On-Line Courses on How to Use/Create Podcasts, Wikis, and Second Life for Education

[Andrew Reinhard]

The Consultants-E is an educational company specializing in distance learning and foreign language study. They do offer on-line courses, many of which are given on the island of EduNation2 in Second Life. I received their course schedule this morning and thought I would pass it on to you if you are interested in learning more about wikis, podcasts, and educating via Second Life.

WIKIS
Dates: 15 - 30 November 2007
Time: 10 hours over 2 weeks
Course Fee: 125 Euros / 84 GB pounds

A wiki is a series of interlinked collaborative web pages that can be
edited and added to by a group of people. This short online course
looks at wikis, and how they can be used for collaborative projects
with learners. Course participants will make their own sample wikis
(to use with their own learners if possible) during this course.

PODCASTING
Dates: 1 - 15 December 2007
Time: 10 hours over 2 weeks
Course Fee: 125 Euros / 84 GB pounds

A podcast is an audio or video file that is stored on the Internet,
and can be downloaded to a computer and/or mobile listening devices
(such as an MP3 player, or PDA). This short online course looks at
how podcasting works, how it can help students learn, and what
teacher needs to know and do to use audio podcasts with learners.
Course participants will make their own sample podcasts (for their
own learners if possible) during this course.


SECOND LIFE: An introduction for educators
Dates: 1 November - 2 December 2007
Time: 10 hours over 2 weeks
Course Fee: 165 Euros / 110 GB pounds

Second Life is an online virtual world which educators are
increasingly using for teaching and training purposes, in a wide
range of disciplines. This short online course consists of four
timetabled synchronous (real time) sessions held on EduNation, The
Consultants-E's own virtual educational island in Second Life, as
well as asynchronous discussion and reflection on Second Life as an
educational tool. The course covers the following areas in Second
Life:
- designing your Second Life avatar and the basics of movement
- inventory, archiving possibilities and working with basic objects
in Second Life.
- teaching and training in Second Life, considering tools and
approaches.
- issues and possibilities for learners in Second Life

Participants can sign up on one or more courses simultaneously. You
will follow each short course entirely online, working individually,
in pairs and in small groups in Moodle, and with a tutor providing
constant guidance and feedback. For more information and links to
enrol, see http://www.theconsultants-e.com/courses/shortcourses/

Click here for more information on all of these online courses.

We hope to see you online in November and/or December!

Best wishes,
Nicky

Nicky Hockly - Director of Pedagogy
The Consultants-E, S.L.L
www.theconsultants-e.com |
[e-mail]

[Laura Gibbs]

whoa, I just have to say that my first impression is that this is a lot of money! people trying to make money off the web have a long row to hoe, I guess, because there is such a superabundance of free learning opportunities online. I wonder if these guys will make a go of it or not! doing a Second Life class inside Second Life definitely makes sense, but given the availability of excellent resources on podcasting and wikis already available outside Second Life, I wonder what the Second Life twist can add to that. are you doing to do one these, Andrew? please report back if you do: I am curious!

[Andrew Reinhard]

Hi Laura -- I am negotiating with Torin Golding, creator of the Roma sim in Second Life about having a dedicated practice space for Latin speaking. I would also like to book Constantine's Basilica for occasional SL seminars on how Classics teachers can use this virtual world for ancient language instruction. One of our eClassics members, Shawn, is really an SL-head and no doubt I'll be writing him soon to see if he can help out on something like this. One of these days Bolchazy-Carducci will buy an island for some total-immersion Latin-learning.

[Andrew Reinhard]

Hi Laura -- I am negotiating with Torin Golding, creator of the Roma sim in Second Life about having a dedicated practice space for Latin speaking. I would also like to book Constantine's Basilica for occasional SL seminars on how Classics teachers can use this virtual world for ancient language instruction. One of our eClassics members, Shawn, is really an SL-head and no doubt I'll be writing him soon to see if he can help out on something like this. One of these days Bolchazy-Carducci will buy an island for some total-immersion Latin-learning.

[Laura Gibbs]

Very intriguing! I am very UN-synchronous in terms of my online stuff, but for people in quest of synchrony, SL is definitely an option (a discussion of asynchronous v. synchronous may emerge over at classroom2.0 - someone started a discussion about that this a.m.)