1.3.2. Selecting external tools to support learning and generate data

There are multiple external tools that can support learners’ SRL. However, these tools do not always track learners’ engagement.

For example, you can start a prompt quiz by asking students to share their expectations, experience and knowledge of the course topic. To do this, you can use Moodle Quiz, Feedback or Choice activity (based on the question) or external and more interactive tools like Mentimeter, MsTeams Forms, Kahoot, Padlet, GoogleDocs.

Figure 5. An example of a question on learners’ expectations, using Mentimeter tool  (Trepule & Tamoliune, MA study course “Concepts of adult education”, 2022, Vytautas Magnus University)

Learners’ answers can result in a word cloud, graphics or some other chosen visualisation that might inform teachers on expectations for the teaching and learning design and stimulate students’ reflection on their learning preferences and goals. The results’ visualisation can be embedded in an online learning environment and can be reviewed throughout the course, discussing and monitoring what has been achieved and what is still missing.

A Padlet tool can also be used when designing learning activities that require students to collaborate, share their ideas, suggestions, expectations, raise questions or introduce themselves depending on the goal of a pre-designed activity (fig. 6).

Figure 6. An example of a students’ introductory activity using Padlet tool (Volungeviciene et al., 2021, p. 151)

Other tools like GoogleDocs, Jamboard, etc. can be used to support learning activities and collect data on learners’ engagement and their own learning process. However, as it was emphasised, it is up to the teacher to decide what tools will not disrupt but, instead, will enhance the teaching and learning process, engage learners and at the same time foster self-regulation of their learning.

By aligning data from all the above presented activities and tools, you can collect multiple data representing a wider picture of the overall learning process and individual student’s learning behaviour.

Please take into account that this is an ever changing environment. These tools might disappear, might or might not be free, might or might not be open source, etc. In addition, they have different features with regard to the anonymity of data collected. Think of Mentimeter vs Moodle tools (where you know exactly who did what). In addition, Padlet has the limitation of three padlets for free accounts. In some countries, institutions are not allowed to use Google tools (UK struggles with this) because of data protection issues. They tend to use Microsoft tools instead. Therefore, each teacher has to explore the technological environment according to his/her own needs and the affordances provided.

N.B. Screenshot examples presented are retrieved from the following courses: MA course “E.learning technologies”, teachers A. Volungeviciene, E. Dauksiene, G. Tamoliune; and MA course “Concepts of adult education”, teachers E. Trepule, G. Tamoliune. Teachers’ approval has been received.