BUBBLEJOY

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

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

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

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