New post on Elearningworld. November 28th, 2020

Moodle and other LMS are not those mechanical teachers you may have read about in stories such as “The Fun They Had” (a science fiction story by American writer Isaac Asimov). And yet, because of the times we live in, I am reminded of such mechanical teachers and that short story..." Read more https://www.elearningworld.org/the-fun-they-had-and-moodle/

Moodle Moot Spain 2020

 

Teens Take Charge - Brave New Films

 https://h5p.org/node/957308

Pupils in Israel want to go back to school. With my EFL pupils, via Zoom and Moodle,  I will be taking up this topic and more related to teens taking action this week

Moodle at Kugel - Moodle Moot Spain November 2020

Moodle en Kugel 2020 Moodle Moot Spain

My first participation in a Moodle Moot ever!

 

PPBL Workshop Invitation to participate actively 11.11.2020

The new PPBL workshop I am facilitated is on. I have shared this video with the 75  participants.

ElearningWorld: Moodle in times of uncertainty

 

While lockdown is slowly being lifted in Israel, the vast majority of teenagers have not physically gone back to school to have lessons in classrooms and meet teachers and classmates. Schools closed on September 17th. We have gone back to teaching and learning fully online. Times are uncertain, so using Zoom and Moodle, I try to bring some certainty when it comes to dealing with that which, for example, really unsettles many of my pupils: Assessment (“Exams”, “Tests”, “Grades” – that is what bothers them much).  Learn more

Women and employment: Inequality - Learning Activity

Women have always been hard hit in terms of employment (unemployment/lack of proper employment/ lack of opportunities/ etc.), but the situation has worsened during the current Cooronavirus times. Having learned of the new unemployment figures in Israel, and once again, having learned of women murdered almost on a weekly basis, I think it is important to bring the matter of gender (in)equality to the front over and over again. Incidentally, "She codes" and similar ventures do a lot to change the situation. To create this Activity I have used Moodle Choice (it's a poll), Moodle Lesson (as practice because I did not want to have grades registered for this Moodle Resource), and Moodle Assignment (it is for grading). I could have added more, but the less, the better).

Moodle in High School during the Coronavirus crisis

 

As the Coronavirus crisis deepens with the country dealing with a renewed coronavirus outbreak, Israel has gone into lockdown again.

On September 1st, 2020 schools opened to start ... Read more

MEC Certificate

 

Using Moodle with my High School pupils during this second Lockdown

 I wish to share how I am using Moodle to help my High School pupils learn English  during this new lockdown so that colleagues are encouraged to give Moodle a try. I also wish to thank Dr. Tziona Levi, Director, English Language Education, Ministry of Education, Israel for her support (for reasons beyond the English Department, in the meantime, there is no Ministry of Education "How to use Moodle ... " workshop, but who knows about the future?).

As an alternative, you might want to check "Learn Moodle" as they should have a free MOOC soon. Note, however, that there is no official "gmul", but you get to learn a lot.

Eduardo Lina - MEC Completed

I share one of the reasons why I often talk much about Moodle (a learning environment that I will use even more than I do now at school if we are in quarantine soon and I have to teach from home). Until June I thought I "knew" quite a bit about this learning environment, but then I took a course with HRDNZ - MOODLE PARTNER from New Zealand, and then during  August and early September I studied and completed the 6 courses that make up Moodle Educator Certification and discovered "how much" there is in Moodle pedagogically ... and there is more I will find out now that it's over .. .

Moodle Certificate Educator Badges earned

I have just completed the six MEC courses. These are the badges I have earned thrugh really hard work (no kidding!)

 

Example of a fully online course

I created this curse to illustrate how Moodle (in this case, Moodle Mashov) can serve to deliver a fully online course (supported with a Virtual Classroom meeting tool such as Big Blue Button, Zoom and the like

Teaching and Learning in the Information Age

I completed this excellent course during the lockdown and beyond.

This is the syllabus (link)

MEC (Moodle Educator Certification) Teaching and Learning - I am on!

I will start this course in a few days. It's simply great!

Moodle as a Hook revisited - ElearningWorld

There is no doubt whatsoever: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”. Ask anybody during these Coronavirus Times. Ask teachers who will have to teach online for the foreseeable future, too. At least, there is Moodle… 

https://www.elearningworld.org/moodle-as-a-hook-revisited/

I have just completed the MoodleBites for Teachers excellent course!

"MoodleBites for Teachers is the solid foundation course for any teacher using Moodle - even if you have been using Moodle a few years - you will learn a lot as it covers all main features in-depth through facilitated resources and activities"
Read more...
I have just completed the course. It has been worth the time, effort, and money I spent. I can recommend it highly.

What we can do with Moodle

Using Moodle Assignment to practice for the New Oral Bagrut Exam - COBE

Accessibility matters! The link is to the video on Screencastomatic. It provides the possibility of letting people read the transcription BOTH as captions on the video ("subtitles") and as a transcript next to the video.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cY1vo85FMe

Web Accessibility. We may be teaching a lot from home next school year (I hope there is no need for that, but it doesn't look that way). The Youtube option for the video I uploaded on its Screencastomatic version is also good as regards Accessibility PROVIDED THAT speech is clear. There are words that the app finds it impossible to convert from Speech to Text (for example, when I do not speak clearly, or when I use words that are not English, such as Mashov) I have been made aware that if I want hard of hearing pupils to get all the content. I know I have chosen a poor video example to show that, but then I guess since the video has to do with Bagrut, teachers may decide to watch it https://youtu.be/IgU1r1EEOmU

Web Accessibility, Summer Assignment and more

During these Corona Virus Times, we, teachers, have been made fully aware of the fact that the most important thing about using Technology to teach is making it work well for ALL our pupils. Hopefully, this awareness was there before.

The word “ALL” appears in Bold and CAPITAL LETTERS because I would like to stress one fact that is very important: It is of utmost importance to make Technology work well for people with disabilities.

Link to the post:
https://www.elearningworld.org/web-accessibility-summer-assignment-and-more/

Using Dictionary.com to build vocabulary

Hi! I have just added this video https://youtu.be/eBu5a4dZNUs to the first SMORE page "Build up your Vocabulary" series https://www.smore.com/9mpn1

If and when I get worksheets (preferably Interactive) from colleagues here, I will add them. If colleagues collaborate, they have been asked to add their name and the name of their school and logo so I can add them. The idea is to get pupils to work on improving their Vocabulary.

10th grade Summer Assignment

I have just shared this on the English Teachers Community FB Group: "Shavua Tov! Have you used "Take a Stand" with your pupils this school -year? If yes, then maybe you find this useful. Below is the link to a Smore Newsletter which I will share with my 10th Grade 5 points English pupils tomorrow. My aim is to get them to review and relearn vocabulary. I guess I should add some interactive tests so that they check their progress, but in the meantime, this is what I have come up with. I hope my pupils take responsibility for their learning. Feel free to use it and, if you are willing to, share worksheets based on this vocabulary, so that they can be added (do add your name, school name, and any other information you wish to add)"

Summer Assignment for my 10th grade pupils - Build your vocabulary this summer!

Link to Google Slides Presentation (includes the links to the Smore newsletters)

A message to colleagues of mine I have just posted

Hi! Sooner or later, we might find out that we need to go back to some Distance Learning. It is important then that we become aware of the importance of Web Accessibility, which does not mean just Text-to-Speech. Accessibility is about people: people who are blind or have problems seeing pages (color blind, can't see some backgrounds need alternative text on images and the like) on the Internet; people who are deaf or have hearing problems; people who are blind and deaf; people who have cognitive problems, problems decoding (Dyslexia) and more... And then we have "normal people" (whatever that is), that need support just like they do in the classroom. Zoom alone is not an option for them. It is definitely one option to be used with something else: A Learning Management System. The Ministry of Education gives teachers one very good LMS for free (as many platforms as you need). It's Moodle.  It "takes care " of Accessibility issues (it's a must). And the one for us, teachers of English, provides a screen reader, which the Hebrew one does not (and that is BAD). Moodle Mashov will take care of Accessibility on Moodle, too So even though I speak of Moodle, I am talking about people. We have the summer to get ready for the possibility that we might need to use an LMS for more than Blended Learning. Give yourself some time and learn Moodle. You will help people (Incidentally, I am not the owner of Moodle and/or have shares in Moodle... My pupils seem to think that that is so.) Best wishes.

Official Moodle Educator Certificate

As of June 1st 2020, I will be taking part in HRDNZ's Official Moodle Educator Certificate. Ever since I heard of the program I have wanted to enroll. Well, the time has come and I am quite happy about it. I have been looking forward to learning more about Moodle. 

Ten years ago I went back to university just because I wanted to learn a bit more about Information Studies, the use of Technology in Education, and the like. It was a worthwhile three-year experience. I enjoyed studying at Bar Ilan University, eventually earning my second Masters.

Even though the Official Moodle Educator Certificate program is much shorter and something different, I am sure it will have as much impact on the way I teach as taking that Masters has had. 

And, of course, there is this other thing: I like to study.

Revisiting the ElearningWorld podcast - August 2017

Not much has changed in the way I see things concerning Moodle since Stuart talked with me almost three years ago.

What has changed is that I have managed to fulfill some dreams: 

• I have been able to help more teachers in Israel to use Moodle
• I have been collaborating with The Ministry of Education people who are making Moodle Platforms available for free to teachers in the Israeli State School System.
• I have been collaborating with Mashov to help teachers use Moodle Mashov.
• I have given a couple of talks at ETAI Conferences.
• I have given webinars about using Moodle in the English Classroom.
• I have taken part (also as a presenter) in Dr. Nelly Deutsch's Online Conferences.
• LMSPulse has published two articles (posts) of mine
• I have been a writer with  ElearningWorld for a year now.

ElearningWorld · August 2017 Eduardo Lina, Moodle enthusiast from Israel

Time for Reflection in Coronavirus Times

While the Coronavirus lock-down has disrupted this school year, it has given us a chance to teach and learn English in ways that are different from those of “normal” school times.

No, I do not mean that it has given my teenage pupils more time to spend watching films in English without translation. And, no again, I do not mean thaא   ..READ MORE https://www.elearningworld.org/time-for-reflection-in-coronavirus-times/

LMS Pulse - Accessibility in The Israel Ministry of Education Moodle Platform

"In schools where students with special needs are integrated into the regular education classes, the sudden switch to fully online teaching and learning may have proved to be an extra heavy load for pupils with a learning disability, their parents, and their teachers.


I have been teaching English at The Six-Year Kugel High School in Holon, Israel since 1989. I remember that back in 1997,  I had a very smart and outspoken pupil who had difficulty reading and writing in English..." READ MORE

CoronaVirus Times: Nearly two months of Online teaching

Creative, Accessible Hybrid Learning To Own The New Normal

"Creative, Accessible Hybrid Learning To Own The New Normal" https://www.lmspulse.com/2020/creative-accessible-hybrid-learning-to-own-the-new-normal/

Wow! When I see my article on LMSPulse's page, I can hardly believe I had a share in this. I have to thank LMSPulse a lot.

About LMSPulse: " LMSPulse.com is an independently owned and operated resource for all things about learning management systems. Since 2009, we've been on the cutting edge of development, resources, and community events."

Smore: Moodle for Teachers of English

Visual guide to H5P and Moodle question types

As Moodle integrates H5P into it’s core distribution many teachers will wonder whether to use Moodle quizzes, or H5P quizzes.

There are challenges around this – including the very different interfaces between the two.

There is also overlap and negative interference possible here. Read more https://www.elearningworld.org/visual-guide-to-h5p-and-moodle-question-types/

Digital Accessibility on Ministry of Education Moodle Platfo

Moodle for school in Coronavirus times (and beyond)

We are being driven crazy with “Zoom-related” teaching. Amidst these hectic Coronavirus Times, much of what I hear is “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom..” There must be a bee around somewhere. I have in mind Junior High School ... READ MORE

April 26-May 1st 2020 English in Coronavirus times at Kugel

Hi! I share the video which I have sent to my pupils once the Virtual Classroom Meeting was over (I have used Mashov's Virtual Classroom, BBB, and not Zoom). I used the meeting to present the subject. The learning and practicing are then transferred to pupils, who are expected to take responsibility for their learning (I will help out, of course, but this is about THEM , not ME). By creating this video and sharing it with them, I make sure nobody can say "I didn't know"," You didn't tell me what to do" and all that stuff. Any colleague who would like to use, or even REUSE the activity (which means CHANGE IT) can do so accessing the H5P page (see video). Best wishes!

Israel Independence Day Posters 1959 Learning Activity

ElearningWorld writers are so different…

https://www.elearningworld.org/elearningworld-writers-are-so-different/

ElearningWorld writers are so different…
 21st April 2020  ElearningWorld Admin  0 Comments ElearningWorld, Writers
ElearningWorld writers represent hugely diverse sectors of the e-learning spectrum.


One of the reasons we have such a wide range of articles on ElearningWorld is that our staff writers have such rich and diverse backgrounds…

All are ‘teachers’ in the broadest sense of the world – although some have more experience in schools (John, Gareth, Richard, Eduardo), others in the University sector (Scott, Stuart, Tabitha), and others in the commercial sector (Ruth, Ben, Tish, Anna, Catherine).
Dome of our writers operate in a freelance / contract / project type environment – Gareth, Richard, Stuart, and others employed full-time by organisations as varied as Healthcare, Consultants, tech companies, and TAFE.
Cultures and languages are also varied – from Europe (Ruth, Anna, Stuart), Asia-Pacific (Tish, Scott, Tabitha), and America / Canada (Ben, Eduardo, John).
Technical and non-technical focus – Ben, Gareth, Richard, Stuart, Catherine are all tech geeks (in the nicest sense of the word!) whilst others put ‘teaching and learning’ at the top of their list (Anna, Tabitha, John, Eduardo).
Ultimately it’s the combination of all the above factors that result in ElearningWorld having such variety, with ‘EdTech’ (Educational Technology) being the single factor that unites everyone.

11th grade 1/7 - 5 points English April 19th 2020

This is a follow-up ro another Virtual Classroom Live Meeting

10th grade 5 points April 19th 2020 Moodle

This is a follow-up to a Live Virtual Classroom meeting I taught today.

10th grade 5 points April 19th 2020 Moodle

This is a follow-up to a Live Virtual Classroom meeting I taught today.

מוודל משוב בעברית - ספר דיגיטלי

כוון שמשו"ב נותנים גישה לסביבת למידה מוודל, הכלתתי להכים ספר דיגיטלי שיכול לסייע לשלב את הסביבה בהוראה ולמידה בעברית. משו"ב עושים עבודה 

מעולה בתמיכה לצוות הההוראה בבתי ספר

Moodle Mashov for Home and Blended learning

Since Moodle is available to teachers who teach in schools that work with Mashov, and since Mashov does a great job at helping teachers use Moodle, I have got this Digital Book ready to provide further help.

Moodle for Home learning and for Blended Learning

Perhaps you are asking yourself "What could I do now to help my pupils learn remotely?" and "If and when we get back to school, how can I complement my teaching in the classroom?" I hope this digital book helps you see the added value of using Moodle as the answer to both questions. See for yourself if Moodle caters to your needs as a teacher. Give Moodle a try. happy Moodling!

How to get ready for the Module E exam on Moodle

Hi! Using ONE single platform (Moodle, of course), teaching from afar during Coronavirus times (and beyond), it is easy to help pupils get ready for the Module E Bagrut exam (or any other). I have used two Moodle Resources (Label and URL) and a Moodle activity (Quiz) to get this done. Pupils can access the content 24/7 once I make the decision to unhide it. Give Moodle a try! Get Moodle Platforms from the Ministry of Education or use the one you have access t at school.

Moodle for Home Learning

This is one example of ow I used Moodle to help 19th grade English as Foreign Language pupils learn, practice and be tested during Corona Virus Times (March 30, 2020)

Moodle for Home Learning - new post on Elearningworld.com

Ah... Yes: Coronavirus. I have had to think differently about how I keep my teenage pupils learning so as to make the shift to English as a Foreign Language Online Teaching and Learning as smooth as possible. I am lucky: Here in Israel, there is much mutual support among colleagues. At the Six-Year Kugel High […]

Read more of this post

New Free Learn Moodle Workshop March 2020

Hi! Learn Moodle is out to empower educators once again!. Having been forced by circumstances, we have had to turn to Distance Online Teaching and Learning right away. As a result, we have all gotten to look for, and make ourselves and pupils (and perhaps their parents, too) use Digital Tools that cater to Distance Online Teaching. This can lead to crazy situations, having to sign up to countless tools that may, or may not, work. And yet, why do you have to do so if you can get all that is needed in one single learning environment? Here is an opportunity to learn (free of charge) to use something that is much more than a Digital Tool: Moodle. If you as a teacher have access to a Moodle Platform in your school, you will see the benefit of using this platform (no "office work", that is no enrolling pupils into your course is involved). Have a look at this yourselves and do not get other people to scare you that "Moodle is difficult" and that crap. Be well and healthy!

This is for teachers who might consider using Moodle (Mashov)

Teachers are driven crazy under pressure to deliver content to their pupils. Here is a way to deliver content so that pupils reach it whenever you (and they) see fit (teachers are in control and can allocate time as they see fit. AND ALL IN ONE PLACE and not on 100 different apps and sites.
I have uploaded videos introducing how to access Moodle Mashov (as teachers/as pupils), what you find when you access Moodle Mashov, how to use Moodle Mashov to teach ("deliver knowledge"), how to use Moodle Mashov to help pupils practice, how to use Moodle Mashov to assess/test, and examples of my use of Moodle Mashov. I hope you have learned that while Moodle may look difficult, once you learn to do two or three things with it you can get an idea of how to do a lot of stuff. Just like me, you will make mistakes. Do not be afraid of making mistakes at all.
Give Moodle a try. Don’t let people scare you concerning Moodle..
Enjoy the experience!
Eduardo

Moodle mMshov Playlist (15 videos)

Understanding Moodle Resources on Moodle Mashov

Good morning! If you joined the Moodle Mashov Whattsaap group support group and are still a member, thank you! While delivering online (live) lessons using a Virtual Classroom Environment such as Zoom and the like is very good, there may be lots of problems that may prevent teachers and pupils from fully benefitting from them. We can deliver "knowledge" using a Learning Management System (such as Moodle) efficiently and without forcing ourselves (teachers) and our pupils to ATTEND A LESSON AT THE SAME TIME (live). The following video will show you how using Moodle Resources can help us do so.

Ted-Ed Lessons with Moodle

Using Ted-Ed lessons with Moodle, we, teachers, can help teenage pupils dream big, reduce prejudice (pre-judgment), learn that looks aren’t everything, have the self-confidence to lead the way, and more. (...) Stuart: "I like the idea of previewing content in class.
It gives learners a better understanding of the “Why should I be doing this?” or “What should I be watching this?”
Too often teachers just ‘give a link’ and expect learners to make the connections.
Some will, but some may not, and therefore miss out on the intended value"
https://www.elearningworld.org/ted-ed-lessons-with-moodle/

certificate CO20

Moodle: Facilitating Learning Experiences for High School Pupils

Connecting Online Conference 2020

February 21-23, 2020, 
Connecting Online (CO) is a free online conference that has been taking place since 2009.  CO20 is the 11th anniversary of the annual event. The theme of CO20 is connecting online for instruction and learning. You're invited to attend CO20 and receive a certificate of Participation and a badge for each of the webinars.

 About the presenters

Enroll here (LINK)    

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Moodle and Ted Ed Lessons

Ted-Ed Lessons with (and on) Moodle can turn out to be a very useful combination.

Learn Moodle 3.8 completed

Teaching short stories with Moodle - New Post on Elearningworld.com

And sometimes it happens that for a number of reasons you have to introduce some learning material to your teenage pupils before class, and you expect them to actually do some learning on their own. Moodle can help you here.

Read more: https://www.elearningworld.org/teaching-short-stories-with-moodle/

ElearningWorld international writers

 21st January 2020  Stuart Mealor  0 Comments E-learning

Want to know why ElearningWorld is becoming the ‘go to’ place for e-learning now?

The answer is pretty simple. It’s the quality and diversity of our headline writers and contributors.

You can disregard the post image of a typewriter(!), I don’t think any of our contributors use those now, lol. But it is a nice retro image 🙂

So we thought it would be nice to summarise the locations of our main current writers…

• Catherine Duncan – Australia
• Gareth Barnard – England
• Tish Kirkland – New Zealand
• John Allen – United Arab Emirates (Canadian)
• Ben Kahn – USA
• Richard Jones – New Zealand (English)
• Ruth Horak – Denmark
• Anna Krassa – Greece
• Scott Huntley – Australia (Canadian)
• Eduardo Lina – Israel (Israeli / Argentinian)
• Stuart Mealor – New Zealand (English)

That’s a very international line-up !

But I do notice that Africa and Eastern Europe are not represented, so it would be awesome if we can find some writers from those regions … maybe it’s you!? If so, please get in touch with me 🙂

Link

Teaching short stories with Moodle

“Inspiring better teaching everywhere”

Teachers may find it difficult to use Moodle because…

It is my guess that many Junior High School and High School teachers find it difficult to use Moodle because they have not had the opportunity to learn the basics of using Moodle as teachers. If this is your case, then you can do so this January, and for free!

Because “Empowering educators to improve our world” is a major goal of Moodle, Read more on the post, and note Stuart's comment: "t always amazes me … how often a big budget is spent on technology (servers, LMS, backups, marketing, etc.) and how LITTLE is often spent on teachers, and training them effectively how to use the technology well! And it’s the teachers that make the gibbets difference!
I’ve seen great technology used badly, because of no training.
I’ve seen relatively poor technology use really well, if staff are skilled.
My take away from this … match your spend on technology to your spend on staff development … then you will REALLY see what is possible!"

https://www.elearningworld.org/inspiring-better-teaching-everywhere/