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
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.
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