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Blogs Email and Social Networks for Education |
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The value and utility of standard email, blogs and social networks as teaching and learning tools is often underestimated. It is so easy nowadays to set up a group blog for your class which can incorporate the limitless resources of the Internet. Even basic email services now have far better functionality and storage space. Social networks sites now have good tools for restricting access to your groups. These are currently our recommendations: |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 November 2007 )
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Second Life is an online virtual world - perhaps the most popular at present. It has recently suffered some negative publicity as a haven for online sexual behaviour, however that probably mis-represents the overall community and under-rates the amazing possibilities that Second Life offers business, education and (normal) socialising. Many universities have 'campuses' (usually islands) in Second Life and the non-university education/training community is thriving and diverse. You can start with nothing and very cheaply learn or buy anything you might need. There is an economy for buying and selling items and tools for protecting your intellectual property. The recent addition of voice chat has opened many possibilities for education. Think of it as Skype on steroids. Aerospace English Principal, Mike Smith, has an avatar in Second Life exploring its use for education and training, in particular for teaching English. A special blogsite for this avatar is here: http://www.2ringbinder.blogspot.com/ Website: http://secondlife.com/ |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 November 2007 )
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Skype is a well-known audio chat application that is free (basic) and easy to use. It is one of many providing Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) services which basically mean re-routing normal telephone calls via the Internet. This provides incredibly cheap long-distance and international telephone calls. There are now many additional features (not-free) aimed at business and corporate users, but the free basic version is perfectly fine for one-on-one and small group audio-based teaching. With adequate broadband you can achieve good video chat and other features like sharedwhite board as well. Company website: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/welcomeback/ |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 November 2007 )
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Elluminate is a full-featured online/virtual classroom with audio/video chat, hands-up, multiple rooms, shared resources and shared desktop, as well all the classrom and student management utilities you may need. A free virtual classroom (Vroom) is available and very useful with all features available albeit limited in extent. It does require a broadband Internet connection and an up-to-date, Java-enabled browser (Firefox seems to work best). Web site: http://www.elluminate.com/ |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 November 2007 )
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There are many great English language websites, but the single most useful would be that of the International TESL Journal: www.a4esl.org |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 November 2007 )
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