That Syncing Feeling again

Here's another parting "gift" - a 5,000-word pilot study on participation and interaction in webinars, as I promised/threatened in the consent form. It has another 7,000 words of references, analysis and transcripts ...

I can't add it as a Word document or PDF, so please view it here: learningtechnologieshongkong.pbworks.com/webinars

I'd love it if you joined the site. But even if you don't want to you can still view the page using the login "teacher" and password "password".

Please add your comments if you make it to the end of the research! 

Elements in e-moderation

An interesting discussion took place about what it takes to be a successful moderator. While I started assumming that there could be some elements related to paersonality, as the thread went on, some interesting ideas were shared:

• Keith suggested that some of these elements may be affected by the time we have available to spend moderating and this will ultimately affect the "quality" of our moderation practice.
• Dave said that it would be impossible to prescribe ideal personal qualities for emoderators,

...and both ideas make a lot of sense! However, would you agree that there are some "elements/skills" that we would like to see in a moderator? Like a person being able to start and maintain a dialogic interaction, who is able to shift power and give it to participants and who can solve problems and if s(he) can´t, is able to ask for help. I would not say this person is totally a "constructed persona", but I totally agree with Davide when he says that a moderator should be able to develop an online persona that is an honest representation of his/her own self (with his/her own twist!).

The wordle below shows some of the elements the group thought could make a good moderator...and I could not agree more with Dave that self-awareness is what makes you put this collage together!

Useful web links for Moodle moderating

I'd been filtering through the course looking for all the fabulously useful links that I remember you all posting, I've collected what I've found here. If you can think of others, please do add them. Very helpful to have them at your fingertips, so to speak!

Useful web links for Moodle moderating

Tools for asynchronous communication

• http://recordr.tv (record answers/talk with or without webcam; the link has to be shared) or 
• http://intervue.me/ (allows teachers/ teacher trainers to create questionnaires and participants can record their answers again with/without webcam; answers appear in a list under the questions) or 
• http://www.voxopop.com/ (create a talkgroup to discuss an issue; answers recorded without a webcam)
• http://www.educreations.com It is a tool for preparing presentations: you can upload photos, draw and record your presentation. A fantastic tool!

http://www.techsmith.com/download/jing/win/thankyou.asp

Jing - Screencasting

http://voicethread.com/

Voicethread - Create voice and textovers on video and image files

http://present.me/

present.me lets you record and share your presentations.

http://www.brainshark.com/mybrainshark

mybrainshark let's you add voice recordings to documents and presentations

Bloggers and authors on IT in ELT

Jamie Keddie

http://lessonstream.org/browse-lessons/

Russel Stannard

http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/index.html

tefl techer - example of present.me - add voice to ppt

Alternative assessment

http://cecilialcoelho.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/some-ideas-on-how-to-use-web-2-0-tools-for-alternative-assessment/

Prezi - alternative presentations

http://prezi.com/zqhrjijgvnfx/participation-patterns-gilly-salmon/

http://prezi.com/l5mycjrs-2nm/that-syncing-feeling-our-reflections-on-synchronous-learning/

Alternatives to adobe connect

www.bigmarker.com

http://www.wiziq.com/

Wordle - create word clouds

http://www.wordle.net/

Bubblr - Cartoon strip with speech bubbles

http://www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/?id=35349

Newspaper Clipping Generator

http://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp

Glogster - creative publishing site

http://www.glogster.com/

Cartoons:
GoAnimate (very easy to use)

http://goanimate.com/

Bitstrips (more difficult to use)

http://www.bitstrips.com/pageone/

Wallwisher - noticeboard

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/emod34

Evite - invitations site

http://new.evite.com

Mindomo - mindmapping site

http://www.mindomo.com/signup.htm

Cmap - concept mapping site

http://cmap.ihmc.us/

Missing in Action

Elvina's Summary of our discussion in Missing in Action Thread.

There are some reflections about the exercise:

• Sometimes it's better not to rush.
• Participants need reading time and might greatly benefit to being exposed to role models.
• Peers´posts become a reference for the RoP. 
• A set criteria will help the participant know what is expected from him/her.

What do participants appreciate in a message at this stage of the course?

• A non-lecturing inviting,  friendly, considerate, open, supportive, encouraging tone.
• Some pointers on what is to be expected as for participation, online time, tasks to do, for instance. 
• Sometimes the use of emoticons can help convey emotions and “see” people.
• that useful information is included your message (like the name of the course, important dates, a reference to what the CP should do).
• Make the message  self-explaining,  but try to be brief!
• Use an adequate register that meets the cultural background of your participants. In global courses, we would need to come to a compromise, so build an agreed netiquette.
• Do not take for granted that the reason for not showing up is related to technical issues. Ask!
• However, be prepared to provide basic instructions to help the participant with log in issues. Common problems are related to passwords not working.

Marie's Summary of our ideas about the differences between moderating local and global courses.

In terms of differences between managing a local e-learning course and an e-learning course with participants from other countries, we have focused mainly on:

• intercultural aspects of communication
• use of humour
• need for common “rules“ of communication
• language competence.

While we have agreed that cultural background pre-determinesour expectationsand ways of expression, we also acknowledged that similar differences might be found amongst participants coming from the same country as their personality plays an important role.

There was a general consent that in order to preventas many misunderstandings or unpleasant feelings, it is vital to establish clearly articulated common rules of communication („netiquette“) for the course. Since we are probably never be able to prevent all misunderstanding, it seems importantto keep communicating, asking and explaining, before we give in to negative feelings (be they disappointment, feeling excluded o ranger). Our colleagues from Vietnam gave a very good example of this strategy in their discussion on the correct way of address women in Vietnamese 

We also agreed that while humorcan spice upthe discussions, it doesn’t always have to come across in writing ;)

Thinking from the perspective of the e-moderator, s/he might like to:

• establish the rules of communication
• set tasks taking into consideration possible differences (be they cultural or personal)
• make sure that rules are not trespassed
• set a positive example in communication (just as Elvina is doing for us).

Participation Patterns by Gilly Salmon

Although this was just an additional discussion, I thought we could keep this summary as well.

Participation Patterns Gilly Salmon on Prezi

Moderator Roles

Here's Elvina summary of our discussion in Moderator Roles forum thread (Unit 2)

E-moderator Roles on Prezi

Lurking

Here's the summary of our ideas about Read-only-Participation