UNIT 4: FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT classroom and discuss a topic in the lesson.

(via
Google Meet/Zoom etc.)
Lesson 1: Online Distance Education and  So wherever they are situated in the world, they
Communities of Learners agree on a scheduled session and log in to join
the live class.
Lesson Outcomes  The LMS has this feature. The teacher called as
1. Identified flexible learning through online the online tutor facilitates the discussion, ideas
communications (synchronous/ asynchronous are posted in an actual live class. One cannot
modality). lecture and take all the time in explaining.
2. Described flexible learning environment that  In this mode, the course participants are made to
enhances collaboration with the use of technology be engaged in the flow of discussion that is why,
tools. the online tutor has to plan out the instruction
guide in facilitating the discourse.
FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Asynchronous
ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING  Another important feature is the Asynchronous
 Online distance learning is not a new concept. session.
Some schools, higher education institutions in the  This is when questions or tasks are posted and
country, and educational agencies such as course participants answer the question or post
 Southeast Asian Ministers of Education their reply at any time most convenient to them.
Innovations in Educational Technology  They can still participate in the discussion by
(SEAMEO- INNOTECH) provide this mode of replying to the post.
learning. It allows flexibility in learning to a certain  One advantage is that you can take your time
extent. when replying.

MOODLE BLENDED LEARNING

 created by Martin Dougiamas, founder and CEO  Another way of handling flexible learning is by
of Moodle combining modalities of instructional delivery.
 stands for Modular Object Oriented Dynamic  Blended learning is a combination of a learning
Learning Environment which is an open source activities wherein a part of the lesson is delivered
software. online while the other part is handled in actual
 a Learning Management System (LMS) that physical setting of a classroom.
supports teaching and learning.
KINDS OF BLENDED LEARNING
GOOGLE CLASSROOM 1. Model 1: Face-to-Face Driver
 is a free service for teachers and students.  In the face-to-face model, the teacher delivers
 platform that is accessible google account. the curricula most of the time and utilizes online
 You can create classes and perform roles and learning at certain times with the purpose to
functions as a facilitator of learning. augment or provide an alternative experience.
 Instruction is provided in a computer laboratory or
EDMODO assigned tasks are uploaded online.
 In 2008, Edmodo was created by Nic Borg, Jeff
O'Hara, and Crystal Hutter. 2. Model 2: Rotation
 In a particular course or subject, students rotate
SCHOOLOGY on a fixed schedule between learning online in a
 another LMS founded in 2009 by Jeremy one-to-one, self-paced learning environment and
Friedman, Ryan Hwang, Tim Trinidad and Bill being inside the classroom with a face-to-face
Kindler. teacher.
 This is the model that is in between the traditional
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) face-to-face learning and online learning.
 a model for delivering learning content online to
any person who wants to take a course. 3. Model 3: Flex
 allows one to pursue learning even outside of  This model uses an online platform that delivers
university or higher education formal structure. most of the course.
 Those who are working can enroll in MOOCS  Support to learning is provided as needed
with no limit on attendance. through on-site support or by an online tutor who
 It allows interconnectedness among peoples in facilitates the tutorial or small group sessions.
the world to discuss and share recent  Sessions can be arranged into synchronous or
developments in their common field EDUCAUSE asynchronous.
is a nonprofit association with the mission is to  Course participants may work on their tasks at
advance higher education through the use of any convenient time as long as it is within the
information technology. confines of the course duration.
 The link herein provides succinct video explaining
about MOOCs. (Please view URL: 4. Model 4: Online Lab
https://library.educause.edu/topics/teaching-and-  The online-lab model uses an online platform in
learning/massive-open-online-course-mooc.) delivering the course but located in a physical
classroom or computer laboratory.
SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS  Since the lessons are in modular format and
available in the online program, teacher
Synchronous assistants supervise these classes.
 An online chat at real time is a Synchronous  However, they may not provide the needed
session. Course participants meet in a virtual expertise if learners seek assistance.
 Furthermore, students who are enrolled in an SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORMS
Online Lab model of blended learning may be Facebook
enrolled in a traditional classroom courses at the Twitter
same time and therefore have block schedules. LinkedIn
Google+
5. Model 5: Self-blend YouTube
 The self-blend Model is a system provided by the Pinterest
school where the students can choose the Instagram
courses they would like to have in addition to Tumblr
their typical brick-and-mortar classroom classes. MySpace
 This. model is always remote - a major difference Flickr
from the Online Lab. Bebo

6. Model 6: Online Driver FACEBOOK Used by most people, it allows users to

 The online-driver model utilizes a platform and a post their profile, blogs, pictures and videos. This lets
teacher that delivers all curricula. one share status updates, news articles with friends
 Students remotely work on their program most of and family.
the time. TWITTER is the site where users post and interact
 If ever there is a face-to-face component, it is with messages called "tweets," restricted only to 140
made optional or if ever it is required for the characters. Only registered users can post tweets, but
students to go to the physical learning those who are not can only read them.
environment such as in a school, then it can be LINKEDIN is another social networking website for
extracurricular activities augmenting the work. When one is trying to find a job and may not
curriculum. have contacts, this helps one search for career
connections. It may contain one's resume for potential
KINDS OF BLENDED LEARNING employers to see.
 Planning and managing blended learning GOOGLE+ is designed to be a total communication
experiences are very similar to planning and social network. Launched in 2011, Google is its
managing a brick-and-mortar school with courses parent and it is more advantageous if it is kept as a
or subjects integrating technology. browser for users are connected even if they are
 It needs to be system-wide as the school makes outside this site. Users can make friends and
a plan, develops guidelines for students to follow remained up to date with old friends without leaving
for the use of technology in a blended format and their Gmail account.
provide a resource guide. YOUTUBE is an American video-sharing website
 A lot of preparation is needed in designing a where users can upload, view and even share video
blended format. Technology has to be prepared. clips or multimedia productions.
The back-end and front-end infrastructures of PINTEREST was designed as a catalogue of ideas or
blended learning have to be put in place as well project ideas by its founder Ben Silberman. This is an
as the content in varied multimedia formats. excellent choice for those who have a passion for
 Teachers and teachers assistant who will act as creativity.
online tutors and assistants need to be INSTAGRAM is a platform where users share visual
pedagogically capacitated. stories. This system allows users to post photos with
captions allowing followers to like or comment on
one's posts.
ONLINE COMMUNITIES OF LEARNING/SOCIAL TUMBLR is a networking site that combines social
NETWORKING media and blogging. Its main goal is to simplify social
media and blogging. Users can post whatever they
NETWORKING like such as photos, videos, quotes, music, links.
 A network is defined as that group of individuals MYSPACE is used to keep up with their favorite
who communicates and connects on a regular artists, have an update on the music industry, see
basis. what their friends are listening to, and connect with
 If an individual has a personal network of people, people who have similar music preferences.
one can tap on the potential contacts for social, FLICKR is an image and video hosting website that
educational or professional purposes. was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by
Yahoo. It offers massive online photo storage.
SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORMS BEBO is a social networking website with the
 Social networking services have been evolving backronym “Blog Early, Blog Often" It was invented to
for more than a decade. answer the question what the name meant.
 Initially, these social networking services allowed
users to construct their personal profile so that THE BENEFITS OF USING SOCIAL NETWORKING
other contacts may know the relevant information SITES
about them.  A major advantage of social networking websites
 At present, these have now evolved to sharing of is that they provide information. News and views
multimedia resources. Even having immediate of others around the world can be easily
and direct contact with friends in real time is accessed instantly at one's fingertips.
easily accessible through these sites.  It easily allows one to transmit information or
 There are varied platforms available where one update contacts on what one thinks or how now
can create a personal account. Some of these feels.
popular social networking sites include  Social networking websites can support learning
Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flicker, Youtube, or augment educational activities. Young learners
and Linkedln among others. are well-acquainted with social networking sites
 and regard them as just a part of the day-to-day humiliating another person, then you refrain from
activities and school-related discussions. posting or uploading it.
 Even after school period, learners can continually 7. Using appropriate language is essential. The tone
connect as they collaborate to accomplish a task when communicating or sending social networking
or homework using social networking website. messages should be respectful.
 Announcements on assignments or instructions 8. Better be safe than sorry. You should accept
for the upcoming work can be conveniently friends and connection when you are sure of the
delivered to concerned individuals through the person's identity. Personally meeting someone you
social networking sites. only met online is discouraged. Even if the sincerity of
having a personal meeting looks convincing, it would
THE DANGERS OF USING SOCIAL NETWORKING be better if you will be accompanied.
SITES 9. When there is an indication of harassment or
 One major risk is making friends with strangers abuse, it is advised that you report this by clicking the
who may actually be a predator or a cyberbully. report button of abuse. It is better still to talk to friends
No one initially recognizes the true nature of an or trusted adults about the case.
acquaintance or one who seemingly poses as a
friend. Sometimes, a youngster gets bullied by 10. Bullying takes place even in social networking
others who may not even be connected as websites. Cyberbullying uses the site's messages,
friends in a social networking website. updates, and other functions to harass, intimidate,
 There are also trolls who actually instigate humiliate, taunt, or pick on the individual. When this
conflict, misunderstanding or emotional response happens, you can do the following actions:
by eliciting anger or ill feelings from other users a. ignore the behavior by not responding at all;
through social media. They post messages that b. block the person;
are inflammatory or controversial. c. click the report button of abuse; or
 Topping these risks is also the danger of users d. talk to a trustworthy adult about it.
getting hooked on internet and may learn to
ignore the real world. Lesson 2: Online Resources, Educational Sites
 Their ability to socialize is incapacitated as they and Portals
devote hours or days on gaming using the
computer manifesting abuse to themselves. Lesson Outcomes
 That is why teachers and parents or guardians 1. Identified educational sites and portals suitable to
are protective to the extent of disallowing the subject area
youngsters to use the internet and social 2. Selected an appropriate resource portal or
networking sites without realizing that such act educational site in relation to the identified subject
denies the opportunity to explore the educational area
potential it can serve.
EDUCATIONAL SITES AND PORTALS
SAFEGUARDING ONESELF WHEN ENGAGING IN  A lot of information are found in the net. These
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES can be explored and studied to determine their
 Networking can be confined and monitored within relevance to the lesson.
the school system.  There are concerned parties that host
 Students can use social networking platforms educational services through websites and
designed for educational purposes that will allow portals.
students to post, share and discuss insights  Like a door, the portal opens to a virtual room
gained from an activity. where activities, tools, applications, articles
 Some of these sites are SuperClubs Plus, provide ideas and suggest ways on the use of
Learner Journey, ScuttlePad, among others. technology tools.
 One drawback, however, is that sometimes  One example that can be further explored is
youngsters are not enticed to use these social Educational Technology and Mobile Learning.
networking platforms because they are not as  This blog site is a rich repository of tools and
attractive as Facebook or Twitter. applications assembled and curated for teachers
and educators by teachers.
 They evidently understand the pedagogical
SAFEGUARDING ONESELF WHEN ENGAGING IN needs, hence, the arrangement of categories with
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES corresponding suggested sites or tools and even
1. A social networking account has passwords and applications for android or iPads. Tools,
log-in details. Secure passwords and keep them applications, ed tech charts, books, links and
private. many more are found in categories arranged by
2. Log out every time you use public computers. subject area or competency.
3. Regularly check privacy settings of social  The administrator of this site allows users to
networking websites so that only direct friends or download, print and share the materials just as
those particularly known can see the posts. long as proper citation is done and that the
4. Online posts are saved and may become a materials are shared free of charge.
permanent part of their online reputation. As you use  If you are interested in implementing Free
the internet, you leave a digital footprint which can be Educational Technology in the classroom, the
traced back to you. administrator highly encourages you to share this
5. Do not accept invites from contacts unless you blog site.
know them personally or you are sure of their identity.
6. Seriously consider the effect of possible posts on RIGHT MINDSET OF TEACHERS IN USING
others before deciding to do so, If posts (i.e. text, DIGITAL TOOLS
picture, video) could be considered offensive or  As you prepare to become a teacher by learning
how to utilize these digital tools, you need to
 have the right mindset or a way of thinking how certain details feature specific templates for citing
these tools can be effectively integrated in the online Journals, Web pages with and without authors,
lesson. electronic Books and Databases are arranged
 A lot of teachers may find it daunting to use a according to the desired formatting style.
technology tool in a lesson. The anxiety to 9. Free Digital Photos allows you to download
explore the possibility can be overwhelming, but royalty free photos and images and illustrations for
for one who has the openness to learn and websites, newspapers, magazines, video and TV
continuously study the features of the tool can productions, iPhone applications, PowerPoint
possibly lead to a more productive way of presentations, forums, blogs and school work.
designing a technology-enhanced lesson. 10. Toondoo is a quick way to create cartoons.
11. PollDaddy is an easy-to-use survey tool. It can
create polls and surveys in a quick time. Responses
 Hold on to the positive attitude and openness to via email or website, Facebook or even twitter can be
learn. collected and generated into an easy-to-read report.
 Nurture the curiosity and sustain the passion to This can then be easily shared.
improve practice. 12. Public Domain Photos provides access to
 Persevere as you learn to adapt to the evolving thousands of free photos and free cliparts. All photos
digital tool. on this web site are public domain. You may use
these images for any purpose, including commercial.
SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORMS 14. Padlet is a tool that allows you to post comments
Digital Storytelling tools on a what looks like a sticky note which you can post
Online Bibliography and Citation Tools For Teachers on a blank page (a wall). It is easy for young learners
Photo and Image Editing Tools For Teachers to use. You can pose a question and get their
Podcast Tools answers to which you can provide a feedback. This is
Survey, Polls, and Quizzes Tools For Teachers done on one page.
Sticky Notes Tools For Teachers 15. SurveyMonkey is popular online survey tool. It is
Stock Photos Sites For Teachers easy to create a survey tool (survey questionnaires,
Testing and Quizzing Tool For Teachers polls, customer feedback and market research) and
1. Audacity is a free, open source, cross-platform send it to target respondents. You can use
software that is used for recording and editing professional templates available in the tool.
sounds. It is an operating systems (OS) such as
Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux.
2. MakeBeliefsComix is an easy and fun way to
create a comics strip. You can create a story
dialogue by choosing interesting characters. Adding
thought balloons, you can add the lines and make
your characters converse. Also, you can add a
background, panel prompts and interesting objects to
spice up the story. When you are finished with your
comic strip, you can print or email it as an image file.
3. EndNote makes it easy for you to organize your
research work through flexible tools for searching,
organizing and sharing your work. It enables you to
create your bibliography and write your research
paper. Once you mastered the unique features, you
can save time to automatically find full text and
updating records.
4. Pixton uses a revolutionary patented technology
that makes it easy to create comics-Click-n-Drag
ComicsTM. From characters to dynamic panels,
bubbles and props, they can be controlled by
dragging it. Pixton is free but it has a paid version for
schools and businesses.
5. Easy Test Maker is a test generator that can help
you create your own test. You can make different test
types such as multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, short
answer, alternate response (i.e. true or false).
Instructions can be inserted as you divide your test
into sections.
6. Corkboard Remember shares what is important to
you. You can collaborate with others in this tool by
posting and accessing the postings. Also, you can
share what you post on your Facebook wall and get
notifications as well.
7. Hot Potatoes is a tool that you can use to create
six types Of questions in an interactive quiz:
crossword, multiple-choice, short-answer, gap-fill
matching/ordering and jumbled-sentence.
8. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Citation Wizard - Free is a tool that gives three
Citation Styles: APA, CSE, formerly known as CBE,
and MLA. Since these publication formats vary in