I choose Google Hangouts as my e-learning tool. Of the few that I looked through none worked in conjunction with Google + better than Hangouts!
A conversation with my granddaughter in Alberta made me think about an alternative way for keeping in touch and finding things on the net to share and talk about. Sydney explained how she can speak with friends in her class if she needs help with her homework or can ask questions from her teacher. This method of conversation would be very advantageous for someone working in an e-learning environment.
As I had mentioned in an earlier post, the biggest problem with our e-learning network here at Niagara Catholic seems to be the lengthy response time. Students get frustrated and give up trying to reach the help that never gets to them!
Hangouts give you an opportunity to have direct conversations with others. Sometimes a students could be stumped on a particular assignment and Hangouts will connect them directly to their teacher or others in their class to get some one on one instruction.
Having the mobile app will allow you to be available for that needed conversation the moment the person is available to talk.
Hangouts will allow you to engage in online events at specific times to have whole group conversations. With e-learning this would give students an opportunity to meet and greet other students and engage in interaction on specific topics. A “chat room” discussion that is recorded online makes a great assessment of critical thinking skills. With an engaging facilitator, the conversation can be evaluated to assess the students’ ability to communicate.
Students having the ability to speak directly with the teacher in an online environment, allows for differentiated instruction and enables the student to find the way that works best for them. Discussion statements during group interaction can be copied and pasted into the file of an e-portfolio
"Students having the ability to speak directly with the teacher in an online environment, allows for differentiated instruction and enables the student to find the way that works best for them..." <-- I think you pointed out a huge benefit in online learning but one that isn't always tapped into. Often the online world can separate the student and teacher, rather than build up the relationship. You have pointed out some key ways to enhance the online learning experience. Perhaps next weekend we should do a Group Google Chat - hangout. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way for students who are at home moms to be able to go to school if they cannot afford to take their kids to daycare. I've never heard of this before.
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