advice on eLearning in FE and HE

in terms of further education institutions, subject dependant, the use of eLearning is vital. the fact that one could use broadcasting software like skype and Whatsapp to broadcast lectures to those who canot make it to lectures is fantastic. if used correctly, there can be no reason to see downsides in using electronic devices in the classroom. mobile phones seemed taboo in the classroom, untill now that is, because they seem to be miniature versions of tablets and iPads.

live broadcasting:

the skype logo, representing what could be an amazing tool for FE colleges and HE institutions...used in the correct way. another good point about skype is, that with the right pluggins, the lecture can be recorded with typed notes.

another thing we as lecturers can do, is record lectures and publish the finnished product as a podcast. these can be free services to students which can be put up on the institutions VLE.
Good examples of this can be found on iTunes U. ( the education central hub of iTunes)

its not just for broadcasting though, eLearning can include wireless contact to interactive whiteboards and live forums. for sites like todaysmeet and many more.

embedding gadgets on a VLE is simple, this means, revision quizes and flashcards, calenders and reminders, message boards and notifications can be sent to the students and lecturers and keep people on cue for exams and special events.

 

Benefits of E-Learning

"Good teaching is good teaching, no matter how it's done."

'Features of E-Learning

• Learning is self-paced and gives students a chance to speed up or slow down as necessary
• Learning is self-directed, allowing students to choose content and tools appropriate to their differing interests, needs, and skill levels
• Accommodates multiple learning styles using a variety of delivery methods geared to different learners; more effective for certain learners
• Designed around the learner
• Geographical barriers are eliminated, opening up broader education options
• 24/7 accessibility makes scheduling easy and allows a greater number of people to attend classes
• On-demand access means learning can happen precisely when needed
• Travel time and associated costs (parking, fuel, vehicle maintenance) are reduced or eliminated
• Overall student costs are frequently less (tuition, residence, food, child care)
• Potentially lower costs for companies needing training, and for the providers
• Fosters greater student interaction and collaboration
• Fosters greater student/instructor contact
• Enhances computer and Internet skills
• Draws upon hundreds of years of established pedagogical principles
• Has the attention of every major university in the world, most with their own online degrees, certificates, and individual courses'

Kaplan University

Visit www.kaplan.edu

Matching School Ads

The old adage still rings true, and e-Learning brings with it new dimensions in education. Some of the unique features of e-Learning are listed below.


this quote sums up everything eLearning entails. but as stated in my essay, there are bad points.

Yes, spam. it can get its way into any website , so the best action to take is to install anti virus software in your machines.
hopefully i have covered a few things both in my blog post and my essay!

technology for eLearning

so i have taken another look around the internet and realized i could revisit the Presentation aspect of lecturing,

Prezzi: one of the better alternatives to PowerPoint (which to be fair has its uses, given the right situation) is relatively interactive, meaning to say you can zoom into and pin point any given slide at any given time.

Spicy nodes:
another useful tool for presentations, similar to prezzi, the lecturer can set different spider diagrams to evolve from a central spider. the central point of each spider can be an image or embeded video.

Emaze:
this software is a wonderful alternative to powerpoint as it has an easier, more aesthetically pleasing layout

a link to the website is available here
http://www.emaze.com/

Google Hangouts

Again, like skype, google hangouts has a lot of fantastic features to allow eLearning to come into its own. these include

Screen shots of work
emoticons
messaging
live video streaming with multiple members
file exchange

  

as you can see in the picture, Hangouts can be accessed from all devices, which is a bonus for people on the go.