A HyperDoc is a teaching and learning tool that helps you organize content and instructional activities using text, audio, video, images and, of course, hyperlinks. Think of it as an interactive lesson or unit plan.
HyperDocs can be short, specific lessons, like introduction to fractions and their uses. They can also be more general and then applied to different topics and subjects, like the inquiry template. They can even be a comprehensive collection of learning activities, resources and ideas that you can use to develop smaller lessons or modules, like digital storytelling ideas.
Creating a single HyperDoc does take time and effort. But what if it’s not all up to you to do the work? What if we could build a collection — sort of a crowdsourced effort? This is something we’re currently exploring.
AlphaPlus developed four HyperDocs to model their use and help you transition from paper to digital planning and activity development.
Visit the Hyperdocs site to learn more:
- Review copyright with paper and online resources.
- Think about what you’re digitizing and why.
- Organize your digitized content using Google Drive.
- Explore ways to make your activities interactive .
Presenters from three programs share how they create community and engage learners differently in video conferences.
These energizing and inspiring Zoom sessions showcase how innovative Ontario literacy program workers and instructors use digital tools and approaches to connect and work with learners and colleagues remotely.
Each session features guest presenters who share their approaches, strategies and tips followed by a Tech Q&A to explore some of the digital tools mentioned during the session.
Yet another inspiration to try something new to help my learners!
There is a vast amount of knowledge out there and to be able to listen to how people are using the various apps/tools was very informative.
It was such an informative couple of hours. Many bits of information stood out. The sharing of information was so exceptional.
What Is Blended Learning?
Blended learning is an approach where educators leverage technology and digital access for learners to create, communicate, collaborate and apply critical thinking skills to construct knowledge in our connected world. The four Cs — collaborative, communicative, creative and critical— are concepts that help educators make decisions about the ways they blend online and offline activities and integrate technology to support literacy, language and numeracy development.
The State of Blended Learning in LBS
Ontario’s Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) Program supports the integration of technology in face-to-face learning centres and classrooms, and offers exclusively online courses through e-Channel. The pandemic crisis forced many LBS educators to rapidly expand their integration of technology to provide remote learning options. Although LBS educators were able to facilitate access to e-Channel courses for learners, the vast majority adopted the use of a variety of communications and instructional technologies that considered learners’ digital access and readiness to learn online.
Digital technology can support personalized learning in several ways:
- Learner profiles
- Learning paths
- Feedback and assessment
AlphaPlus created this site in December 2018 for a community-based adult literacy program we were working with in Toronto. They were looking at increasing the use of tablets and were interested to see how digital technology could enhance an instructor’s capacity to personalize learning for a group with diverse needs, goals and desires.
If you’re interested in exploring the ways digital technology can personalize or individualize learning, please get in touch.
- AlphaPlus coaches will work with you to create an individualized plan and develop personalized learning solutions for the learners in your program.
- As an Educator Network (eNet) participant, you’ll join a cohort of Ontario literacy practitioners in a reflective practice process and have access to both AlphaPlus knowledge and peer experience.
- If you get stuck while trying something new, the AlphaPlus quick tech help option can help.
If you’d like a copy of this site to use as a starting point to adapt and expand for use in your program, please get in touch. AlphaPlus can give you a copy and support you in learning how to use a website builder such as Google Sites or Weebly as online learning spaces for learners, staff and volunteers.
People with number sense can use numbers flexibly. When we want to multiply seven by eight, we may have memorized our times tables and know that it is 56. But what if we forget? Someone with number sense would also be able to work out that seven times seven is 49 and then add seven to make 56, or they may work out 10 sevens and subtract two sevens (70 – 14 = 56). In this webinar, we looked at research about number sense, some promising practices and how digital technology can support the development of number sense.
Together we will explore how Google Sites can be used to set up and manage websites. We will take a closer look at embedding videos, documents, and forms as well.
The recording is no longer available but you can view the slides.
Navigating online surveys is becoming more common for learners as programs assess clients and gather feedback.
This webinar will outline a lesson plan that helps learners use survey and assessment tools to help them build their confidence and skills to complete them independently . The lesson plan integrates customizable surveys in SurveyMonkey and Google Forms. During this webinar, we will also discuss valuable information about clients’ use of digital survey tools as well as their preferences and best practices.
During this 2017 webinar we explore the digital skills needed for employment, education and independence:
- What digital skills employers expect?
- What digital skills are essential for success in post secondary?
- What digital skills do we need to navigate the world every day?
What does it take to be a digitally-enabled teacher?
This 2013 presentation explores the characteristics, attitudes and skills of tech-savvy teachers and what literacy practitioners and volunteers need to know, have or do to be effective in integrating digital tools and technologies into their practice .