It is proposed that the e-Help course will take place for the first time
in Gothenburg, July 2010. The course is designed to last five days, with delegates
arriving on a Saturday and departing the following Friday. The
structure of the course follows five broad themes, one for each day.
The course begins with delegates learning how to design and build their
own teaching website and then develops and reinforces associated ICT
skills though a range of optional modules throughout the week. Whilst
the focus is firmly on history teaching and ICT it is anticipated that
optional modules for teachers with a language learning focus will be
available in most sessions.
The e-Help teacher training course follows the ‘cascade’ philosophy for
professional development. Each delegate is trained in how to deliver
each module at their own educational establishment. They will be
provided with ‘delegate notes’ to follow before and during the training,
but also ‘tutor notes’ to enable them to deliver the e-Help modules
themselves.
The four themes for the optional modules are: communication, ICT in the
classroom, digital video and interaction.
The communication modules will offer delegates instruction in
various themes associated with web 2.0: blogs, wikis, podcasting,
VLEs, forums etc.
ICT in the classroom focuses on software and hardware used
regularly in the history and second language classroom. This will
cover the use of Interactive ‘Smartboards’, PowerPoint and the most
commonly used word processing, DTP and spreadsheet programmes.
The digital video theme takes delegates through the
possibilities of using digital video in the classroom and on their
websites. It will offer modules on the practicalities of shooting
and editing film, and related hardware and software issues. The
focus at all times, as with all modules, will be on the pedagogic
goals not the technology.
The final theme is interaction. Here delegates will learn
about software that can engage the learner with their teacher
produced website: games, quizzes and simulation packages that help
to develop active learning in the student learner.
In addition to the modules, each day will begin and end with
sessions designed to bring all tutors and delegates together. At
the start of each day there will be brief keynote presentation
on that day’s theme delivered by a recognised expert amongst the
e-Help team.
At the end of the day there will be informal reinforcement time
for delegates to continue to work on their ‘website in progress’
under the supervision of e-Help tutors. Throughout the day there
will be a website workshop space for delegates to seek expert
advice from one of the e-Help tutors.
A
schedule for the e-Help course might look something like this:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Keynote
Website
Keynote
Communication
Keynote
Classroom
Keynote
Video
Keynote
Interactivity
Website
Modules
Modules
Modules
Modules
Website
Modules
Modules
Modules
Modules
Lunch
Modules
Modules
Social Event
Modules
Conclusion
Reinforcement
Reinforcement
Reinforcement
Reinforcement
Dinner together
Dinner together
Dinner together
Dinner together
Given the significant degree of online support for the e-Help course, it
is anticipated that delegates will be able to choose their preferred
optional modules in advance of the course. To some extent, therefore,
the course will be tailored to the individual needs of the delegates. On
the following pages, 18 potential modules for history/language
teaching and ICT are outlined.
