7 WEEKS FOR OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE 

Hello everyone,

 I would like to give you information about my open and distance learning journey and share what I learned to benefit you. As a teacher, you may also need these kinds of methods or even maybe you can adapt these activities to your lessons. 

WEEK 1 :

First of all, in the first week, we created a few what we can /can't do statements based on various online resources provided by our teacher. We started out with these statements by thinking about what obstacles teachers might encounter in the face of an online resource, what they can do and what they can't do. We wrote it by thinking about the things that would be difficult for us as a group. This week, we realized how helpful and important online resources are for teachers. Also, we learned how online resources effects open and distance learning. The first week was important for us in terms of awareness of various sources for open and distance learning.

In addition, we organized and edited our own sites. We established this site in previous years thanks to the task given to us by our teacher, and today it has been very helpful in this lesson. I made my site what it is today by making a few minor changes to it. I made a few changes in terms of aesthetics, one of them was to change the theme. I also changed the background image, thinking that the old version would not be suitable. In general, I edited my site by making a few changes to it and it was very entertaining for me. 

WEEK 2 :

In the second week, our teacher taught us a lot about online Resources, open and distance learning. He suggested that we can join various forums, telegram groups, and Facebook groups to keep in touch with experienced teachers, where teachers can share various resources. We have evaluated the various information that our teacher has given us and also noted whether we will use it in our career. We learned a lot this week and I think I will use this knowledge throughout my teaching career. That's why I think that the second week is especially important in terms of acquiring various information.

This week, I also attended Webinars and various Facebook groups that I thought might be useful. First of all, the webinar was about how to use technology in education and the classroom and how we should use technology to focus the student on the lesson. I think I got a lot of tips for my teaching career thanks to this Webinar. On the other hand, thanks to Facebook groups, I can share resources with my experienced colleagues and also access various resources. In this way, I believe that as teachers, we will be in constant communication and this will be very beneficial for us.

Facebook groups:

Facebook groups links: 

 

 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/441382376866297/ 

 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/383773372330662/ 

 

WEEK 3 : In the third week, we learned things like how to select digital resources and various activities through the web. Our teacher asked us to group up and find various lesson materials with our group mates. He also said that we can get help from the resource sites that were previously presented to us. He stated that we need to justify our selection of materials and insert that info onto the table. As our teacher told us, we created course material as a group using the islcollective site. The material we chose was in the form of a board game. We have shaped the material we have chosen according to the levels and ages of our students. Then, we presented the material we chose so that other friends could benefit from it in the classroom and receive feedback from our teacher. In our presentation, we explained the levels of our students, how they can benefit from this game and how they can learn while having fun. Finally, we shared the material that we collected and created with our teacher on the drive.

WEEK 4 :

n the fourth week, we had to adapt the material we chose from last week with our group members according to our students. First of all, we determined which parts of the material we selected needed an adaptation, and then we changed the pictures in certain parts of the board game we chose according to the levels and age groups of our students. We have also identified how we can use this material in an Online course. We decided that we could do this activity by opening an online dice to adapt it into an online course. Afterwards, we presented this information to our teacher as homework.

WEEK 5 : 

In the fifth week, we were expected to create a digital activity or material using the LUMI site with the same group members. We found a video with our group members and thought about how we could create an activity by adapting this video to our lesson. While creating the activity, we also considered the ages and levels of the students. In the video it seems that someone is walking on the streets of Tokyo, we thought we could use this video for asking directions. We asked questions such as "How can I go to Starbucks?" or "Where is the cinema?" and waited for the students to answer based on the video. After creating our activity, we presented it to the class again. Then we shared the information about our activity with our teacher through the drive.

Link for video :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Tq57f34PVfaXUKvOG0kxVaTrVSihXGR/view?usp=share_link

WEEK 6 : In the sixth week, as I understand it, we were expected to develop the activity we created last week and present it to the class. However, I was not able to complete the homework given because I could not attend the class.

WEEK 7 : In the seventh week, we selected 2 volunteers from our group to act like a teacher and perform a 5-minute online teaching using the tools, techniques and strategies we learned from the previous week. Other students, except for the volunteers, had to behave like a student of any level during the lesson. I was one of the volunteer teachers in the online course that we recorded. The subject of our lesson was friendship. First, a question about the subject was asked to the students, and then a few vocabulary words that might be relevant to the subject were shown to the students. We also had two activities, one was an online wheel game and the other was a flash card. Both activities aimed to teach students the words related to our lesson topic. Finally, after recording our video, we uploaded it to YouTube and shared the link with our teacher. You can also access our lesson video from the link below.

Youtube link for our video: https://youtu.be/C2HWBY1YmHw

Podcast : SoundCloud

 

SoundCloud is the world’s largest open online audio platform,  that enables its users to upload, promote, share audio, and enabling listeners to stream audio. Users can easily record and upload sounds in SoundCloud and share them privately or publicly with all social networks. Also, users can follow other creators through SoundCloud to find favorite tracks and playlists and save them. To sum up, people can create, upload, save, and listen to audio, tracks, and playlists through SoundCloud. So I created a podcast in which I mentioned some difficulties and struggles that we face while learning a language.  You can reach it through this link. 

https://soundcloud.com/zehra-akdogan/difficulties-and-struggles-while-learning-a-language 

Videocast :Language Learning

 

A videocast is a video produced for the Internet and made so that viewers can stream or download the clip onto a personal mp3 player. Creators of videocasts can share the video as a file or a stream. A stream allows the viewer to watch the videocast directly on a website. A file allows a viewer to download the videocast directly to a handheld mp3 device. So, I tried to create Videocast through the online tool called Powtoon. In my videocast, I tried to briefly explain the impact of culture on second language learning. You can reach it at the link below. 

https://www.powtoon.com/s/begWoKzCmB6/1/m 

Padlet

 

Padlet is an online website that users can use as a board. It basically helps digitize, and manage the classroom, and categorize various lessons. One of the great things about Padlet is the fact that many people can post text, videos, or images to the same board at the same time. Not only teachers but also students can post documents, images, or texts on the canvas. Users can comment on each other's posts and  I think it can increase collaboration and interaction between students. Besides, it allows users to insert ideas anonymously. The website provides users short links or codes that can be easily shared. Through the link, students can easily access the board. Padlet does not ensure any specific content for teachers or learners about language learning. Through Padlet, language learners can develop writing skills or speaking skills. For instance, they can write a short story and share it on Padlet or record themselves telling an anecdote. Also, students can participate in various discussions that can help them to improve their language skills. On the other hand, teachers can create a dashboard for each lesson and share beneficial text, documents, or images that can help students to improve their language skills such as writing, and listening. 

As you can see above I tried to create wall on Padlet. You can reach it with this link.  

https://padlet.com/zehrakd/rxb2eqaoseqrn62m 

Augmented Reality : Aurasma

 

Augmented reality (AR) is an enhanced today's technology where designers bring the real physical world to the online world through the use of digital visual elements or sound via technology. Aurasma is an online education tool based on augmented reality. It basically helps users to bring images, objects, and also physical locations to life with interactive digital content like 3D, animations, or videos.  Generally, this platform provides opportunities to enhance listening skills and limit the failure of pronunciation by giving opportunities learners to practice listening activities at any time and anywhere. Besides, this online tool aims through augmented reality to create enjoyable and learner-centered learning opportunities that can motivate students and increase their self-confidence and interest in English. Especially, language learners who mostly learn through visual can expand their vocabulary by using this application. 

Virtual Reality : VirtualSpeech

 

VirtualSpeech is an online educational tool that makes it possible for learners to practice through realistic virtual simulations. It ensures users a wide variety of courses and training simulations that they can easily practice public speaking, job interviews, business networking, boardroom presentations, press conferences. Besides, you can enter multiple rooms such as conference room, meeting room, interview preparation, or training delivery to make your speech. Also, it provides evaluation and reporting which help you observe your skills and progress. Generally, while giving feedback considered eye contact, the pace of speech, hesitation words, volume, and other aspects. You can click press the 'Play' button to listen to your speech. You can also save your speech to listen to it later and discuss it in more detail. If you want you can get live feedback during your speech.

Virtual Speech is a beneficial application for language learners. It allows language learners to practice their speaking, expand their vocabulary, and evaluate their progress. Besides, because it is a virtual simulation, it would be easier for language learners to overcome the fear of public speaking. In conclusion, VirtualSpeech provides various opportunities for language learners such as improve oral communication skills and getting feedback. 

Second Life

 

Second Life is an online virtual world that allows users to create an avatar who can act like a real person. It ensures users interact with other avatars, places, and objects. Besides, users can meet other users and socialize, participate in both individual and group activities, shop, and also do various activities. Besides, users can meet other users and socialize, participate in both individual and group activities, shop, and also do various activities.  Second Life's main aim is to provide an environment for users that they can do whatever they want.  Moreover, Second Life can be used for educational purposes. Through Second Life language learners can improve oral communication skills, expand their vocabulary, and be able to practice with natives. In language learning one of the serious barriers is shyness. Users can get rid of their shyness because it is a virtual life and be more confident about their language skills. 

I created an avatar in Second Life. It was an amazing experience for me to interact with people who can able to speak English. I used my microphone to speak with other avatars and observe my progress. You can also use the chatbox if you do not prefer speaking. You can see my avatar above.  

Flipgrid

 

Flipgrid is a social learning website that provides teachers to create "grids" that simplify video discussions. A grid is basically a classroom or a community of learners that you created. Teachers can create a classroom or a community of learners. Middle or high school teachers can use “Period 1” or “Period 2” as grid titles. Through Flipgrid, educators can ask questions, then the students can respond in a video. Students' video responses can be 15 seconds to five minutes.  Also, students can respond to each other, creating a “web” of discussion. Grids can be easily shared with classes, small groups. Grids can include an unlimited number of topics and an unlimited number of responses. Moreover, Flipgrid facilitates teachers around the world to collaborate. This creates opportunities for language teachers to ensure students to practice and develop their speaking skills with a larger group than just their class. In conclusion, students can post videos to expand their vocabulary with students around the world studying the same language or interact with native speakers. 

I tried to create a class on Flipgrid you can reach it with this link.

https://flipgrid.com/akdogan8306 

Pixton

 

Pixton is a comic development site that ensures students to showcase what they know through comics. It basically allows users to express and show what they thought and learned through create comics on the web. You can easily make an account as a teacher, student, and parent. Pixton provides variety and multiple resources to teachers. Teachers can create assignments on their own or borrow from have already been created by other educators. There are some features that Pixton provides for users. For example, it basically allows both students and teachers to create their own comics. Users can add audio, text, speech bubbles to the character they create. Also, it provides an unlimited range of expressions. Besides, you can upload your own photos and customize them the way you want. To sum up, it is the best learner-centered online tool that provides students to create and share their own comic.  

You can see here the comic character that I created on Pixton. 

VoiceThread

 

VoiceThread is an application that provides opportunities to create and share presentations about images, diagrams, and videos. The main aim of VoiceThread is to talk over topics and present them to the audience. It is a useful application for both students and teacher who wants to transfer their knowledge to others. Users can record themselves and voice while presenting. Besides, they can react and comment on videos or audios that already upload by other educators or students, and then they can send this content to others as a response. There are lots of features of VoiceThread. For example, users can add images, videos, documents, or slides from their devices. Also, they can annotate slides while presenting. Sharing is as easy as sending an email or links. To sum up, VoiceThread is an application that allows users to present their opinions and knowledge on a variety of topics. 

Animation : Canva

 

Canva is a basically free online design platform that provides easily create invitations, business cards, flyers, lesson plans, posters, Instagram posts, infographics, book covers, menus, letterheads, newsletters, photo collages, tickets, bookmarks, presentations, and more. Users even can upload their own photos if they want. It ensures to users upload their own photos to Canva,  drop the photo into the template of their choice, and they can save it to the computer. You can customize professionally designed templates which Canvas is home to thousands of them, with just a few clicks. Canva's features make editing photos simple for beginners. You can add a textured background to the foundation of your design, make gorgeous colors with delicate, transparent textures, insert text to create your own meme, blur your photo, and more. To sum up, briefly, Canva is a guide to the graphic design platform that is great for making invitations, business cards, Instagram posts, and more.

As you can see above I prepared and designed a presentation through Canva. You can reach it with this link the following.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAESGmPNKhY/euzah7573dbLEunL43t_JA/view?utm_content=DAESGmPNKhY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink