Todaysmeet ---- let's brainstorm and discuss!

        

In this post, I will introduce:

1. What is TodaysMeet

2. How to use it

3. What are the advantages of applying it in ELT

4. What are the limitations of using it in ELT

5. References 

6. Useful links

1. What is TodaysMeet?

   TodaysMeet is a website where visitors can create a room for discussion. People are free to join the room and communicate with each other in real time. In this room visitors can use the live stream to ask questions, present ideas, make comments, and scaffold conversations.

2. How to use it?

Step 1. Create a room

When you enter the website, you can immediately create a room. Type in the name of your room and select the time for deleting the room, click the "Create your Room" button  and the room is done!

PS: remember to mark down the link of your room, in case that you want to invite others to join!

Step 2. Start a discussion

You can start writing messages straight away! The messages will appear according to time. The later the topper on the left side under "listen"

Step 3. Save the memos (optional)

If you find the conversation important, you can click the "transcript" or the "projector" button

If you are still not confident of using TodaysMeet, click the below video of an operation demonstration!

3. The advantages of applying it in ELT

• Easy to use. Visitors don't need to sign up or sign in. All they have to do is type in the link of the room
• A great place for brainstorming activities. For instance, teachers can start a discussion question, and students can immediately write down what they have in mind. The teacher can scaffold their own ideas, and lead them to shape their thoughts
• Lessen learners' anxiety. Comparing to speaking, writing in front of a computer, students can feel less anxious, therefore they are more willing to express their true ideas.
• All the voices can be heard. Comparing to the traditional way of "ask and answer" mode, usually only one student can speak at one time, and not all the voices can be heard. But busing TodaysMeet, everybody can write at the same time, so different ideas can be collected.
• Extra writing activities. It can be applied in writing practice. For instance, the teacher can choose a topic, and ask students to write a story according to the appearing sentences. The unpredictable upcoming lines can trigger students curiosity and imagination. The activity can be super fun! 
• Listening practice. It can also be used in listening practice. Teachers can ask students to write down the sentences they hear from the audio tape, and students can scaffold each other through writing and reading others' posts at the same time. 

4. The limitations of using it in ELT

• Word limitation. The maximum words for one message is 140, therefore students can not type in longer the thoughts. Some other websites or applications in China, such as QQ, Webbo, have no limitations of type-in for group discussion
• Confined by student level. If students are in lower levels in English, they are not able to express much.
• Distraction from other activities online. If students are not interesting in the discussion topic, students might be distracted by other information from the internet and do something else on their own. 

5. References

No direct citations

6. Useful links

http://todaysmeet.com/bearwawa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYJA9SxAqWw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4YzQ1E4ALk

http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/

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Vocaroo ---- a free online recorder

In this post I will introduce :
1.  What is Vocaroo?

2.   How to use Vocaroo to record and share the recording?

3.   The advantages of using it in ELT

4.   The limitations of employing it in ELT

5.   References

6.   Useful links for further reading

1.  What is Vocaroo?

Vocaroo is a free online voice recording service.

2.   How to use Vocaroo to record and share 

After recording, there are many options for you to do with the record.

1. Send the recording to an email address.

2. Embed it into other sites, such as Facebook

3. Share it through different social networks

 4. Upload or download

        A detailed description for how to share the recording online is here!!! Please click the following picture or link, which is demonstrated by Russell Stannard ( a renowned innovator in ICT ). I'm sure you will like it! :)

 Click and watch

                                http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/vocaroo1/index.html

3.   The advantages of using it in ELT

Vocaroo  is extremely useful for ELT! Here are some advantages  I find about Vocaroo.

Teachers can:

• Can record the "teaching journal", do the reflective thinking and share it with other teachers.
• Send request or feedback for students' homework
• Prepare materials for classroom activities, such as listening materials with different practicing purposes that edited by the teacher.
• Collect data from the classroom for monitoring and comparing students' learning process.

Students can:

• Record the "learning journal", and refine their study plan and skills.
• Improve their speaking, especially for pronunciation and fluency. 
• Share and exchange ideas with other language learners from worldwide without the physical boundaries.

4.   The limitations of employing it in ELT

• The only weakness is that the maximum length is 5 minutes only

Vocaroo is a simple and easy tool, please try it out! If there are some new creative ways of using Vocaroo, please write me a comment! :)

References

No direct citations

Useful links 

http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/vocaroo1/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1ORyOFnOk0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hjdBwtDhxE (french instruction)

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Voki ---- free speaking avatar and lesson plans !!

Click and watch

In this article I will introduce :

1. What is Voki?

2. What can you do in Voki for ELT (pros & con)

    2.1 Create a speaking avatar 

    2.2 Get free lesson plans

    2.3 Use Voki classroom

3. Conclusion

4. References

5. Useful links

1.  What is Voki?

  Voki is an educational website used by million of educators and students all around the world. There are three main features you can utilize on this website: creating your own avatar and embed it on another website; uploading or downloading free lesson plans; and joining the Voki classroom to study with students around the world.

2.   What can you do in Voki  for ELT

 2.1 Create a speaking avatar!

    

  The most important tool in this website is the speaking avatar! It is fun and extremely useful! The avatar can be embedded into other websites and create a sound effect! 

The creating process is simple! 

 Click and learn:

Advantages:

• As we can see from the top of this post, the speaking kitty is an interesting attraction for readers, especially for kids. By using Voki avatar, teachers can engage students in the arranged activities. For instance, when teachers want to give comments on students' homework, teachers can apply Voki avatar. The animation can contribute a lot in the emotional side of the corrections and compliments.

• Voki avatar is useful in doing speaking activities. When students do not show their faces when they speak, their true identities are somehow hidden behind the avatars. This can lower students' speaking anxiety and hence students become more active in the speaking activities.

Limitation:

• Not all the avatars are free, many images can be used by Voki Classroom students only.

 2.2 Get free lesson plans

  In Voki lesson plan database, you can search for lesson plans for different subjects from kindergarten to higher education. You can view it download it, and even share it on Facebook. It is totally free!

For example:  click it for more details

Advantage:

• The data base has lesson plans for various subjects in different levels. As the database is constantly updated, more and more teachers come here and  exchange information and ideas. By doing so, teachers can gradually improve their classroom practice.

Limitation:

• Until now, most of the lesson plans in Voki are not for higher education.

 2.3 Voki classroom

Click and learn more

  "Voki Classroom is an innovative tool for expressing yourself on the Web in your own voice using a talking character. Voki allows Teachers and Students to use speaking avatars for education."1 Teachers can arrange classes with unlimited numbers of students to have class. 

Advantage: 

• Voki classroom is without limitation for student participants, meanwhile, students do not need to sign in for the classroom, therefore, teachers can arrange a big class online.

• The operation of the class is user-friendly, both teachers and students find it easy to join and communicate, consequently, the efficiency of the class become higher.

• In Voki, students and teachers are from different parts of the world, cultural exchange often take place. This is a good education for language learners to explore cultural differences and broaden their horizon.

Limitation:

• Users have to pay for it. However, the fee is low, and there is a 15 day trail version. So try it before you pay a small amount! :) It's a nice tool to use!

3. Conclusion

  Voki has different functions, and I recommend you fabulous teachers to try it out!

References

1.http://www.voki.com/pdf/Voki_Classroom-Getting_Started_Guide.pdf

Useful links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O4rQXcBrp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyGTcH0ZefM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9gHpIH9RTA

Information for setting up a Voki classroom, go to the teacher's corner

http://forums.voki.com/hottestTopics/list.page

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Dvolver ---- create your own animation

In this article I will introduce :

1. What is Dvolver?

2. The process of making a movie in Dvolver

3. The advantages of using it in ELT

4. The limitations of employing it in ELT

5. The application of Dvolver in ELT

6. References

7. Useful links

1. What is it ?

DvolverMovie Maker is super fun, let’s enjoy a Dvolver movie about Valentine before we get to know more!

Please click this picture for watching 

Dvolver Movie Maker is a popular website where people can create their short animations for free.

2. The process of making a movie in Dvolver

There are seven steps of creating an animation uniquely your own! Let’s start~

• Step 1: Select a background & a sky

Scroll down the list and choose your favorite background and the sky that you need, then click next

• Step 2: Select a plot

Choose the plot you want,

 there are four kinds of plots:

·Rendez-vous: characters enter into the screen from each side, and then speak

·Pick-up: two characters enter from opposite sides, then speak and leave together

·Chase: two characters chase each other, then make a conversation

·Soliloquy (eg: monologue): Only one character speaks

• Step 3: Select the characters

Here you can choose one or two characters in your movie

• Step 4: Type in the charaters’ lines

You can type at most 100 charaters in each line

• Step 5: Select the backgroud and the music

Choose the music, you can choose to add another scene or continue to finish your product.

• Step 6: select movie title design

Choose the title design and type your movie title and your name. J

• Step 7: Preview the animation and send

Write down your email and deliver it to your emailbox

PS: when you discover something wrong in the movie, don’t worry! Just click back, and correct the mistake.

It is very easy to operate and efficient! Try it yourself J

3. The advantages of using Dvolver in ELT

• A time saver Dvolver is a free website that requires no sign up. In an effective class, time management is important. Comparing with other websites which needs sign up and providence of private information, Dvolver consumes less time and preserve more privacy. When teachers and students go to this webpage even for the first time, they can immediately start the creation of their movies.

• User friendly The instruction of different steps is simple and clear, which allows even younger kids to make one of their own without experiencing frustration in operating the tool, because the design of the movie making progression is simplified. Comparing to some video making software, such as AVS4you, and Corel VideoStudio, which professionals needs months’ training to learn to manage, Dvolver avoids almost all the complexities in creating a movie. Consequently, students focus more on their ideas for designing the plots and the lines.

• Interesting With the visual effect, students can find their practice for making a dialogue more interesting. The characters can trigger students’ creativity and engagement in making a dialogue scene.

• Accessibility The movies can be accessed from emails or can be embedded into blogs or websites. As long as there is internet, Dvolver can be applied into classroom practice.

• Record of student learning progression The comparison of students Dvolver movies can be a way of assessment for students’ learning process.

4. The limitations of using Dvolver in ELT

• There is NO sound! An animation without sound is a real deal-breaker for many aspects in teaching. What makes animation different from cartoon books is sounds and movements! If Dvolver can add sound effect, it will be much better! If it allows movie makers to input their own voices, it will be extremely fun, especially for practicing speaking! Students will unconsciously spend more time in practicing speaking through engaging themselves in adding perfect sound effect.

• Limited number of participants in the movie Students can only choose one or two characters in the scene. Therefore, students in the classroom can not make a multiple conversation. This means it is impossible for making a play with more than two characters. If teacher divides students in a class into groups to construct multiple dialogue by using Dvolver, their creativity is constrained, due to the lack of choice.

• Limited lines and limited scenes The maximum lines are six only, which means that the conversation is short and can not be developed into a long conversation. For advanced learner, no matter for writing task or for speaking task, it can not meet the needs for an extending dialogue.

• Problem with line appearing length The appearing of line is equal in time, which means when the line is longer, students may not have enough time to read through the context

• No control of playing the video There are no “Play, Pause, Rewind” buttons to control the video and no volume control. When teachers want to explain the grammar, the music can become a headache. Meanwhile, it is impossible to pause the movie, and teachers have to wait until the movie finishes to explain language points.

5. The application of Dvolver in ELT

    From the discussion of the advantage and limitation of Dvolver, I will apply Dvolver in these situations in English language teaching:

• Teacher talks If teachers have to give short notices for students in a humorous way or make an encouragement for students’ work, they can use Dvolver, regardless of students’ levels.

• Peer interactions Dvolver is more suitable to be used for fundamental level students. No matter in grammar, writing or speaking class, teachers can pair students to create dialogues by employing Dvolver. For example, teachers can give instruction for students to do half open dialogue making works, which requires students to apply the newly learn language points into their movies.

• Enhancement of students’ autonomy Younger students can find it more appealing to write their conversations with visual effect than write it on a white sheet of paper. Therefore, Dvolver can be used as a new media for homeworks.

Reference 

No direct citations are used in thise article

Further reading

http://ictandteaching.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/fun-with-dvolver.html

http://elaineyuenictinelt.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/typeapplicationx-shockwave-flash.html

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