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Technical
basics |
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The system has a central user database, materials databases,
administrative panels, tools for creating/uploading tests and exercises,
and learning tools and aids.
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Servers |
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Linux
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Databases |
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MySQL
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Languages
and scripts |
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(x)html(s), php, javascript, flash, css
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Operative
system and browser requirements |
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None[1]
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Administration |
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Administrative panels and automated procedures make it possible to monitor
registration, payment (if applicable), learner tracking, communication,
and testing.
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ChiefAdmin (ForumEducation staff) |
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Create/edit/manage both open and closed courses from automatic
registration to displaying test results |
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Monitor/edit user access (both teachers and learners) to
courses/features |
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Create/edit/manage tests/materials databases |
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Assign
teachers |
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And
more … |
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TeacherAdmin (assigned teachers) |
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View/edit
personal data
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View/monitor learner registration
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Send
group and individual messages
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Monitor
forum and communication centre activities
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View
learner results and activities
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Create
tests and exercises, using FE tools[2]
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And more
…
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LearnerAdmin (all learners) |
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View/edit
personal data
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Design/view/edit personal course plan
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Write/edit/view/ personal learning diary
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Write/edit/view/show personal learning blog
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Write/edit/view/ personal dynamic glossary
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View
personal test results
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Learner
tracking |
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The user database, the communication system, and the coding of
tests/exercises provide ample possibilities for tracking learning progress
and learner activities.
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Registration and listing |
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For closed courses, teachers can follow the progress of registration and
act accordingly to make sure all participants are listed when the course
starts.
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Test
results |
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Learners can view their own test results, and there is the option for
teachers to view their students’ test results.
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Learner
activities |
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There is the option for teachers to view learner activities (time online,
pages visited, etc.)
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Analysis |
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There is the option for teachers to request data for analysis.
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Project
board |
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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.
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Communication |
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Learner-learner and learner-teacher communication is possible in different
ways, using both tailor-made and open source communicative means.
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Start
page messages |
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Teachers can write group (course) messages that appear on their learners’
personal start pages.
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Course
room messages (audio) |
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An mp3 player can be used for audio messages (teacher to group) and for
internal radio.
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Participant list for interaction |
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A participant list is created automatically in the communication centre as
learners register. The list can be used for five types of email messages:
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Individual messages from teacher to learner
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Individual messages from learner to teacher
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Individual messages from learner to learner
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Group
messages including the teacher/s
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Group
messages excluding the teacher/s
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Discussion and group work forum |
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An open source forum (phpBB) has been integrated seamlessly, so that login
is automatic.
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Voice and
video chat |
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For voice and video chat, Skype has been integrated into the communication
centre. Making oneself available for chatting is optional.
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Blogging |
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Learners can write/edit their personal blogs, and they can opt to show
them to course members only or to the world.
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Interest
groups |
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Learners can start/participate in group activities, e.g. book circles.
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Project
board |
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A project board makes it possible for learners to share their thoughts,
and to edit common work during on-line group work.
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Opinion polls |
There is an opinion polls generator in the AdminPanel |
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Learning
tools and aids |
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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.
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"Doctor's
prescription" |
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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.
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Learning
log |
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The learning log has the following features:
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An
automatically generated course plan, which can be edited as the learner
progresses and sets new goals |
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Display
of test results |
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Assessment tools, i.e. diagnostic tests and reference materials |
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Evaluation tools |
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Learning diary editor |
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Personal blog editor |
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SaveWord
(glossary) |
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Learners can save words to a personal glossary by a click of the mouse and
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Edit
the glossary, entering translations, synonyms, examples, etc. |
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Display
the list in different ways for effective practice |
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Upload
single or lists of words from other sources |
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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.
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Dictionary |
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Learners have instant access to an on-line learner’s dictionary for handy
and quick explanations.
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Learning
guides |
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Each one of the following areas has a guide to self-reliant learning:
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General
language learning |
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Vocabulary |
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Grammar |
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Reading |
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Listening |
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Speaking |
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Writing |
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Learning
materials |
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The ForumEducation course delivery system is complete with materials for
English language learning at levels intermediate – advanced.
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Theme
materials |
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The
English language |
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GlobalTeenagers |
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Self-reliant Learning |
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Code
For Teaching |
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Understanding The News |
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Interactive exercises |
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The "doctor's prescription" course contains lots and lots of exercises and
tests.
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Vocabulary |
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Grammar |
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Reading |
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Listening |
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Speaking |
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Writing |
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Pronunciation |
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Tests |
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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.
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Pedagogy |
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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 -PEDAGOGY-
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