Connect for Learning through the Free Online Events

Today is Christmas day. No matter what religion you’re affiliated with or if you’re not affiliated with any formal religion, December is a time to reflect and reach out to others for loving kindness in the coming year.

My new year resolutions are constant. In 2015, I will do my best to spread good thoughts to everyone around the world whenever and wherever I am.

My name is Nellie Deutsch and I teach as a way to learn. My goal is to make online learning affordable and accessible to everyone around the world.  You can read more about my work and affiliations in this google doc bio.

Every year, my colleagues and I offer free online courses, webinars, online conferences, MOOCs, and Moodle MOOTs  for teachers from around the world on WizIQ and Moodle for Teachers (M4T).  I would like to share what’s ahead in 2015 and invite you and your colleagues to enrol in the webinars and courses lined up for 2015.

Rewarded with Certificates

The facilitators and I encourage the participants of our online events to become active learners. The goal of the online programs is to promote lifelong transformative learning. The participants of the online courses, conferences, and MOOCs, who reflect on 3 of the live online classes via videos using technology such as Movenote, Plotagon, Slidespeech, and/or present me, will receive a certificate.

1. Teaching with Technology

Teachers will Learn to Blend and Flip your Classes with Technology. The course is available from January 5 – December 4, 2015.

The course offers new, veteran, and future teachers theoretical and practical knowledge on how to teach and learn using technology. The topics of the course will focus on applying the science of learning, ways to transform teachers, promote a learning partnership with students, will how to set up team and motivate students to become lifelong learners, and finally to teach small chunks in a live online class or micro teaching in pairs. Teachers will develop a philosophy of education statement and learn how to share it with the world.

Link to enrol: https://www.wiziq.com/course/92339-teaching-with-technology

2. Electronic Village Online (EVO) 2015

A Project of TESOL’s Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Interest Section

From January 12 to February 15, 2015, participants from around the world will engage in collaborative online discussions and hands-on virtual workshops for professional and scholarly development on EVO15.  The sessions are fully moderated with asynchronous and synchronous live meeting. EVO15 sessions are free and open to everyone around the globe.

3. International Writing Exchange

English language teachers from around the world are invited to bring their students to a writing community called the International Writing Exchange (IWE). IWE brings teachers and students from around the globe to a cultural writing exchange. IWE provides students with a purpose and motivation to write as they connect with other students. Teachers will learn about the project and how to create a writing unit for the students.

Session Moderators

• Nellie Deutsch (Canada/Middle East)
• Ludmila Smirnova (USA/Russia)
• Ellen Graber (USA/Mexico)
• Rosmery Ribera (Bolivia)
• María J. García San Martín (Spain)

Link to enrol: https://www.wiziq.com/course/48125-international-writing-exchange and course area International Writing Exchange EVO15

4. Moodle for Teachers

The goal of the M4T EVO 2015 session is to introduce the participants to a learning management system called Moodle. Participants will learn about and practice Moodle activities and resources available on Moodle. They will learn to to create video tutorials as they practice Moodle features with the roles and rights of a student, teacher, and manager. Moodle 2.7 will be used for the course.

Session Moderators

• Dr. Nellie Deutsch (Canada/Middle East)
• Dr. Ludmila Smirnova (Russia/USA)
• Susan Nixon (USA)
• Tom Hodgers (UK/Venezuela)
• Nives Torresi (Australia/Italy)

Link to enrol in the free 5-week online session: M4TEVO15: Moodle for Teachers 

5. Teaching EFL to Young Learners

The IATEFL YLTSIG EVO 2015 session will examine teaching English to Young Learners and Teens from around the world using storytelling, drama, games and action songs. The session is designed for all those involved in teaching Young Learners and Teens irrespective of context or degree of experience.

Session Moderators

• Dr. Nellie Deutsch (Canada/Middle East)
• Dr. Lou McLaughlin (Ireland)
• Charles Goodger (UK/Italy/Middle East)

Link to enrol in the free 5- weekly online session: Teaching EFL to Young Learners EVO15

6.  Action Research:  Teacher as a Researcher

Action research (AR) allows teachers to step back, observe, and reflect on their work. The course provides teachers with the tools required to observe, orient, make decisions, and take action in the classroom. As a result of AR, participants will improve their classroom performance and students learning outcomes.

The course is for anyone, who teaches, provides on the job training, shares information, manages workers, is involved in community building, and/or presents at conferences or at meetings.

Course Highlights

• Selecting the Focus and Problem
• Clarifying Theories and Literature Review
• Identifying Research Questions
• Collecting and Analyzing Data
• Reporting Results and Taking Action

Link to enrol: https://www.wiziq.com/course/90468-action-research-projects-to-improve-instruction-and-learning

Land-Based Conferences in 2015

• TESOL Toronto (March 25-28)
• IATEFL Manchester (April 10-14)
• EdMedia Montreal (June 22-25)

Internet-Based Online Conferences

• CO15 (February 6-8) https://www.wiziq.com/course/48839-connecting-online-co15
• MMVC15 (August 7-9) https://www.wiziq.com/course/74432-moodle-moot-for-2015-mmvc15
• Blog Festivals (March 21) and (September 21)

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

• Second Life (April 1-30)
• Moodle MOOCs (May 1-31) and (November 1-30)
• Sustainable Living (September 1-30)
• Healthy Living and Mindfulness (July 1-31)

Hope for 2015

Learning can be improve lives in many ways. It can pave the way to greater understanding and love. Let’s learn from one another and share our experiences with others in 2015.