Online Tools and Learning Alexandre Enkerli Department of Sociology and Anthropology Concordia University http://enkerli.wordpress.com/ http://www.slideshare.net/Enkerli

Why Am I Here? Nobody special (PTF at Soc. and Anthro.) “ Free, Open, Flexible: Rethinking Learning Materials Online ” (Spirit of Inquiry) Tech/Teach backgrounds Use of Online Tools

Nobody special (PTF at Soc. and Anthro.)

“ Free, Open, Flexible: Rethinking Learning Materials Online ” (Spirit of Inquiry)

Tech/Teach backgrounds

Use of Online Tools

Teaching Experience Informal and formal teaching Face-to-Face+Online Anthropology TA at UdeM (1996) Folklore AI at IU (1998-2000) Anthropology at UdeM, UNB, IUSB, BSC, Tufts, ConU (2002-2007)

Informal and formal teaching

Face-to-Face+Online

Anthropology TA at UdeM (1996)

Folklore AI at IU (1998-2000)

Anthropology at UdeM, UNB, IUSB, BSC, Tufts, ConU (2002-2007)

Teaching Approach Constructivist influence Relativism, holism, particularism Bridges between life and teaching Laid back

Constructivist influence

Relativism, holism, particularism

Bridges between life and teaching

Laid back

Controversial Stance “ Content is cheap” Knowledge over Information Open Access “ Learning happens despite teaching” Enculturation Socialisation “ Learning by osmosis” Exposure to diversity

“ Content is cheap”

Knowledge over Information

Open Access

“ Learning happens despite teaching”

Enculturation

Socialisation

“ Learning by osmosis”

Exposure to diversity

Technology Approach Tech enthusiasm Play around with tools (low stakes) Think about possibilities (“sales pitch”) Tech and human life Anti-deterministic Tools meant to be used

Tech enthusiasm

Play around with tools (low stakes)

Think about possibilities (“sales pitch”)

Tech and human life

Anti-deterministic

Tools meant to be used

Online Tools for Learning Learning Management Systems Virtual Learning Environments Course Management Systems WebCT Blackboard Oncourse Sakai Moodle

Learning Management Systems

Virtual Learning Environments

Course Management Systems

WebCT

Blackboard

Oncourse

Sakai

Moodle

Enjoying Moodle Platform (modules, applications) Open development Moodle community Constructivist model Approach to complexity /flexibility Teacher-student connection Resources and Activities

Platform (modules, applications)

Open development

Moodle community

Constructivist model

Approach to complexity /flexibility

Teacher-student connection

Resources and Activities

Moodle Tools Course outline “ Content” (slides, references, media) Assignments Grades Journals Forums Podcast

Course outline

“ Content” (slides, references, media)

Assignments

Grades

Journals

Forums

Podcast

Moodle Attempts RSS Feeds Wikis Glossaries Blogs

RSS Feeds

Wikis

Glossaries

Blogs

Moodle Issues Training/documentation Versions Some confusing tools Outside authentication (ConU) Toward social networking

Training/documentation

Versions

Some confusing tools

Outside authentication (ConU)

Toward social networking