tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26772981077665300682024-03-18T20:11:00.108-07:00English Language Teaching and TechnologyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-43466186109449862012-03-12T12:54:00.000-07:002012-03-12T12:54:02.690-07:00Wordle<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>Wordle</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.wordle.net/">Wordle</a> </b>is a website for creating 'word clouds' from the texts which are inserted. This tool is more or less similar to <b><a href="http://www.wordsift.com/">WordSift</a> </b>but Wordsift only shows the 50 most frequent words appear in the texts inserted. Wordle, on the other hand, allows us to decide on the maximum number of words that appears in the word cloud.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teachers use <i>Wordle</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers may use this tool to in a reading lesson to students of different age, from primary school students to secondary school students, with different levels of English. I have provided here with an example of word cloud from the text called the '<a href="http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/DragRock.shtml">The Dragon Rock</a>' by Ellena Ashley.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Bmrw5un7DmrbW2DUFtAZsWsABlqFVcXajx-B9TLmqx8O9n0tr2jLsebooDdNqPvpVMM9dHJRV3yDsEnncJkVJFiUOdZLEBcrTGhKbYMxJdlgI7HVFhG7XQEclHTayK7Jlrg3SStcA5Pk/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Bmrw5un7DmrbW2DUFtAZsWsABlqFVcXajx-B9TLmqx8O9n0tr2jLsebooDdNqPvpVMM9dHJRV3yDsEnncJkVJFiUOdZLEBcrTGhKbYMxJdlgI7HVFhG7XQEclHTayK7Jlrg3SStcA5Pk/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The word appears in the biggest font size, which is 'Dragon', shows that the word appears the most in the text, followed by words like 'children', and 'like'. The smaller the word is, the less frequent it appears in the text. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The font, the layout, and the colour of the clouds can also be edited. Here are some of the examples. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguk3iBUZQQhXxq9-cvoeMeVd4GrsHcPP7Zu6qPu4Iv7DB7wCGuJi17mADLpy_I7gFBpYkdrdgV4C_ME2sZrPbUmZzo_7s2Zn2nv-I9Q0M4OV8pjyEtCs6hOWb56fXp2JvkYSyFNPO4ZQW3/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguk3iBUZQQhXxq9-cvoeMeVd4GrsHcPP7Zu6qPu4Iv7DB7wCGuJi17mADLpy_I7gFBpYkdrdgV4C_ME2sZrPbUmZzo_7s2Zn2nv-I9Q0M4OV8pjyEtCs6hOWb56fXp2JvkYSyFNPO4ZQW3/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2Ad3jkLuXddnydAF7mI3q7_eiFEvJX9qiCfl6dh6fSbO1lWJ4dhmDWC5ld5GT56xBvV7V5XW24RfT8ZLnR574oGOsMa9_9DkqVRR5aR5ZM4m5rIrkCPjogcCN4e3Uj8M47O-lLqD8FFl/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2Ad3jkLuXddnydAF7mI3q7_eiFEvJX9qiCfl6dh6fSbO1lWJ4dhmDWC5ld5GT56xBvV7V5XW24RfT8ZLnR574oGOsMa9_9DkqVRR5aR5ZM4m5rIrkCPjogcCN4e3Uj8M47O-lLqD8FFl/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more information on how to use Wordle, you can check out <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/wordle/index.html">Russell Stannard</a>'s website.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers may use Wordle for activities like previewing text in a reading lesson in the pre-reading stage to get students get an overview of what the text is about. It may also help in generating students' interest towards the text as well as activating students' schemata. It is also important for students to be introduced to to the vocabulary in the text by allowing them to see the words that they may or may not be familiar with. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students may also work individually or in pairs and discuss about what the text is about by just looking at the Wordle. This may encourage speaking among students and students may then be asked to share their ideas with the rest of the class.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other than that, teachers may also ask students to type a short story and make a Wordle using their stories. Students will the be paired up and students will be given the Wordle of the pair and guess the story that their partners have written.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I like about <i>Wordle</i>...</span></b></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The font, the layout, and the colour of your clouds can be edited. More interesting.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It can be printed out to be used in class.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can be saved into gallery, but once it is saved, it will go public.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Introducing vocabulary to students.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The maximum number of words can be decided.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can remove words which are not in English or any words that are not wanted.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can be used to practice multiple skills (reading, writing, and speaking)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Very nice visual texts! </span></li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I dislike about <i>Wordle</i>...</span></b><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Your clouds will go public once you save it. Not private. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Small words are sometimes too small to be read.</span></li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0University of Warwick, Kirby Corner Rd, Coventry, West Midlands CV4, UK52.3789864 -1.562302999999928952.3714989 -1.5711094999999289 52.386473900000006 -1.553496499999929tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-59316301405163962342012-03-12T12:53:00.000-07:002012-03-12T12:53:39.001-07:00National Film and Sound Archive, Australia (NFSA)<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is NFSA?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <b><a href="http://nfsa.gov.au/learning/digital-learning/">National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA)</a></b> is an audiovisual archive which stores thousands of videos and clips available for streaming and downloading. The NFSA is responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting, and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items. Under the tab 'learning', there are lots of digital learning resources which can be used for language learning.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18hJmt2JuRobsiCW4qKxkntCkvl8p5uJDrX8R4hdpUnbwjgJtcohwWpvgoj3LR-_9D-YUOGs8LKZS9f5WjtRWd993X21ibBf3BiH3STkr0tMAJtpC5Y0SCSUdhxXG51q1uQT531uQSM_x/s1600/click.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18hJmt2JuRobsiCW4qKxkntCkvl8p5uJDrX8R4hdpUnbwjgJtcohwWpvgoj3LR-_9D-YUOGs8LKZS9f5WjtRWd993X21ibBf3BiH3STkr0tMAJtpC5Y0SCSUdhxXG51q1uQT531uQSM_x/s640/click.png" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teachers use NFSA?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers may use this website in teaching language by incorporating some content in the lesson. For example, teachers may use the video 'On the rails: Exploring Australia by Train'. Other than learning language, students get to know about the history of the Australian railway. For this activity, students may click and go straight to teh activity while teachers are provided with a guide by clicking on 'Are you a teacher?'. Other than that, if you are only interested in watching the videos, there is a button which brings you to all the videos.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In this activity, students are to listen to the description and the history of the rails. After that, they are required to watch a video clip and answer questions at the end of the clip. The activity goes on the same way in which students will listen to description, watch videos, and answer questions. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers may also use related videos for pre-reading activities in order to activate students' schemata and to provide background knowledge to students. In addition, it may also be suitable to introduce particular vocabulary to students before their reading activities. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In a listening lesson, teachers may use this video for the listening activity and get students to answer some questions based on the video. </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I like about NFSA...</span></b></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teacher can print the guideline for teachers.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Balance of audio and visual.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It promotes content and language integrated learning (CLIL).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wide range of videos from arts, history, to biography.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Allow students to practise listening, writing, and perhaps speaking.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Provides variety to language teaching and learning.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Easy to search for topics. </span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>What I dislike about NFSA...</b></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No control of the audio and video. We have to listen until it finished in order to move on to the next activity and we cannot skip it. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Most of the videos are about Australia. Therefore, may not be appropriate for students from different context. Teachers need to first give background information to students.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students may get bored watching several videos in one lesson.</span></li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-86602133967216904342012-03-12T12:52:00.001-07:002012-03-12T12:52:58.117-07:00Click n Learn<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>clicknlearn</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://clicknlearn.net/">ClicknLearn</a> </b>is a Spanish website which is developed to support English language learners. Teachers and students can find lots of language activities to suit their age and level of English. Most of the language activities are accompanied by colourful images and very visual, and some come with sounds. There will also be a series of five to six different activities and games in each of the topics once you click it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As mentioned before, this site has activities for various groups of learners. Therefore, I believe it is suitable to be used for English language learners of all levels as there are activities for learners with different levels of English. Teachers may use <i>clicknlearn</i> to present new sets of vocabulary to students, teaching grammar, functions, as well as to reinforce what students have learnt in the classroom. In each of the activity, mostly, the new language items which are related to the topics chosen will be presented in the beginning of the activity.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Clicknlearn</i> is also suitable for autonomous learning in which students can use this website during their own free time at home. Students may choose activities that suit their age and level and learn the language themselves. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For teachers or students who would like to know more on how to use <i>clicknlearn</i>, you can watch this video by <a href="http://screencast.com/t/bm5rtKED5"><b>Russell Stannard</b></a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What I like about </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>clicknlearn...</i></span></b></span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lots, and I mean LOTS of activities for learners. And lots of language games!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Very organised in terms of the categories of activities for learners of different age and level of English.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Clear topics.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The activities cover multiple skills (reading, listening, spelling, writing, pronunciation).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">More to drilling when it comes to learning vocabulary.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some activities provide context to students.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The activities or the handouts can be printed.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No need to set up an account.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's FREE!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is interactive. Keep the students focus on what they are doing.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What I dislike about </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>clicknlearn...</i></span></b></span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The teacher's guide and student's guide are in Spanish, and most of the instructions are in Spanish as well.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Too fancy, with the 'unneeded' sound effects at the beginning of the page.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some activities do not have a 'back' button in case students need to look at the previous slides.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some activities do not have 'next' button and students have to complete the activity on a page before moving on. Cannot skip. Therefore, lack of control.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some feedback or games are too wordy and too lengthy. Students may not read them.</span></li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0University of Warwick, Kirby Corner Rd, Coventry, West Midlands CV4, UK52.3789864 -1.562302999999928952.3714989 -1.5711094999999289 52.386473900000006 -1.553496499999929tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-86060983487875407632012-03-12T12:52:00.000-07:002012-03-12T12:52:13.195-07:00WordSift<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>WordSift</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.wordsift.com/">WordSift</a> </b>is a useful website to support not only English language learners but also learners of other languages. This tool allows teachers to insert text and play with the results. It is a bit similar to <b><a href="http://www.wordle.net/">Wordle</a> </b>which makes word clouds out of a text. WordSift, on the other hand, shows the 50 </span><span style="font-size: large;">most used</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">words of the inserted </span><span style="font-size: large;">text</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teachers use <i>WordSift</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Based on the 50 most used words of a text, teachers may sort the words into several options provided, which are, 'common to rare', 'rare to common', 'A to Z', and 'Z to A'. I have provided here with an example of a text which has been sifted using Wordsift. The text is called '<a href="http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/DragRock.shtml">The Dragon Rock</a>' by Ellena Ashley.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mpD3M6ZaAFbeVa9rRJ31g9YLken-59dEQ3jJedvQGoX-wvfVjvlZX31PPd0FRXlXkiqryH4flxaIij169zefOB8wdkZcLSTYEWeGv_cD21R7K98kNj_KH27cICSonYEJHTVoWIiqhNf1/s1600/WordSift+-+Visualize+Text.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mpD3M6ZaAFbeVa9rRJ31g9YLken-59dEQ3jJedvQGoX-wvfVjvlZX31PPd0FRXlXkiqryH4flxaIij169zefOB8wdkZcLSTYEWeGv_cD21R7K98kNj_KH27cICSonYEJHTVoWIiqhNf1/s640/WordSift+-+Visualize+Text.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The words appear in a bigger font size shows the frequency of the words appear in the text. Therefore, in 'The Dragon Rock', it shows that the word 'Dragon' appears the most frequent in the text followed by 'child', and 'water'. The smallest word font shows the less frequent the word appears in the passage. The words are also sorted from A to Z.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The image below shows the words are sorted by clicking on 'Common to Rare' in which the words are arranged based on the how common they appear in the English language. Therefore, as teachers, we may need to introduce the words which are less common if we were to use the text with our students.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvQaup4-8ByrSW34NDL9bHAPmvMYBgPZRB0lEWAQtQdhtN-3nc7R6tay94ddoat1o2TkOF-uNhnjWU257XZ4aApYKCu4iVZ5YjuEUsaSNTeGSxC9Wal5xrKSDCIx5oijfP7VI-u6aX-C6/s1600/common+to+rare.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvQaup4-8ByrSW34NDL9bHAPmvMYBgPZRB0lEWAQtQdhtN-3nc7R6tay94ddoat1o2TkOF-uNhnjWU257XZ4aApYKCu4iVZ5YjuEUsaSNTeGSxC9Wal5xrKSDCIx5oijfP7VI-u6aX-C6/s640/common+to+rare.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Another interesting thing about this tool is that it allows students or teachers to check on the meaning of the words. Once they click the word, at the slight bottom right of the page, the Visual Thesaurus will show other words that are related to the word searched, including the synonyms and antonyms. The tool also shows students where the word is found in the texts, hence, the students may see how the word is used. Other than that, WordSift will also automatically search for related pictures of the word 'dragon' or any words which are clicked. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more information on how to use WordSift, you can watch the video by <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/wordSift/index.html">Russell Stannard</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I believe this tool is suitable for students of all levels of English in which teachers may choose suitable text to be sifted based on the students level and age. Teachers may use this tool for reading lesson in which long texts can be sifted for previewing text stage. Teachers may get the students to throw some ideas on what the text is about and guess the story. Students may also be asked to work in pairs and write a short synopsis of what they think the story might be.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers may also use WordSift to introduce vocabulary to students in which students may be asked to discuss the relation of the words in Visual Thesaurus. Another activity that can be done in class could be asking students in pairs of in groups to decide on which pictures/images from the Google Image Search that best describe the particular words in the text.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In addition, teachers may ask students to work in groups to construct new sentences in the Workspace. Teachers can make it as a competition in which groups which write the most sentences win. It gives a variety to writing lesson. Not just the words can be dragged into the Workspace, but also the images from Google Image Search.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I like about <i>WordSift</i>...</span></b><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, it's FREE and we just love it when things are free!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It makes READING texts FUN!!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Useful to encourage and accommodate students' Multiple Intelligence. Some students may be good in visual rather than just words. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Introduce new vocabulary sets to students.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can cater students with different levels of English.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can also be used for teaching other languages.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">May help students in writing because there are examples of how to use the words which are taken from the text sifted.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A variety in writing lesson (Workspace.)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Encourage creativity.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Shows only 50 words.</span></li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I dislike about <i>WordSift</i>...</span></b><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The word clouds cannot be printed. You have to print the whole page.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Too many parts in the webpage. Students can be distracted as too much information is cramped in the page.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Facilities. Schools or students who do not have access to computers and the internet will not be able to use the tool.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The images from Google search may not be filtered. Teachers have no control.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cannot control the maximum number of words appear in the clouds.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The word clouds appear cannot be edited in terms of font or layout</span></li>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0University of Warwick, Kirby Corner Rd, Coventry, West Midlands CV4, UK52.3789864 -1.562302999999928952.3714989 -1.5711094999999289 52.386473900000006 -1.553496499999929tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-52895677757713468482011-12-03T06:36:00.000-08:002012-03-12T12:47:46.636-07:00MailVU<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>MailVU</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://mailvu.com/">MailVU</a> </i>is a website which allows users to create a video message and users can email the video to anyone. This tool is free and very user friendly. All you need is a webcam and click on the button to record and send the recording. </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teachers use <i>MailVU</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One of the activities that teachers can use with MailVU is having students to record about the important dates in their lives. Teachers may begin by drawing a timeline in the class and write several dates on the timeline. Teachers may then get students to ask what happen during the timeline in the teachers' lives and teachers will answer students' questions. After that, teachers may get students to draw their own timeline and get students to work in pair and ask each other of what happen during the dates that they have written. As a homework, teachers may get students to record a video of themselves describing their own timeline using MailVU and email it to the teacher. Speaking at home and with no one watching them allows students to be more confident and lower their affective filter as they will not be nervous to use the language.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other than that, a variety to the activity could be recording interviews. In this activity, students may interview a friend by asking them some personal questions and record it using MailVU. Students may take turn interviewing each other and then email it to the teacher. This activity allows students to speak meaningfully and create purpose for students to talk as well as listen because there are information gap. Students are also able to use the language more meaningfully. Teachers may then decide to play several videos of interviews in class.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Another activity will be asking students to promote an item. Students may take the role as promoters who are trying to persuade the teacher and the rest of the class to buy an item. The items could be anything, for example, a broom, a towel, a computer, or an apple. Students will do the recording at home and email it to the teacher and on the next lesson, the teacher will play the videos to the rest of the class. Students who are watching may be asked to give comments on whether they will or will not buy the items. At the end of the class, students may vote on which three items that they will buy. Other than practising speaking, this activity allows students to make use of persuasive language.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I believe that the activities above using MailVU is suitable for learners of all level and ages because they may speak according to their levels of English and at their own pace as the videos can be recorded at home. In addition, the videos can be redone if the students are not happy with their videos.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more information on how to use this tool, you can check out the video by <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/mailVu/index.html"><b>Russell Stannard</b></a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>What I like about <i>MailVU</i>...</b></span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's FREE!!!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">User-friendly. Easy to use with only 3 clicks and it's done.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The time limit for the recording is quite long (10 minutes)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Suitable for students of all levels of English because students may speak using their level of English.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A variety for homework. Instead of having a written homework, students do a recording and email it to teachers.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Connected classroom activities. Plus, it gets students to practise speaking English even at home!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The recording can be sent, deleted and saved when the students sign up! </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The receiver of the email may also reply the video using MailVU. </span></li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I dislike about <i>MailVU</i>...</span></b><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cannot be embedded on blogs or websites if students do not sign up for an account. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The FREE TRIAL ACCOUNT only valid for 14 days.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The videos cannot be downloaded.</span></li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-59200210699462420052011-12-03T05:00:00.000-08:002012-03-12T12:49:38.712-07:00Elllo<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>Elllo</i>?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.elllo.org/">Elllo</a> </i></b>or English Listening Lesson Library Online is a website which stores LOTS and LOTS of listening lessons that teachers can use. The materials are divided into Mixer, Videos, Views, Games, and News. Each of the materials focus on listening as well as Vocabulary Quiz, Speaking Quiz, Reading Comprehension, and Vocabulary focus.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>How can teachers use <i>Elllo</i>?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This tool is suitable for students of all levels of English because each of the listening materials is labelled with the level in which the listening material is suitable for. Teachers may use this website to create variety to their lessons whereby teachers can download the audio and use it in the class. Teachers may also print the transcript to be given out to students at the end of the lesson for comprehension activities.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The materials also come with activities which involve vocabulary focus. Therefore, teachers may also use the listening materials to introduce specific vocabulary to students as the audio does not only pronounce the word, but also explain the meaning of the word. It will be a more interesting way to learn the meaning of words rather than flipping through dictionary. The vocabulary also may involve phrases and idioms.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The listening materials also involve the use of English using different accents from all over the world. This could be a good way to expose students to a variety of accents in using English rather than just the Received Pronunciation (RP). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Elllo </i>is also suitable for autonomous learning in which students can use this website during their own free time at home. Students may choose activities that suit their age and level and learn the language themselves. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For students and teachers who are interested to use this website, you can check out this video by <b><a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/elllo/index.html">Russell Stannard</a></b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>What I like about <i>Elllo...</i></b></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Important to hear a variety of accents</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Authentic materials - real English that we hear on the street</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Topic varies which makes it culture rounded</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Encourage personalisation because it gives people choice on what to hear, or from what culture</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It provides variety for lessons in class</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Promote autonomous learning as students may learn to improve listening skills on their own</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Multiple skills (listening, spelling, writing, reading)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The comprehension activities create reasons/ purpose for listening </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Provides context in which language is learnt in context and not isolated from context.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students can self assess and self evaluate their own performance </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">CLIL - learn about technology and learn about English</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vocabulary enhancement - the audio of the vocabulary does not only pronounce the word but also explains the meaning of the vocabulary.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>What I dislike about <i>Elllo...</i></b></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some of the audio/videos cannot be downloaded.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Organisation of the topics - the labels on the left side of the website are only numbers, rather than having labels of the topics.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Technical issue. Users may experience 'error' on the website.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The language used in the videos may have grammar mistakes. Therefore, not suitable if the focus of our lesson is on accuracy.</span></li>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0University of Warwick, Kirby Corner Rd, Coventry, West Midlands CV4, UK52.3789864 -1.562302999999928952.3714989 -1.5711094999999289 52.386473900000006 -1.553496499999929tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-68244926802298907232011-11-20T05:04:00.005-08:002011-11-23T08:12:47.752-08:00Audioboo<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>Audioboo</i>?</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://audioboo.fm/">Audioboo</a> </b>is a podcasting tool which allows us to create up to 3 minutes of audio. Users can also add title and tags once they finish recording. We can also add an image to our 'boo' and add the location of where you record your 'boo'. Once everything is done, the audio can be shared to others on Twitter and you audio can also be searched on iTunes. An account is needed in order to record and upload audio and we can use Twitter account to sign in.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKP4zbvv34jXLbbeA9WIcVjNimJ4CNFMUbK_Mn8O6sLNXcxhCxvdg7C5iE5qN4wJw3Ojk-nJodasrzl3jlUkA6-07onx_wy-bL5TDli6jaV3ffmpBmW4LAuwOgEh_KTddEqqHo2PqiwkZ/s1600/click.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKP4zbvv34jXLbbeA9WIcVjNimJ4CNFMUbK_Mn8O6sLNXcxhCxvdg7C5iE5qN4wJw3Ojk-nJodasrzl3jlUkA6-07onx_wy-bL5TDli6jaV3ffmpBmW4LAuwOgEh_KTddEqqHo2PqiwkZ/s640/click.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teachers use <i>Audioboo</i>?</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The use of Audioboo in teaching and learning English would be possible with the access of internet connection. Teachers may use Audioboo to make a podcast, for example, teacher may create a podcast asking students to write an essay on a topic and students at home will listen to the podcast and write the essay to be submitted the next day.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other than that, teachers can also ask students to talk about their daily activities and make a podcast to be uploaded into their blogs or just uploaded into their Audioboo account. It would be sort of like asking students to keep their own 'journal'. Teachers may also ask students to email the podcast to teachers and teachers may then give feedback on students' language and context by using podcast as well. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is an example of an Audioboo.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><object data="http://boos.audioboo.fm/swf/fullsize_player.swf" height="129" id="boo_embed_555638" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://boos.audioboo.fm/swf/fullsize_player.swf" /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="salign" value="lt" /><param name="bgColor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="FlashVars" value="mp3=http%3A%2F%2Faudioboo.fm%2Fboos%2F555638-first.mp3%3Fsource%3Dembed&mp3Title=First&mp3Time=09.44pm+21+Nov+2011&mp3LinkURL=http%3A%2F%2Faudioboo.fm%2Fboos%2F555638-first&mp3Author=veevien&rootID=boo_embed_555638" /><a href="http://audioboo.fm/boos/555638-first.mp3?source=embed">First (mp3)</a></object></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For those who would like to learn how to use Audioboo, you can watch the video by <b><a href="http://teachertrainingvideos.com/audioboo/index.html">Russell Stannard</a></b>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>What I like about <i>Audioboo</i>? </b></span><br />
<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can record a podcast easily or upload from phone.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The podcast can be embedded to blogs, websites and etc.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Suitable for giving instructions or homework to students.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">User-friendly website. Everything is clear and organised.</span></li>
</ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>What I dislike about <i>Audioboo</i>?</b></span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No privacy. It goes up on iTunes and twitter and everyone can listen to it. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Need to set up an account or sign in using twitter account. Not convenient.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Maximum duration for recording is only 3 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Facilities (need internet connection, microphone, phone)</span></li>
</ol></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0University of Warwick, Kirby Corner Rd, Coventry, West Midlands CV4, UK52.3789864 -1.562302999999928952.3714989 -1.5711094999999289 52.386473900000006 -1.553496499999929tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-44407743042372406562011-11-14T07:31:00.000-08:002011-11-21T09:28:17.913-08:00MyBrainShark<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What is <i>MyBrainShark</i>?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.brainshark.com/mybrainshark">MyBrainShark</a></b> is a tool that allows users to insert narration to their PowerPoint presentation, word document, video, and photo album. All we have to do is to upload our files and add audio by phone, microphone or MP3. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_seqpeSKHQcwSVTXDZytbsD3jx3TjOiKfyQdjX1NZvPb6h1WHjjMqnw4CSFsTMayozgSHxhK-pikkb6n2bl61T6-TcJU41UO9IXbs1Pt0KEXm_y4953ti0PuHkGwk9zRgQbM_WHRyk8Q/s1600/brainshark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_seqpeSKHQcwSVTXDZytbsD3jx3TjOiKfyQdjX1NZvPb6h1WHjjMqnw4CSFsTMayozgSHxhK-pikkb6n2bl61T6-TcJU41UO9IXbs1Pt0KEXm_y4953ti0PuHkGwk9zRgQbM_WHRyk8Q/s400/brainshark.png" width="355" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can teachers use </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>MyBrainShark?</i></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teachers may use this tool to allow students to practise speaking, and probably writing as well. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An example of activity that can be used using MyBrainShark is by asking students to produce a PowerPoint presentation about themselves, their family, or about any other topics like global warming, population explosion, pollution, festivals, or about their idols.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It can be carried out in the classroom or as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but I would personally suggest that it is used as a homework in order to allow students to work individually at their own pace. In addition, students may need a quiet surrounding in order to record the narration in which may not be possible in classroom environment where every student is trying to record his or her own narration. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students may then be required to upload their presentation to MyBrainShark and add narration to their slides and finally email it to the teacher. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eachers may then reply to students with responds regarding their language. Teachers may also decide to show several presentation to the rest of the class.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This tool, in my opinion, is suitable for students in upper secondary (16-17 years old) because it may require a slightly higher knowledge in technology and I personally believe it is also suitable for adult learners. Students who have intermediate level of English to advanced students are probably the most suitable to use this tool. </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is the example of a slide presentation with narration created using MyBrainShark.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><object data="http://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/viewer/getplayer.ashx" height="452" id="bsplayer93231" name="bsplayer93231" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="555"><param name="movie" value="http://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/viewer/getplayer.ashx" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="pi=553457379&dm=5&pause=1&eurl=zJVzdxKrmz3oftz0" /><a href="http://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/viewer/fallback.ashx?pi=553457379"><video width="555" height="452" controls="true" poster="http://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/brainshark.net/common/getimage.ashx?pi=553457379&w=555&h=452&sln=1"><source src="http://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/brainshark.net/apppresentation/getmovie.aspx?pi=553457379&fmt=2" ></source><img src="http://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/brainshark.net/apppresentation/splash.aspx?pi=553457379" width="555" height="452" border="0" /></video></a></object></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For those who may need some help in using this tool, you can go to <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/brain/index.html">Russell Stannard’s</a> website which shows you how to use MyBrainShark. For those who are interested to learn more, click <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/brain2/index.html">here </a> to view the second part of the instructions provided by Russell.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What I like about <i>MyBrainShark</i>...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> </span></b><b style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is TOTALLY <b>FREE</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We do not break copyright.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Improves multiple skills like writing and speaking, but mainly focuses on speaking skill.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An effective communicative activity which requires students to talk through their presentation.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can be shared to public and can also be set to private.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reduce affective filter as students can speak in the language without having anyone watching them and reduce their anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Allows students to be creative (can incorporate audio recordings, live web pages, surveys, background music)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The presentations can be emailed and embedded.</span></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What I dislike about <i>MyBrainShark</i>... </span></b></span></div><ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It can only be viewed online and cannot be downloaded to your computer. It may cause problem if there is no internet connection.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Needs a microphone, a computer and the Internet. It may not be accessible to all of the students if this activity is carried out as a homework.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time-consuming for narration.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It may not be authentic spoken activity as students may have written their script and just read and record it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-89999971163045748022011-11-03T03:03:00.000-07:002012-03-12T12:54:23.102-07:00Bookr<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>Bookr</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/">Bookr</a> </b>is a website that allows people to make slideshows presentation or a photobook using pictures grabbed from Flickr. All they need to do is type in the keyword of the pictures they would like to search for and the results will be displayed. Students just need to clicked on the image and dragged it into the slide page. Students may then click on the edge of the book to move on to the next page. The pages can also be added.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFagkzcyRFa9OuM9sKm3k36kSDXQ_lKjOkgt4jMTvlnTF9vyGc44cc_Nqf__NdTnnMupWun60_hL_6Yh1yM6JnipybYLYQqQPLAIazm59WmyA0vkhm_ODzz0g8_tccdOudtZlObujfbWxV/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFagkzcyRFa9OuM9sKm3k36kSDXQ_lKjOkgt4jMTvlnTF9vyGc44cc_Nqf__NdTnnMupWun60_hL_6Yh1yM6JnipybYLYQqQPLAIazm59WmyA0vkhm_ODzz0g8_tccdOudtZlObujfbWxV/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>How can teachers use <i>Bookr</i>?</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">This website is suitable for students in secondary school students in which around the age of 13-17 and it may also be useful for adult learners. Bookr is also suitable for students who have low level of English to advanced students. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Bookr can be used as a classroom activity or as a homework to practice students' writing. Teachers may ask students to make photobooks by giving them a topic, for example, favourite food, favourite place, thir hometown, their idols, or their favourite actors. If the facilities in the classroom is adequate, students may be asked to work individually during the lesson and write their caption in the box. Students may then be asked to present their photobooks to the rest of the class. This may also allow students to practice speaking as they will be required to speak to describe their pictures despite having captions in each of the slide. If the activity were to be set as a homework, teachers can get the students to email their end product to teachers and teachers may reply to them by giving feedback on their work and language.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Another idea on using Bookr in a writing lesson is teachers may prepare the photobook, but only with pictures and without the caption. Teacher will then show the pictures to the students one by one and get the students to a sentence that best describe the pictures that they see. Teachers may then collect the students' sentences and give them feedback on their language.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Below is the example of a slide presentation created using Bookr.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><object height="250" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/bookr_blog.swf">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The instructions on using Bookr can be found in the website by<a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/funFlickr/index.html" style="font-weight: bold;"> Russell Stannard.</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What I like about <i>Bookr</i>... </span></b><b style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">It is ABSOLUTELY</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"> <b>FREE</b>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We do not break copyright.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It encourages the sense of personalisation in terms of the pictures chosen and the captions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is also good for communicative activities as the students may write the description of the pictures in their slides.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It develops creative writing among students.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Students may write according to their own level of English<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Improves multiple skills (writing, speaking)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Do not have to set up an account (saves time).</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">User-friendly, easy to use. Just click on the pictures and type in the words in the caption box.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">The pages can be added.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Can be embedded.</span></li>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I dislike about <i>Bookr</i>... </span></b></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Some of the pictures do not match with the keywords, hence it is difficult to find suitable pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Students may not write as much as the teacher expects them to, therefore teachers need to probably set how long the students are required to write.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It can be time-consuming because there are a lot of images to choose.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Facilities (computers, the internet) may refrain teachers and students from using the website.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The slides can no longer be edited once they are published.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">The published slides cannot be made private.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">The caption box cannot be moved to position that we like.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">The font and the font size cannot be edited. </span></span></li>
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<span class="apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-86311257236131534822011-10-13T09:20:00.000-07:002011-11-21T10:21:35.995-08:00LyricsTraining<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>LyricsTraining</i>?</span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Ezqlxab9EiNEb0SpXXTiGDTojGSVBTTBWRpPvsOxJx2GDwOPKycwQAUamCOaRG0jFjjQVZLS-URnEJdxgDAtRbHmCBi_ylgfHhBHXlCDIHZ5f00C1WGt7o4AU5gHdW1aIytFL9LuDLm/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Ezqlxab9EiNEb0SpXXTiGDTojGSVBTTBWRpPvsOxJx2GDwOPKycwQAUamCOaRG0jFjjQVZLS-URnEJdxgDAtRbHmCBi_ylgfHhBHXlCDIHZ5f00C1WGt7o4AU5gHdW1aIytFL9LuDLm/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lyricstraining.com/"><b>LyricsTraining</b></a> is a website which allows students (or even adults!) to learn English through the use of songs. This website provides a fun approach to learn not only the English but also Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, and French. <i>Lyrics Training</i> link videos of pop songs (which are Youtube-hosted music videos) and students are required to fill in the missing lyrics. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teachers use <i>LyricsTraining</i>?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Liberation Serif', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This website is suitable for secondary school students from the age of 13 and the activity can be carried out for students with intermediate level of English to advanced students. For each of the music video, there are three levels that can be chosen, Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert. For Beginner and Intermediate, learners only have to fill in the blanks of several missing words in the lyrics but for Expert, learners are required to write the full lyrics. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybnRPdWkilTMsFSBFHnpZK1fP0KNhSOC5U3bg9v3tqvwtFEMF6HSACQnk3XLy0Ew9gS0sYemxSyzQH4uMKLaPurAK1vUtvUSJN3JcFahHSQuKxffXa455eA9H3Bwg77ZYu9bDQJppRT2N/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybnRPdWkilTMsFSBFHnpZK1fP0KNhSOC5U3bg9v3tqvwtFEMF6HSACQnk3XLy0Ew9gS0sYemxSyzQH4uMKLaPurAK1vUtvUSJN3JcFahHSQuKxffXa455eA9H3Bwg77ZYu9bDQJppRT2N/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If the learners get stumped or cannot complete the lyrics, the video will not continue playing until the missing lyrics are filled in. Learners can just press the 'tab' button whenever they cannot fill in the blanks and the words will automatically appear. At the end of the song, the scores will be shown and if the learners set up an account, the scores will be saved so that they may keep track of their progress.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers may use this website in a listening lesson in which for schools with adequate facilities, each of the students will listen to the song of their choice from the website, and fill in the blanks. Students with the highest score will be given points and this can be carried out as a game among students.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If there is only one computer with a projector in the classroom, teachers may use <i>LyricsTraining </i>for a spelling quiz to make it more exciting and to give a variety of spelling quiz rather than just the traditional dictation. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other than that, students may use the tool to practise their listening and spelling during their own free time. This may also encourage autonomous learning among students. It may also be interesting for students as they may choose the songs that they like and probably sing along!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is the video by <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/lyrics/index.html">Russell Stannard</a> to guide you in using <i>LyricsTraining</i>.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I like about </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>LyricsTraining</i></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">...</span></b><br />
<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The most important one, it's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-weight: bold;">FUN </span>and it's<b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">FREE</span></b>!!! And students can sing along!! =)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students can choose songs that they like, so it's <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">MOTIVATING</span></b>!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Encourages autonomous learning.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Authentic materials.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can cater students with different levels of English.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can be carried out in class or during students' leisure time.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Practise vocabulary, listening skills, as well as spelling.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students can save their scores and keep track of their progress.</span></li>
</ol><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I dislike about </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>LyricsTraining</i></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">...</span></b><br />
<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students may be distracted by the videos.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Does not have that many videos to be chosen from.</span></li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-56222294062530409152011-10-13T09:00:00.000-07:002011-11-21T10:21:58.353-08:00Listen and Write<div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is it?</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_38awCupT5Y1Gd9Wo_RTxyYH9OXFOM8map5T_6smM8XIhXh4dfmVwhmXuQE7IiME5Btm5dRjgfiHUPf3yAB4J9r7SRVY0aaGnO9pgy6roR5AcmgDYRG6IKuD9wZOD8j_TIbycaDrAha8/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_38awCupT5Y1Gd9Wo_RTxyYH9OXFOM8map5T_6smM8XIhXh4dfmVwhmXuQE7IiME5Btm5dRjgfiHUPf3yAB4J9r7SRVY0aaGnO9pgy6roR5AcmgDYRG6IKuD9wZOD8j_TIbycaDrAha8/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.listen-and-write.com/">Listen-and-write.com</a> is a website which provides opportunities for stud<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ents to practise listening and writing simultaneously. It allows students or learners to choose their choice of news or oral transmissions from the options provided in the page. Students will then have to write the words they hear in a box. </span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teacher use <i>Listen and Write</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">This website is suitable for students in secondary schools, age 13-17, with different levels of English ranging from beginners to advanced students. For each oral transmissions, there are three modes which are Full Mode, Quick Mode, and Blank Mode. In Full Mode, students need to write the whole letter of a word and type the whole sentence. In Quick Mode, students are required to only write the first letter of a word while in Blank Mode, students are required to fill in the blanks based on the news. To use the Full Mode, students do not need to sign up but in order to use the Quick Mode and the Blank Mode, students are required to sign up and log in. In every mode, students may click the play button to listen to the sentence again. When students manage to write the correct sentence, a red 'good' appears at the end of the line to indicate that they have written the correct sentence. Students may also save their scores in order to see their progress.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1NK3rvZPh2g2xua2d-q25DhOYU_WRJtj1WzToRAM9KPbHXsNQPe7wRDWvhjvajOp34XDpADC-GW6-CDdeplWL85Sr23Tne50MT6H_tporXjhFej_k8xVqkSxc7MqX9p5oENjqzwGXuoa/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1NK3rvZPh2g2xua2d-q25DhOYU_WRJtj1WzToRAM9KPbHXsNQPe7wRDWvhjvajOp34XDpADC-GW6-CDdeplWL85Sr23Tne50MT6H_tporXjhFej_k8xVqkSxc7MqX9p5oENjqzwGXuoa/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">If you are not sure on how to use the website, you can watch a video by <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/listenWrite/index.html">Russell Stannard</a> which will guide you in using the website.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Teachers may use <i>Listen and Write </i>in a listening lesson. Teachers may ask students to work individually or in pairs. Teachers may choose one oral transmissions and ask students to complete the text using Blank Mode and students finish the fastest and with the highest score will be given points. Teachers may then repeat it with another news.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Students may also use this tool to practise their listening during their own free time. Students may choose topics or news which are of their interest. This tool also allows students to improve on their spelling as they need to spell the words correctly in order to be able to complete the listening text.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What I like about </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Listen and Write</i></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">...</span></b></span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">It's <b>FREE</b>!!!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">It's <b>FUN</b>!!! </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Practise multiple skills like listening, writing and spelling.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Encourages autonomous learning.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Accommodate students with different levels of proficiency.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Students can evaluate or assess themselves.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Can be carried out in class or as homework.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Lots of exposure to language.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Allows students to repeat the sentences.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">The news or oral transmissions is up-to-date.</span></li>
</ol></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What I dislike about </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Listen and Write</i></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">...</span></b></span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Access to the internet and computer.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Distraction (Social network like Facebook)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Students may just use the 'Hint' button to complete the text.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Need to sign up and log in to use the Quick Mode and the Blank Mode.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">The repetition of the sentence is annoying and it becomes boring when you have to listen to it many times.</span></li>
</ol></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677298107766530068.post-84858523294506439822011-10-13T03:51:00.000-07:002012-03-12T12:54:48.701-07:00Dvolver<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is <i>Dvolver</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/make.html">Dvolver</a></b> is a website that allows users to create their own movies. I would consider it a mini moviemaker. It allows people to create a three scene movie with up to two characters in each scene and the best thing is we get to decide on the setting, the background, the characters, the dialogues, the background music, the title, and the theme for our movie.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">How can teachers use <i>Dvolver</i>?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dvolver is suitable to be used for students in both primary and secondary school level (age 7-17), regardless of what their levels of English are, ranging from low level, intermediate level, and high level of English.</span><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5R4X4wZP7V9ET_-y0YgwsQGqjn17KtODeq9k3oXnLEuIwFFCiH6gqb5s3pJCiXO0yiSOeeJdMjRuB7t4wUtE8DjhA5x4VlFlJJP0O-7JjJQNQ1qTsbHzmYROOFhk8ll7ZKW6bJTbTo7g/s1600/dragon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5R4X4wZP7V9ET_-y0YgwsQGqjn17KtODeq9k3oXnLEuIwFFCiH6gqb5s3pJCiXO0yiSOeeJdMjRuB7t4wUtE8DjhA5x4VlFlJJP0O-7JjJQNQ1qTsbHzmYROOFhk8ll7ZKW6bJTbTo7g/s640/dragon.png" width="640" /></span></a></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This website can be used as an activity in class or as a homework in which students can work individually at home and email their movies to the teacher. Teachers may ask students to create movies on any topics, for example, explaining an event, a process, a biography of themselves or a figure, how to take care of their health, how to cook pasta, or any other topics that we can think of.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">An activity that can be carried out using Dvolver would be writing a story, in which in this case, it will be a digital storytelling. For schools and classrooms with adequate facilities like computers and internet connection, students may be asked to first write a story in the classroom and then use Dvolver to make an animation based on their stories. This activity can also be done as homework and students are required to email their movies to their teachers. Teachers may then reply to students by giving comments on their movies and language used.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other than that, teachers may also ask students to create movies about themselves. Students may include their nicknames, birth date, their favourite food, and hobbies. Students may then show their movies to the class and get the rest of the class who create the movies.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In addition, Dvolver may also be useful for teaching literature. Teachers may use the tool to introduce a new chapter or a new story of a novel, drama, or short story by making a short movie using Dvolver in order to generate students interest.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is an example of a movie created using Dvolver.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><object align="middle" allownetworking="internal" allowscriptaccess="never" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dv_assets/plot_template_lang3.swf?movie_id=625876" height="285" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="381"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" />
<param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" />
<param name="wmode" value="transparent" />
<param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dv_assets/plot_template.swf?movie_id=625876" />
<param name="quality" value="high" />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you need the instructions on using Dvolver, you can always check out this website by <a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/volver/index.html">Russell Stannard.</a></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I like about <i>Dvolver</i>... </span></b></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>FUN</b></span>!!!! Let's put ourselves in the position of the students. We want to learn, but we also want the learning to be fun rather than the old boring writing exercises in the classroom.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It can accommodate<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> <b>different levels</b></span> of students because students are able to produce sentences and dialogues based on their levels of English.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students can be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">CREATIVE</span><span class="Apple-style-span">. They have a choice in deciding the characters, setting, background music, and how the characters interact.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">FREE</span><span class="Apple-style-span">!!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No need to set up an account to use the tool.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is very easy to be used by teachers and students. Very user friendly. All you have to do is click and type in some words.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students may write what they want in the dialogue box.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The end product can be emailed to teachers and it can also be embedded into blogs or websites.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It will engage students who love comics and cartoons.</span></li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">What I dislike about <i>Dvolver</i>... </span></b><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No control of the language used by the students (vulgar, harsh words).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Students may not have access to the internet or to the computer.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It may be user friendly, but not really school-friendly because it is not suitable for small children.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers have no control of what the students may write as they can write anything in the dialogue box. There is a need of supervision and monitoring.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some of the characters are not suitable for children, for example, Hottie which is described as sexy lady and seductive. Therefore, teachers should point out which characters are suitable and which are not to be used.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Maximum only three scenes.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0University of Warwick, Kirby Corner Rd, Coventry, West Midlands CV4, UK52.3789864 -1.562302999999928952.3714989 -1.5711094999999289 52.386473900000006 -1.553496499999929