Chapter 4: Communication and Academic Purpose

Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the conventions of the explanation essay.
2. Transform research into sound arguments.
3. Appreciate the benefits and challenges of writing a blog.
4. Present doable research topics in line with their specialization.

Academic communication involves presenting ideas effectively and formally in a

scholastic environment. If you attend an institution of higher education, you can use
these skills to contribute to the academic conversation with your teachers and peers.
Academic communication, also called scholarly communication, refers to
methods of communication that are highly structured and generally only used in
pedagogical settings. Academic communication can include the words and
structures used to express ideas, as well as the methods by which ideas are
disseminated.
Lesson 1: Explanation Essay
A. An explanation, or expository, essay is a paper in which your objective as
a writer is to explain something to your reader. An explanatory essay
describes your opinion on something, the ideas of another person, a process
to follow, or an event that has taken place.
. A key to writing successfully is maintaining awareness of the audience,
which will influence your tone and word choice. Expository writing is done for
a variety of audiences and purposes, from grade school to advanced
technical writing, so a comprehensive understanding of the process is
important for success.
Steps:

Start with Research

When writing your essay, it is important to have facts and support for your
assertions. Although you may be well-versed in the topic on which you are writing,
research gives you additional credibility because you can cite multiple authorities.
Spend time finding your information, organizing your notes and determining the
reliability of the sources you are examining.

Develop a Thesis

Now that you have researched your topic, you need to determine the angle from
which you want to approach it. Remember that your goal is to explain the topic to
your reader. For example, if your topic is digital technology, you might write a paper
that explains ways that digital technology can be used in the classroom. Your thesis
statement can be: “Digital technology enhances the learning experience by
engaging students, reaching multiple learning styles and connecting students
across the globe.” The remainder of the essay will focus on explaining how digital
technology serves those three purposes.

Organize Your Writing

Writing an outline is a good way to keep your ideas organized. Even if you choose
not to follow a formal outline structure, you should use some pre-writing strategy to
ensure that your ideas are logical and well-organized. Clustering, looping, free
writing and brainstorming are all good pre-writing strategies. If you follow your
organizational plan, the drafting of your essay will be a seamless process.

Draft and Proofread

Now that you have your research and your plan, begin drafting your essay. When
you are writing, be sure that you stick to the facts and avoid adding your own bias
or opinions. Be sure to cite the sources of your references. Finally, proofread and
spell check for clarity. There are many Web-based spelling and grammar checkers
available to supplement your proofreading efforts.

Explanatory essays provide analysis and information to the reader. It sets the points
for view for the topics for explanatory essays, but they might not have an overt
central idea. Explanatory essay does not major on an in-depth research on the topic
of your assignment. It is different from a persuasive research paper in terms of and
argument it uses. For instance, the examples you might use in your essay can
emanate from your knowledge of the topic already in your mind.

Elements of explanatory essays

 A clear thesis that that founds and sustains your focus
Your thesis statement has to be focused and narrowed to follow the
guidelines of your assignments. It should be contained in the introduction part
of your explanatory essay, and if you fail to master this part early enough, you
will face difficulties in writing effective explanatory essays. Your thesis should
be debatable and ought to provide enough details. When writing your
introduction, ensure that our thesis statement comes as the last sentence. It
will link the audience directly to the discussion.

 Body paragraphs that are laden with specific evidence to show your
informative or analytic points
Just like any other essay, each paragraph of the explanatory essays is
supposed to deal with a single idea. This idea must connect with the central
argument in the essay. They must also have examples that logically support
your thesis. With good and relevant examples, the essay becomes clear and
shows the direction to the reader.

 Excellent and smooth transitions linking ideas in each paragraphs ins

ways that are specific and interesting
Transitions are very crucial in any form of writing. They enhance the logical
progression of the writer’s thought. The reader finds it easy to follow the
argument of the story throughout the paper. Transitions should be written in a
manner that connects the ideas between paragraphs. To make them effective,
ensure that the last sentence of your paragraph ushers the reader into the
idea of the topic sentence of the subsequent paragraph. Lack of proper
transitions destroys the flow of the essay, and the reader finds it hard to follow
the argument regarding topics for explanatory essays.
  A conclusion the re-emphasizes your central argument without
repeating it
When the conclusion for your explanatory essays, remember that you want to
leave an impression in the audience’s mind. Make your conclusion very
effective and logical. Summarize your main points to ascertain that your topic
has been accurately and exhaustively explained to the reader.
 The structure of an explanatory essay
Since you have been writing essays for some time, you understand the basic
format of writing them. Explanatory essays are not different and follow the
same typical format. This is how you should go about it.

Example of an explanatory Essay

Why Do Teenagers Commit Suicide?
Suicide has become a common occurrence that it is no longer taking
everyone by surprise. Suicides have become a common trend and the reasons the
victims give in their suicide notes seem trivial to the people who are left behind. But
suicide is never trivial. It is real, unnerving and scary. Psychologists have linked
suicide with mental disorders such as personality disorders (drug abuse and
alcoholism), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. But not all the patients
who suffer from these conditions commit suicide (Bloch 775). These conditions can
only be said to be excuses for people to commit suicide since suicide is not a state of
mind that develops within a day. People blame the suicide victims without
investigating the underlying factors so that they can be in a position to comprehend
the victims’ emotional imbalance and thoughts.
Psychologists have identified peer pressure and bullying as one of the major
causes of suicide. Many teenagers spend the better part of their young lives with
their parents. When they enter high school, they may not be psychologically
prepared to deal with mean people who pull dirty pranks on them and abusing them
verbally, especially commenting on their physical appearance. This makes these
teenagers feel cornered and their confidence and self-esteem are beaten down to a
bare minimum (du Roscoät, 519). This makes them feel incapable of coping with
their peers because they feel worthless and when they no longer feel the need of
living, they contemplate suicide. Since they think it is unlike a person of their age to
report to their teachers or parents, bullying tends to go unnoticed for a long time until
the teenager cannot take it anymore.
Sexual orientation is yet another cause for suicide in teenagers. It is at this
age that the children come to terms with their sexuality and some of them have
difficulties in coming to terms with reality. When a teenager learns that he or she is
bisexual, lesbian or gay, they find it difficult to share with their close friends and when
they do, they are ridiculed and mocked. Sometimes the family turns against these
teenagers and brands them as social misfits and an embarrassment to humanity,
especially the parents with strong religious affiliations (Hall 230). When a child
comes out to share about his/ her sexual orientation and is rejected by the same
people that they trust, the turmoil within becomes difficult to handle. When this
situation leads to depression, and the teenager has nobody to talk to, they may end
up taking their lives as an escape route.
Alcohol and drug abuse is yet another cause of teenage suicide. At this age,
teenagers are in the age of discovery and they can only discover by experimenting.
Some get indulged that what they thought was fun turns to be fully fledged addiction.
Some hard drugs are expensive and these children cannot afford them (Hall 232).
They, therefore, use the money available to them like pocket money and some can
spend their tuition money on drugs. When they realize that they have messed all the
money entrusted to them by their parents and they feel they are a letdown and a
disgrace to them, they may think of overdosing to end their miserable life.
In conclusion, most teens commit suicide due to the feelings of helplessness
and hopelessness. Most teens who have attempted suicide complain of suffering in
silence because they do not trust the people close to them, or they trusted people
close to them and they turned on them and betrayed them. When they feel that they
have no solution for their feelings of being unloved, hurt, rejection or pain, they opt
for the easiest route; suicide.
Assessment: Choose any topic listed below and write an explanatory essay
about it. Avoid plagiarism.
1. What are the key causes of poverty?

2. What are positive and negative impacts of technology in the

classroom?
Lesson 2: Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the
claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument
being made.

Argumentative essay assignments generally call for extensive research of literature

or previously published material. Argumentative assignments may also require
empirical research where the student collects data through interviews, surveys,
observations, or experiments. Detailed research allows the student to learn about the
topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic so that she/he
may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected during research.
Regardless of the amount or type of research involved, argumentative essays must
establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.

The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following:

 A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first
paragraph of the essay.
In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context
by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why
the topic is important (exigence) or why readers should care about the issue.
Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this
thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in
the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will
be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
 Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and
conclusion.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together.
Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the
essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up
the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in
the next section.
 Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This
will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such
conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important
to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical
connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some
paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected
during research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence
supports the thesis (warrant).

 Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and
current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points
of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should
support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view
when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a successful and
 well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with
the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not support the thesis.
It is not the student’s job to point out how other positions are wrong outright,
but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to
date on the topic.

 A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it
in light of the evidence provided.
It is at this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle. This is the
portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the
mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not
introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the
information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is
important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want
to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in
light of your work.

Example of an argumentative essay

Can the Death Penalty Be Effective?
There are numerous debates about the death penalty, as the opinions on this
topic differ in different countries of the world. Most countries have abolished the
death penalty, but there are still countries where it is used. The effectiveness of the
death penalty can be measured by the rates of crimes that demonstrate that this
method of punishment does not reduce the number of criminal acts.

The main goal of the death penalty is to decrease the numbers of abhorrent
crimes in the world. However, the statistics show that it does not have as many
positive effects as expected. For instance, among the 25 states of the US with the
highest crime rates, the death penalty is legal in 20 of them (Tures). If the death
penalty was an effective method for the prevention and decrease of crime, the
statistics would demonstrate that states with the death penalty would have lower
crime rates. Conversely, the statistics show the opposite result, which means that it
does not have high effectiveness. Today, capital punishment most likely has other
goals, such as revenge. It violates human rights, which is why a growing number of
people are against this type of punishment.

There is no evidence that the death penalty is effective for the prevention of
criminal acts. However, it is proven that there are numerous disadvantages when it
comes to this type of punishment. For instance, there is always a possibility that the
person who is punished by death penalty is innocent. The statistics demonstrate that
in 2017 there were 137 prison inmates released because of their innocence
(Sampathkumar). There is no statistical data about the number of people killed as a
result of their criminal acts, but there is the possibility that an innocent person can
become the victim of the death penalty. There is information that 4% of people
executed by death penalty are innocent, and therefore, it is essential to abolish this
type of punishment in all countries of the world in order to prevent the cases of killing
innocent people (Goodman). Also, the death penalty is a problem which costs money
for the country. For example, the average cost of this case is almost $2.5 million
(Goodman). The money spent on the death penalty could have been used for more
important goals, such as saving the lives of other people and helping homeless and
disabled children. Also, the death penalty has a negative effect on African American
culture. For instance, African Americans make up around 13% of the population in
the US, but the percentage of death row prisoners who are black is around 50
(Goodman). It demonstrates that there is a higher possibility for a black person to be
executed than for a white person. These disadvantages should be the motivation for
governments of all countries to make the death penalty illegal.

The death penalty is one of the cruelest types of criminal punishment, which is
performed with the help of different methods such as hanging, electrocution, and
lethal injections. It would be possible to say that the death penalty is an effective
method of prevention of abhorrent crimes if the statistics showed that it decreased
the number of criminal acts. However, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of
this type of punishment, and yet there are numerous disadvantages to this process.

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Lesson 3: Research Proposal and Report

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important,
and how you will do the research. The format of a research proposal varies between
fields, but most proposals should contain at least these elements:

1) Title page
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that
includes:

 The proposed title of your project

 Your name
 Your supervisor’s name
 The institution and department

2) Introduction
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project, so make sure it
succinctly explains what you want to do and why. It should:

 Introduce the topic
 Give background and context
 Outline your problem statement and research question(s)

Some important questions to guide your introduction include:

 Who has an interest in the topic (e.g. scientists, practitioners, policymakers,

particular members of society)?
 How much is already known about the problem?
 What is missing from current knowledge?
 What new insights will your research contribute?
 Why is this research worth doing?
If your proposal is very long, you might include separate sections with more detailed
information on the background and context, problem statement, aims and objectives,
and importance of the research.

3) Literature review
It’s important to show that you’re familiar with the most important research on your
topic. A strong literature review convinces the reader that your project has a solid
foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply
repeating what other people have already done or said.

In this section, aim to demonstrate exactly how your project will contribute to
conversations in the field.

 Compare and contrast: what are the main theories, methods, debates and
controversies?
 Be critical: what are the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches?
 Show how your research fits in: how will you build on, challenge, or
synthesize the work of others?

4) Research design and methods

Following the literature review, it’s a good idea to restate your main objectives,
bringing the focus back to your own project. The research design or methodology
section should describe the overall approach and practical steps you will take to
answer your research questions.

Methodology in a research proposal

 Research type

 Will you do qualitative or quantitative research?

 Will you collect original data or work with primary or secondary sources?

 Is your research design descriptive, correlational, or experimental?

 Sources

 Exactly what or who will you study (e.g. high school students in New York;
Scottish newspaper archives 1976-80)?

 How will you select subjects or sources (e.g. random sampling, case studies)?

 When and where will you collect the data?

 Research methods

 What tools and procedures will you use (e.g. surveys, interviews,
observations, experiments) to collect and analyze data?
  Why are these best methods to answer your research questions?

 Practicalities

 How much time will you need to collect the data?

 How will you gain access to participants or sources?

 Do you foresee any potential obstacles, and how will you address them?

Make sure not to simply write a list of methods. Aim to make an argument for why
this is the most appropriate, valid and reliable approach in answering your questions.

5) Reference list or bibliography

Your research proposal must include proper citations for every source you
have used, and full publication details should always be included in
the reference list. To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our
free APA citation generator.

In some cases, you might be asked to include a bibliography. This is a list of

all the sources you consulted in preparing the proposal, even ones you did not
cite in the text, and sometimes also other relevant sources that you plan to
read. The aim is to show the full range of literature that will support your
research project.

The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to
study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the
proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for
conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in
which the problem resides; therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are
more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal.

Report Writing- It is a formal style of writing elaborately on a topic. The tone of a report
is always formal. The audience it is meant for is always thought out section. 
Let us first draw a clear distinction between essays and reports. These words are
sometimes used interchangeably, but there is definitely a difference of purpose for both. 
Essays Report Writing
Presents information and opinions Presents facts and information
specifically, no opinions
Written for everyone in general Written for a specific audience,
a report concerns itself to only a certain
set of people related
The structure is casually flowing The structure is very crisp and clean,
in paragraphs using pointers and numbered headings
and sub-headings
Essays usually have room for Using tables, graphs, charts to prove a
expression of one’s opinions, need not point is very common
be supported with graphical proofs
 An essay has a logical flow of thoughts A report often needs a quick summary
but no need of a summary addressing highlighting points
Doesn’t have an appendices Often has appendices
Both essay and report writing need Crisp, often pre-designed layouts
formal writing, analytical thinking, solid
reasoning behind every conclusion,
careful reading and neat presentation,
but a report-writing layout is very
different from essay writing

Essential Elements to Report Writing

1) Title Page
2) Table of contents- This is optional depending on the length of the report—a 2
to 3 page report probably wouldn't have a table of contents but a 10 to 20
page report would.
3) Executive Summary- An executive summary is a brief overview of a report
that is designed to give the reader a quick preview of the report's contents. Its
purpose is to present the key points of a report in one place. After reading the
summary, your audience will understand the main points you are making and
your evidence for those points without needing to read your full report.
Remember that the purpose of an executive summary is to provide an
overview or preview to an audience who may not have time to read the whole
report carefully.

4) Introduction
The introduction should:
briefly describe the context and background to the research
describe the change, problem or issue to be reported on
define the specific objectives and purpose of the report
indicate the overall answer to the problem explored in the report
outline the report's scope (the extent of the investigation, also known as its
terms of reference or brief)
preview the report structure
comment on the limitations of the report and any assumptions that are made.

5) Discussion
This is the main body of the report and it has two key purposes:
 to explain the conclusions
 to justify the recommendations

Key points to remember when you are writing the discussion include the
following:
 Present the analysis in a logical and systematic way
 If necessary, divide the material with appropriate headings to improve the
readers' understanding
  Back up your claims with evidence—explain your findings
 Link theory to practical issues
 Persuade readers of the validity of your stance

6) Conclusion
The conclusion should:

 be arranged so that the major conclusions come first

 identify the major issues relating to the case and give your interpretation of
them
 relate specifically to the objectives of the report as set out in the introduction
 be a list of numbered points
 follow logically from the facts in the discussion
 be clean-cut and specific
 be brief

7) Recommendations
Your recommendations point to the future and should be:

 action-oriented
 feasible
 logically related to the discussion and conclusion
 numbered
 arranged in order of importance
 brief

8) References
Cite your source of information.

9) Appendices
Include in the appendices any essential extra material, such as tables and
graphs that support your research but don't relate directly to the discussion of
your findings.
Types of Reports
A. Long Report and Short Reports- These kinds of reports are quite clear, as the
name suggests. A two-page report or sometimes referred to as
a memorandum is short, and a thirty-page report is absolutely long. But what
makes a clear division of short reports or long reports? Well, usually, notice that
longer reports are generally written in a formal manner.

B. Internal and External Reports- an internal report stays within a certain

organization or group of people. In the case of office settings, internal reports are
for within the organization.

External Reports, such as a news report in the newspaper about an incident or

the annual reports of companies for distribution outside the organization. We call
these as public reports.
 C. Vertical and Lateral Reports- A vertical report is a report for your
management or for your mentees. Lateral reports, on the other hand, assist in
coordination in the organization.  A report traveling between units of the same
organization level (for example, a report among the administration and finance
departments) is lateral.

D. Periodic Reports- Periodic reports are sent out on regularly pre-scheduled

dates. In most cases, their direction is upward and serves as management
control. 

E. Formal Reports- Formal reports are meticulously structured. They focus on

objectivity and organization, contain deeper detail, and the writer must write them
in a style that eliminates factors like personal pronouns.

F. Informal Reports- Informal reports are usually short messages with free-
flowing, casual use of language. We generally describe the internal
report/memorandum as an informal report. For example, a report among your
peers, or a report for your small group or team, etc.

G. Analytical reports- (scientific research, feasibility reports, and employee

appraisals) show attempts to solve actual problems. These analytical reports
usually require suggestions at the end.

H. Proposal Reports- These kinds of reports are like an extension to the

analytical/problem-solving reports. A proposal is a document one prepares to
describe how one organization can provide a solution to a problem they are
facing.

I. Functional Reports- These kinds of reports include marketing reports, financial

reports, accounting reports, and a spectrum of other reports that provide a
function specifically. By and large, we can include almost all reports in most of
these categories. Furthermore, we can include a single report in several kinds of
reports.

Lesson 4: Writing Blog

Blog- A blog (a shortened version of “weblog”) is an online journal or informational
website displaying information in the reverse chronological order, with the latest
posts appearing first, at the top. It is a platform where a writer or a group of writers
share their views on an individual subject.
The main purpose of a blog is to connect you to the relevant audience. Another one
is to boost your traffic and send quality leads to your website. Blogs also promote
reader engagement. Readers have a chance to comment and voice their different
concerns and thoughts to the community. Blog owners update their site with new
blog posts on a regular basis.
How to Write a Blog
 Step 1: Plan your blog post by choosing a topic, creating an outline,
conducting research, and checking facts.

Step 2: Craft a headline that is both informative and will capture readers’
attentions.

Step 3: Write your post, either writing a draft in a single session or gradually
word on parts of it.

Step 4: Use images to enhance your post, improve its flow, add humor, and
explain complex topics.

Step 5: Edit your blog post. Make sure to avoid repetition, read your post
aloud to check its flow, have someone else read it and provide feedback, keep
sentences and paragraphs short, don’t be a perfectionist, don’t be afraid to cut
out text or adapt your writing last minute.

How to choose a topic

 Pick something you’re passionate about. When you care about your topic,
you’ll write about it in a more powerful, emotionally expressive way.

 Pick something your readers are passionate about. What does your

audience care about? It’s important to know so you can engage them. And don’t be
afraid to go negative (e.g. Ten “Healthy” Foods You Should Always Avoid). The
human negativity bias is legit.

 Get inspired by research. Some of the best articles I’ve written

germinated when I grew curious about a subject and decided to explore it.

 Get inspired by other writers. No, I don’t mean you should plagiarize or

blatantly copy ideas. But you can take a look at what your competition is writing
about and put your own spin on these subjects. What new information or ideas can
you bring to the table?

Pick a Good Angle- Think about the best approach to your topic. If you want to
explain how to do something, a step-by-step how-to article could work well. Want to
write about your favorite autobiographies or offer your best tips for throwing a
memorable dinner party? Consider a listicle. There’s nothing wrong with a straight-up
essay, either, as long as it’s well-organized.

Get organized- Organize your thoughts with an outline. 

Open strong- Think of your opening paragraph as an advertisement for the rest of
your blog post, the thing that keeps your reader on the line. 
Write naturally- The one thing you have that other writers don’t is your voice.
Cultivate it! If it works for your article, consider writing in the first person and
including some relatable anecdotes. (Like my “And another thing!” tale.) Whenever
you can, tell a story, whether it’s your own or someone else’s.
Write emotionally- You can create interest just by using emotional language to write
on topics your readers care about.
 Close Strong- You’ve come this far. Now, it’s time to write a killer close that will help
cement your post in your reader’s mind, create engagement, and encourage social
sharing. Let’s look at a few.

 Simply end at a natural stopping point. No wrap-ups, no frills—just end

when you’re finished. Give it a try if it suits your post and writing style.

 Wrap it up with a summary paragraph. This is by far the most traditional
approach. Summarize your conclusions and add some closing thoughts.

 Create a TL;DR. For better or worse, we skim when we read online. A TL;DR
is usually a simple bulleted list that lets a reader see your conclusions at a glance.
You never know—the TL;DR could inspire someone to go back and read the full
article.

 Fish for comments. When you wrap up with a compelling question, you
encourage your readers to have a say. This can help you build community around
your blog.

 Ask for a social share. It never hurts to ask people to share your article if it
resonated with them.

 Ask the reader to subscribe. The reader made it to the end of your article—
they like you! Ask them to connect with you on social media or subscribe to your blog
channel so they can see whenever you post new content.

Assessment: Write a blog about the beauty of your place. See to it that it will be
interesting, something that will catch the interest of the readers.

Lesson 5: Web-based Educational Materials/ Sources/ platforms

Web-based teaching starts with identifying and vetting your resources,
creating a lesson plan, and developing online handouts that provide
information and encourage student participation.

Textbooks are a great source of reliable information and ready-made

activities, but the content they provide can be generic and not particularly
engaging for students. By leveraging the instructional potential of web-
based resources, you can increase student engagement, expose them to
authentic content, and engage them in collaborative activities that trigger
critical thinking and creativity.

Some effective web-based learning materials recommended by literacy

practitioners include:
 E-Channel is an online literacy learning environment developed by Contact
North. E-Channel:

o Provides Ontarians online literacy and basic skills courses, that are
either “live” in an online classroom or at “anytime” at a time and place
convenient to the student.
o Supports services at no cost to indigenous, Anglophone, deaf, and
francophone cultural groups, and to those preparing for apprenticeship
and postsecondary programs.
o Manages an online meeting space for students, teachers, coaches,
trainers and leaders of adult literacy and basic skills programs.
o Offers an easy and convenient way for Ontarians to interact and learn
through real-time or anytime classroom lessons.

 EdHelper: www.edhelper.com
This American site provides a variety of learning activities in reading and
writing, math, social sciences, etc. Daily themes are also included. Although it
is designed for school-aged children, the activities can also be used in literacy
programs. You can view and print sample worksheets and activities, but you
do need to subscribe to use all of the site’s features (including answer keys). 
 Grammar Bytes: www.chompchomp.com
o This site bills itself as “grammar instruction with attitude”. It provides
grammar tips and rules and a variety of interactive exercises. You can
also choose a printable format for the exercises. Answer keys are
provided. This site is more suited to higher level learners.

 Grammar Basics: www.englishchick.com/grammar/grrem.htm
o This site covers all of the basic rules of English grammar such as parts
of speech, writing sentences and so on. It is useful for learning the
rules, but it does not provide any worksheets or exercises.

The Most Popular Digital Education Tools for Teachers And Learners

Hundreds of digital education tools have been created with the purpose of giving
autonomy to the student, improving the administration of academic processes,
encouraging collaboration, and facilitating communication between teachers and
learners. Here we present 11 of the most popular.

1. Edmodo
Edmodo is an educational tool that connects teachers and students, and is
assimilated into a social network. In this one, teachers can create online
collaborative groups, administer and provide educational materials, measure student
performance, and communicate with parents, among other functions. Edmodo has
more than 34 million users who connect to create a learning process that is more
enriching, personalized, and aligned with the opportunities brought by technology
and the digital environment.

2. Socrative
Designed by a group of entrepreneurs and engineers passionate about
education, Socrative is a system that allows teachers to create exercises or
educational games which students can solve using mobile devices, whether
smartphones, laptops, or tablets. Teachers can see the results of the activities and,
depending on these, modify the subsequent lessons in order to make them more
personalized.

3. Projeqt
Projeqt is a tool that allows you to create multimedia presentations, with dynamic
slides in which you can embed interactive maps, links, online quizzes, Twitter
timelines, and videos, among other options. During a class session, teachers can
share with students academic presentations which are visually adapted to different
devices.

4. Thinglink
Thinglink allows educators to create interactive images with music, sounds, texts,
and photographs. These can be shared on other websites or on social networks,
such as Twitter and Facebook. Thinglink offers the possibility for teachers to create
learning methodologies that awaken the curiosity of students through interactive
content that can expand their knowledge.

5. TED-Ed
TED-Ed is an educational platform that allows creating educational lessons with the
collaboration of teachers, students, animators—generally people who want to
expand knowledge and good ideas. This website allows democratizing access to
information, both for teachers and students. Here, people can have an active
participation in the learning process of others.

6. cK-12
cK-12 is a website that seeks to reduce the cost of academic books for the K12
market in the United States and the world. To achieve its objective, this platform has
an open source interface that allows creating and distributing educational material
through the internet, which can be modified and contain videos, audios, and
interactive exercises. It can also be printed and comply with the necessary editorial
standards in each region. The books that are created in cK-12 can be adapted to the
needs of any teacher or student.
7. ClassDojo
ClassDojo is a tool to improve student behavior: teachers provide their students with
instant feedback so that good disposition in class is 'rewarded' with points and
students have a more receptive attitude towards the learning process. ClassDojo
provides real-time notifications to students, like 'Well Done David!' and '+1', for
working collaboratively. The information that is collected about student behavior can
be shared later with parents and administrators through the web.

8. eduClipper
This platform allows teachers and students to share and explore references and
educational material. In eduClipper, you can collect information found on the internet
and then share it with the members of previously created groups, which offers the
possibility to manage more effectively the academic content found online, improve
research techniques, and have a digital record of what students achieved during the
course. Likewise, it provides the opportunity for teachers to organize a virtual class
with their students and create a portfolio where all the work carried out is stored.

9. Storybird
Storybird aims to promote writing and reading skills in students through storytelling.
In this tool, teachers can create interactive and artistic books online through a simple
and easy to use interface. The stories created can be embedded in blogs, sent by
email, and printed, among other options. In Storybird, teachers can also create
projects with students, give constant feedback, and organize classes and grades.

10. Animoto
Animoto is a digital tool that allows you to create high-quality videos in a short time
and from any mobile device, inspiring students and helping improve academic
lessons. The Animoto interface is friendly and practical, allowing teachers to create
audiovisual content that adapts to educational needs.

11. Kahoot!
Kahoot! is an educational platform that is based on games and questions. Through
this tool, teachers can create questionnaires, discussions, or surveys that
complement academic lessons. The material is projected in the classroom and
questions are answered by students while playing and learning at the same time.
Kahoot! promotes game-based learning, which increases student engagement and
creates a dynamic, social, and fun educational environment.