Part II - Wikis, Vokis, Audiopal, Storybirds and Much More....

So, in the first part of this blog we considered ideas around the use of digital images, for basic activities and long-term projects (remember the Fotoromanzo project?), as well as the use of video cameras to take classroom clips of activities, dialogues, or even telling and presenting a story or a research project (the Ocelot project video). We learned that with a simple online tool called "Eyejot" (http://www.eyejot.com/) we can even send up to one-minute long video email messages, and that these messages can be posted on a blog or wikipage to guide students through a set of activities we want them to complete, give them instructions on complex tasks, or create simple video clips they can replay to follow along a text language sample we want to focus on.

In the first part we mainly looked at hardware-related ideas. Taking pictures or videos and using them to support our second language classes.

In this session (part II) we will look at how we can quickly, efficiently and very cheaply use online tools to integrate these ideas and more into online spaces, where we post lesson ideas, unit project details, access to files and interactive spaces that our students can use, in class and after class on their own.

The idea will will follow will touch upon the following points:

1. First we will consider WORDS. What are examples of online tools directly related to words that we can use in SL classes? We will look at WORD CLOUDS (http://www.wordle.net/) and DIGITAL STORIES (http://www.storybird.com/).
2. Then we will take one more look at other ways to share AUDIO files online (http://www.audiopal.com/) and also keep in mind your desktop audio-recording tools (like garage band in Apple computers and Recording devices in PCs). We will briefly touch upon the idea of podcasts.
3. Then we will briefly look at the world of AVATARS and how they can attract students of all ages and give us an opportunity to create simple interactive audio and video activities we can post anywhere online. (http://www.voki.com/ and http://www.xtranormal.com/).
4. We will take a look at one simple interactive tool with MAPS and how that can be transformed into some neat activity ideas with directions, descriptions and simple quizzes (http://maps.google.com/)

The four key points listed above will deal mainly with CONTENT and how content can be easily created through online tools. Each element will be shown being hosted in online spaces. The easier to set up and least expensive to use are: BLOGS and WIKIS. (http://www.blogger.com/) - (http://www.wikispaces.com/).

As we go through these examples and brief models of using these tools consider these fundamental ideas and approaches should you want to go back to your classroom and try these yourself.

• It will be overwhelming just to realize how much is out there and all the possibilities that teachers have to transform what you always thought were good ideas, beyond the pencil and pen, overheads and DVD movies you are used to rely on to teach your classes. Take a deep breath, look back at the one idea that amazed you or interested you the most and work with that one idea for a while. Once you reach a level of satisfaction and are proud of your creations, go back and look at the next cool idea....
• Always forgive yourself! This will be  mostly new to you. the learning curve is steep and you will need to stop, make peace with the stumbling blocks you find and keep telling yourself "I am new at this and I want to learn more about it. If this one click does not work today, I will shut the machine off and get back to it another time."
• If once does not work, try and try again! It takes at least four meaningful repetitions to "get" how one simple click does something for you online (or on a computer). So do not despair. If the steps are there for you to follow and you know that is the right way to proceed, keep on trying until you get there. And you will.
• Share! Share the success, share the frustrations, share the ideas, the challenges, the new findings...online communities are there to help you out. the whole world is there for you to access at any moment. If you receive help, be available to give it the next time. That is how we grow and learn together.

Hope these tips and ideas will inspire you to try and play with these tools.

Here is a link to a sample handout for the session follow ups. Click Here