Web tools and projects

7th CTJ Seminar

2009-07-22T09:17:00.003-03:00

I prepared this blog in April 2009 as a follow-up reference for the 7th CTJ Seminar. Well, things didn't turn out as I expected and unfortunately I wasn't able to present at the seminar. Nevertheless, I'd like to share this list of webtools I had assembled. I'd like to wish everyone a wonderful learning time. The Casa Thomas Jefferson Seminar is one of the best for EFL teachers in Brazil. You can check the program below.

7th CTJ TEFL Program

View more documents from ctjonline.

WALLWISHER

2009-04-27T09:16:00.000-03:00

Wallwisher is the latest web tool I learned about and decided to try out. You create a noticeboard where other people can leave notes. It´s a wonderful way to share links with a group of people.

The project below is about films. I invited several people (including my students who had been studying how to talk about films) to leave a film recommendation at a WALLWISHER.

You can create a sticky note by double clicking on the wall. Then, you write your name, your text and can also share a link to a site or to a video from YOu tube.

Check our FAVOURITE FILMS WALLWISHER

YOU CAN USE IT

as a noticeboard.
to have your class share links about a topic you´re studying.
to collect recommendations of films, books.
as a board where sts can share pictures and talk about it.
to share links of sites that can help sts research a certain topic.

SKILLS : writing and reading (listening if people include links to videos)

BUBBLEJOY

2009-04-22T09:42:00.008-03:00

Bubblejoy is a site where you can send video greetings to people. It´s very easy to use as there´s no need to have an account.

*I´ve already used it to send birthday greetings to friends.

*I´ve used it for dictations.

*I´ve also used it to help students revise vocabulary.

Nik Peachey, in his wonderful blog "Nik´s Learning Technology Blog" gives wonderful ideas on how to use Bubblejoy with students.

Some of his ideas were:

ask students to record themselves reading haiku poems. (My example)
students can make cards for special occasions and send to each other.
sts could plan an imaginary trip and send a card telling other classmates about it.
using one of the TV designs, sts can pretend they are anchormen and report imaginary news.

Some characteristics you have to be aware of: a Bubblejoy card is sent to e-mails and can only be viewed 50 times. The message has a limit of 60 seconds. It cannot be embedded in blogs. It´s free and needs no account.

Skills: speaking, listening (if you ask sts to write their message first you can maximize the skills)

VOXOPOP

2009-04-20T09:06:00.000-03:00

VOXOPOP (once known as Chinswing) is a space for talkgroups you can take part in or create your own. You participate in the discussions by recording your voice.

How can you use VOXOPOP with students?

create discussions about topics you´ve just covered in class.
create a discussion about a topic you´ll see in class and invite people from around the world to participate.

This is an example: A teacher has created a talkgroup for her students to discuss topics presented each week.

Talkgroup » English 92 and 93 via kwout

Discussing Do´s and Don´ts on a first date.

Discussion » Do's and Don'ts (92) via kwout

SKILLS: Listening, Speaking.

UTTERLI

2009-04-19T09:13:00.001-03:00

With Utterli you can create a discussion which people can reply to using text, video, pictures or/and audio. It´s very simple to use and it´s really interesting to hear and see what people have to say. You can get a widget for the sidebar of your website so that you and your readers can follow what people have been saying there.

As you can also record it from your cell phone, it´s very practical and offers great opportunity for authentic language practice.

How to use it with students?

create threads where students can write about topics you start like: describe your best friend (add picture), talk about your favourite food/dish (+ picture), describe your family (+picture), share your favourite song and so on.

discuss topics using text, audio or video.

Favourite Celebration THREAD in Utterli
http://www.utterli.com/u/utt/u-ODMzNDMyNw

SKILLS: Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking.

TOKBOX

2009-04-17T11:24:00.003-03:00

http://www.tokbox.com/

Tokbox is a free video chat and video mail service. It´s similar to skype in the sense that you can have video chats with your friends and also have conferences but it offers more: you can send video messages to friends via e-mail. There´s no need to download anything as all the messages are stored online.

This is a message I´ve made to talk about tokbox
http://www.tokbox.com/vm/z1rczgfts7fn

www.tokbox.com

After sending Nik Peachey a message asking him if he could contribute with my session sharing interesting ideas on how to use TOKBOX, this is his wonderful post.

Nik's Learning Technology Blog: 20 WebCam Activities for EFL ESL Students via kwout

SKILLS: Listening and speaking

MIXBOOK

2009-04-13T11:59:00.000-03:00

Mixbook is another tool which looks like an online book. You can also ask students to create their own books using target language or use one book to present a class project, with poems for example. The interesting thing about mixbook is that you can order a printed copy of your book. It must look amazing!

This book was created by Karen K. and it´s called Kids for Kenya

| View Sample Photo Books | Create your own Photo Book

If you want more time to read, click on the PAUSE button.

This mixbook was created with Third Graders poems
http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/education/roses-are-red-110179

This is a Lewis Carroll biography
http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/education/lewis-carroll-scrapbook-4013962

SKILLS: reading and writing

GLOGSTER

2009-04-13T10:12:00.002-03:00

With GLOGSTER, students can create online posters. What can you add to the posters? Well, pictures, sentences, images, animations, videos, songs.

There are several ideas for the use of glogster:

introduce yourself
talk about likes and dislikes
make a poster of a famous person (biography)
make a poster of your favourite film
talk about your best friend
create a poster with poems (another poem + song)
make a poster of your best memories ...

This project was developed by a colleague of mine, Lívia Fernandes, where students were invited to write about their moms for mother´s day. The teacher then scanned their work and assembled them into a poster with images.
http://livinhaz.glogster.com/mothersday-pt1a/

A GLOGSTER TUTORIAL

SKILLS: reading and writing

BOOKR

2009-04-13T09:41:00.001-03:00

With Bookr students can create online books to tell their stories. It´s a very easy tool. You can use pictures from your flickr account or choose pictures from the archive. Once the book is ready, students save it and send the link to the teacher. By clicking on BLOG THIS, you can get the embed code to publish them in any website.

This project was proposed by a colleague of mine, Polyana Vida, where teenager students created online books to describe themselves. The title is "WHAT´S MY TRIBE?"

SKILLS:writing and reading.

How can you make your own online book? (tutorial)

VOICETHREAD

2009-04-12T12:00:00.003-03:00

VOICETHREAD

With voicethread, you can create a presentation with images, audio and even the movement of your mouse where your audience can interact by leaving written or audio comments.

This is a project developed by various teachers in the world where students made a presentation about their country or the place they live in.Here, students from Uberlandia, Brazil, talk about our country.

This is a voicethread created by David which basic learners of English can use to practise.
http://voicethread.com/share/9458/

This is a voicethread where teachers around the world introduce themselves.
http://voicethread.com/#q.b1191.i13695

Teachers talk about 100 ways to use voicethread in education
http://voicethread.com/#q+efl.b26224.i145977

This voicethread was created by Dennis Oliver where he tells someone´s life story (GREAT)
http://voicethread.com/#q.b241644.i1258734

SKILLS: writing, reading, listening and speaking.

Suzie Vesper has created a great slideshare where she presents several ideas on using Voicethread.

Voicethread Examples in Education

View more Microsoft Word documents from Suzie Vesper.

SLIDE.com

2009-04-12T11:43:00.000-03:00

SLIDE.com

One of the easiest tools to use. With slide.com you can make presentations like a slideshow where you can upload pictures, create captions, add background music and select various presentation effects.

Students can use it to talk about their latest holiday, talk about a person they admire, describe a place, tell a story...

This is an example created by a student talking about one of his favourite holidays.

Another example
http://www.slide.com/r/tG

SKILLS: writing and reading.

Cultura EDtech online course

2009-04-11T16:03:00.002-03:00

Join our online course and learn how to integrate new technology into your classes. Don't be afraid to try, this course is for beginners and we'll give you full support. Send me an e-mail and I'll send you all the information.