Making the Most of the Internet in teaching and encouraging life long learning
Presenter: Ian McLeod, Benalla U3A Course Leader, 'Making the Most of the Internet'
Co-presenter: Using interactive webpages to enhance learning - Beverley Lee, U3A Benalla Website Manager
In this session, Ian McLeod (U3A Benalla) described the 'Making the Most of the Internet' course he introduced in Benalla in Semester I and with Beverley Lee demonstrated how the class page for his group on Benalla's new website is being developed and used interactively to encourage learning. Rather than using a Power Point slide show, Ian and Bev drew on this demonstration website to provide ideas about how websites can be used by U3A's to enhance learning.
Making the Most of the Internet is "A course for those who want to venture beyond the basics. We will be mainly looking at the Internet (rather than dealing with hardware or software). The aim is to better understand what the medium can do for you. We can discuss Wikipedia, Metadata, Torrenting, Youtube and learn to comprehend some acronyms and what they do - eg. VPN, ISP, ADSL, NBN". 'Making the Most of the Internet' wasn't a 'hands on' class' as we have limited access to a wifi linked computer room and also because there is an enormous diversity within our group in terms of Apple cf Windows, PC versus laptops and tablets, access to fast broadband and skill levels. Ideas were demonstrated in class, handouts provided, and people came back to the next class talking about the ideas they had tried from the past class. Course content focused upon freely available resources and encouraged student's to manage their own learning by modelling the discovery of resources on YouTube which would meet class learning needs. Humour and fun into the class whenever it seemed to fit naturally via videos such as 'A Seniors Moment' - link on this page.. The new website was used interactively during the course, with monthly newsletter reports summarising content and providing online links to resources. In addition, tutor Ian McLeod learnt basic functions of Weebly sufficient for him to begin to independently operate his own blog page featuring recommended resources. |
Make class fun!
'Making the Most of the Internet' resources (Ian McLeod)
Information Session Handout (open here to use links) 'Making the Most of the Internet' class web log / 'Ian's Blog' / Resources and References 'Using active websites to engage U3A members and enhance learning' (Bev Lee)Information Session Handout (open here to use links)
U3A Benalla and District website links - DIY Website #1 DIY Website #2 Useful Handout on setting up a Weebly website 'Making your website senior friendly' - a useful research based guide. |