Languages, Learning & Technology

"One of the many potentials of the shifts in envisioning writing in multimodal spaces is the chance for new conversations -- for stretching out thinking beyond your own physical space and joining in discussions about the changes now underfoot. During November 2012's Digital Writing Month, educators and writers and others from across many teaching levels and learning domains -- from public schools to college universities and beyond -- were engaged in a deep exploration of digital tools and ideas, and many participants shared reflective practice on what those digital choices were doing to their conceptions of writing."

Nice to see a few friends getting a mention in this article.

Avatar your way into another realm... 

Interesting for teachers working at an international school and living overseas.

I never jumped onto the 'Gamification' bandwagon. It's always seemed to me like trying to fool someone into thinking that a not very interesting or useful activity is actually worth doing - because you get a badge when you finish! Now I can obviously see its value when used with young children (they may be difficult to motivate at times) but I don't see why it should be used with teenagers and adults. This fantastic transcript from a an Ignite presentation puts all my of own thoughts on gamification into well chosen words and images. Phillip makes the point many people seem to be missing: use game mechanics - and not just the rewards to foster learning. I'll add that better yet, why not try to use an actual video game (possibly not easy, but give it a shot)?

In a nutshell, if a task isn't intrinsically motivating enough that it needs a dangling carrot to encourage engagement, maybe it isn't a task worth doing?

Lots to read, loads to try out and a legion of edugamers play on.

A very convincing call for improving reading skills through a genre of gaming.

Genial pour la formation!!

Very visual and great on both an IWB or more autonomous individual playing.

Sounds promising except I hope these 'Academic Language Experts' had some gaming experience.

I simply do not know if this works.  I will let my daughter play it on the weekend, however, and see what she thinks.

A rapid-fire summary of second language acquisition from the master!

Lively, passionate, (bordering on) seductive teachers and facilitators, leads to exciting and meaningful interaction online and off. When MOOCs are conceived and designed this way, they will become the places for highly-engaged social learning that we want them to be.

collaborating, sharing and evolving with MOOCs 

Interesting move - I would watch this one closely.  MOOCs seem better than large lecturs and in Coursera are much better designed.  Not sure I would want to be taught by a teachers whose only credentials were from Coursera, but I can see other higher education areas being better served by MOOCs.

Add your vote!

Do you have what it takes? Can you get it?

This is an interesting take on how educators progress to acceptance of digital game-based learning as a viable learning tool through the lens of the 'five stages of grief' of the Kubler-Ross model.

Teachers can feel uncomfortable about using computer games in the classroom.  Dean Groom's comments at each stage will certainly ring true for many. 

The iPad can be a brilliant motivational tool for children in the classroom. The ease-of-use, coupled with the speed that you can get results means that it can be the perfect tool for integrating into your literacy planning. And, as many schools don’t have 1:1 tablet computers it can also mean that the collaborative and group aspect of the technology can be harnessed.

I’ve been working with teachers who are developing the writing process in an attempt to motivate their boy writers. We have been looking at the writing process and working out where the enthusiasm lags, or where skills need developing. This part of the process is important, reflecting on why the children are stalling, or on what the challenges might be really helps the planning process.

Finally we looked at what apps the schools have, what apps the teachers are confident with and, most importantly, what apps would support the different ‘stumbling blocks’ the children face.

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You reach the end of an exciting sentence and feel curious to learn more.

> MOVE EYEBALLS DOWN

Nice selection of IF to wet your whistles.