Podcasting

                                                                                          

Podcasts can be an extremely effective tool for ESL classrooms.  Specifically, they can be utilized for listening activities.  One particular podcast I came across is ESL Pod.  ESL Pod offers a wide array of podcasts for English language learners.  The podcasts are spoken clearly and slowly, making them helpful for learners at an intermediate level.  I listened to the podcast English Café 322.  The central topic was a discussion about no tuition colleges in the United States.  Most of the topics, like this one, are more advanced subject levels making them geared towards older students and adult learners.  These podcasts could be enhanced if the topic was announced at the beginning instead of 2 minutes into it.  Regardless, they can serve as a excellent teaching tool for listening.     

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 Slide with Slideroll

Make a Free Flash Slideshow

Slideroll, Animoto, and Stupeflix can all be used to create a digital story.  I used Slideroll as an example of a product that these tools produce.  The story gives a quick preview to some remarkable sights of the west coast that I’ve visited.  While this is a very simple story, one could use much more creativity to make a story.  This could be a great tool in the classroom, especially for ESL classes.  A teacher could utilize this to illustrate specific ideas, and present information and an interesting and engaging manner.  Of course, students could also use this to make their own creative stories relating to a lesson topic.        

Digital Storytelling (Part II)

 

My digital storybook is an explanation about slacklining.  Using Bookr to create a digital storybook is extremely easy and allows for all levels of creativity.  Although my story is simplistic, it demonstrates the possibilities of this internet tool.  This could be very successful in the classroom.  Students could create stories on their topic of choice, or relate it to a current unit to demonstrate comprehension.  I would recommend this tool to all teachers.       

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.