Live, online instruction has many benefits for learners. Chief among them, the fact that it can be even more accessible, and, therefore, more effective than in-person classes. In this post, we look at data from thousands of learners demonstrating exactly how effective virtual live instruction can be.
18
Oct
Oct
Video conferencing software has made enormous strides in the last few years, and most people probably have encountered multiple applications that can easily facilitate virtual, face-to-face conversations with friends, family, and colleagues from phones or computers. In the “olden days”–that is, even just three or four years ago–tools like Skype or Google Hangouts would crash, […]
05
Oct
Oct
Last week I joined Kaplan’s Trending in Education Podcast to discuss Voxy’s approach to teaching English to non-native speakers, using technology to improve learning outcomes, and how applicable lessons I learned from experiences teaching english to non-native speakers might be to the broader space of online learning end education. Listen to the episode here.
HR Trends & Insights, Learning & Development, Training Methodology
Why Don’t We Know How Long It Takes To Learn?
28
Sep
Sep
In general, there is evidence that technology can provide educational opportunities to people who would otherwise not have them, which is going to have an enormous impact on the lives of millions. However, the online courses we offer still tend to be replicas of their face-to-face counterparts, and we are not nearly as innovative or disruptive as we could be when it comes to instructional design. Perhaps part of the problem is that we are not harnessing the power that technology-driven instruction can bring to learning science.
Educational Technology, HR Trends & Insights, Learning & Development, News
Leveraging the Benefits of Online Learning: Unveiling the Command Center
30
Aug
Aug
We are excited to report that Voxy has recently released a user-friendly administrative and reporting dashboard—the Command Center—that lets our clients easily and quickly generate, sort, filter, and analyze the data produced by their students. Learn how this tool offers insight into what learners are doing to improve both immediate outcomes and future decisions and how it helps harness the potential of technology to change the way we think about language learning.
02
Aug
Aug
Now more than ever, the education industry is focused on “gamification,” or creating learning activities from games. But many of the things that make playing a game fun are the same factors that make language learning hard. Let’s explore several ways game and language application designers can bridge this gap.
HR Trends & Insights, Learning & Development, Training Methodology
It’s Time for Language Learning to Embrace Individualized Instruction
03
Jul
Jul
We know from copious amounts of research that instruction works best when it is personal. Yet daunted at the prospect of sorting this out, many language programs revert to the outdated approach of just assigning everyone the same thing. However, maybe incorporating individualized instruction into a group curriculum isn’t as hard as it might seem.
Educational Technology, HR Trends & Insights, Learning & Development, Training Methodology
For HR Departments, Blended Learning Is the Best Bet for English Learning Initiatives
24
May
May
Are you searching for the best way to provide English instruction to employees? If so, then you’re probably considering two options: self-study online courses or teacher-led live classes. But did you consider a mixture of both?
18
May
May
Authentic content gives learners exposure to the kind of language that they ultimately want to understand and create for themselves. If you don’t use authentic content, and teach learners with scripted dialogs or simplified materials written by language teachers, you’re not giving them models for how to produce or understand the language they’ll encounter in the wild. Not only is this ineffective, it’s also inefficient.
Educational Technology, Learning & Development, Training Methodology
Five English Lesson Ideas Based on Authentic, Real-World Content
10
May
May
We know that using authentic content is important in English language instruction, and there are dozens of ways to do it, from having students write Yelp reviews to watching YouTube videos. However, the bigger question is how to use authentic content in a way that is needs-based, personalized, and relevant.
30
Apr
Apr
In the U.S., we force students to sit through mind-numbing grammar lessons and stilted dialogues, leaving them unable to order coffee at a French bistro. But that doesn’t mean we should eliminate language instruction. It’s incredibly important for everyone to speak more than one language in today’s interconnected world.
Educational Technology, Learning & Development
Implementing Technology Programs in Workforce Language Training [Webinar]
13
Apr
Apr
Workforce development is the ideal place to implement a task-based language training program as learners have clear, real-world goals and because language instruction can be incorporated into training for other skills. In this post, an in-depth webinar on developing a strategy, designing effective language instruction, and measuring learner and course outcomes.