четверг, 8 ноября 2012 г.

Virtual Learning Environment(VLE) and Personal Learning Environment(PLE)





















In my previous post I was sharing my experience connected with Open Educational Resources (OER), and today`s post is connected with LMS or VLE vs.PLE. So the VLE  is Virtual Learning Environment and PLE is Personal Learning Environment. These two types of environments again were new for me and I think for my peers, which we explored during our New Technologies lass. 

 Now I will try to define these two environments:

  •   VLE/LMS   is more centralized , here institutional corporation or the government provides repository of content and services. Individually learners can access to LMS/VLE   and obtain the content, also the users or individuals  can have conferences with themselves, as well as interactive conferences.
  •    PLE  is individual  and decentralized . Here each user can  access all over the web  iBook, you tube,  face book, Google docs etc. In PLE you manage your own data .You choose your security as well as you manage your own connection.
 Both of environments have negative and positive sides:

In LMSs two people log on to the management system after  through that management system they access. If the person does not have an account he cannot access to the LMSs collaborative environment. In PLE network  each individual directly connect with each other comparing with LMS/VLE . Here I should also mention that in PLE each user can access to unlimited courses but the quality is not always good.  
In conclusion I would say that it is always difficult to implement something new in Armenia. There are many institutions who like traditional way of teaching and do not bother themselves integrating new technologies during their classes. I hope step by step in the Armenian universities or separate individuals will be more willing to use  them.
















Link for the 1 st image: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=FubvEZqVbKAOwM:&imgrefurl=http://data.bolton.ac.uk/staff/mwj1/PLE/pmwiki.php%3Fn%3DMain.PLEReferenceModels&docid=76FZSDFHmQQfqM&imgurl=http://data.bolton.ac.uk/staff/mwj1/PLE/uploads/Main/derek.png&w=909&h=612&ei=APKbUJOQFIrMmgWsz4CIBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=4&vpy=121&


Link for the 2 nd image: http://www.google.com/imgres?start=397&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=EoUBZsaHz0QbIM:&imgrefurl=http://mohamedaminechatti.blogspot.com/2007/01/towards-personal-learning-environment.html&docid=e6lUJy5-EuMSEM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiBZ3EgBJAAxu258w3KFKkHFYmEJgJBUlKqUdb7osvs6SRgXcgXd2l1JtMB-Av6yiPBchlo8dhrGGY6SXrmLzLcNAAf86w2NvzEmmNqoRVoLx_lORKooNSAAOIGgyhkz4MBrg2XiY0Av5/s400/PLEF.jpg&w=400&h=300&ei=T_ObUKLSDs_omAXL0oC4CA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=652&sig=109605187291664981752&page=15&tbnh=148&tbnw=217&n

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пятница, 2 ноября 2012 г.

Open Educational Resources





Today`s my post is closely connected with Open Educational Resources (OER) about which I have no idea before our technology class. According to  Brown and Adler  (2008)   in today`s world people should not have one fixed career, instead people should try to have multiple careers and learn more. So Open Educational Resources can be one of the supporting resources for that. Here people can freely find different kind of courses, which I saw exploring them in terms of class .Open educational resources include also , modules , textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge (Smith,2011).  OER offer  useful resources both for teaching and learning. As  Smith (2011) claims OER help many people to increase the education and  get access to many useful resources. 
The main positive thing also is that people can get all those things freely. They also mention that no one wants to use garbage no matter the resources are close or open. Of course, lots of people work hard in order to create these kind of licensed resources which  people can use for educational purposes.  
The main disadvantage  about these resources is that many times people think open resources have default low quality and what  is selling has better quality. I myself sometimes think so. That is really fantastic when  you have such resources under your hand and can use them anytime anywhere, but many people have no idea about the existence of such resources. If we talk about the Armenian learners the implementation of OER will so challenging. I am sure that many people will not be willing to share their materials. I should say that we learned to work together and share information here at AUA. In the Armenian universities or schools students do most of the homework individually. It`s our culture sometimes we do not want to share what we have or know, as we think that belongs only to ME. That is to say we do accept or like collaborative learning. Many people may be surprised by this BUT this is true. Many learners also will not bother them to search or learn something without teacher. We like to be under pressure, we like to be checked. It is a pity but this is true for sure. 

















Link for the image : http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=gKpSCWq4bCrVMM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_educational_resources&docid=g6iNiRBZCX4WBM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Global_Open_Educational_Resources_Logo.svg/300px-Global_Open_Educational_Resources_Logo.svg.png&w=300&h=200&ei=gcGTUNSJF6qLm
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четверг, 25 октября 2012 г.

Mobile Language Learning




Nowadays generation does not use mobile phones for only exchanging information but for the educational purposes. I think that is fine to go far from the traditional way of teaching. When I was a pupil or a student I had no idea that education can be based on not only paper pencil way of teaching. I think that nowadays generation is more lucky. Teachers can use computers, mobile phones , iPods …… for the  teaching  purposes and that is GREAT!!!
From the Hayo Reinders article we have learned that that there are twenty ideas for using mobile phones in the language classrooms. According to Chinnery ( 2006), and  Kukulska-Hulme (2005) mobile learning is popular as they are relatively cheap and increasingly powerful. From this article I mostly liked the idea 5 taking interviews, then idea 17playing educational games, also  idea 2 taking pictures and share them in class. By all means this kind of learning creates collaborative listening and speaking activities for students. I think those ideas can be successfully implemented with  Armenian kids for L2 learning purposes.  Other thing that I liked most is that By all means age is very important here. There certain types of ideas which can be used for adults and separate for kids. I liked a lot the research done by Revelle et al. (2007). According to Revelle  the mobile phones can be successfully used for alphabet  teaching. The research  shows that kids were able to learn  loaded Sesame Street videos on mobile. In her study, she reported  that mobile-phone delivery made it extremely easy to incorporate literacy activities.
But the m-learning has also disadvantages  can be a problem for the Armenian students for various reasons.  I think the lack of necessary knowledge can be a problem , also many students might not have phones in order to use for classes. Any case I would like to try and use m-learning within my classes. At first it might be challenging but after some time kids can get used to that. The classes might be noise or many students might not understand what they should do. So here the teacher will monitor and help them.  

















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четверг, 18 октября 2012 г.

Virtual World -Second Life


Today`s my post is closely connected with virtual world Second life environment.  As the previous posts  this post is also connected with technology. Once again I was very happy to get familiar with something new for me. Of course, I have heard about virtual world 3D environment  but have never tried any. So this course gave me an opportunity to try that. It is interesting that I do not like computer games, especially commercial games as I mentioned in my previous post. But I liked a lot Second Life .I think I know the reason. This special environment with avatars helps each person to create own games for different purposes. I liked the fact of flying , running and walking. In fact here you can do and try things which you cannot do in real life situations. Here you can invite people chat with them or buy things that was really great. But in many cases the players should earn money in order to spend it. 
As an English teacher I would like to use them for educational purposes. But to tell the truth I think that would not be an easy task. If we talk about advantages so here I can say that  3D environment can help to reinforce certain vocabulary .For example, you can create a game connected with cloths and do shopping, students will learn lots of words or it can be connected with sea food  and so on. My students would be so enthusiastic and motivated I am sure. It can be a new way for studying, as it is  fun, interactive  and  once again students can work collaboratively. Now let`s talk about disadvantages. So here we have many drawbacks especially in our country. Unfortunately  you should pay in order to make interesting games. From my own experience I know that teachers in Armenia  do not get much financial support in order to afford and pay for games. But the problem is not connected only with teachers, many kids also will not able to afford that. Another main  obstacle is that many teachers themselves would not be able to play this virtual world games. The lack of technological knowledge may be a challenge. Another problem may cause the internet and computer connection especially at schools. In conclusion I would say that one day all this might be possible in all schools or other educational centers.  I  strongly believe  that one day both teachers and students will be able to use 3D virtual world for educational purposes which will develop four skills. 

Link  for the image : http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=5CaJSbj5hBBQhM:&imgrefurl=http://www.gameogre.com/reviewdirectory/reviews/Second_Life.php&docid=L30wDahMZYnTtM&imgurl=http://www.gameogre.com/reviewdirectory/upload/Second%252520Life.jpg&w=1280&h=977&ei=LEWIUMbMBsWeiAfzrYDwCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1068&vpy=119&dur=219&hovh=196&hovw=257&tx=151&ty=118&sig=109605187291664981752&page=1&tbnh=145&tbnw=180&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:86

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вторник, 16 октября 2012 г.

Computer and Video Games



In my previous posts I was sharing my ideas about  topics like digital stories, blogs ,wikis  and other technological issues which can be used in the 21 st century classroom environment. My today`s post is connected with video and computer  games. To tell the truth it is a little bit difficult for me to talk about video games as I am not a gamer at all. I have never  played   games  especially commercial games  as  I found them boring  and time consuming.  But  as we know there is a slide difference  between commercial and educational games. So I prefer educational ones.
As  the professor Sasha Barab mentions  educational games help kids to see the things like in the real world.Actually I tried some educational games with my nephew he is 5 years old . He was so excited and enthusiastic about that games. But here we should be very careful with the safety of the websites, that is why I was sitting with hi all the time. For the sake of my internship  I take some ideas for my classes from the educational games and they are really very useful. In the 21 st century  people like to play games especially boys. Parents in many cases could not forbid their  kids to stay far from computers and not to play. Once there was a program where a boy was telling his  mother that he would throw himself out of the window if his parents would not let him play video games. I think that is terrible. By all means games can have negative effect on kids psychology. Of course, we know that certain commercial  games create aggression in kids. Many parents do not  pay attention on such things but for me it  is really very important.  But on the other side as professor Patricia Marks Greenfield  claims, (1984) those who play computer games adjust their “strategies of attentional deployment". We can  see that computer games may have a positive effect either. Personally I do not think that something could be changed  even if that certain games effect on  gamers  negatively. I am sure  children or people in general like computer games as here they can  try and do things  which they cannot try in real life. 
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четверг, 4 октября 2012 г.

Digital Storytelling and Video Making


My previous reflections were based on some  other technological innovations like wikis, podcast, digital children and so on. This time I am going to share my impressions about digital storytelling and digital videos. Firstly I would like to say that was Amazing. I have never done such things before. I liked the process of shooting the video with Nairuhi that was great. It is interesting that I liked blogging and wikis a lot but believe me digital videos were the best for me. According  to Tsou,(2006), and  Wan(2005) storytelling is a  powerful and practical teaching tool especially for 21st century students .So as a future 21st century teacher  I would definitely  use digital storytelling and videos for my classes. I hope seeing my enthusiasm my students   will have the same felling. Before our class I have never used Movie Maker, to tell the truth I even did not  know about its existence. Firstly we did digital storytelling with pictures and music some of my peers did with Movie Maker others with Power Point. But during digital video making I was so excited  that I cannot compare that feeling with digital storytelling. It would be a little bit challenging to use digital storytelling and videos especially in my city but teachers should do their best to  help the students.  For the sake of that teachers  should provide with  samples  and explanations in order to help some students to overcome all obstacles that they may have  connected with technology. Yesterday  one school girl asked me about Power Point slides and how to use them for her classes. Their teacher gave them an assignment without explanation. So many students face such problems. I think in that cases the teacher made a big mistake. That  is to say children develop their digital literacy with the help of technology. The traditional way of teaching is not interesting anymore and mostly  not effective. As Davis, (2004) claims digital storytelling enriches students vocabulary and storytelling strategies. Digital video making can play an essential role in students pronunciation and speaking skills development. As an assignment  students can shoot any topic and use language simultaneously that would be great. For instance students can do digital videos independently or as a group work. In both cases the usage of language and their creativity  can be apparent. 

Link  for the image: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=600&tbm=isch&tbnid=-4Lslg9LcjtrZM:&imgrefurl=http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/04/19/digital-storytelling-part-i/&docid=sgIYwGrAAhPDEM&imgurl=http://langwitches.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/collaborate-communicate-con.jpg&w=500&h=354&ei=0UaIUNXeGZChiAfYn4DQBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=650&vpy=278&dur=391&hovh=188&hov
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четверг, 20 сентября 2012 г.

The Usage of Wikis



 This time I am going to talk about Wikis. In previous posts I was sharing my ideas about blogs, digital children and podcast. This time I am not going far from the technology as my post is about Wiki. According to Leuf and Cunningham (2001),Wiki is a database where each page is easily edited also it is a collection of expandable WebPage. To tell the truth I liked Wikis a lot. I would say more than Blogging. As Mattison (2003) mentions   “a wiki can be a blog, but a blog does not have to be a wiki.” When I was writing a polar bear story I was so enthusiastic because here I had an opportunity to be more creative and was waiting for ending  as my peers had to continue it. But most of all I like wiki because of collaborative learning. Here  let`s say the learners should not comment like in blogging they can continue each other`s ideas. They have to read the beginning in order to continue, so they should be aware of that certain wiki page. It can be easily used for educational purposes and my perception is that students or learners will like them a lot. The wikis are easily editable and the users will not find much difficulties. I also created my wiki page and invited my friends there. As an English teacher I would use Wikis with great pleasure especially with adults by all means they would like it. This kind of technological innovations help teachers to go far from the traditional way of teaching and use technology as much as possible. Of course the lack of technological knowledge can be a problem but Wikis has simple usage , so it can be implemented. Students can easily edit it and change what they want. All that stuff can be done in groups or individually. The only thing that I do not like in Wikis is that individuals can delete what is written originally and edit new text. According to Will  Richardson Wikis create "the purposeful work of negotiating and creating truth".
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