are a teacher reading this, then you will have probably experienced the glassy look. This when you are talking to a room full of students and they all look like they are paying attention but you can tell by the look in their eyes, that they are not. They are probably daydreaming about their next holiday.
When this happens, it can be frustrating. You will be trying your best to get the message across and you want them to understand what you are saying but you know if someone asked them what they did in class, they would have no idea. They probably wouldn't even remember what you were wearing.
When you ask a student why they zone out, they will probably blame you. You have talked at them for too long, or the topic was boring or the personal favorite, "Well, I will never need this life, so why listen?"
What can you do?
The answer to this is proactive learning. This might be a shock if you are used to standing there with a projector and a clicker and then talking for the length of ...

The corporate world is changing with flying colors. In this fast moving world, new approaches, ideas, policies and technology arise daily. In the recent time in order to rub shoulder to shoulder, learning is considered as a never ending process. It is the need of the hour that organizations constantly train and educate their employees about the changing dynamics of the industry. Nowadays, companies use Learning Management System to offer training and learning to employees at various levels.
Learning Management System is a software application that enables the masses to learn anything, anywhere and anytime. The learner can access study material online. This process eliminates the limitations of time, distance and resources and use internet technology to deliver up to date training in a cost effective manner.
Now the question arises why one should use LMS? There are a number of benefits of using an LMS like:-
• 24*7 Learning: - With access to internet in computer or laptop one can learn ...

In a traditional college class instructors will likely have a fairly predictable group of students and they can be visually assessed, even though perceptions may not always be accurate. For online students there can be a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, and the traditional definition of a college student no longer applies. That's why the phrase non-traditional students has been used to describe the online student as it represents a group of students who have different needs. It becomes imperative for online instructors to learn who their students are and their present capacity if they are going to be able to assist them and support their development.
Within an online class it is possible to have every variety of student and this is inclusive of learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental impairments, and the list continues. There is a saying that you should not judge a book by its cover and with online students there is no visible cover to assess. Even the phrases ...

Proper use of technology in teaching is valuable to the learning experience, but existing barriers must be addressed and overcome by teachers for the successful realization of a technology-enhanced, learner-centered classroom.    The two types of barriers faced by teachers are first-order barriers and second-order barriers (Tsai & Chai, 2012).   First-order barriers deal with external factors affecting the teacher such as institutional support and training, as well as adequate access to and time with technology.  Second-order barriers focus more on the internal factors affecting teachers to include a teacher’s technology and pedagogical beliefs along with their willingness to change in order to incorporate technology into a learn-centered classroom successfully.  Addressing these two barriers through proper planning and administration of technology integration should be a key focus of education in order to ensure success and benefits from technology integration into the classroom ...