Moodle MOOC 5: starting October 1

 Moodle MOOC 5 starts on October 1, 2014 on WizIQ. The theme of the current MOOC is collaborative learning, reflective practice, connecting online for instruction and learning. 

The MOOC focuses on connecting online for collaborative learning and teaching through Moodle, Second Life, Mahara, Google Drive Docs, and Google Apps, Mobile Devices, Virtual Classes, and other online learning environments for face-to-face, blended, and fully online learning. The live presentations include the speakers’ reflective process on teaching and learning in fully online and blended learning formats. 

Moodle MOOC 5 also includes Moodle for Teachers (M4T) courses for beginners and advanced Moodlers. The courses is asynchronous (Moodle) and synchronous (WizIQ) with recordings of live classes on WizIQ, YouTube, and Vimeo, just in case you cannot attend on the spot. 

There are two learning areas: WizIQ course area and Moodle for Teachers (M4T) Moodle website. The live online sessions and recordings, tutorials (courseware) and ongoing discussions (coursefeed) are available in the WizIQ course area. 

Unlike the traditional MOOCs that stress content and course delivery, Moodle MOOC focuses on active learning, reflection, sharing, and collaboration. The aim of the course is for the participants to learn through meaningful connections and social interactions. Participants who wish to receive a certificate of participation will be required to document their learning experiences by keeping a blog, wiki, website, or any other artifact that will include a description and reflection of the live sessions and/or recordings. 

Moodle for Teachers Learning Experience (M4TLE) is an asynchronous component of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on WizIQ for teachers and anyone interested in teaching online using Moodle, WizIQ, and other web technologies. 

The MOOC takes place from 1 to 31 October 2014. It is in the spirit of open education and completely free. 

Participants become acquainted with Moodle as a course and learning management system. They learn how Moodle can be used in fully online, blended learning, and the flipped class. 

The MOOC only includes asynchronous (not dependent on time) elements on a Moodle site called Moodle for Teachers. The rest takes place at WizIQ.

The MOOC is self-paced with ongoing discussions and facilitator and technical support are available.  It is coordinated by Dr. Nellie Deutsch and Tom Hodgers.

Enroll now and join an engaging MOOC. Do not miss it!

Free IATEFL YLT SIG Webinars 2014-15

Join these free bi-monthly webinars that will offer professional development for teachers of Very Young Learners, Young Learners, Teen Learners, and Special Learners of English as a Foreign Language.

The series of live sessions is brought to you by The International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL).

IATEFL Young Learners (Children and Teenagers) Special Interest Group (YLSIG) consists of about 400 English Language Teaching professionals around the world who work with learners aged from 3 to 17.

The Young Learners (Children and Teenagers) SIG aims to support its members by providing information on recent developments in English Language education for children and teenagers and by organising networking opportunities for its members.

The YLSIG is led by a committee of volunteers who arrange discussions, organise conferences, produce publications and maintain the network web site.

1. Coordinator: Dennis Newson and Kalyan Chattopadhyay

2. Joint Network coordinator Teens (T): Helen Davies and ffinlo Kilner

3. Network coordinator Young Learners (YL): Lou McLaughlin

4. Network coordinator Very Young Learners (VYL): Charles Goodger

5. Network coordinator Special Educational Needs (SEN): Susan Hillyard

6. C&TS Newsletter Editor: David Valente

7. Online events and website coordinator: Nellie Deutsch

8. Advertising & Sponsorship: Kalyan Chattopadhyay

9. Online Events support: Graham Stanley

10. Online Events support: Christina Giannikas

11. Events support and SEN network support: Gemma Fanning

Have a look at the scheduled activities for this 2014/2015 school year and find those that might be of interest for your own lessons!

Join Network for IATEFL YLT SIG on WizIQ

On the road again!

Summer is over, so here we are again!!

A new school year begins and most of us will have to get used to new timetables, some will teach new students or even work at a new school , but all of us will face new challenges and look forward to achieving new goals, won’t we?

From the ESL Times we just want to welcome you back and wish you the best of lucks for the present year.

We want to keep managing this space in order to make it easy for you to use it, to share your students’ productions or your teaching ideas or just letting us know any news you think might be of interest. We will do our best to spread the word.

So, please, keep tuned; new sections and new features will appear here soon and, as usual, you –and your students- will be the stars!!

Happy back to school!!