ePals

 

Epals is an online tool that allows students to find and blog with other students from all over the world.  This learning resource provides a safe way for schools all over the world to connect and develop collaborative projects.  Classrooms can connect with each other by location using a map, or by area of study through searching relevant topics.  Teachers can easily translate text, monitor email, and utilize tutorials and manuals.  Epals incorporates the use of multiple tools such as movie maker, blogger, National Geographic, Google Earth, and email to support project creation.  The interactive games and tutorials look educational and should be considered for the classroom.  Of course, the tool’s ability to connect with students’ peers all over the world would be beneficial in and ESL classroom.  A class could be split into small groups, and each group could vote on a topic of interest to explore.  Each group could then develop their project with students from almost anywhere in the world.  Students can have access to funds of knowledge that are limitless, and acquire knowledge that would be otherwise unattainable.         

Digital Storytelling

Photo by h. koppdelaney (Flickr)

Digital storytelling allows one to create short movies using digital content such as images, video, and audio.  Stories can reflect any topic and reach a wide range of audiences.   According to 7 things you should know about Digital Storytelling, the practice of digital storytelling became large-scale in the United Kingdom with the sponsorship of the BBC.  The aim was to produce and share local cultures and histories of the area.  Because this process requires no background in digital media, digital stories can be created by almost anyone.

For those hesitant to experiment on their own, an organization exists called the Center for Digital Storytelling.  Their mission is to assist people around the world to use digital media tools in order to create meaningful stories that can be shared with others.  By partnering with communities, educational and business institutions, this organization is able to inspire “digital storytelling initiatives” in health, education, human rights, environmental concerns, and much more.   

The uses for digital storytelling in the classroom are limitless.  The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling provide much insight to the craft, as well ideas for uses such as:

• Enhancing lesson plans
• Introducing new material
•  Helping students learn to conduct new research
• Synthesize large quantities of content
• Present ideas in meaningful ways
• Increase computer skills of students
• Develop students skills to write and create narratives

Digital storytelling has the ability to motivate students with the lure of digital media.  These short presentations inspire creativity and the ability to display talents.    

 

Micro-blogging with Twitter

Twitter is a great tool for micro-blogging, and integrating technology in the classroom.  Will Richardson, author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, points out a few advantages of twitter for educational purposes.  These include:

• ·         Communicating with parents and others in the community

• ·         Links to student work, live presentations, and relevant articles

• ·         Learning-on-demand for students

Particularly in ESL classrooms, I imagine twitter as a powerful communication tool between parents and teachers.  Communication is not only instant, but parents would have the means to translate the message if they are not speakers of English.  Steve Wheeler also points out further twitter uses in the classroom in his blog, including:

• ·         Notifying students of changes to course material and schedules

• ·         Summing up an article in 140 characters or less

• ·         Discussion boards

• ·         Modern language learning: sending a tweet in a foreign language and asking students to translate or respond in foreign language

• ·         Following a famous person and documenting their progress

Furthermore, I see the greatest benefit of twitter for academic purposes is the potential to engage students in the coursework, as pointed out in the video, Twitter in the classroom.