4.3 Student Induction images and videos

This post is a guidance for beginner students as part of the induction process.  Also the content can be used to practice directions for the exam and the images can be used to describe the college, also useful for exam practice.

Stduents will have to name and order the images after they've been on a tour. I will show this up on the projector and ask students to write or shout out the name of the places, then I will elicit the position of the places in the order they see them from the car park to reception.

 

 

 

 

 

These videos can be used in various ways.  This is one possible way:

Stduents will go on a tour of the college, then they will watch the videos without sound and try and predict what's been said, then they will watch and listen to check their answers and we will practice asking for and giving directions.

 

4.3: Push Technology

Push Technology is a term similar in meaning as 'to subscribe'.  It means that internet users can have access to new information without looking for them.  They basically 'subscribe' to a particular channel or site and get alerts send to them about what's new.

Many websites have this feature, like messenger, sport results, email etc.

When we browse on the web and see this symbol (RSS Feeder) it means that the user can subscribe to a particular site and have information of their interest sent to them.

It can be accessed via PCs, laptops and smart phones.  The original Blackburry was the first to adopt such a system by allowing users to communicate and share messages through the web.

This is constantly updating depending on how many feeds to subscribe to and gives you news directly when you log on to your computer or access the reader icon on your phone.

Subscriptions work in the same way where you subscribe to various websites and instead of having it directly providing a feed for your blog the information gets sent to your email.

 

Twitter is a good exemple of Push Technonology.  Users subscribe to news feeds and with the push of a button can access all the posts.

 

There are many benefits to using this system in Education and I plan on using it to inform students of new posts on the Blog I set up for them to read and comment on.

 

Another way that this can be used in my discipline is to send videos, newspaper articles and English exrecises to students and allow them to access the material and hopefully increase students interest and enrich their learning experience.

 

3.2: Pinterest

I made this page to share with my young learners.  On this page I'm hoping to encourage them to share pins with images of things they we interested in.

I think this can be a nice way to get to know each other better and hopefully through this I might be able to get ideas for lessons and focus them around topics of their interest.

The next step is to invite them and start sharing!

Pinterest

4.2 Inclusivity

4.2 Share multi-media content using an accessible online medium, taking account of issues of inclusivity

 

My issues here are related to accessibility as I do not teach ICT.  So, most of the e-materials I've been experimenting with have been limited to classroom delivery through the porjector and through worksheets.  

I find that some SS are happy to go home or to the library and try stuff but most students say they have no time or cannot use the computer well.  Therefore not all SS take advantage of the benefits available online.  However this reality is beginning to change and I'm hoping to slowly incorporate the web 2.0 in all my classes.

The issues which could affect the use of multimedia in the class are related to includitivity, however at present I do not have any disabled students. 

In this blog you will see examples of wikis and pinterests which have been created for sharing.  They are samples currently under development and as I am adapting and changing them as I see appropriate in order to use them with my learners.



 

4.1 Audioboo: Have you got what it takes?

This Audioboo will be used with my intermediate class. There are several ways in which this material can be used. It can be a listening activity or a dictation. However the tool can be used in many ways and I think it can be useful in my classes, so I will use it again.

The benefits of this tool are endless and students can create their own radio programmes, podcasts, audio diaries etc. Also I can send ss stuff and they can listen to them on their phones or in the class.

It is very easy to use and we can also easily share recordings with the whole class and beyond.

http://audioboo.fm/barbaracosta

 

2.3 Quizlet: Personality

This is a quiz I created for a class on Quizlet.  This tool is amazing.  I'll definitely keep on using it in my class/lessons.
This one is about adjectives to describe personality.
The tool is so easy to use and it provides definitions and a variety of interesting materials within the topic of choice such as games, sounds etc.
personality

1.3: implications of e-safety, inclusion and data protection

Using the web 2.0 in class is a fun and very effective way to deliver content and interact with students. However, teachers have got to pay particular attention to what students are accessing as some of the content is not appropriate. Therefore learning to use e-materials goes hand in hand with learning about the implications of e-safety, inclusion and data protection. Therefore Ofsted has developed a guide for teachers to follow and the 5 most important points are:

The five most important points summarised from the video are as follows;

1. The child's Act 2004 developed the ECM (Every Child Matters) framework that covers the welfare of a child up to the age of 19.

2. Each local area has the responsibility to set up a Local Safeguarding Children’s Board which can offer support and training to colleges. However, this is not obligatory so would need to be asked for.

3. OFSTED is the regulatory body responsible for assessing and monitoring the e-safety and safeguarding procedures, policies and impact within colleges. This came as a result of the Byron Review which recommended that OFSTED investigated the level of e-safety within colleges.

4. There are self-evaluation forms that colleges can complete in order to assess their current e-safety and safeguarding mechanisms and see if improvements need to be made in accordance with OFSTED's framework.

5. If OFSTED visit a college and deem that it has inadequate e-safety and safeguarding procedures, policies and impact then it can result in the overall grade being lowered.

Read more: http://eteaching.hyperboards.com/action/view_topic/topic_id/3#ixzz2R68wD97F

Photofunia: A person you admire

In this lesson I will show this image I've created and ask learners to go on the website and do the same using a photo of someone special.
The objective of the lesson is for students to frame someone special in a way that tells how special the person is.  Then ss will write a full description of the person: looks and personality and why they think they are special.
This lesson will follow the "talk about someone you admire" section of their book Cutting Edge unit 4.

click here to view the photo photofunia

Pixton: Brothers

Activity for module 4 Cutting Edge. I created this comic for students to continue the story as they wish.  There are two extra boxes for them to finish the story.  This will be just an introduction to an extended text which they will write in class or at home. Brothers

go animate: Australia

This is a video to be used in the beginning of my Intermediate class to introduce the topic and pose some questions about the country. Aussies

1.1 Observation of e-tool used in a lesson

Observation sheet

3.2 Wiki: Yellow Parrot

I have created this Wiki for my adult class. I am hoping to use this as extra material in addition to the class and homework. I understand that not all student will use it but I hope that the ones who do benefit from it.

The benefits are reading, adding comments, posting texts, exercises, articles and exchange opinions.

This is mainly the first draft. I will develop it as I go along and continuously improve the resource to suit the needs of the learners.


https://yellowparrot.wikispaces.com/

2.1 Prezi: Pancake Tuesday

I have tasted two tools – screenr and Prezi.  Prezi is very useful and interesting tool.  I can see potential in Screenr, but have to get more used to it.

I created this Prezi for my class on Pancake Tuesday. It was so fan and students were impressed with the presentation.  i had their full attention while showing the images, videos and texts.

This is a tool I will always use in my lessons. 

http://prezi.com/hoknb-xq00ni/untitled-prezi/

1.5 YouTube karaoke song versions

I use YouTube all the time. I love this tool because it is so versatile and it has pretty much everything. I chose to talk about this one – Yesterday, a song by The Beatles – because it is particularly useful. This is a karaoke version which I can be projected onto the white wall/board and show students the words for my chosen song. SS can sing or just read it. The letters are large and they move slowly according to the melody of the song.

The negative aspects of using a sample online are the adverts which might be offensive or undesirable. However, this can be tackled by the teacher by checking the video beforehand and even using TubeChop to select the part of the video required.  A part from that, YouTube for teaching is amazing!


On the other hand the barriers of using Youtube in the classroom for me are when students are accessing the computers as they will often go on to other websites like Facebook etc.


Another problem with using the web in the class is SS talking about other classmates and teachers through social networking sites. On one occasion, in an IT class, a student took a photo of the teacher and two classmates together in the frame and added a rude comment to the photo. That resulted in him being sent home and then transferred to another college.


I think that young students are not mature enough to evaluate the dangers and power of the internet and often are very unaware of its dangers. So, parents and teachers have the responsibility to monitor children’s usage.  Also it is our responsibility to educate our children and learners about e-safety. Apart from that, YouTube and other sites are absolutely great for teaching! The internet has made teaching and learning a much more fun with infinite possibilities.

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

2.2 Web Quest: Pompeii and Herculaneum at the British Museum

 

This Web Quest is about Pompeii and Herculaneum at the British Museum.  I chose this for 2 reasons: one because we spoke about Pompeii and also because I'm planning a trip there.

Web Quest: British Museum

 

 

Click on the museum's website and answer:

There is an exhibition going on at the moment about Pompeii and Herculaneum. Who are the 2 people in the painting?

Read the Wikipedia text and answer: What is Pompeii?

Ok, good. Now, in our last lesson we spoke about Pompeii. What did we discover?

Find an image of the ‘thing’ made in Pompeii and copy it here.

So, what is Herculaneum? Go to Wikipedia by yourself and search for it.

What happened to Pompeii and Herculaneum?

Watch the video Pompeii and Herculaneum. What does it mean?

Click here and goodbye!! J

1.4 Wiki: wik-ed

I have created a wiki to work with my Young Learners; however I don’t think it worked as I had planned. Some students struggled to get an account as they were not getting the initial emails.  Some students were really confused as to how they could contribute to the page and one student created 3 new accounts without meaning to, just trying to add a comment.

I think it would have been best if I thought them ICT or if we had access to a computers on a regular basis.  Also I think I might create a blog to start with, as I think having a blog where they can read my posts and comment on it might be an easier way to train them to use such tools. 

The positive side to it though was the visual aspect and the idea of online sharing, which initially appealed very much to me, and to them, as it certainly enhances learning and sharing.

Wikispace page reviewed

1.2: Evaluate technology in learning

As I have mentioned in other blog entries technology can both enhance and inhibit learning. The examples I have chosen to display here are all aimed at enhancing learning, since they will be shown to students during class.

This animation I created is very funny and I believe students will enjoy it. Also the content is very usefull and will pose some questions about vocabulary, which was intentionally planned.  I just hope that the use of the word 'yobbo' being directed at Australians is understood as a joke and not otherwise.  I will make sure it is understood as planned.
Animation

The next one is an animation/comic and will be given to ss for them to continue the story. I think this worksheet will be really useful in the lesson because it will provide extension practice in a very fun and creative way. I'm confident that ss will find it interesting and also do their best to complete it.

Pixton: Brothers


This one is about framing a special person and what is stimulating about it is that just by choosing the background to display the photo is already collaborating in the telling of the story. For example, in my demonstration i used a photo of my very dear aunt Beatriz. She has been displayed in an art gallery (which she is very interested in) and is the centre of attention, which means she is very special. This will be a great opportunity of contextualisation and self-discovery as they will be encouraged to experiment with the material outside the classroom. This will be possible as all learners in this class are computer literate enough to carry out this task.

http://prezi.com/k801pwopkgwl/edit/?auth_key=swl6erz&follow=fo97pcufa7cp

However in some other examples displayed in this bog (other entries) like wikis, Pinterest etc can inhibit learning since some learners are not able to use the technology or do not have access to them outside the class.

While trying to set up a wiki for my class of Young Learners (mostly able computer users) some SS expressed frustration because they could not log in. It was very difficult to manage and help ss individually since they were stuck and had to wait until I was free. For me this was very tiring. In the end most ss managed to log on and one even managed to leave a comment, but ever since we have not managed to find the time revisit the tool, as I do not teach them ICT.

This is a more detailed Prezi. I made it to use with my Young Learners. The lesson is about ways to relax and improve health, so this prezi is specifically about laughing yoga and there is a range of materials including a text, a video, some images and steps to carry out a laughing session.

http://prezi.com/k801pwopkgwl/edit/?auth_key=swl6erz&follow=fo97pcufa7cp



http://prezi.com/k801pwopkgwl/untitled-prezi/?kw=view-k801pwopkgwl&rc=ref-30830117

Wiki Space

I have created this wiki space to share ideas, information and interesting learning stuff with my Young Learners. I am hoping to add newspaper articles, music links, videos, learning English anecdotes and self study sites, so students can learn while being active and making comments and sharing stuff.  I'm also hoping that students will share cool stuff too and if it works out, we can try and share this wiki with YL's students and teachers from other sites too.

Laughing Yoga Prezi

This was a lesson I taught of Friday.  The topic was laughing club, so I created this presentation with images, text and a video about laughing yoga.  I think it worked OK but I still need to get used to its tools.

http://prezi.com/k801pwopkgwl/edit/#5

2.1 Screenr: WorldMap

This is a sketch of a virtual task using screenr.  In this audio cast I guide students through a world map where they have to find some countries and possibly some continents.

I have not used this resource yet, but will make some changes and try it with my classes.
http://www.screenr.com/InG7

Festivals

In this prezi, I have put a link which I found on youtube with photos of festivals around the world.
This can be used as it is to introduce the topic of festivals and it can also be modified to suit other parts of a lesson.
Please see laughing Yoga Prezi for a more detailed use of the tool.


http://prezi.com/fxoz0rv26y71/edit/#10

1st evening @ e-teaching

This is our first evening on the course. I'm Barbara (BCH) and I'm an ESOL teacher here at Ealing.

This is my portfolio. I'm hoping to fill it up with lots of fun resources to use with my learners and to share with anyone who wishes to see it.

This is my second blog, the first one I never touched, so my plan is to make this as active as possible because having a bog is something I'd like to try out.