ict @ all london
TRANSCRIPT
A guide to using Wikis, Blogs and Podcasts in MFL
Collaboration, Creativity, Motivation
Alex BlagonaLanguage College
CoordinatorNorthgate High School,
Ipswich
ALL London Event13th June 2009
www.northgatemfl.co.ukalexblagona.blogspot.com
Dealing with the fear• Embracing technology• Making it work as a T&L tool• Taking risks and being
brave• Seek out help• Reaping the rewards
Keeping up with the kids?
• Playing catch-up – a necessity
• Embracing students’ know-how
• Showing them the tools
Why technology?
“Young people’s familiarity with ICT offers a great opportunity to language teachers. It seems that a determined commitment to use this world, which is so familiar to young people, is a key to increasing the engagement of young people of all ages with languages... They can also provide stimulus for creative and interactive work.”
(Lord Dearing - Languages Review March 2007)
Cassettes
20th Century language learning…
Text book
Grammar
Repetition
Coloured chalk
Exercises Louis Laloupe
Vocab Tests
Connectivity
Global Learning
Authenticity Confidence
Relevance
Inspiration
Collaboration
Motivation
Interactivity Creativity
21st Century language learning should involve…
Engagement
Enjoyment
Eh?• Easy to set-up website.• Allows students to come together
and work.• Students can create and design
their own pages.• Add and embed media-rich content.• Connected = motivated!• Content for a purpose.
• Promotes independent study and research skills.
• Makes MFL more relevant to kids – real communication!
• It’s quite simple to use.• Allows work to be published openly, or to a
select audience.• Allows for peer assessment in a safe
environment - assessment for learning.• Very few restrictions that can hinder
students creativity.• You can include lots of interactive tools
(Widgets!)• It’s FREE for educators.
Better than a VLE?• Not necessarily better, just different!• A wiki is ideal for class projects.• A closer community, working together.• Allows contributors control over the
page.• Easier to maintain than a VLE.• Not as ‘clunky’.• Facilitates collaboration across
institutions.
What makes wikis remarkable?
•Anyone can add, edit, or delete a page.•Users control the design and organisation of the wiki.•What you write is more important than how it looks.•A bridge between 20th and 21st Century learning.
What to consider when starting a wiki?•Purpose
•Audience
•Content
Short term project? Or long term resource?
One class? One subject? One school?
Teacher created resources? Student work?
Reaching out to people…
• Sharing good ideas and resources.• Raising awareness of MFL across the school
(and beyond!)• Getting students to assess each other’s work.• Giving students an opportunity to be creative!
Using a wiki to get your students
working togetherIn MFL we can use ‘wikis’ to get students to create, share, correct and discuss their work with each other in a secure and personalised environment.
We can bring together learners, and create a place for learning irrespective of geographical location.
Inter-school projects easily produced on wikis.
“What I like best about the Wiki”
• “The chance to be creative was great - and it’s better than just writing it - we could put whatever we wanted on there (pictures, responses, content).”
• “I like to see my classmates’ work. It was also fun to see [their] comments on my work.”
• “Seeing some of the phrases used in people’s essays made me want to make my essay better.”
• “It gives you a chance to feel part of a group - we can learn from the rest of the group - and it makes sure you do your homework.”
• “I liked the flexibility a lot.”
New, corrected text in green, deleted text in red.
Editing your wiki…
Want to create a wonderful wiki?www.wikispaces.com
www.pbwiki.comwww.northgatemfl.co.uk
Useful examples of MFL wikisedgehill-spanish.wikispaces.com
northgatemfl.wikispaces.comirsdeutsch.wikispaces.comlangwitch.wikispaces.com
What is a podcast? The how and why… The know-how…
What is a podcast?
What is a Podcast?
A broadCAST or a video made available to download and playable on portable MP3 players, such as iPODs.
Can be set up so that each new MP3 recording can form a series.
Listeners can subscribe to and subsequently automatically download new ‘episodes’ by simply going to a podcasting site – like iTunes.
The how and why…
10 reasons why you might want to
create a podcast…
1.A simple creation of listening resources…
2.Increase exposure to the target language…
3.Improve the
communication and presentation skills of
pupils
4.Create ‘realistic’
scenes for your pupils
5.Embrace new
technology
6.Makes MFL more relevant, and fun!
7.Only needs a small
amount of technical know how (honestly!)
8.Motivates and engages pupils
because getting it right really matters!
9.Create and develop
an audience for your recordings.
10.Take MFL outside of
the classroom.
So, I can use a podcast for…
• Role-play performances• Learning vocabulary• Pronunciation practice• Reinforcing grammar• Making a radio show (cross-
curricular?)• Class projects• Tales of school trips and visits
The key to a good podcast
• Time to prepare content – have an idea what you want to record.
• Rehearsal and practice! A script?• Record a bit – then check it has worked!• Record all you need, then edit the
material.• Find sound effects/background music• SAVE!• Upload your podcast…
The know-how…
What do I need?
Need more than sound?
• Flip Video• Size of a mobile• Records 1hr of video• Plugs right into PC
Really Useful Websites• www.cueprompter.com• audacity.sourceforge.net• podsafeaudio.com• office.microsoft.com• http://www.atantot2.co.uk/podcasts.html• www.jellycast.com• www.switchpod.com• www.ltscotland.org.uk/sharingpractice/p/podcasting/introduction.asp
Class blog:
www.northgatemfl.co.ukPersonal blog:
alexblagona.blogspot.comEmail:
@blagona
Get in touch!