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.     

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.    

 

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.

EFL Classroom 2.0

EFL Classroom 2.0 is a useful social networking group for ESL/EFL teachers.  The network provides resources and forums to obtain valuable information and receive feedback on questions.  The resources include lesson ideas, games, handouts, videos, and more.  I like the organization of the teaching section which provides useful information on grammar, stories, phonics, pronunciation and power points.  For those that have a wealth of experience, information can easily be shared and passed along to beginner teachers.  I see this group as a valuable network for a beginning ESL/EFL teacher.

Connectivism

A teacher is like a lighthouse.  The role of the teacher is to guide the students safely.  While the students ultimately choose what course to steer, teachers will provide a positive influence on choosing the best path.  We can show them the shore as they can discover their own capabilities and the endless possibilities of the world.  The open sea is much like learning in that there are no guarantees.  Risks most be taken to connect to the limitless possibilities of today’s dynamic information.  A theory about connecting to this information is detailed George Siemens, Connectivism:A Learning Theory for the Digital Age.  Siemens describes our modern world as technology driven society with an abundance of information which is chaotically organized.  Rather than the actual content, our ability to find and connect to pertinent content is most significant.  Seimens (2005) states, “When knowledge, however, is needed, but not known, the ability to plug into sources to meet the requirements becomes a vital skill. As knowledge continues to grow and evolve, access to what is needed is more important than what the learner currently possessess."

We now live in a digital age.  Information appears fast, changing quite frequently and spontaneously.  Because of this, learning skills ar more relevant then information itself.  In the video, The Changing Network of Knowledge, Seimens explains that "networking becomes the learning."  In other words, "the ability for learners to connect with each other, databases, and other sources of knowledge in the primary point of learning."  Learning in this theory is not limited to an individual's mind.  This concept can be advantageous to teaching.  Teachers can facilitate the various sources  of knowledge that are available to learners.  Since each individual has unique learning styles, the teacher can differentiate the process of connecting the student to the information.  A bright beacon of a lighthouse provides numerous courses to the same destination.

     

ESL Teaching Tips and Lessons

A TESOL ESL File Drawer (Higher Ed.) is an excellent resource for ESL teaching tips and lessons.   You can discover resources that relate to almost all parts of speech.  In particular, I found a helpful activity for teaching the categories of simple present tense.  Galien provides the link to a well crafted PowerPoint presentation.  The PowerPoint utilizes animated movement which helps to engage the class.  There were also plenty of examples to help drive home the point.  This blog will be a great resource to refer to as I expand my bank of teaching materials.