Access to Virtual and Action Learning live ONline
For further details see: http://creativecommons.org/
Overview
The survey below can be used as a way of gaining a technical profile of your students prior to course start. Section 1, "Access", gives you the access details to the publically available Survey Monkey account where you will find a copy of the template which you can base your own survey on. Section 2, "Technical Skills and Equipment Questionnaire Template", gives you the content of the survey which you may want to explore before you decide on using it. In Section 3 "Survey results", you will get an overview of the responses of all of the course participants throughtout the Action Learning phase and in Section 4 "Recommendations on how to adapt this technical skills and equipment questionnaire", you find some recommendations on what data should be added to the survey to inform trainers.
Section 1 "Access"
To access, adapt and use these survey templates, go to:
Account name: avalonlearning
Password: secondlife
Link to Technical Skills and Equipment Questionnaire Template: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LMQWF76
IMPORTANT! If you are creating a specific survey for your course DO NOT make the changes in the templates. Instead make a new survey based on the template, re-name it to fit the name of your course and make the appropriate changes. Also note that you have to enter the Survey Monkey account in order to see the responses.
Section 2 "Technical skills and equipment questionnaire template"
Please complete the following table . It should take you approximately 20 minutes. It is by no means a comprehensive computer skills analysis, but it will enable the trainer to understand the range of group baseline computer literacy, and open a dialogue amongst the whole group. Your responses will inform technology input in subsequent Learning Blocks.
Please respond on a scale of 1 - 4, corresponding to how closely the given statement relates to you where 0 signifies not at all and 3 very much
Example:
|
I have experience/ I am experienced …. |
4, 3, 2, 1 |
‘4’ would signify that you are experienced as a designer/ administrator/ moderator/ trainer/ host
‘3’ would signify that you are indeed an experienced user
‘2’ would signify that you have some, but not a great deal of experience
‘1’ would signify that you have no significant experience
|
Live Online Environment |
4, 3, 2, 1 |
|
I have experienced a live online environment (web conference/ video conference/ web cast/ webinar) |
|
|
I have experience using an Instant Messenger (Skype, MSN, Yahoo) |
|
|
I have experienced learning languages in a live online environment (web conference/ video conference/ web cast/ webinar) |
|
|
I have experience learning languages using an Instant Messenger (Skype, MSN, Yahoo) |
|
|
Virtual Learning Environment |
4, 3, 2, 1 |
|
I have experience using a digital self-learning software (asynchronous) |
|
|
I have experience using a digital self-learning software (asynchronous) to learn a language |
|
|
I have experience of using a Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle, WebCT or Blackboard |
|
|
I have experience using software for interactive exercises such as multiple-choice, gab filling exercises, crosswords, |
|
|
I have experience using translation software and/ or vocabulary trainers, spell checkers and/or using a theasaurus |
|
|
ICT skills |
4, 3, 2, 1 |
|
I am comfortable using various browsers (eg Firefox, Internet Explorer) |
|
|
I use email frequently as a means of communication |
|
|
I am familiar with the range of functions provided by email software |
|
|
I know what spam is, and how to create filters to block it |
|
|
I am able to obtain (download) software and install it |
|
|
I know how to obtain (download) videos |
|
|
I understand what anti-virus software is, and how to purchase/install it |
|
|
I understand what a computer virus is, and how it might be transmitted |
|
|
I know what a firewall is, and what it does |
|
|
I know how to publish on the web (blogs, wikis, forums, etc) |
|
|
I know how to search for information on the web using search engines |
|
|
I know how to question the source of information on the Internet |
|
|
I have designed materials for online delivery |
|
|
I know how to create/edit images and save them in different file formats such as GIF of JPEG |
|
|
I know how to record/ edit audio and video files and save them in different file formats such as AVI or MP3 |
|
|
I am experienced using collaborative work spaces (e.g. Yahoo Groups, Socialtext, Elgg, LinkedIn/ Xing) |
|
|
PC skills |
4, 3, 2, 1 |
|
I am able to read and write Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files |
|
|
I am able to create/ edit word documents (e.g.. MS Word, Staroffice etc.) |
|
|
I am able to create/ edit a presentation (e.g. MS PowerPoint) |
|
|
I am able to create/ edit a spreadsheet (e.g. MS Excel, Lotus Notes) |
|
|
I am able to create/ edit a database (e.g. MS Access, dbase) |
|
|
I am able to create/ edit/ resize images (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Fireworks, Freehand) |
|
|
I am able to create/ edit video/audio files (ie. MS Media Encoder, Camtasia, Audacity etc.) |
|
|
I am experienced in adjusting settings in the control panel of Windows (e.g. de-installation of software, adjust audio settings, check system information etc) |
|
|
I know how to zip or unzip a file |
|
|
I know how to burn a CD or save files to a USB stick |
|
|
I know the difference between CDs/ DVDs/ MP3s |
|
PC/ Internet Connection
Please specify your hard and software you are using. If you do not know any
of the details below, contact your virtual classroom support to find out where you can find this information.
|
Operating system Windows/ Mac/ Linux? |
|
|
Internet Speed DSL/ Cable/ Modem? Download/ Upload speed? |
|
|
Laptop/ PC? |
|
|
Do you use your own machine or do you share a PC with family members or anybody else? |
|
|
Do you connect from home or from an office? Specify where… |
|
|
What firewall do you use? |
|
|
What Anti-Virus Software do you use? |
|
|
System Information (Processor/ RAM) |
|
In brief, please add any other comments you think are relevant
|
|
Section 3 "Survey results"
3.01 Live Online Environment
3.01(1) I have experienced a live online environment (web conference/ video conference/ web cast/ webinar)
3.01(2) I have experience using an Instant Messenger (Skype, MSN, Yahoo)
3.01(3) I have experienced learning languages in a live online environment (web conference/ video conference/ web cast/ webinar)
3.01(4) I have experience learning languages using an Instant Messenger (Skype, MSN, Yahoo)
3.02 Virtual Learning Environment
3.02 (1) I have experience using a digital self-learning software (asynchronous)
3.02 (2) I have experience using a digital self-learning software (asynchronous) to learn a language
3.02 (3) I have experience of using a Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle, WebCT or Blackboard
3.02 (4) I have experience using software for interactive exercises such as multiple-choice, gab filling exercises, crosswords,
3.02 (5) I have experience using translation software and/ or vocabulary trainers, spell checkers and/or using a theasaurus
3.02 ICT skills
3.03 (1) I am comfortable using various browsers (eg Firefox, Internet Explorer)
3.03 (3) I am familiar with the range of functions provided by email software
3.03 (4) I know what spam is, and how to create filters to block it
3.03 (5) I am able to obtain (download) software and install it
3.03 (6) I know how to obtain (download) videos
3.03 (7) I understand what anti-virus software is, and how to purchase/install it
3.03 (8) I understand what a computer virus is, and how it might be transmitted
3.03 (9) I know what a firewall is, and what it does
3.03 (10) I know how to publish on the web (blogs, wikis, forums, etc)
3.03 (11) I know how to search for information on the web using search engines
3.03 (12) I know how to question the source of information on the Internet
3.03 (13) I have designed materials for online delivery
3.03 (14) I know how to create/edit images and save them in different file formats such as GIF of JPEG
3.03 (15) I know how to record/ edit audio and video files and save them in different file formats such as AVI or MP3
3.03 (16) I am experienced using collaborative work spaces (e.g. Yahoo Groups, Socialtext, Elgg, LinkedIn/ Xing)
Section 4 "Recommendations on how to adapt this technical skills and equipment questionnaire"
Analysing the survey details and the feed back from the technical check-ins which were performed at the beginning of some of the courses, one can observe that this self-assessment give clear indication as to whether the participants will fair better or worse in Second Life. Generally speaking, the higher the general PC and ICT skills are, the better somebody will get on in Second Life.
This result is by no means suprising. What is however rather important is to be able to give the educators a technical skills analysis template into their hands that can help them decide as to whether a course participant should even be allowed to be part of an SL course.
In the case of language learning, numerous self-tests based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) are available to assess the learners level prior to joining a class. This is not the case for ICT skills. Todate, no ICT skills self-test is available.There are numerous tests for PC skills such as related to Microsoft Office software and operating system. However, there is no standardized self-test available for ICT skills.
Clearly, here is where the development of the Internet has overtaken the formal schooling system because if you go to a computer school, you will likely be offered a European Driving License (ECDL) course. The European Driving License is clearly related to Microsoft Office products and should no longer be the standard for media literacy in an Internet age because with the advances of Google docs and mobile application, simply knowing MS Office products such as Word and Excel, is no longer enough.
Indeed if you browse the list of the Top 25 most common software and webbased application recommended by educators published by Jane Hart, you will have a difficult job even finding an MS product. The list of important software and webbased applications is led by Twitter, then YouTube, Google Docs, Delicious, Slideshare, Skype, Google Reader, Wordpress, Facebook, Moodle, Google search, Prezi, Dropbox, Blogger, diigo, Wikipedia, Jing, Wikispaces, Voice Thread, fickr, PowerPoint (on place 21!), Wordle, Evernote, Audacity and Glogster.
So, where does one go from here in order to get an indication whether a potential course participant is suitable for a technically challenging environment like Second Life?
It is recommended to perhaps add this list of the Top 25 tools for educators published by Jane Hart.to the questionnaire. Allow the participants to express whether they know these tools, have heard of them, have used them in the past and use it regularily as options.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Second Life © is a registered trademark of LindenLab coorp., San Francisco. Other mentioned trademarks are respected properties of their owners.