Info for educators
Join us now, and discover a new teaching dimension. The ForumEducation community has a number of advantages for you as an educator. For an in-depth understanding of our pedagogical views, please find "Pedagogy" under | About ForumEducation |   Direct advantages Extending the ESL/EFL classroom Bridging the gap between school and university Teacher training The ForumEducation course delivery system Testing
Direct advantages
Excellent materials for all levels (except beginners) The materials enhance students' general learning skills Loads of exercises Loads of tests Language learning guides Language learning tools Tools (software) for making exercises and tests Simple administration Teachers' forum International cooperation and exchange possibilities The option of using the ForumEducation platform as an extended classroom
Extending the ESL/EFL classroom
Want to concentrate on oral communication in your physical classroom? Want to individualize? Want to combine the two? Well, then read on. Let your students register for your private on-line course room. Only you and your students have access. They register and take six diagnostic tests and their individual basic skills course is automatically generated with a personal study plan, materials, learning tools, and a learning log. There is also a group communication centre and the possiblities to interact with other schools/classes. As a teacher you have the option of following up on your students' progress. This would give you a better chance of using valuable class hours for oral communication, wouldn't it? Want to make you English language classes more dynamic? Tired of your old textbook? Our databases contain materials for three courses that can be used either for distance education or as an extension to the physical ESL/EFL classroom. The English Language GlobalTeenagers Self-reliant Learning The English Language As most materials come at three levels, covering intermediate- to advanced, the course The English Language, is ideal for individualization and group assignments. Texts Audio Dynamic exercises Assignment tasks The history of the English language English as a world language The language of men and women The queen's English The language learning processes GlobalTeenagers These course materials focus on understanding what is happening in the world today and on becoming a responsible global citizen. The technical platform allows for great flexibility and student initiatives. Students can upload videos, save words to a personal glossary, run private blogs and diaries, take (and publish) polls, and more. Teachers are invited to contribute with materials and ideas. Highly motivating theme materials Ideal for internationalization Students and teachers may supply extra optional materials Contributes towards covering overall educational goals Self-reliant Learning This course is suitable for really motivated (last-year) high school students who are preparing for the university. It has the overall aim of raising the students' metacognitive levels and make them expert self-reliant learners. Although the materials were designed with the non-native speaker in mind, it is very demanding. Unique preparation for higher education Provides a theoretical background to successful study routines Provides a practical platform for good working routines Includes a downloadable copy of The Seven Keys to Self-reliant Learning Also suitable for teachers who want to explore the relationship between teaching and learning
Bridging the gap ...
The course Self-reliant Learning, based on the book The Seven Keys to Self-reliant Learning, is suitable for motivated last-year high school students who are preparing for the university. See "Extending the ESL/EFL classroom" above. However, there are vast numbers of university students who waste their time and their county's economy because they cannot cope with their situation. We believe that Self-reliant Learning may be a solution to 'breaking in' students to the demand for responsibility and self-reliance in higher education. The course can be used as: A compulsory credit course for university freshmen An optional bridging-the-gap course As the course was written in simple English, it has the advantage of improving the participant's English language proficiency level at the same time as it serves as an excellent introduction to effective studies. Course participants, as members of the ForumEducation learning community, naturally have full access to their personal "doctor's precription" English language course too. The course may also serve as such an introduction for native speakers.
Teacher training
"Code for Teaching" We are in the final stages of completing materials for teacher training and in-service training. The aim of this two-step course is to shift the focus of teacher trainers and teachers from traditional classroom management to self-reliant learning. Get to know the self-reliant learner Write your own CODEX (Code for Excellence in Education) Course aim The overall aim of this course is to provide teacher trainers and teachers with the tools they need to initiate a general transition from traditional classroom management to guiding students towards lifelong self-reliant learning. A number of concrete course goals that support such a general transition are reached in two steps: Step 1 Get to know the self-reliant learner Understanding general human potential Understanding individual human potential Understanding the concepts of knowledge, skills, and individuality, and also how they interplay Understanding the learning brain, and what happens during learning sessions Understanding how learners realize their potential Understanding how a learners metacognitive level can be improved Understanding how a practical framework that supports brain-friendly learning strategies and routines can be consciously obtained Understanding the processes that transform potential into competence Step 2 Write your Code for Excellence in Education The concrete goal for Step 2 is to get course participants to use what they have learnt in Step 1 to write a CODEX* (Code for Excellence in Education). * A CODEX is a document that regulates the work within a school, institution, subject, etc., and generally includes the following headings: Basic views on human potential, knowledge, the relationship between teaching and learning, and educational policies Goals - Interpreting curriculum goals and getting the learner to set his or her individual realistic goals   Using the right resources Planning Method Assessment Evaluation Participation  Prerequisites Course participation requires a level of English of at least intermediate+ basic computer and Internet competence motivation and time Method and course routines Step 1 is a rather theoretical and highly structured course. The way to self-reliance goes through the eye of the needle. Participants read the book The Seven Keys to Self-reliant Learning, regarding Step 1 as a thinking project. They regularly go on-line to get feedback and assess their progress, to find more information, and to interact with other participants. Assuming the role of a language learner, participants experience the practical aspects of becoming a self-reliant learner by designing their individual English language course plans and using a complete learning log. Step 2 provides further practical hands-on experience. Using a reference library, the Internet, guiding documents, and interaction and cooperation with colleagues, participants write a complete CODEX. The process involves analyzing political educational goals and curricula, formulating ones own views on humanity and human potential, defining ones own interpretation of the relation between teaching and learning, and setting up a practical framework for guiding students towards self-reliance. Fringe benefits All participants become better learners (!) All participants get first-hand experience of a well-structured and creative on-line learning environment. Non-native speakers of English improve their language skills. Contact us now for more course information!
The ForumEducation course delivery system
The ForumEducation course delivery system was primarily developed for on-line self-directed language learning. It is not only a well-designed and user-friendly technical platform; it is a complete system with everything that is needed for both individual self-directed learning and for teacher-directed flexible learning: Administrative tools Learning tools and aids Learner progress and activity tracking Communicative means Materials Tests Tools for making exercises and tests   Technical basics The system has a central user database, materials databases, administrative panels, tools for creating/uploading tests and exercises, and learning tools and aids.   Servers Linux   Databases MySQL   Languages and scripts (x)html(s), php, javascript, flash, css   Operative system and browser requirements None[1] Administration Administrative panels and automated procedures make it possible to monitor registration, payment (if applicable), learner tracking, communication, and testing.   ChiefAdmin (ForumEducation staff) Create/edit/manage both open and closed courses from automatic registration to displaying test results Monitor/edit user access (both teachers and learners) to courses/features Create/edit/manage tests/materials databases Assign teachers And more   TeacherAdmin (assigned teachers) View/edit personal data View/monitor learner registration Send group and individual messages Monitor forum and communication centre activities View learner results and activities Create tests and exercises, using FE tools[2] And more   LearnerAdmin (all learners) View/edit personal data Design/view/edit personal course plan Write/edit/view/ personal learning diary Write/edit/view/show personal learning blog Write/edit/view/ personal dynamic glossary View personal test results   Learner tracking The user database, the communication system, and the coding of tests/exercises provide ample possibilities for tracking learning progress and learner activities.   Registration and listing For closed courses, teachers can follow the progress of registration and act accordingly to make sure all participants are listed when the course starts.   Test results Learners can view their own test results, and there is the option for teachers to view their students test results.   Learner activities There is the option for teachers to view learner activities (time online, pages visited, etc.)   Analysis There is the option for teachers to request data for analysis.   Project board A project board makes it possible to for groups of students to work on-line on a common project paper. Teachers can track individual learner activity in on-line group work.   Communication Learner-learner and learner-teacher communication is possible in different ways, using both tailor-made and open source communicative means.   Start page messages Teachers can write group (course) messages that appear on their learners personal start pages.   Course room messages (audio) An mp3 player can be used for audio messages (teacher to group) and for internal radio.   Participant list for interaction A participant list is created automatically in the communication centre as learners register. The list can be used for five types of email messages: Individual messages from teacher to learner Individual messages from learner to teacher Individual messages from learner to learner Group messages including the teacher/s Group messages excluding the teacher/s   Discussion and group work forum An open source forum (phpBB) has been integrated seamlessly, so that login is automatic.   Voice and video chat For voice and video chat, Skype has been integrated into the communication centre. Making oneself available for chatting is optional.   Blogging Learners can write/edit their personal blogs, and they can opt to show them to course members only or to the world.   Interest groups Learners can start/participate in group activities, e.g. book circles.   Project board A project board makes it possible for learners to share their thoughts, and to edit common work during on-line group work.   Opinion polls There is an opinion polls generator in the AdminPanel   Learning tools and aids The system has a number of powerful tools and aids that assist the learner in his/her daily work, and that also take much of the burden off the shoulders of the teacher.   "Doctor's prescription" Students and teachers have to take a series of tests in order to have the course room opened. Each and every community member thus gets his or her personal course automatically generated. As learning progresses, the member can set new goals by editing the course plan. An additional reason for requiring that everybody takes the tests is that we want test scores for research purposes.   Learning log The learning log has the following features: An automatically generated course plan, which can be edited as the learner progresses and sets new goals Display of test results Assessment tools, i.e. diagnostic tests and reference materials Evaluation tools Learning diary editor Personal blog editor   SaveWord (glossary) Learners can save words to a personal glossary by a click of the mouse and Edit the glossary, entering translations, synonyms, examples, etc. Display the list in different ways for effective practice Upload single or lists of words from other sources Random generate an unlimited number of tests on the listed words, once 200 words or more have been saved The learner is required to save at least 200 words before the function is activated.   Dictionary Learners have instant access to an on-line learners dictionary for handy and quick explanations.   Learning guides Each one of the following areas has a guide to self-reliant learning: General language learning Vocabulary Grammar Reading Listening Speaking Writing   Learning materials The ForumEducation course delivery system is complete with materials for English language learning at levels intermediate advanced.   Theme materials There are currently three themes available: The English language GlobalTeenagers Self-reliant Learning A fourth theme is under way. "Code for Teaching" will be completed before October 1, 2009.   Interactive exercises The "doctor's prescription" course contains lots and lots of exercises and tests. Vocabulary Grammar Reading Listening Speaking Writing Pronunciation   Tests Diagnostic tests for placement (Doctor's prescription) and for continual self-assessment are available to the individual learner, and for schools/teachers there are the options of ordering tailor-made tests from us or creating/uploading their own.   Pedagogy The system was built for individual self-directed learning as well as for teacher-directed flexible learning. It was built to support the ForumEducation views on the relationship between teaching and learning as expressed in the book The Seven Keys to Self-reliant Learning and under | About ForumEducation |   [1] There are minor teething problems (javascript) for Apple/Safari/Firefox users [2] The AdminPanel contains a number of tools for creating tests and exercises and for uploading materials including text, audio, and video.
Testing
We have tools for creating different tests and exercises:   Vocabulary Grammar Reading Listening Pronunciation We have developed a frequency database for vocabulary testing. General vocabulary tests are random generated at three levels: Up to 8,000 words Up to 15,000 words Up to 25,000 words The frequency database can also be used for specific tests, e.g. The Academic Word List (Coxhead) Business English Students' glossaries* * Learners generate tests themselves on their own words Want to be part of future development? Tell us now! Group testing? If you want to test all the students in your university, school, class, please contact us for a quote. You will get a graph of the results, and you will get reference figures for level comparison.