To Moodle or not to Moodle?

I just finished a Moodle Starter course with TheConsultants-e.com and I must say that I'm very impressed! Not because of the quality of the training offer by them because this is my third course with them and I KNOW as a matter of fact that they're the best, but because I learnt so much over the 8 weeks! I should've done the course before!!!! Anyways, the way to go now is, I humbly believe, Moodle! More and more of our students are telling us they have no time and ask whether we have an online version of the courses we offer here at school. Up until now we had said no, but things are changing and this is because of the course I did!

I have completed 3 courses now using Moodle as the chosen platform and I'm in love with it. I'm now writing a course on Legal English for the school but this time as a teacher I can clearly see the benefit of all those activities we did on the previous courses where I was a trainee! It's really exciting to see how things fall into place when you mnake informed decisions which show pedagogy leads technology and you use it to enhance leanring!

Moodle away!

Robert

11 Free Mind Mapping Apps

Hello again!

It's been a while since my last post, but I'm back. Anyway, I'm writing an ILEC (International legal English Certificate) prep course in Moodle and so while looking for a mind mapping app I found an article with 11 free ones at www.Lifehack.org

I tried the first one Free Mind and it works ok. Check the other apps out and see which you prefer.

Enjoy!

Robert

Iaza your images and have fun!

I came across Iaza while looking for image son the internet and disovered a really cool tool. I still don´t know how to use it in the classroom, but I´ll fiddle with it for a while and see what it can be used for. In any case, it´s a nice way of experimenting with images.

Check it out at www.iaza.com

Edutecher's New Look!

Edutecher has a new look and it rocks. This is a super cool website which gives yuo access to loads of great resources which you can use in the classroom. Do check it out. Here's the link: http://www.edutecher.net/

The pronunciation app for iPad, iPod and iPhone

I just came across the MacMillan pronunciation application for iPad, iPod and iPhone and I think it rocks! It's free and can't wait for the improved version (at a charge)! It's great for both students and trainee teachers! I've used in an introductory session to pronunciation on our current CELTA course and it was a success. I used my iPad and iPod touch and they loved it. I used the iPad to present it and then gave both the iPad and iPod to trainees in 2 groups to explore the sounds in a task. Cool results!!!

Do check it out!

Robert

iPad in the classroom

Right... I've been using in the classroom as a portable flashcard display for lower levels and offsite (as per my previous entry) for both visual input (clips, PPPs) and audio with small groups. I still have loads to learn but I think it's got lots of potential. I asked my students and only a couple have them so I'm trying to think how I could exploit them more in the classroom. I also have access to an IWB in the classroom, so I want to make sure my use of it is fully integrated into the lesson. Pedagogy must lead technology and not all the way around!

Flashcard Machine... and I'm back

It's been a while since I last added a post, but I'm back. We're in the middle on our first CELTA course here so pretty tihgt in terms of time I can dedicate to my blog. All the same, I'm here to stay :-).

Today's post is about Flashcard Machine which is great! I've started using it and students are repsonding well to it. I'm using it both on the IWBs and off site on my iPad :-)

Hope you find it useful :-)

Robert