E-Learning+-+Class+Examples

**E-Learning Class Example 1** This e-learning example has to be carried out in groups. Students are to develop a Scratch game in which certain criteria have to be met; for example the game has to include points, multilevel and multiplayers. No resources are given to the students. Each group has to come up with a scenario. This will create the need for the students to communicate via an online social networking medium on the scenario, division of work, resources to be used in the game etc. Afterwards, they are to post the game both in the Scratch community site and on the Moodle for other groups to see. This echoes Vygotsky’s Activity theory which stipulates that the tools used will be subject to change during the process depending on the interaction between the agents using these tools. Since the tools used allow for modifications and artefacts created can be easily communicated, there is a wider space for students to learn from one another. For example, if the members of the group agree upon an objective, it might be the case that 2 members from the group develop a different algorithm to reach that game objective. This will result in the students, not only practicing and understanding Scratch hence simply knowing the content but how a problem can be solved using multiple approaches. **E-Learning Class Example 2** This e-learning example is also carried out in groups. The objective of this activity is to create charts in Excel in which answers to questions related to football (best player, best team, members of which club …) are plotted. Each group has to use Google Docs (or any other survey application) to write the questions (approximately 10) and then upload the survey on the VLE for other classmates to answer. Of course, each group is to answer surveys by other groups. When the classmates reply, each group plots the results of his survey on an Excel sheet. Instead of having the teacher giving out the data to be used in order to plot the excel chart, the students are creating the data themselves. While doing so, they are making use of online social media because each group has to communicate to find the questions to ask in the survey, the survey has to be sent to the other classmates and the classmates have to send it back. This e-learning activity echoes John Dewey’s concept of community of learners since by this activity, the students can create knowledge only if there is collaboration between them. Furthermore, it also echoes Vygotsky’s Activity Theory because the students will be using tools and communicate between them while using these tools in order to learn.
 * By Daniela & Lourdes**