Zeynep BAŞER
BASICS OF VIDEO, AUDIO AND WEB BASED CONFERENCING
Alado
This site was used for Global Learn Day 5 and 6 during october 2001 and 2002 by a large percent of people all over the world. It supports to the educational needs of some areas by providing training and professional development programs. It also supports computer and electronics recycling in Illinois and Wisconsin, which is a project of the Digital Workforce Education Society. Apart from these, Alado.net allows voice and text chat, and you can also follow some recordings.As for registering, you log in by using the site www.alado.net/webheads . Moreover, you must download a plug-in ‘tcConference.
Learning Times
It provides learning communities, conferences and programs. You can also take advantage of using three-dimensonal environment on the net for the conferences. You can design your own conferences, build online community. Apart from these, you can choose voice tools provided by Learning Times for online communities.To be a member of this site is free.
Wiziq
One can teach and learn by using wiziq. It is also free and easy to register in wiziq. There are virtual classrooms that one can reach lots of things, such as PowerPoint presentation, audio and video sharing, live chat and even full control like in a real classroom. One can find all sessions recorded and reach them easily.Moreover, wiziq gives importance to safety.They contol all the activities.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Computer-Mediated Communicaiton
Zeynep BAŞER
Computer-Mediated Communication: A Comparative Review of Six Programs.
Today’s language learners are luckier. Because of the development of computer based technology and the internet, some changes also in language learning have occurred. They can reach several native speakers of the target language by using computer-mediated communication programs. It is especially useful for the people who do not have an English spoken environment outside the classroom. It will help them to process output. Several projects have been organized so that native speakers and second language learners come together. A project including synchronous audio and video is one of them. They can find three different environments by using synchronous audio and video communication. They are instant messaging, conferences and chat rooms. Moreover, the users can find text chat facility, audio conversation capability and even video communication in some programs. The programs that are suitable for those explanations are AOL instant messenger, Yahoo Messenger, MSN messenger and Windows Messenger, Paltalk and iVisit. AOL instant messenger was the first instant messaging program. Although it is so old, it has lots of capabilities such as text chat, chat communities, variable sound quality. Yahoo Messenger can be used for conference as opposing to the some programs. As for MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger, one can see Windows Messenger as an advanced version of MSN because of its additional features. Windows Messenger also have different and useful features for its users, such as remote assistance, application sharing and whiteboard. Paltalk has both free and paid subscriber modes. It also provides help rooms for the users so that they can find solutions their problems related to Paltalk. Lastly, iVisit has user-created rooms; it does not rely on a central server.
Another issue is related to the forums or discussion part. Because people who write on the discussion forums or online groups can be from all over the world, the users should have cultural awareness. The perspectives of the people related to “what is acceptable and what is not” can change according their cultural backgrounds, ideas. Teachers, for example, can help the students about this issue. In order to prevent people to be offended, ‘moderation’ which can destroy unpleasant things is also something required.
Computer-Mediated Communication: A Comparative Review of Six Programs.
Today’s language learners are luckier. Because of the development of computer based technology and the internet, some changes also in language learning have occurred. They can reach several native speakers of the target language by using computer-mediated communication programs. It is especially useful for the people who do not have an English spoken environment outside the classroom. It will help them to process output. Several projects have been organized so that native speakers and second language learners come together. A project including synchronous audio and video is one of them. They can find three different environments by using synchronous audio and video communication. They are instant messaging, conferences and chat rooms. Moreover, the users can find text chat facility, audio conversation capability and even video communication in some programs. The programs that are suitable for those explanations are AOL instant messenger, Yahoo Messenger, MSN messenger and Windows Messenger, Paltalk and iVisit. AOL instant messenger was the first instant messaging program. Although it is so old, it has lots of capabilities such as text chat, chat communities, variable sound quality. Yahoo Messenger can be used for conference as opposing to the some programs. As for MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger, one can see Windows Messenger as an advanced version of MSN because of its additional features. Windows Messenger also have different and useful features for its users, such as remote assistance, application sharing and whiteboard. Paltalk has both free and paid subscriber modes. It also provides help rooms for the users so that they can find solutions their problems related to Paltalk. Lastly, iVisit has user-created rooms; it does not rely on a central server.
Another issue is related to the forums or discussion part. Because people who write on the discussion forums or online groups can be from all over the world, the users should have cultural awareness. The perspectives of the people related to “what is acceptable and what is not” can change according their cultural backgrounds, ideas. Teachers, for example, can help the students about this issue. In order to prevent people to be offended, ‘moderation’ which can destroy unpleasant things is also something required.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Two Summaries: History of CALL and Online Communities of Practice
Zeynep BAŞER
History of CALL
CALL began in 1960 with mainstream drills and practice materials, but it was ignored until the spread of microcomputer into education in the early 1980s. Thanks to the HyperCard, Apple Macintosh had an important place in late 1980s and early 1990s. Although HyperCard and The Mac were easy to work with, they did not support colour and were more expensive. The commercial programs like Windows were prepared for PCs. During this period, teachers used the computer especially for the interaction of the learners efficiently. With the help of increase in language learning based on computer and web, CALL started to have a significant place in language learning area.
Online Communities of Practice
What are communities of practice?
They are the group of people who come together to share their knowledge and interests. However, all the group of people who come together are not a community of practice. It includes these three characteristics:
1. Domain (a common, shared point)
2. The community (interaction between the members, learning together)
3. The practice (shared practice)
What do communities of practice look like?
Communities of practice which are also known with several names are in everywhere learning happens together. They have a variety of forms such as small or big, face to face or online. They use lots of activities.
Where does the concept come from?
The term communities of practice refer to a complex set of relationship between journeymen and apprentices.
Where is the concept being applied?
This concept has found lots of application area such as, organizations, government, education, associations, social sector, international development and the web.
History of CALL
CALL began in 1960 with mainstream drills and practice materials, but it was ignored until the spread of microcomputer into education in the early 1980s. Thanks to the HyperCard, Apple Macintosh had an important place in late 1980s and early 1990s. Although HyperCard and The Mac were easy to work with, they did not support colour and were more expensive. The commercial programs like Windows were prepared for PCs. During this period, teachers used the computer especially for the interaction of the learners efficiently. With the help of increase in language learning based on computer and web, CALL started to have a significant place in language learning area.
Online Communities of Practice
What are communities of practice?
They are the group of people who come together to share their knowledge and interests. However, all the group of people who come together are not a community of practice. It includes these three characteristics:
1. Domain (a common, shared point)
2. The community (interaction between the members, learning together)
3. The practice (shared practice)
What do communities of practice look like?
Communities of practice which are also known with several names are in everywhere learning happens together. They have a variety of forms such as small or big, face to face or online. They use lots of activities.
Where does the concept come from?
The term communities of practice refer to a complex set of relationship between journeymen and apprentices.
Where is the concept being applied?
This concept has found lots of application area such as, organizations, government, education, associations, social sector, international development and the web.
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