1. E-TOOLS AND TEACHING ESL THROUGH DISTANCE EDUCATION Veronica Baig Corinne Bossé Debra Hoven Tunde Tuzes ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY

2. OVERVIEW Introductions and background information Moodle—a Learning Management System Voice/ Video Communication –VOIP systems, Elluminate Discussion Boards Blogging –Free writing, Interactive exercises Collaborative Writing –Peer Editing, Wikis What’s New? –m-learning, e-portfolios, digital story telling, Me2U, facebook, …

3. Who are we? Veronica Baig, Academic Coordinator, English Language Studies veronica@athabascau.ca Corinne Bossé, Instructional Media Analyst corinneb@athabascau.ca Debra Hoven, Associate Professor, Centre for Distance Education debrah@athabascau.ca Tunde Tuzes, Write Site Facilitator/Engl 255 instructor tundet@athabascu.ca

4. Background Information Athabasca University “… is Canada’s largest, and most flexible, open and distance education provider. More than 37,000 students are studying undergraduate courses and approximately 3,200 students are enrolled in graduate degrees” AU Calendar

5. ELS/ESL/ WRITING/TESL 6 ESL/ELS courses all at the preparatory level: –4 are zero credit courses –2 may be taken for credit 2 Writing courses—non-ESL but with ESL support –1 preparatory—possible credit –1 first year—full credit Graduate students in MAIS and CDE who have an interest in TESL projects

6. SOME DICHOTOMIES Undergraduate (including preparatory) –Individual study –Asynchronous delivery –Internet optional Graduate –Paced, cohort based study –Synchronous delivery –Internet required

7. WHY BLOG? Provides students with a sense of community Allows for increased interaction Permits mini-lessons Provides a wider audience Keeps students involved Practices specific skills

8. ELS BLOGS Different format than most blogs –Not a chronological log –Welcome –Course announcements –Weekly participatory activities –Side bar for course related information, resources, and mini-lessons –Footer for mini-lessons

9. ENGL 140: GRAMMAR http://english140blog.blogspot.com/ Interactive activities: –Grammar Question –Vocabulary –Exam Practice –Sentence Completion Sidebar: –Module/Assignment Links Footer: –Wimba/Mini-Lessons

10. ENGL 177: ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES http://engl177blog.blogspot.com/ Interactive Activities: Sentence Completion Grammar Question Sentence Combination Vocabulary Half-Way There Challenge

11. ENGL 189: ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS http://english189.blogspot.com/ Interactive Activities: Grammar Question Plain English In The News Vocabulary

12. RESOURCES Electronic Village Online (TESOL) http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer- ramazani/TESOL/EVOL/portal.htmhttp://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer- ramazani/TESOL/EVOL/portal.htm Blogging4Beginners http://bloggingforbeginners.pbwiki.com/ Podcasting http://www.slideshare.net/ClaudiaB/podomatic- create-or-upload-audio-files-and-post-them-to- your-blog/http://www.slideshare.net/ClaudiaB/podomatic- create-or-upload-audio-files-and-post-them-to- your-blog/ Widgets http://widgets.yahoo.com/