tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32833395449462327202024-03-06T03:34:53.790+00:00Nik's Learning Technology BlogFor English Language TeachersNik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-35609301005653196002022-09-15T11:19:00.002+01:002022-09-15T11:19:23.187+01:00The Teachers' Classroom App - By PeacheyPublications<p><a href="https://peacheypublications.com/the-teachers-classroom-app" target="_blank"> The Teachers' Classroom App </a>- By PeacheyPublications</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SZc1dhjH-v9FYX3hOQnJJ-8ZqHNP_Yc4N5yD5DuYpYOgOFVTkcGbilSDvZaYBRJrXej5Xgiu_BISNn8Kt7eCEIf1JFf6_73NwH6E0d3rxneC4Mw6EHU8J7ZIUwuLnO5KGu9O77MKLSOxchL3vuH-VT8ZRFhTsjwT2GMigCgySqY4eYzeg_1gr5mo9A/s2398/Assertiveness.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="2398" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SZc1dhjH-v9FYX3hOQnJJ-8ZqHNP_Yc4N5yD5DuYpYOgOFVTkcGbilSDvZaYBRJrXej5Xgiu_BISNn8Kt7eCEIf1JFf6_73NwH6E0d3rxneC4Mw6EHU8J7ZIUwuLnO5KGu9O77MKLSOxchL3vuH-VT8ZRFhTsjwT2GMigCgySqY4eYzeg_1gr5mo9A/w400-h265/Assertiveness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This app has been designed to help teachers in the physical and remote classroom.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The app is a combination of teaching and teacher development tool.</li><li>You can use it to launch one of over 200 media rich digital lessons with engaging interactive materials for students to work on together or at home.</li><li>You can use it to develop your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues faced by the contemporary English language teacher.</li><li>We add new ideas and materials every week. <br /></li><li>The app includes workbook apps for students that can help you cut costs.</li><li>There is also a Digital Toolbox to help you choose the best free resources from around the internet.</li></ul><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="padding: 56.25% 0px 0px; position: relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/703361029?h=e04f223e52&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" title="Teachers&#039; Classroom App - Navigation"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></div><br /><p></p><p>Check out our site to find out more: <a href="https://peacheypublications.com/the-teachers-classroom-app" target="_blank">The Teachers' Classroom App</a></p><p>Explore or catalogue with hundreds of lesson activities and great ideas to combine technology with learning English: <a href="https://payhip.com/peacheypublications" target="_blank">Our Catalogue</a><br /></p><p>Thanks for reading</p><p>Nik Peachey - Pedagogical Director - PeacheyPublications<br /></p>Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-45702768334006845942020-01-19T07:56:00.001+00:002020-01-19T07:56:25.350+00:00Digital Tools for Teachers - Trainers' Edition<div class="payhip-embed-page" data-key="B34N">...</div><script type="text/javascript" src="https://payhip.com/embed-page.js?v=24u68984"></script><br />
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-7788573408139954302018-11-20T12:03:00.002+00:002018-11-20T12:08:34.365+00:00Would you like to become an ELT materials writer? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are so many talented teachers who create materials for their students each day and never have the opportunity to get them published.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOU8R3iyQvkmWxPRbShyphenhyphentIoftb4NlrLe1FPel3-YBi3SzA0e-Zp-pTUd8B6Nl3wPWSUIvPmPNOyk7QPqE9WgPMYL08YH8rP2ofhY11MLkvx3fkBrVXlamHeEFNtycRZEf_sQMbVfzdsXn/s1600/beverage-3157395_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOU8R3iyQvkmWxPRbShyphenhyphentIoftb4NlrLe1FPel3-YBi3SzA0e-Zp-pTUd8B6Nl3wPWSUIvPmPNOyk7QPqE9WgPMYL08YH8rP2ofhY11MLkvx3fkBrVXlamHeEFNtycRZEf_sQMbVfzdsXn/s400/beverage-3157395_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Perhaps this is you.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Would you like to develop your career as an ELT writer?</li>
<li>Would you like to generate an income from the materials you produce?</li>
<li>Do you enjoy creating materials for your students?</li>
<li>Do you write articles for a blog that you would like to put into a book?</li>
<li>Do you create teacher development sessions that other teachers could use?</li>
<li>Do you like creating your own stories or games for students?</li>
<li>Do you have an idea for a teacher development book?</li>
<li>Do you have an idea for materials that don’t fit within the usual ELT paper-based niche?</li>
<li>Would you like some feedback and help with your ideas?</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, please sign up <a href="http://eepurl.com/dN_IpT" target="_blank">here</a> to keep in touch with me about a new opportunity that I’ll be launching soon. </div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://eepurl.com/dN_IpT" target="_blank">Sign Up</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Over the last few months, I have been developing a plan to expand <a href="https://peacheypublications.com/" target="_blank">PeacheyPublications</a> Ltd and turn it from my personal hobby into a disruptive digital publishing company by raising funds through <a href="https://www.patreon.com/" target="_blank">Patreon</a>.<br />
<br />
Part of the plan is to involve more writers and develop and help them grow and become part of the company as the company grows.<br />
<br />
<b>What’s in it for you?</b></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>If you sign up to become a writer you’ll get editorial guidance and help to develop your ideas into publishable products.</li>
<li>Once your materials are ready we’ll do all the design and prepare the materials for publication on our platform.</li>
<li>Once your materials are published we will market them to our customers and help build up sales.</li>
<li>When the materials sell you’ll receive 50% in royalties.</li>
<li>We will also enable you to market the materials independently to receive 75% royalties.</li>
</ul>
Initially, we are looking for 10 - 20 writers to work with. You don’t have to be a previously published writer. This is open to anyone who has an idea for a lesson, activity, book, game or story.<br />
<br />
<b>Why us?</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>We can get your work published within weeks rather than years.</li>
<li>We give you editorial support based on more than 25 years experience in ELT.</li>
<li>We will market your materials for you through our networks and customer list.</li>
<li>We help you develop your ideas.</li>
<li>We look after design and make the materials look professional.</li>
<li>Using our platform you can generate extra income by marketing your materials yourself and by helping to sell materials from our other writers.</li>
<li>We will handle the VAT charges</li>
</ul>
Once again, if you are interested please <a href="http://eepurl.com/dN_IpT" target="_blank">sign up here</a><br />
<br />
We’ll let you know when we launch.<br />
<br />
Find out more about <a href="https://peacheypublications.com/" target="_blank">PeacheyPublications</a><br />
<br />
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-22719183628113931162018-11-01T13:31:00.003+00:002018-11-01T13:31:47.193+00:00What's new about Lessons in Digital Literacy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Over the last few months, I have been revising and redesigning the series of lesson plans I first published in 2016. These lesson plans help to develop students linguistic and digital skills as well as their critical thinking by introducing them to a range of topics and information-rich graphics.<br />
<br />
<div class="container-wrapper-genially" style="position: relative; min-height: 400px; max-width: 100%;"><img src="https://genially.blob.core.windows.net/genially/version3.0/loader.gif" class="loader-genially" style="position: absolute; top: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; margin-top: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: auto; margin-left: auto; z-index: 1;width: 80px; height: 80px;"/><div id="5bbd8fad63409e0c9b34dd7b" class="genially-embed" style="margin: 0px auto; position: relative; height: auto; width: 100%;"></div></div><script>(function (d) { var js, id = "genially-embed-js", ref = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement("script"); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "https://view.genial.ly/static/embed/embed.js"; ref.parentNode.insertBefore(js, ref); }(document));</script><br />
<br />
<b>What's New about the Lessons in Digital Literacy?</b><br />
<br />
<br />
I've incorporated a number of new features into the redesigned lesson plans.<br />
<br />
The biggest change is that I have created digital versions for both teachers and students.<br />
<br />
Example: Studying How to Study<br />
<div class="container-wrapper-genially" style="position: relative; min-height: 400px; max-width: 100%;"><img src="https://genially.blob.core.windows.net/genially/version3.0/loader.gif" class="loader-genially" style="position: absolute; top: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; margin-top: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: auto; margin-left: auto; z-index: 1;width: 80px; height: 80px;"/><div id="5ba4ea8260da9743512aa65a" class="genially-embed" style="margin: 0px auto; position: relative; height: auto; width: 100%;"></div></div><script>(function (d) { var js, id = "genially-embed-js", ref = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement("script"); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "https://view.genial.ly/static/embed/embed.js"; ref.parentNode.insertBefore(js, ref); }(document));</script><br />
<br />
These presentations have been created using a technology called html5 which means that they will work in the browser in pretty much any device, including mobile phones, iPads and other tablets.<br />
<br />
In order to make it easier for both teachers and students to access the infographic for the lesson, I've added QR codes, so that students can either scan them onto a mobile phone from the teacher's copy or if they are using their own version of the student materials, they can just click on it and the infographic will open and they can scroll up and down it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4Ihs-_XODlG-EtgKToNHoSNF9uwhbusvpzzwXqcpnB3E1pglvteFwwHZhEMrfVtJ-iP503aNk8PzkuElc3kdaLHb5uPIM7EY9pAfIda6zZmO3ztsqgm_3p_qlG1DM4DIPYYuOOrl4paU/s1600/Studying_How_to_Study.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1481" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4Ihs-_XODlG-EtgKToNHoSNF9uwhbusvpzzwXqcpnB3E1pglvteFwwHZhEMrfVtJ-iP503aNk8PzkuElc3kdaLHb5uPIM7EY9pAfIda6zZmO3ztsqgm_3p_qlG1DM4DIPYYuOOrl4paU/s400/Studying_How_to_Study.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Another feature that these digital materials include is a marker for annotating over the presentation. This is easy to access on both the teacher and student copies and can be opened and closed along with the annotation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6h1hgmMNchsBeEi58LZNpVeNm5JIL_Mjzi-2NzdjlCvTAr2AbBZy60AEJ3KmM1U_5CHKc4D-tMSyXtkQf9wRknnoG0i97aI3qrPZjqB84GTUxVyd2bTCdAJvB3JsOumdbvLisuPwn_ql/s1600/studying-tostudypen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="1171" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6h1hgmMNchsBeEi58LZNpVeNm5JIL_Mjzi-2NzdjlCvTAr2AbBZy60AEJ3KmM1U_5CHKc4D-tMSyXtkQf9wRknnoG0i97aI3qrPZjqB84GTUxVyd2bTCdAJvB3JsOumdbvLisuPwn_ql/s400/studying-tostudypen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Where writing activities are suggested I've also created a link to an external notepad which students can use and then publish their work directly to the internet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lwnT7FEGPipGujTQWFScY731LabeGm33UXzy2XLZCoojSJaQbb04a_s0VMu-PHLa-7-pl8xTYi0GoH3GrpyY8tMYn5qh_RcQeTzpnbjIxO_MCA-cEYr9Ip500qR4VkV4UXVYv1PfWG2y/s1600/study-notes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="74" data-original-width="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lwnT7FEGPipGujTQWFScY731LabeGm33UXzy2XLZCoojSJaQbb04a_s0VMu-PHLa-7-pl8xTYi0GoH3GrpyY8tMYn5qh_RcQeTzpnbjIxO_MCA-cEYr9Ip500qR4VkV4UXVYv1PfWG2y/s1600/study-notes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
If your students don't have access to digital devices in the classroom you can still use these lessons as there is a PDF version of the students' version provided.<br />
<br />
<br />
The underlying structure of each lesson looks a little like this.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAm3qaLcmuI53AuwdEk7QnjSxBUh6tCCr6bdlydW61GJeqUidNS6UUFpm2r-a0g8zWV_plaKnOoeHeLD_K61ErasXKP-DyoBR3tp7SmUZN36yWPtMBtzUxeNbXc7wagmFG7Wkrb8Kb342/s1600/Thinking-Critically_key.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1239" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAm3qaLcmuI53AuwdEk7QnjSxBUh6tCCr6bdlydW61GJeqUidNS6UUFpm2r-a0g8zWV_plaKnOoeHeLD_K61ErasXKP-DyoBR3tp7SmUZN36yWPtMBtzUxeNbXc7wagmFG7Wkrb8Kb342/s400/Thinking-Critically_key.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
As you can see I try to work from what students already know and believe, introduce new information to them, see how they respond to the information and then get them to examine and evaluate the information more deeply. The final part of each lesson helps students to synergise the information and incorporate it back into their belief system.<br />
<br />
All of the lesson plans include detailed step by step instructions and guidance for teachers, as well as answer keys.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Va_K5Mw-T2BpZN15wOSH9yOeeQEDvX8I1pJcdwRBh_8RfrP51yGRQ7d3n9AjiVNbmy64QiXqH0reNS0sqeHuUekFVdR_rU7w-J2wOgcxYySfwHZfoyzuoyq1XAg-RDgHwxDAMCjBnFe/s1600/Studying-How-to-Study-New-Version_pdf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1254" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Va_K5Mw-T2BpZN15wOSH9yOeeQEDvX8I1pJcdwRBh_8RfrP51yGRQ7d3n9AjiVNbmy64QiXqH0reNS0sqeHuUekFVdR_rU7w-J2wOgcxYySfwHZfoyzuoyq1XAg-RDgHwxDAMCjBnFe/s400/Studying-How-to-Study-New-Version_pdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Although each plan contains eight to ten tasks and about 2 hours worth of material, they don't have to be completed in one lesson and some of the evaluation tasks used selectively.<br />
<br />
You can download all of these lesson plans and materials from: <a href="https://payhip.com/peacheypublications" target="_blank">PeacheyPublications</a><br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy themand sign up to my customer list to be informated when new materials become available and to get customer disocunts.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul><li><a data-unique-btn-id="121" href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/creating-illustrations-and-infographics.html" target="_blank">Creating illustrations and infographics for ELT tasks</a> </li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="122" href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/exploiting-infographics-for-elt.html" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics for ELT</a> </li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="123" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> </li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="124" href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Using a backchannel</a> </li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="125" href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Getting students' attention</a></li>
<li> <a data-unique-btn-id="126" href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/20-things-you-can-do-with-qr-codes-in.html" target="_blank">20 + Things you can do with QR codes in your school</a></li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="127" href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/brainstorming-and-polling-with.html" target="_blank">Brainstorming and polling with AnswerGarden</a></li>
</ul><br />
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey </div>Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-1898010699338889402017-05-12T06:57:00.001+01:002017-05-12T10:50:11.699+01:00Recap for enouraging reflection on learning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the true keys to learning and developing any ability is the willingness and capacity to reflect on what we have learned.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYZLAsbVXQzoUpPcPfI5tVpTpjnKN6FTCSYBQtqBtonhyphenhyphenpSk1KNtcB9mOO8bI-Vl7gcDwsHbItKFf-fAWvMQou1CkfeVvoIk2FG3aK9C-6wUwlkcIa087G148PI0UBHBs6DStfVMWnfkU/s1600/wood-100181_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYZLAsbVXQzoUpPcPfI5tVpTpjnKN6FTCSYBQtqBtonhyphenhyphenpSk1KNtcB9mOO8bI-Vl7gcDwsHbItKFf-fAWvMQou1CkfeVvoIk2FG3aK9C-6wUwlkcIa087G148PI0UBHBs6DStfVMWnfkU/s400/wood-100181_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So how can we encourage our students to reflect on what they have learned? Generally we want them to reflect from a slightly more distant perspective of time rather than more immediately within the classroom and this is where <a href="https://letsrecap.com/" target="_blank">Recap </a>can really help.<br />
<br />
Recap is a cross platform app that allows teachers to create classes and manage students and set them reflection questions that they can respond to using video on their laptop webcam or smart phone from their own home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>How does Recap work?</b><br />
To create a class and add your students just register on the site as a teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_Xq_wyvL6jmc9MWezk8WIeHbFRvmZfA-XZe-77DOQxiv03TOiL-UWgN7fsQXUTcsNs3c-Ky0cPwRTPnAbWffH5mRv20FOJHLxQKxOlqIzW2Nv61WbSuRYiromHOUWBQ_nRdSDrmAABF5/s1600/Recap-register.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_Xq_wyvL6jmc9MWezk8WIeHbFRvmZfA-XZe-77DOQxiv03TOiL-UWgN7fsQXUTcsNs3c-Ky0cPwRTPnAbWffH5mRv20FOJHLxQKxOlqIzW2Nv61WbSuRYiromHOUWBQ_nRdSDrmAABF5/s320/Recap-register.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once you have registered you click on Add Class and complete the class details form. You can also decide at this point whether you want your students to register with a PIN or an email. Email is a better option for older learners, whereas a PIN is better for younger ones as this doesn’t require them to have an email, but you do have to add all of their names. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykVwmkL-E8SuDTy6mhtPfA9fRjkbZbbkbrAiWqSWvic_uc1E7h_oLc5RMNXGkjWEXYscQAjPQZFajTSvSXEOtOwpxUFAb6xuNWl5DgOAH2RSnQI24X1ZQjM7JUp9_4TWmJYm3I7AMYQhS/s1600/Recap-add-class.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykVwmkL-E8SuDTy6mhtPfA9fRjkbZbbkbrAiWqSWvic_uc1E7h_oLc5RMNXGkjWEXYscQAjPQZFajTSvSXEOtOwpxUFAb6xuNWl5DgOAH2RSnQI24X1ZQjM7JUp9_4TWmJYm3I7AMYQhS/s400/Recap-add-class.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Once the class is created you get a link and a code that students can use to enter your class. I’ve set up a <a href="https://app.letsrecap.com/student" target="_blank">dummy EdTech class</a>, so feel free to join and try it out as a student if you wish. Just use the code shown in the image below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT29V3EX4t0ioq0VjbUoZNabW9pEn0tHWimWkeCWsnkOox5ZFwqjAcnJk6BjjZeFuRUv_lpHYtPzoYpYc5Onh0OfWhytctHTuddVH7yys_2z1L9msX__-jPlIH4b71W40hDJbqJ6pkjf54/s1600/Recap-sign-up.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT29V3EX4t0ioq0VjbUoZNabW9pEn0tHWimWkeCWsnkOox5ZFwqjAcnJk6BjjZeFuRUv_lpHYtPzoYpYc5Onh0OfWhytctHTuddVH7yys_2z1L9msX__-jPlIH4b71W40hDJbqJ6pkjf54/s400/Recap-sign-up.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Once your class is ready you can add two types of tasks, a <b>Recap</b> or a <b>Journey</b>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnvizoZNVOuzNtUPmZ0vilr8ZFUpoEczRRWEXm99TxzRqkRQZcEVke92erRARGVs9IKYLi8n44D75qLnFHBiNXjhLz4NZ7wyNL9coLlA_k2VCoK_3GmVaX4SzG2mdZ3kjad2qhXhrnV7R/s1600/Recap-tasks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnvizoZNVOuzNtUPmZ0vilr8ZFUpoEczRRWEXm99TxzRqkRQZcEVke92erRARGVs9IKYLi8n44D75qLnFHBiNXjhLz4NZ7wyNL9coLlA_k2VCoK_3GmVaX4SzG2mdZ3kjad2qhXhrnV7R/s400/Recap-tasks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
When you click on <b>Add Recap</b> you can type in and / or record your first question. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3QEzMUmisntAwB0Hvy2pvsFUEDwgLHMXJE-EWcsPBT_QFZvBbHBxhNYhKtHae97d19qRAv3Gt8f2e61d8PoR0CMrTo64Kih1tuv5YAoy5jxh5DtkSun683OuNl2AFDcJqd9FAl1E3Hg_/s1600/Recap-recap-task.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3QEzMUmisntAwB0Hvy2pvsFUEDwgLHMXJE-EWcsPBT_QFZvBbHBxhNYhKtHae97d19qRAv3Gt8f2e61d8PoR0CMrTo64Kih1tuv5YAoy5jxh5DtkSun683OuNl2AFDcJqd9FAl1E3Hg_/s400/Recap-recap-task.png" width="400" /></a></div>
You can then click on ‘Next’ and set the length of recording for your students’ response and the due date for the assignment. You can also decide if it goes to the whole class or individual students and enable to do some self assessment of their recording.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtV7tRyWr-rHMlQDm9fIWwS4txxBLNMs-u3tUN5x34WiEszkV91X4LMoTESiY3ks76Wrhf5Ai-J5aGUrkqt15bTo9kFflHvo47k-yg0PvNRw3fAaXYvTPdxyr-TBVrVxWezkcXzjjN3Aq/s1600/Recap-recap-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtV7tRyWr-rHMlQDm9fIWwS4txxBLNMs-u3tUN5x34WiEszkV91X4LMoTESiY3ks76Wrhf5Ai-J5aGUrkqt15bTo9kFflHvo47k-yg0PvNRw3fAaXYvTPdxyr-TBVrVxWezkcXzjjN3Aq/s400/Recap-recap-2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Once you click send the task becomes available to the students. Once they have replied you can click on the student list and then select each student to see their responses.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLRBKydGkWTK0mIzIadtRBxCeqkh7cI5V1Ipd2khGNB29zbIQ78M0Ttty_vqIEg0f2x1lQ7iRL37J7cN_qCsQktQDF4VsfsMQUSkZ4hXcpU2TE4zWWDffkRR12aSPMykgatS5T46i3i-u/s1600/Recap-responses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLRBKydGkWTK0mIzIadtRBxCeqkh7cI5V1Ipd2khGNB29zbIQ78M0Ttty_vqIEg0f2x1lQ7iRL37J7cN_qCsQktQDF4VsfsMQUSkZ4hXcpU2TE4zWWDffkRR12aSPMykgatS5T46i3i-u/s400/Recap-responses.png" width="400" /></a></div>
You can also click on ‘Assess’ and access all the student responses and respond back to them or watch a ‘showreel’ compilation of their responses.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw-FDY37yi-e311hmxq5u0Z3WfTZbqQZdPc_t7qgZcLLQgqu3in0i8LgkIyXUsh7OBaM_OiObdkDr6B8coeHJURzDXQNykpzPYo2DBF-8Y6EFxfqfdhMYCAEvHwBB15UGvy9OA4YU2EH1/s1600/Recap-student-response.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw-FDY37yi-e311hmxq5u0Z3WfTZbqQZdPc_t7qgZcLLQgqu3in0i8LgkIyXUsh7OBaM_OiObdkDr6B8coeHJURzDXQNykpzPYo2DBF-8Y6EFxfqfdhMYCAEvHwBB15UGvy9OA4YU2EH1/s400/Recap-student-response.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Once you have responded to their comments they can reply, so this can set up a kind of discussion chain.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1LTUkE8WRIuRI21rw-okDwEnLPEjIbdMQ4QP_yZFMCgk6Ud-oM-chiaO_sXDIavNKK_sTYyxrGT3HR-MHPIj7IMx7pvZe3gijNTaiGropLCe8ZsLKx8YzKPckl4YD5nUh9uEmQCHVG3-/s1600/Recap-response-chain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1LTUkE8WRIuRI21rw-okDwEnLPEjIbdMQ4QP_yZFMCgk6Ud-oM-chiaO_sXDIavNKK_sTYyxrGT3HR-MHPIj7IMx7pvZe3gijNTaiGropLCe8ZsLKx8YzKPckl4YD5nUh9uEmQCHVG3-/s320/Recap-response-chain.png" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
The second type of task you can add to Recap is a <b>Journey</b>. This is a question based around a sequence of materials with links to different media and video stimulus that you can record on your webcam or phone to help engage with students.<br />
<br />
To do this just click on ‘<b>Add Journey</b>’, allow access to your webcam and microphone, record your video and then add steps and links to media you want your students to explore.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhm9iydEosAL1twmrjZKnpsZ-MliE4owyxWyyExStasOH1EB6gsaoFZ_7RFTS3CnVR-kMMv6CMHLHYvE_clbN-VS46JADm6qzR5bzJO-uTbf7cH8AsmoV0lvBIuniqUyXeZ8BzTJyQXwz/s1600/Recap-journey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhm9iydEosAL1twmrjZKnpsZ-MliE4owyxWyyExStasOH1EB6gsaoFZ_7RFTS3CnVR-kMMv6CMHLHYvE_clbN-VS46JADm6qzR5bzJO-uTbf7cH8AsmoV0lvBIuniqUyXeZ8BzTJyQXwz/s400/Recap-journey.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The video you record has to be very short so this isn’t a tool for delivering lectures, it’s more of a tool for setting students up to discover things for themselves.<br />
<br />
Once you have created your ‘Journey’ activity for your students you ca share it with them, but you can also add it to the Recap ‘Marketplace’ this allows you to share or sell your ‘Journey’ activity to other teachers, so this is a great way to potentially make a little money (the maximum sale price is $0.99).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5ry3UkeQ4bUsW7BCxh-93mOOONYvcFSjqcZQoKxMg13woD3DRL96TAS7NEvAFDHD1g4QSEO8ThcbXbLt4fIF_Dt93Ygb9J1wWXkSs1eBgniI4NSN0gzeR4Bf9JQ5_yBDQ4GTNndwp_o5/s1600/Recap-marketplace.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5ry3UkeQ4bUsW7BCxh-93mOOONYvcFSjqcZQoKxMg13woD3DRL96TAS7NEvAFDHD1g4QSEO8ThcbXbLt4fIF_Dt93Ygb9J1wWXkSs1eBgniI4NSN0gzeR4Bf9JQ5_yBDQ4GTNndwp_o5/s400/Recap-marketplace.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You can also find ‘Journey’ tasks that you can use with your students there.<br />
<br />
<b>How to use Recap with students?</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Set a Recap task each evening after class and use it as a form of learner diary.</li>
<li>Use Recaps for action research and get students to tell you how they feel about what and how they are learning.</li>
<li>Set Recaps as short pronunciation assessment activities by getting students to read short texts.</li>
<li>Use Recaps to build a more positive dynamic and get to know your students a bit better and discover their motivation and interests.</li>
<li>Set Recap tasks to check students remember the vocabulary they learned during previous lessons.</li>
<li>Create Journeys based around infographics to get them researching and reflecting on the information within the graphic.</li>
<li>Use Journeys to get students doing research before coming to class for debates or for information sharing in class.</li>
<li>Use Journeys to share SOLE type questions that students can research.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>What I like about Recap</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Students are often shy to speak and ask questions in class so this is a chance to get them talking just to you.</li>
<li>Actually having the opportunity to listen carefully to each student during the class can be difficult, so Recap can provide you with the ability to fairly assess your students speaking.</li>
<li>The video clips your students submit are stored on the site, so over time you can see how they are progressing.</li>
<li>It’s a safe and controlled way for students to communicate with you through video.</li>
<li>You can actually get to know your students a bit better and give them some one to one time.</li>
<li>It’s great to be able to give students speaking homework and for students to see themselves speaking and reflect on their own performance.</li>
<li>It’s free and works across platforms (there are apps for both Android and iOS).</li>
<li>It offers teachers the opportunity to make some money from their work.</li>
</ul>
I hope you find <a href="https://letsrecap.com/" target="_blank">Recap</a> useful to help develop your students’ ability to reflect and your own ability to develop a closer understanding of your students’ needs and abilities.<br />
<br />
You can find lots more video based apps and activities in my award winning ebook - <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/digital-video-a-manual-for-language-teachers" target="_blank">Digital Video - A Manual for Language Teachers</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="payhip-button payhip-button-grey payhip-button-medium payhip-button-meta" data-key="5n90" href="https://payhip.com/b/5n90">I want this book</a><script src="https://payhip.com/btn.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/zc3v" target="_blank">20 Tech Enhanced Activities for the Language Classroom</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/tools-for-learners" target="_blank">Tools for Teachers & Learners</a></li>
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff/tools-videonotes" target="_blank">VideoNotes </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Best<br />
Nik Peachey<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-20030089527264387862017-04-21T06:32:00.001+01:002017-05-12T06:59:00.131+01:005 Free Edtech and ELT eBooks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is just a quick post to share 5 very short ebooks that have been taken from my award winning ebook - <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/digital-video-a-manual-for-language-teachers" target="_blank">Digital Video - A Manual for Language Teachers</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/135839974" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Winner of the 2016 British Council Award for Innovation in Teacher Resources</div>
<br />
The ebooks come from chapter 9 of the manual which contains 12 more entries like these. As well as the explainer text, which shows you how to use the tools and gives suggestions for tasks you can do in your classroom, each ebook also has a video tutorial.<br />
<br />
Each ebook is available either as <a href="https://payhip.com/peacheypublications" target="_blank">PDF from Payhip</a> or from the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/author/nik-peachey/id1025276573" target="_blank">iBooks Store</a>. I hope you enjoy these free ebooks and find them useful.<br />
<br />
<b>Digital Classrooms - TedEd</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff/tools-teded" target="_blank">TED Ed</a> is a great tool for creating online lessons around videos. It enables you to structure a sequence of interactive activities around the video clip that guides the viewer towards a deeper understanding of the content. It’s an ideal tool for building blended learning.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIhsWOaQXjOAkuYCqooArGkIFd3YZ9Dtz35DeYiQfMqk2yNWgUT1YNUfYOy2B3jR0Mcv39ZU6-fL6S-1C7Wmm10dsEV654AzEOPdDVeFyC3laPhcEEXf_hQ6iaMtr_NfT_gstE0pDwIJq/s1600/Tools-TedEd-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIhsWOaQXjOAkuYCqooArGkIFd3YZ9Dtz35DeYiQfMqk2yNWgUT1YNUfYOy2B3jR0Mcv39ZU6-fL6S-1C7Wmm10dsEV654AzEOPdDVeFyC3laPhcEEXf_hQ6iaMtr_NfT_gstE0pDwIJq/s320/Tools-TedEd-cover.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Digital Classrooms - MoveNote</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff/tools-movenote" target="_blank">MoveNote</a> is a great tool for getting your presentations online. It enables you to add a talking head with voiceover to guide your students through the materials. These can be embedded into online courses or webpages. It’s ideal for creating flipped learning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYkdS5yrwmjGBVkPiVrW0MDK5wYzQGgd0KWZSfxTGceVFpjZUtEqdTgwC_kDKHSJar-c3S7WIF-dcDU3HEdXHHavhBrF1nJwmMntGAF2rLS9OC1kf83DSjLqHCa2NjT9wE_5_noqTUwnh/s1600/Tools-MoveNote-cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYkdS5yrwmjGBVkPiVrW0MDK5wYzQGgd0KWZSfxTGceVFpjZUtEqdTgwC_kDKHSJar-c3S7WIF-dcDU3HEdXHHavhBrF1nJwmMntGAF2rLS9OC1kf83DSjLqHCa2NjT9wE_5_noqTUwnh/s320/Tools-MoveNote-cover.png" width="246" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Digital Classrooms - MailVu</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff/tools-mailvu" target="_blank">MailVu</a> is a great tool for creating asynchronous interaction in either an online course or as part of a blended learning unit of work. It enables asynchronous interaction with just a web-browser and a webcam or there is a free mobile app that runs on most platforms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JbJ3b0vG6VV6YAciJZ5Thj_p1zGcSUAN0YPSdG3w5O2bPJRoOZKP2woctiK87G_YJsRhh9JswZGtmLfexxqJ8xaUtrkKM9UIplHmn-Lb0nAMl67XLIV937Lko-hXB_rtxzUnEKxmbvSO/s1600/Tools-MailVu-cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JbJ3b0vG6VV6YAciJZ5Thj_p1zGcSUAN0YPSdG3w5O2bPJRoOZKP2woctiK87G_YJsRhh9JswZGtmLfexxqJ8xaUtrkKM9UIplHmn-Lb0nAMl67XLIV937Lko-hXB_rtxzUnEKxmbvSO/s320/Tools-MailVu-cover.png" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<b> Digital Classrooms - VideoNotes</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff/tools-videonotes" target="_blank">VideoNot.es </a>is a great tool for building your students’ digital literacies and their abilities to use video to study online. It enables students to take time stamped notes while they watch video content and save them alongside the video file.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkoEh_IaXsGMfiW_Zq4jJP5r3mW6DBm3YvK3PBQMpKk4niDnoA7yHfxkhedYmeIY2D4FIyCRc4Hr-TJmKYQ08R5jDxnVuQtJ7uFor9Oo27csVSdfg8YOP1n9hMM2hCcrdiNcWpKJkchMF/s1600/Tools-VideoNotes-cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkoEh_IaXsGMfiW_Zq4jJP5r3mW6DBm3YvK3PBQMpKk4niDnoA7yHfxkhedYmeIY2D4FIyCRc4Hr-TJmKYQ08R5jDxnVuQtJ7uFor9Oo27csVSdfg8YOP1n9hMM2hCcrdiNcWpKJkchMF/s320/Tools-VideoNotes-cover.png" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Digital Classrooms - Wideo</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff/tools-wide" target="_blank">Wideo</a> is a great tool for creating simple animated movies. It enables you to create a range of teaching materials that explain simple theories. It’s also easy enough to use to get students creating their own animations.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNNwNZ6k_JBetTUj-T8jbm4HxbGeRRO53-iMF5GTbOtS6aPsBOwwIKcAOnseLl9_R34WLjElJ3UPeW-YQf1JrtNHamTzH4GMft0j5qczDy7eISdbTmqPKPyy_-KWocMCgaHKpD-wCTIQl/s1600/Tools-Wideo-cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNNwNZ6k_JBetTUj-T8jbm4HxbGeRRO53-iMF5GTbOtS6aPsBOwwIKcAOnseLl9_R34WLjElJ3UPeW-YQf1JrtNHamTzH4GMft0j5qczDy7eISdbTmqPKPyy_-KWocMCgaHKpD-wCTIQl/s320/Tools-Wideo-cover.png" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
I hope you enjoy these ebooks and find them useful. If you like them then please check out more of my ebooks at: <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/">PeacheyPublications.com</a> and sign up for my <a href="https://tinyletter.com/technogogy/" target="_blank">Edtech & ELT enewsletter</a> to be kept up to date on all that's new in digital learning.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/20-tech-enhanced-activities-for-the-language-classroom" target="_blank">20 Tech Enhanced Activities for the Language Classroom</a> </li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="13" href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/digital-tools-for-teachers" target="_blank">Digital Tools for Teachers</a></li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="14" href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/thinking-critically-through-digital-media" target="_blank">Thinking Critically through Digital Media </a></li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="15" href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/exploiting-infographics" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics</a></li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="16" href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/digital-video-a-manual-for-language-teachers" target="_blank">Digital Video – A Manual for Language Teachers </a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-6281881111994047352017-04-11T13:26:00.000+01:002017-04-18T17:11:49.493+01:0012 Tips for training older teachers to use technology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There is an assumption that persists in the educational community that more mature teachers are much more difficult and reluctant to be trained on the effective use of educational technology. To some degree, I think this assumption has been built on by the digital native vs digital immigrant myth. But as someone who has trained teachers of all ages all over the world I would say that, from my own experience, this hasn’t been the case.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFS0Tkg3Y0YLbMLhlfFQmNMHf_qT0NETTDIrm2VY6RpGG6ZadkdkiJU82CpKm450cAggyD10Co9rlR6_Ku2TzRgfEQUoiodUClxUkFFSEvm-k7QhQ9pQDEDoMJqfmBH6RaPtH6ss5eUw_o/s1600/guru-771783_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFS0Tkg3Y0YLbMLhlfFQmNMHf_qT0NETTDIrm2VY6RpGG6ZadkdkiJU82CpKm450cAggyD10Co9rlR6_Ku2TzRgfEQUoiodUClxUkFFSEvm-k7QhQ9pQDEDoMJqfmBH6RaPtH6ss5eUw_o/s400/guru-771783_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
What I have found to be the case is that more mature teachers are:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Less likely to lured by the shiny hardware and the seemingly wonderful claims made to go along with it.</li>
<li>More critical and sceptical about the way technology is used in the classroom.</li>
<li>Less confident when using various apps and websites and less likely to explore the different features.</li>
<li>More easily discouraged by failures.</li>
<li>Less familiar with various tools, applications and services that have become part of every-day life for younger users.</li>
<li>More likely to be able to see through “technology for technology’s sake” classroom applications.</li>
</ul><br />
So how should trainers approach the challenges of working with these teachers? Here are a few tips from my own experience of training older teachers to use technology.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Be sure of your ground pedagogically</h4>So many edtech trainers are great with technology, but much less versed in educational theory and pedagogy. More mature teachers are more likely to have a stronger theoretical understanding, so be prepared to back up your ideas with sound pedagogical insights and try to relate your training back to theories of learning and pedagogical approaches.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Make sure training is hands on</h4>Running through a list of tools and ideas in a presentation may have some value, but it doesn’t come anywhere close to the impact of giving teachers hands-on experience and the chance to actually work with the tech to create something.<br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/213495944?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="440" height="586" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Here is a collection of some of the activities I've used in my training sessions: <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/20-tech-enhanced-activities-for-the-language-classroom" target="_blank">20 Tech Enhanced Activities for the Language Classroom</a> <br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Give solid examples of what you have done</h4>Being able to speak from experience about how you have used tech with your own students will have far more impact than theoretical applications of “You could do blah blah blah with your students.” Sharing anecdotes of how you have used technology in your own classes, the challenges you have faced and how you have overcome or even been overcome by them can really lend credibility to your training.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Manage expectations</h4>A positive attitude is great, but be prepared to also point out weaknesses, potential pitfalls and talk about your own failures. This might help your trainees avoid the same mistakes and stop them from becoming disillusioned.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Make time to experiment and explore</h4>Don’t be tempted to cram in as many tools, techniques and activities as possible. Incorporate project time into your training so that teachers have the chance to go away and explore the things that interest them most and get their own perspective on how they can use them with students.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Back up technical training</h4>Learning to use new tools is getting easier all the time, especially on mobile, but it’s still quite easy for teachers to forget which button to press or which link to follow. So back up any demonstrations with either an illustrated step-by-step guide or a video tutorial that teachers can come back to later.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Make their lives easier</h4>Using technologies that can make what they already do a bit easier or a bit quicker is a great way to start. For example, I have a link to a tool that really quickly creates <a href="http://l.georges.online.fr/tools/cloze.html" target="_blank">a cloze test activity</a>. Sharing tools like this that start from what teachers already do can really help to get them on your side.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Do things that can’t be done</h4>One of the most common remarks made by more mature teachers about technology is: “Well that’s fine, but you can do that without tech by …” If you can show examples of technology use that go beyond what is already possible in the classroom, then you are much more likely to get capture their enthusiasm. One example of this is the use of collaborative writing tools like <a href="http://primarypad.com/" target="_blank">PrimaryPad</a> and its ability to track, record and show how students constructed text.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Solve classroom problems</h4>Being able to spot a genuine classroom problem and show how technology can solve it can be very persuasive. One example of this is gist reading which can be very challenging to teach because students tend to ignore time limits. I show how using <a href="http://www.cueprompter.com/" target="_blank">a free digital cue prompter</a> can give teachers control of the text and push students to gist read at the speed the teacher chooses. Problem solved.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Plan with long term and short term goals</h4>However inspiring your training session is, and however short or long it is, you should make sure that teachers leave it with a plan. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria" target="_blank">SMART plans</a> are great if you have time to work on them with the teachers. If you don’t have time to get them to create individual SMART plans, at least get them to think about the first step or the first technology application they will try in their classroom and what they will do with it.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Tech can be implemented in CPD</h4>One of the reasons many mature teachers feel less confident with tech is because they often only use it in the classroom. Showing how technology can become part of their own self-guided CPD and professional practice, and helping them to build their PLN can really help to energise their technology use and make their development much more autonomous and long lasting.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Make sure everything works</h4>I can’t emphasise this enough. Make sure you have updated all your plugins, browser versions, etc,and check the network and connectivity and make sure everything runs smoothly. Nothing puts teachers off more quickly than seeing the trainer fail.<br />
<br />
Having read this list of tips you are likely to be thinking: “But all technology training should be like that!” Yes, you are right it should, but the truth is we are more likely to be able to get away with lower standards when working with teachers who are already more enthusiastic about tech. So the next time you walk into a training room and see a number of older teachers there, don’t groan with disappointment, but welcome the opportunity to test your skills and understanding with the most critical audience. If you can send them away motivated to use technology then you know you are on the right track.<br />
<br />
This article was first published at: <a href="https://www.english.com/blog/training-older-teachers-to-use-technology">https://www.english.com/blog/training-older-teachers-to-use-technology</a><br />
<br />
<b>Related reading</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/Y1TA" target="_blank">Digital Tools for Teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/CjXN" target="_blank">Thinking Critically through Digital Media</a></li>
<li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/5n90" target="_blank">Digital Video - A Manual for Language Teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/oxeb" target="_blank">10 Lessons in Digital Literacy</a> </li>
</ul><br />
Best<br />
Nik Peachey <br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-22212483045178933142017-01-02T17:00:00.000+00:002017-01-03T17:40:00.176+00:00Digital Tools for Teachers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the last few months I have been working on a new book project and finally have it completed.<br />
<br />
The new book is <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/digital-tools-for-teachers" target="_blank">Digital Tools for Teachers</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGEZ4Y71_PcJYdAmSf4iOvMaZQt1Vehswe3A3PnE-j_Xxh4pv82INi41uJCwZH_dC4PkSn26tRMAR6noMtnMZTHicTHFdifHUx7GVumMaF_a_7qbdmofaf2j9dVXY6C0m3M2pBgHtj5AW/s1600/digital-tools-4-teachers-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digital Tools for Teacher Cover" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGEZ4Y71_PcJYdAmSf4iOvMaZQt1Vehswe3A3PnE-j_Xxh4pv82INi41uJCwZH_dC4PkSn26tRMAR6noMtnMZTHicTHFdifHUx7GVumMaF_a_7qbdmofaf2j9dVXY6C0m3M2pBgHtj5AW/s320/digital-tools-4-teachers-cover.jpg" title="Digital Tools for Teacher" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
This book has been written and designed primarily with English language teachers in mind though the majority of the resources and tools contained in the book will have much wider use than just language teaching.<br />
<br />
The book is available at the <b>introductory price of £1.99</b> from:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/id1094757275" target="_blank">iBook Store</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/Y1TA" target="_blank"> Payhip</a> </li>
</ul>
<br />
The book contains more than 70 tools and resources and these have been hand picked because they represent a broad cross-section of what is at present available.<br />
The chapters of the book are divided into simple pedagogical tasks that most teachers need to carry out or help their students with and the descriptions of the resources are suitably concise to make the book easy for a stressed teacher to access and browse in a few spare moments between classes.<br />
<br />
The sites, apps and resources within the book have been divided into the following chapters:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Reading Tools</li>
<li> Writing Tools</li>
<li> Speaking Tools</li>
<li> Listening Tools</li>
<li> Grammar Tools</li>
<li> Presentation Tools</li>
<li> Poll & Survey Tools</li>
<li> Infographic Tools</li>
<li> Course Creation Tools</li>
</ul>
You can download the first two chapters free here: <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/digital-tools-4-teachers-sample.pdf" target="_blank">Digital Tools for Teachers</a><br />
<br />
At present each chapter contains between 5 – 10 different sites that have been selected to help you make a quick choice of the tools you need.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdZDaGDveXrXSHKuAKKcCJpvsACGjFPZWscY3E8XjnNaucIccfArnx-pkoW8S3mwSDm8rjUYZWCejV6Hs8fNL6Nw_azq3wd0mN2gewYgpil8NgkQjWmU73p_tAH72UlZvxX_EnirOyfby/s1600/IMG_1431.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdZDaGDveXrXSHKuAKKcCJpvsACGjFPZWscY3E8XjnNaucIccfArnx-pkoW8S3mwSDm8rjUYZWCejV6Hs8fNL6Nw_azq3wd0mN2gewYgpil8NgkQjWmU73p_tAH72UlZvxX_EnirOyfby/s320/IMG_1431.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
All of the tools and resources selected for the book are either free or have a useable permanent freemium offering, so you will never be forced to pay for any of these resources in order to sustain the work you are doing with your students.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBP0N_rK2voHy0rvB6Uxo_g5dWyLV-lnAK9L7WmHzuz0ZxBaxQXm-K3FeebrtLwxp_DAt7lHqRsH5rpxwMysLjm7oYfeSYUUSFAW0BDn4tY306ZfRx45wY-GmC269SnLkOkIWElmZpp8e/s1600/IMG_1432.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBP0N_rK2voHy0rvB6Uxo_g5dWyLV-lnAK9L7WmHzuz0ZxBaxQXm-K3FeebrtLwxp_DAt7lHqRsH5rpxwMysLjm7oYfeSYUUSFAW0BDn4tY306ZfRx45wY-GmC269SnLkOkIWElmZpp8e/s320/IMG_1432.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
Over the coming years it is my intention to regularly review and expand on the contents of this book. If you would like to be involved and assist in this process you can do so by:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li> Suggesting tools to be included in future editions</li>
<li> Writing an entry about a tool you have used and found useful</li>
<li> Reporting a dead link or a tool or resource that has become commercially unviable for teachers</li>
<li> Reporting a typo or factual error.</li>
</ul>
Anyone who contributes in any of the ways above will get a brief mention in the next edition of the book along with a link to their own blog or website.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/digital-video-a-manual-for-language-teachers" target="_blank">Digital Video - A Manual for Language Teachers </a></li>
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff/web-2-0-tools-for-teachers" target="_blank">Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers </a></li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="17" href="http://peacheypublications.com/thinking-critically-through-digital-media" target="_blank">Thinking Critically through Digital Media</a> </li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="18" href="http://thinking%20critically%20through%20digital%20media%20i/" target="_blank">PeacheyPublications</a> </li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="19" href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/tools-and-alternatives-for-creating.html" target="_blank">Tools and alternatives for creating presentations</a></li>
<li><a data-unique-btn-id="20" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/technology-autonomous-learning-decline-critical-thinking-nik-peachey" target="_blank">Technology, Autonomous Learning & a Decline in Critical Thinking</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-83517744219271564092016-11-14T16:30:00.000+00:002016-11-14T16:30:06.530+00:00Thinking Critically through Digital Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Although the use of internet and digital materials in the language classroom has come a long way over the last 20 years, still the vast majority of web based material that finds its way into the language classroom is used for information input or comprehension purposes. The students’ interaction with the materials is as such largely passive with the teacher controlling the suitability of the materials selected and deciding what information the students will extract from it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc200vxF88m3nVFFoJR3NfFH3Iya3iSwMF1ht2vWdBdz0qni-JnpsTbW-l_SWq1iCnZdHKC-qxiUXyyr_wAFle72HwtRXpuiL7ReKq2uGc4G7orzYJqk6W_IFNSBiKAB8vz_94uN_1I5T/s1600/Critical-Thinking-Payhip_pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc200vxF88m3nVFFoJR3NfFH3Iya3iSwMF1ht2vWdBdz0qni-JnpsTbW-l_SWq1iCnZdHKC-qxiUXyyr_wAFle72HwtRXpuiL7ReKq2uGc4G7orzYJqk6W_IFNSBiKAB8vz_94uN_1I5T/s320/Critical-Thinking-Payhip_pdf.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<br />
In <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/thinking-critically-through-digital-media" target="_blank">Thinking Critically through Digital Media</a> I have tried to build on this model, but develop it and take it to deeper and more critical levels of analysis that go beyond the superficial linguistic level and help to develop students not only as English language speakers, but as capable information literate participants in the global knowledge economy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/thinking-critically-through-digital-media" target="_blank">The book </a>uses as its basis the development of key digital literacies. These include the ability to understand visually presented data, the ability collect and analyse data using a range of techniques and survey tools and the ability to create and deliver a range of presentation types using digital media tools.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQGoHla8WB91kzcvqDD-rE0jcLjY7hDzUrXkziLsLpCA7V7Y4ow3ibt8cg5p6sThvnekE8uo-jUe_2bX78zXH3qDyPaj3gj0_aqGTmOPC33A0AgfiO7lpVi5ZMBHe5hbZN9y4ljV95jm9/s1600/infographics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQGoHla8WB91kzcvqDD-rE0jcLjY7hDzUrXkziLsLpCA7V7Y4ow3ibt8cg5p6sThvnekE8uo-jUe_2bX78zXH3qDyPaj3gj0_aqGTmOPC33A0AgfiO7lpVi5ZMBHe5hbZN9y4ljV95jm9/s320/infographics.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
Whilst developing these digital literacies students are also encouraged to assess the validity, credibility and underlying bias of the information they study and are given a range of research tools and techniques for reassessing the information and evaluating how it fits within their personal framework of belief systems and values.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX1ALbzY2utuJUMmo6dYNo52dmk-SfRR0mAPxtAWdtUopZQTt0ZjYr4pUBVPxxFs1M2TdThtuz4jY7hjPTj-VjscdmFb4RvBxU7EPBtmV2Z5opJ-RFVFJw3-IL9v9WWZY-dM5uvAviWa0/s1600/presentation-chapter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX1ALbzY2utuJUMmo6dYNo52dmk-SfRR0mAPxtAWdtUopZQTt0ZjYr4pUBVPxxFs1M2TdThtuz4jY7hjPTj-VjscdmFb4RvBxU7EPBtmV2Z5opJ-RFVFJw3-IL9v9WWZY-dM5uvAviWa0/s320/presentation-chapter.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/thinking-critically-through-digital-media" target="_blank">The book</a> itself has four main chapters. The first three chapters contain a range of activities that teachers can use with students to develop their abilities to understand and create infographics, develop research polls and surveys and create and deliver presentations. These activities give students hands on exposure to a range of recommended tools and develop students as active creators of information whilst developing their abilities to work collaboratively in digital online environments.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfWGzmLJfOuBcx04Nrmm-jy176p2Gy7xbKfqoWUh6TItL7Sdd-a6hsaQXIxA-VPUg539J7ahZFzXn8jkKkE8hSvHh0_7_lrjor-tAsgsE01WVRN-Dp1Bjk-78Ja5NR3j6ZC2CBbsj8I3b/s1600/surveys-chapter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfWGzmLJfOuBcx04Nrmm-jy176p2Gy7xbKfqoWUh6TItL7Sdd-a6hsaQXIxA-VPUg539J7ahZFzXn8jkKkE8hSvHh0_7_lrjor-tAsgsE01WVRN-Dp1Bjk-78Ja5NR3j6ZC2CBbsj8I3b/s320/surveys-chapter.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
The fourth key chapter of the book is a collection of lesson plans that teachers can use to take students through a complete process from accessing their existing knowledge about a topic, understanding new input, examining how the information fits into their existing value scheme, checking the credibility and validity of the information, carrying out their own parallel research through social media to finally sharing and reevaluating what they have learned.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K-drjGaNcpfRiY97GuCwIR0iXIqxMoPWRNLlPS7fXbzhzsmUbroWzWXiV8gj0oZf0_Ur2_1uEIKwH4T5OnfjwX2OOTFnbIUHTk-2KoySju_-LDAp37jbteDPd9xy5Gy3C-oXQAkzqjIc/s1600/Thinking_Critically_Through_Digital_Media_and_Nik_Peachey_on_iBooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K-drjGaNcpfRiY97GuCwIR0iXIqxMoPWRNLlPS7fXbzhzsmUbroWzWXiV8gj0oZf0_Ur2_1uEIKwH4T5OnfjwX2OOTFnbIUHTk-2KoySju_-LDAp37jbteDPd9xy5Gy3C-oXQAkzqjIc/s400/Thinking_Critically_Through_Digital_Media_and_Nik_Peachey_on_iBooks.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I believe that the skills and abilities teachers can help students develop through the use of these materials are ones that are sadly lacking, not only in the English language classroom but also in the general education of many students around the world. Through the use of these materials I hope teachers can develop more actively and intellectually critical students who approach digital media with the ability not only to comprehend and consume information but also understand the possible bias, motivation and underlying values of those creating the information. I believe these skills and abilities are key to creating a more tolerant, open-minded and critically aware global society.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/thinking-critically-through-digital-media" target="_blank">Thinking Critically through Digital Media</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://Thinking Critically through Digital Media I" target="_blank">PeacheyPublications</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/tools-and-alternatives-for-creating.html" target="_blank">Tools and alternatives for creating presentations</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/technology-autonomous-learning-decline-critical-thinking-nik-peachey" target="_blank">Technology, Autonomous Learning & a Decline in Critical Thinking</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Best<br />
Nik Peachey<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-4168393042702839412016-10-03T05:35:00.002+01:002016-10-03T05:35:23.862+01:00Exploiting Infographics for Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is just a short post to anounce the publication of my new ebook '<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/exploiting-infographics" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics for Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking</a>'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MjOy60sL5Cz6Z-PDxxzKgQG9m3lyZRpQ3w57jHj08XYTM5wlkx-55CCOkZafsqYlO2qN2Rkhk7DJHe0iM9tMrt5fHaKwrnqFWZaeFRopSYD1ZtXH3VtDJmP_8uALqAQirrFFCAEiSNBx/s1600/Exploiting-Infographics_pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MjOy60sL5Cz6Z-PDxxzKgQG9m3lyZRpQ3w57jHj08XYTM5wlkx-55CCOkZafsqYlO2qN2Rkhk7DJHe0iM9tMrt5fHaKwrnqFWZaeFRopSYD1ZtXH3VtDJmP_8uALqAQirrFFCAEiSNBx/s320/Exploiting-Infographics_pdf.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/exploiting-infographics" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics</a> follows on from <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/10-lessons-in-digital-literacy" target="_blank">10 Lessons in Digital Literacy</a>, which is a collection of lesson plans based around infographics, and looks in more depth at the genre and how infographics can be used as both sources of information and as creative learning tasks for students.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnvzbBz2cuGq1zzid-gKe8s7RzXaou0Iw7F5ZLhzyqyKguvmB5_w_AWGzD-g58IfTq3xp03U7x2G8iZW_BYIvy7qbgv6Xfzm3cuNXJIHuBmvffzMxv6x33DyHphhSTd4mQjjhKFHQXQiS/s1600/10_Lessons_in_Digital_Literacy-cover_pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnvzbBz2cuGq1zzid-gKe8s7RzXaou0Iw7F5ZLhzyqyKguvmB5_w_AWGzD-g58IfTq3xp03U7x2G8iZW_BYIvy7qbgv6Xfzm3cuNXJIHuBmvffzMxv6x33DyHphhSTd4mQjjhKFHQXQiS/s320/10_Lessons_in_Digital_Literacy-cover_pdf.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
The tasks that accompany the infographics are intended to encourage students to think more critically about the information they are exposed to and to question the sources of information they find whilst browsing the internet.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/exploiting-infographics" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics</a> should help teachers to start creating their own tasks, activities and lesson plans for students and to integrate infographics in a way that will enhance students’ critical thinking, digital literacy, language and communication skills.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/exploiting-infographics" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics</a> was conceived as part of <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/" target="_blank">The Digital Classrooms Series</a> which started with the award winning <a href="http://peacheypublications.com/books/digital-video-a-manual-for-language-teachers" target="_blank">Digital Video - A Manual for Language Teachers</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJrKDpSFjqN9FDUueZmpxaF3sRW4OsweUPtgdeo_wBdPWSdIdcCyRWxoR9ZxesYJLw2hW7vmVqY8ECcTWisCPyW-y2ga_fe__YHxqXr4RAL9RqaLqEQy3aPn3bWlGJPeQ9eSRTR5__bKZ/s1600/Digital-Video-ELTon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJrKDpSFjqN9FDUueZmpxaF3sRW4OsweUPtgdeo_wBdPWSdIdcCyRWxoR9ZxesYJLw2hW7vmVqY8ECcTWisCPyW-y2ga_fe__YHxqXr4RAL9RqaLqEQy3aPn3bWlGJPeQ9eSRTR5__bKZ/s320/Digital-Video-ELTon.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
The series is intended to help teachers, teacher trainers, materials writers and course designers integrate digital technologies into their classroom practice in a pedagogically sound and impactful way.<br />
<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy these books and find them useful.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/products" target="_blank">My Lesson Materials</a> </li>
</ul>
<br />
Nik Peachey</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-65117913241467433292016-08-02T09:14:00.003+01:002016-08-02T19:41:19.653+01:00Using Phraseum to learn lexical chunks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
I recently revisited <a href="https://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a>, an app which I first discovered and reviewed in March 2014. I’m glad to see that the tool is still around, has gathered a loyal following and has developed both in terms of design and functionality since that <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/creating-social-phrasebooks-with.html" target="_blank">first review</a>.
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
In this article I’d like to show you some of the new features and also share some ideas for how you can use it. Let me start though by recapping what Phraseum does.
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<a href="https://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> is a tool that students can use to capture lexical chunks, collocations and expressions while they read online text. It helps students to collect these expressions into theme based phrasebooks that they can then use to revise and share their learning. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXA1FHlHrphFgnzUMHifY7CYqYA91JtPevCiMIHTKczreaK7FJ3UWn_yTfs1qUov05baD-WWdkTVd_C5C_bjKXdgZkX-VmBxnuc0eeogoG7W2pkYbslYTiCKrNzNefaf5XSdvq-Otpnrk/s1600/All_phrasebooks___Phraseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXA1FHlHrphFgnzUMHifY7CYqYA91JtPevCiMIHTKczreaK7FJ3UWn_yTfs1qUov05baD-WWdkTVd_C5C_bjKXdgZkX-VmBxnuc0eeogoG7W2pkYbslYTiCKrNzNefaf5XSdvq-Otpnrk/s400/All_phrasebooks___Phraseum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
Within the platform there are also a number of features to help them learn the phrases, these include tagging of phrases and links through to Google translate. Phraseum also records the source of the phrase so that students can go back and find the phrases in their context. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7tz8zGGlikINckk9pUb1gJtR95PaDlOpinlxYp297U-FqQ9kyUQOmamWnB7HBYxG3pc3Bi8oGmSxXzcH_B8R1XEVy6ncMuKpTGPAXUtz-rI8SxJNHtwXh91sxmWZXm6xCVMpCeyaBsGQ/s1600/Useful_email_phrases___Phraseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7tz8zGGlikINckk9pUb1gJtR95PaDlOpinlxYp297U-FqQ9kyUQOmamWnB7HBYxG3pc3Bi8oGmSxXzcH_B8R1XEVy6ncMuKpTGPAXUtz-rI8SxJNHtwXh91sxmWZXm6xCVMpCeyaBsGQ/s400/Useful_email_phrases___Phraseum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
A new feature that’s been added since the last review is the ‘Learn’ feature. This is great as it helps them learn and memorise the phrases using a process of spaced repetition. To use this students just select a phrasebook and then click on the ‘Learn this phrasebook’ button. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_356YAwHjsoz9AUc8yQcW3HgNh_Fyw9gTk6QAi94Uir0TB21mgn2hwcB7HOWemfkcx-hy__T2s7h9sdD2wwrxUcA-dx5dOsLRwb0sItAUBthAKseAs2o5PKrC2byuyCLi90IVqVg0GH5q/s1600/Quotes_-_education___Phraseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_356YAwHjsoz9AUc8yQcW3HgNh_Fyw9gTk6QAi94Uir0TB21mgn2hwcB7HOWemfkcx-hy__T2s7h9sdD2wwrxUcA-dx5dOsLRwb0sItAUBthAKseAs2o5PKrC2byuyCLi90IVqVg0GH5q/s320/Quotes_-_education___Phraseum.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
They can then select key words to remove from the phrases. After these have been clicked, they will have to select them in the correct order to put them back into the sentence. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6llvbUnnAQatTBed3-qFSFEB90nZyvXVjtv1puvsUfqF_UIblsxYeyxtVetYN3fUcTCCUB0bJIK93CqCbAGs6eBHvvXqDrp-7rSA_i0aHK2Pvf5hY6pKAchqh8fZDT1e5XWnmFUAO6vH/s1600/Learning___Phraseum+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6llvbUnnAQatTBed3-qFSFEB90nZyvXVjtv1puvsUfqF_UIblsxYeyxtVetYN3fUcTCCUB0bJIK93CqCbAGs6eBHvvXqDrp-7rSA_i0aHK2Pvf5hY6pKAchqh8fZDT1e5XWnmFUAO6vH/s400/Learning___Phraseum+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
They work through the phrases doing this a couple of times and each time things get harder and more words are removed. Eventually the prompt words are removed and they have to type in the missing words. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX0UXdmrACr9gb5f2CSdQEln6BProNA1zzxCGSTFf7zprSXhv7qRUultmfF5t5Aiio1vbo4fmE8OGf1Yp1oWlkPlvrN_8bJ0epYJD1KZCou1IaRRzv965NoVtTdmpb5LtWaU0aPYsi4LE/s1600/Learning___Phraseum3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX0UXdmrACr9gb5f2CSdQEln6BProNA1zzxCGSTFf7zprSXhv7qRUultmfF5t5Aiio1vbo4fmE8OGf1Yp1oWlkPlvrN_8bJ0epYJD1KZCou1IaRRzv965NoVtTdmpb5LtWaU0aPYsi4LE/s400/Learning___Phraseum3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
Once the students type in the words they will be able to compare with the original.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPjlxETMprt0L57bX-0p-vHNuYxCxWcmOnW-E-fZsIobEO2j8Qis5w_jY4PnaoWg2QgyTUOqOZ3FOR2RSvwWcKBrAfMkGp0nwNLvtYeqb7zhW_nCFRcLTJkCQVYOywMalUnrGFIoGA1X5/s1600/Learning___Phraseum4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPjlxETMprt0L57bX-0p-vHNuYxCxWcmOnW-E-fZsIobEO2j8Qis5w_jY4PnaoWg2QgyTUOqOZ3FOR2RSvwWcKBrAfMkGp0nwNLvtYeqb7zhW_nCFRcLTJkCQVYOywMalUnrGFIoGA1X5/s400/Learning___Phraseum4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<a href="https://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> can also create revision tests so that the students re-study a selection of the phrases in their collection. When students have learned new phrases, each session begins with a test. This test is designed to identify exactly what they can remember. In each test they are required to type in phrases with minimal prompts. Their success in the test determines whether a phrase is learned or marked as weak and repeated again.<br />
<br />
As a teacher you can also create your own phrasebooks just by typing in the phrases you want stusdents to learn and then sharing the phrasebook with them.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b>Getting started with phraseum.
</b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
Once you have registered on the site, one of the first things to do is to add the ‘Clipping button’ to your browser. You can find it at: <a href="https://www.phraseum.com/page/clipping-button">https://www.phraseum.com/page/clipping-button</a> and just drag the button onto the bookmarks bar of your browser. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCz6nA5t0l_n0lRrAM3NKdcvMldb_Nk02BaWbSl3EAQJAuq7_iW_mgcw4fEI33TpU_n4akOIdJYB8iJ91VNEUl8n6hXtiwKLSI-M8jKL25Mq9YAdwAdga5Ud96Trz-2WdKjNuJs-3J9gR/s1600/Clipping_button___Phraseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCz6nA5t0l_n0lRrAM3NKdcvMldb_Nk02BaWbSl3EAQJAuq7_iW_mgcw4fEI33TpU_n4akOIdJYB8iJ91VNEUl8n6hXtiwKLSI-M8jKL25Mq9YAdwAdga5Ud96Trz-2WdKjNuJs-3J9gR/s320/Clipping_button___Phraseum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
Once you have done this all you need to do is highlight some text while you are reading and then click the button and it will open the clipping window which helps you to save the text chunk into the correct phrasebook and add tags and annotation to it. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx5mQSMjO3mVLe_jm7dk3p6MGHepEigDLzjNESsmsitVZTPK5brC05eXsNe3ZPLC8C3NIOIQrzTIcDmgXU6cSTxPJU_b9E-q1XrK5JgfzdD4In2vG3-ac95U7YedYuJjVSFHSigKWuLcZ/s1600/Nik_s_Learning_Technology_Blog__Creating_social_phrasebooks_with_Phraseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx5mQSMjO3mVLe_jm7dk3p6MGHepEigDLzjNESsmsitVZTPK5brC05eXsNe3ZPLC8C3NIOIQrzTIcDmgXU6cSTxPJU_b9E-q1XrK5JgfzdD4In2vG3-ac95U7YedYuJjVSFHSigKWuLcZ/s400/Nik_s_Learning_Technology_Blog__Creating_social_phrasebooks_with_Phraseum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
It’s also wise to decide how you want to organise the phrase you collect and create some empty phrasebooks too, then these will appear as options when you clip phrases from a text. Once you have done that you (or your students) are ready to start clipping as you read.
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b>Activities for students</b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
Here are some activities you can do with your students to get them started with <a href="https://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a>.
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Choose a web based text that you would like your students to read. Collect phrases from the text into a phrasebook. Share the phrasebook with your students and get them to check their understanding of the phrases. Ask the students to try to learn the phrases using the Phraseum ‘Learn’ feature. Once they’ve made an initial attempt to learn the phrases, get them to read the text.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Give the students a web based text to read. Once you have completed comprehension and reading development activities ask the students to look for sentences in the text that have vocabulary, collocations or lexical chunks that are new to them and save the sentences into a phrasebook. Then get students to use the learn feature and choose the specific words from the phrases within the sentence that they need to learn. Students can then practice them regularly.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>When using a text that has a lot of dialogue such as a play, you can get the students to choose one of the people in the text and grab all the sentences they say into a phrasebook with that person’s name. They can then use the ‘Learn’ feature to try to memorise the lines of the text. You can then get the students act out or recite the text.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Collect some different lines from a range of short poems into a phrasebook. Share the phrasebook with your students and get them to try to decide which poem each line came from (You’ll need to give them the titles of the poems, or use poems they have already read.)
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Get students to collect wise quotes or sayings ( these could be based around a specific topic or just any that the students are interested in) once they have 5 to 10 quotes get the students to use the ‘Learn’ feature of the site to try to learn and memorise the quotes.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Create or get students to create a phrasebook containing each of the lines from a short poem. They can then use the ‘Learn’ feature of Phraseum to try to memorise the complete poem. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
If you'd like more ideas for how to use <a href="https://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> to develop your students' vocabulary, check back to my original review: <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/creating-social-phrasebooks-with.html" target="_blank">Creating social phrasebooks with Phraseum</a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b>Related links:</b></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/products" target="_blank">Lessons in Digital Literacy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/free-stuff" target="_blank">Free ebooks</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/river-of-images.html" target="_blank">A River of Images</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/tool-for-comparing-words.html" target="_blank">A Tool for Comparing Words</a> </li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
Best</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
Nik Peachey</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
</div>
</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-73524711637195911692016-03-08T15:18:00.000+00:002016-03-08T15:18:03.915+00:00Creating engagement through interactive infographics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I’ve been a long term advocate of the use of infographics in education and especially enjoy thinking of ways that students can be encouraged to engage with and question the content as well as create their own graphics, so when I rediscovered <a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> I was really delighted to find the tool that I once thought was a PowerPoint substitute for creating online presentations had turned into an awesome interactive infographic creator.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="253" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UbtT2jcmQ1s?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="450"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What’s so impressive about Visme?</b><br />
I’ve used quite a few infographic creation tools and most are either template based or they have a library of assets which you can drag and drop to construct your own layouts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> offers a combination of both these options along with the possibility to animate the elements within the graphic, drop in your own images or online videos and also embed html elements such as polls and quizzes into the graphic.<br />
<br />
This enables your infographic to be more than just data display, they can act as multimedia tools to encourage user responses and build learning and research and it's built on html 5 so it works across mobile platforms too.<br />
<br />
<b>How to use Visme</b><br />
When you go to the <a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> dashboard you get three main options. You can create a presentation, an infographic or use a blank space to create any kind of hybrid of the two.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzcYIHUfhU4dPMBD3SI7tsSEbparZx-nj98wWdgU4Q3kPZ27PWAy6-dIbz3Tfg8r7gxwY25YgKMQoEQM6h8c0Haz5Wh2q7LUcv3NGBAJPwVthm2bCIjBOAkOPIffXAVrhE4qLSWL3dKOe/s1600/Create_a_Visme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzcYIHUfhU4dPMBD3SI7tsSEbparZx-nj98wWdgU4Q3kPZ27PWAy6-dIbz3Tfg8r7gxwY25YgKMQoEQM6h8c0Haz5Wh2q7LUcv3NGBAJPwVthm2bCIjBOAkOPIffXAVrhE4qLSWL3dKOe/s400/Create_a_Visme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
If you choose presentation you get a number attractive templates which you can flick through and select. Once you have selected one you can edit the design and images and add your own content.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWJIM1EhQkKhm_ZbenuWJ0l85XFynzyBv0n3yD3OxxwYSYGLdgpkMr9d0ZL67semQZ9GosebjIIKwj6O2C5jYhyphenhyphenAeV56PIYSQTrGuOrehf3z_zpFQtjsnRRyV93DrUlrW42g7ZJcX-Vb0/s1600/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWJIM1EhQkKhm_ZbenuWJ0l85XFynzyBv0n3yD3OxxwYSYGLdgpkMr9d0ZL67semQZ9GosebjIIKwj6O2C5jYhyphenhyphenAeV56PIYSQTrGuOrehf3z_zpFQtjsnRRyV93DrUlrW42g7ZJcX-Vb0/s400/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you choose infographic you can search through a wide range of completed infographic designs and choose one with a structure similar to what you want to display and edit and customise it for you own data.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK0_ZSPp9ekZl9GHrcxCy7BwABX4fgCoF66OZfuUc1YlKpDarTe_LN_2hQ_BTi28JLeXKILfWKD5XAnss7uCY_pBTaCsXOswIKdLRY9Cdutt70n3V9Gxawq2fy-RBGHv8KAla3CfNR6LJ/s1600/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK0_ZSPp9ekZl9GHrcxCy7BwABX4fgCoF66OZfuUc1YlKpDarTe_LN_2hQ_BTi28JLeXKILfWKD5XAnss7uCY_pBTaCsXOswIKdLRY9Cdutt70n3V9Gxawq2fy-RBGHv8KAla3CfNR6LJ/s400/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Every element within the graphic can be edited, moved around and animated.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iYHMZ2Uf3p8VT5wVweBvEjbqSx0TV_vhrXA5Bcw4qpvB-EhKtRXM6gvdJAfw-uvAlIzjYCqybxSn2MUf7nm9SWPm6kJkzDDow6reiaRkguFrIOvLT1hyRnzHgX6c4T_x_IpPtBuHn_qG/s1600/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iYHMZ2Uf3p8VT5wVweBvEjbqSx0TV_vhrXA5Bcw4qpvB-EhKtRXM6gvdJAfw-uvAlIzjYCqybxSn2MUf7nm9SWPm6kJkzDDow6reiaRkguFrIOvLT1hyRnzHgX6c4T_x_IpPtBuHn_qG/s400/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you choose a blank canvas, then you can search through the images and icons library and create your own design from scratch. You can choose the size of your canvas so that it can be presentation size or more of a poster format.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN7Wtj_BdSqSBkB38aGqfUrNE5JMJpHyMRzxDnui4ROZrmYGhkxA8lXCk8My836scc521EQd9uETsoT4yIjAH3iHfN47tm2cuItBHsj1G9kbDoTJ24_42qeyvIWq20GiM1-AX1-cIoddK/s1600/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN7Wtj_BdSqSBkB38aGqfUrNE5JMJpHyMRzxDnui4ROZrmYGhkxA8lXCk8My836scc521EQd9uETsoT4yIjAH3iHfN47tm2cuItBHsj1G9kbDoTJ24_42qeyvIWq20GiM1-AX1-cIoddK/s400/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />
You simply drag on any elements that you want to include from the graphics library and then click on then to edit them to suit your design. It’s easy to resize them, change the colour or even animate them. You can also search through and add images.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1I2HxwJS40RFKfJyl8DSJw1tabSsdS-0TxmjAg3c40CCMe0zds83aJJaWLmlZBWvX4DIzLBQx2UAcENzNW0Tjb4jWOZp-sMEtUhWvNt56wqHc4ydCCyrO2T9gn_NBn2zAo0KBkaeFmo9/s1600/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1I2HxwJS40RFKfJyl8DSJw1tabSsdS-0TxmjAg3c40CCMe0zds83aJJaWLmlZBWvX4DIzLBQx2UAcENzNW0Tjb4jWOZp-sMEtUhWvNt56wqHc4ydCCyrO2T9gn_NBn2zAo0KBkaeFmo9/s400/Test_project_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You can find some really nice examples of what’s possible on the <a href="http://blog.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme blog</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What I like about it</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> is a really flexible tool which offers the choice between using templates to develop your content and an open canvas.</li>
<li>There is a huge range of professionally designed icons and graphics you can simply drag and drop into your creations to make them look professional.</li>
<li>The potentials for dropping in html objects such as quizzes that enable interaction can make static data much more dynamic.</li>
<li>The ability to drop in multimedia and particularly video can lend more significance and impact to the information in the graphic.</li>
<li>You can hyperlink elements within the page to pages on the internet so you can use this to show sources of information or link to other images or background information.</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> is built on html 5 so runs across platforms and devices.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>How use it with students</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Create multimedia posters</b> - You can get students to research a famous person and create a poster about them. This could be a fan poster about someone they like, a historical character or even someone in the news. They can add short video clips about the person as well as a range of facts.<b> </b></li>
<li><b>Combine lectures with visual notes </b>- You can combine a
short lecture video with some notes about the lecture to teach students
visual note taking skills or to make the content of the video more
meaningful and memorable.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgP-l9wGvhlZoRh4MWwJsWpn9rLhuSn-Z8kNxe6vuUB_HLyQH4VUN3Kk6lacFAsfIUcoV9QCkFw54i2QPQYlrRNk-D-WQEGXdizSW6JPEl8FQ-lRsXYQ9PzRTaKjRsk1K-vWiMDffot4N/s1600/Grammar_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgP-l9wGvhlZoRh4MWwJsWpn9rLhuSn-Z8kNxe6vuUB_HLyQH4VUN3Kk6lacFAsfIUcoV9QCkFw54i2QPQYlrRNk-D-WQEGXdizSW6JPEl8FQ-lRsXYQ9PzRTaKjRsk1K-vWiMDffot4N/s320/Grammar_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Create interactive animated work sheets</b> - You can create colourful worksheets with images or text that links to various resources around the internet and embed them into online courses or blog posts.<b> </b></li>
<li><b>Poems or songs with visuals</b> - You can have videos or audios of songs dropped into graphics and add images and icons that help students to understand the words. This is an example of a poem reading with a visual gap fill activity. The images below illustrate the words of the poem, but there are some clouds with question marks and students have to listen and hear the missing word. The cloud is also hyperlinked to the answer (an image of coral), so they can check their answers. They can then use the images to help them remember the words of the poem.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT5Y2Sy9zkfRsr1luBjiFCXW93VZsDipVzLJXVGM-ic58Sg55tQVqkOMMI8_p0ZRQiZhADAyEoaIJVlVvmBPUYHx90I5GGPoPHiI5YxipAB4F58P43nm6zw2VMUOdkVWUIKg7UhgNGrx6/s1600/My_Mistress_Eyes_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT5Y2Sy9zkfRsr1luBjiFCXW93VZsDipVzLJXVGM-ic58Sg55tQVqkOMMI8_p0ZRQiZhADAyEoaIJVlVvmBPUYHx90I5GGPoPHiI5YxipAB4F58P43nm6zw2VMUOdkVWUIKg7UhgNGrx6/s320/My_Mistress_Eyes_-_Created_with_VisMe.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Publish student research</b> - You can ask your students to do research and find data and information about various topics and then create their own infographic display of the information.</li>
<li><b>Transforming text to visual</b> - You can get your students to create a visual representation of a text as a means of checking comprehension. This could be based around literature, such as a play or story they are reading or it could be a representation of the information in an article or essay.</li>
</ul>
Tools like <a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> are great to lift the level of engagement in your classroom whether you use them to create tasks, present information or put them in the hands of your students to do the creating. There is a learning curve with these tools, but <a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> provides some great <a href="http://support.visme.co/" target="_blank">tutorials and support</a> to get you and your students started.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.visme.co/" target="_blank">Visme.co</a> is a <a href="http://www.visme.co/pricing/" target="_blank">commercial product with premium lisences</a> but there is also a free lisence you can use with your students.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy using this amazing tool.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/nikpeachey" target="_blank">My infographic lesson plans on TES</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">9 Generic activities for exploiting infographics</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/creating-illustrations-and-infographics.html" target="_blank">Creating illustrations and infographics for ELT tasks</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/exploiting-infographics-for-elt.html" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics for ELT</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> </li>
</ul>
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-1694905108983164432016-01-15T19:21:00.002+00:002021-02-16T17:00:52.157+00:009 Generic activities for exploiting infographics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This post has been revised and moved to my new blog at: <a href="https://peacheypublications.com/9-generic-activities-for-exploiting-infographics">PeacheyPublications.com</a><br />
<br />Kind regards</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Nik Peachey<br />
<br /></div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-27531152683962487322015-11-07T06:42:00.000+00:002015-11-07T06:42:08.147+00:00Creating online learning with Riddle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
On the surface <a href="http://www.riddle.com/" target="_blank">Riddle</a> is a great free tool for creating a variety of quizzes and polls that can have rich media embedded into them, but when you look below the surface it's actually a pretty sophisticated tool for quickly authoring engaging elearning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5Fjscb67ph21q0SNyLIz1wXQAlbFyjgFjudDFq3Lr90On1DvT9dr2r_qwMkP7noAgPECifTnc6AEd0Eb4iCaGmU5A8_n1NhggUk8J1maZLuL-t9aHUHR4_W_84DAnJrINpMovvks3bkJ/s1600/riddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5Fjscb67ph21q0SNyLIz1wXQAlbFyjgFjudDFq3Lr90On1DvT9dr2r_qwMkP7noAgPECifTnc6AEd0Eb4iCaGmU5A8_n1NhggUk8J1maZLuL-t9aHUHR4_W_84DAnJrINpMovvks3bkJ/s400/riddle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Creating a Riddle is easy</b><br />
Go to: <a href="http://www.riddle.com/">http://www.riddle.com</a> and sign up. Then you will see the different quiz types. The main types of interactions you can create are:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpleHmfw3H0uoL0jpMjEprB3-JX534dvYTKyYxuIdQZeAVWZYAUVp5slkK89JOe1MbMcHjfnWEKwKphGnzUnhBm6uoTKEFhy4kkSmg-cGgGiT0iH5JF-R9cNWN65AZvYknp-AkhfHvm1i/s1600/riddle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpleHmfw3H0uoL0jpMjEprB3-JX534dvYTKyYxuIdQZeAVWZYAUVp5slkK89JOe1MbMcHjfnWEKwKphGnzUnhBm6uoTKEFhy4kkSmg-cGgGiT0iH5JF-R9cNWN65AZvYknp-AkhfHvm1i/s320/riddle1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Opinion polls</b> - These are simple single question polls which can contain a number of fixed response for the recipient to choose from.</li>
<li><b>Lists</b> - Lists aren’t questions as such, they are more like a nice way of presenting information in a series of chunks. Each chunk of information can also have media or text embedded into it. This would make a great way of presenting infographic type information in a more mobile friendly way.</li>
<li><b>Pop quiz</b> - A pop quiz can contain a number of multiple choice questions. Pop quizzes can be scored across percentage of correct answers. Students can also get feedback on each answer within the quiz and you can attach specific messages to scores to tell students what they need to do in response to their score.</li>
<li><b>Personality tests</b> - With this kind of test you can create a number of questions for participants to answer and link the answers to specific personality types. So for example if the participant answer a to all questions they are shown their a personality type. You can actually create the different personality types yourself.</li>
<li><b>Surveys</b> - Surveys are the most flexible poll type. You can have a choice of different question types from text fields for written input to single choice or multiple select questions.</li>
</ul>
You can either click on ‘<b>New</b>’ to start from a blank template or click on ‘<b>Template</b>' and you’ll see an example of that type of quiz which should give you an idea of how to create one yourself.<br />
Most quiz types start with some kind of introduction screen where you outline the theme and purpose of the quiz. With Riddle it’s easy to add media to this part of the quiz just by clicking on the media type and searching for it or uploading your own file.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCYLC3vey4obeGkncv5C7ULEiPBeIRc3NRkJCu-BWjtGYBduGF-q-BcY8-CnXHBOc70td_jwqVZQNp_BfdcHhsYq4sBsPurn6-xQFXNSvjLoUmwPJj0bjQX93xGLTpfmkSMclzleJx8gR/s1600/riddle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCYLC3vey4obeGkncv5C7ULEiPBeIRc3NRkJCu-BWjtGYBduGF-q-BcY8-CnXHBOc70td_jwqVZQNp_BfdcHhsYq4sBsPurn6-xQFXNSvjLoUmwPJj0bjQX93xGLTpfmkSMclzleJx8gR/s320/riddle2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Then add the questions and potential answers. You can also add a score the answer in the pop quiz type questions and some explanatory feedback.<br />
Once you have added the questions you can customise the look of the quiz by changing colours or fonts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUJogl54Pk6bImRmN0abC-Q1Y-SM0WhQmc8HTbNYx9YnRGFDIaPu2EaohKLCzAW0dvckpFuqfKmqsIFZayo2BKwTXveOQZSuq09-rHQjBBz7qrcLao6mZuRicXdWu4fwMMGEaBA9A5R6_/s1600/riddle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUJogl54Pk6bImRmN0abC-Q1Y-SM0WhQmc8HTbNYx9YnRGFDIaPu2EaohKLCzAW0dvckpFuqfKmqsIFZayo2BKwTXveOQZSuq09-rHQjBBz7qrcLao6mZuRicXdWu4fwMMGEaBA9A5R6_/s320/riddle3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Then once the quiz is complete you can share either a URL or embed code or post it directly to your social network accounts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GH0rk0TJfj8MRW2KJMzcDpeUIaIuDgAEdEfsjfGIMOxil824Wvhm_bFDeRH_DUR5U4-Ubr3J0J_RPWJHQOvp-0Q985wDPfgV-ggqxB2mkRiaV_BVwtEv6v7wtxv0yK37cBK2UhSrk8Pn/s1600/riddle4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GH0rk0TJfj8MRW2KJMzcDpeUIaIuDgAEdEfsjfGIMOxil824Wvhm_bFDeRH_DUR5U4-Ubr3J0J_RPWJHQOvp-0Q985wDPfgV-ggqxB2mkRiaV_BVwtEv6v7wtxv0yK37cBK2UhSrk8Pn/s320/riddle4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The responses to all the questions are collected within the platform and you can view and download these by clicking on ‘<b>Statistics</b>’ (to download a csv file you need a pro account) so this provides a form of LMS though it doesn’t enable you to identify specific students (again you would need a pro version to do that).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwstdyErKAoU01-qR7DPx3l_FQkCEQ15JwP_OsIx-3WfsYsIp64G6765xA5alI8KDqdUm25ubp4HNPFpjmL3VbjE9vW7Rp9oREIqcpCqoyZwZAcWHKaDk3ffxOVWJzu3Ov0My5uIZiYWx/s1600/riddle5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwstdyErKAoU01-qR7DPx3l_FQkCEQ15JwP_OsIx-3WfsYsIp64G6765xA5alI8KDqdUm25ubp4HNPFpjmL3VbjE9vW7Rp9oREIqcpCqoyZwZAcWHKaDk3ffxOVWJzu3Ov0My5uIZiYWx/s320/riddle5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>How to use Riddle with learners</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Riddle is pretty simple and quick to learn so you can get students to create their own research questionnaires. These could be for classroom research or they could share them through social media networks. You could use infographics to base the research on and get students to do parallel research and create their own infographic. </li>
<li>You could get students using the List option as tasks to report on films or reading assignments. They could create a ten point list to include the ten most important features of the book or film.</li>
<li>You can create opinion polls to lead into classroom discussion. This would give students the opportunity to think about the issues before they come into class. You could then follow this up with a second poll to see how many people had changed their mind about the issue.</li>
<li>You could use the list option to have mock elections. Students could use the list to create a ten point election manifesto. The students could then look through them and decide who they would like to vote for.</li>
<li>You can use lists to present different aspects of verb tenses with a section each on meaning, form, pronunciation, time lines and usage. You could also include links to videos or songs where the verb tense is being used.</li>
<li>You can use personality tests to identify learning styles and make students more aware of them. You just need to define the different learning styles and then add answers to the multiple choice questions that identify each style.</li>
<li>You can create a pre test to get students thinking around topic you want to teach and to find out what they already know about it.</li>
<li>You can use Riddle as part of flipped learning approach with video embedded into quizzes or polls. Then you can collect students’ answers and go into class with a clear understanding of what they have understood from the material.</li>
<li>You can embed articles, short stories or video clips in the pop quiz or surveys and then build them into complete online course.</li>
</ul>
<b>What I like about Riddle</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The free option still gives lots of scope for creativity.</li>
<li>There is a great range of quiz types.</li>
<li>The simplicity of creating the quizzes makes this easy for students to learn quickly</li>
<li>I love the choice of media and how easy it is to embed media into the quizzes.</li>
<li>I like the way the personality type quiz answers can be set up with sliders to refine the way the answers apply to the different personality types.</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wySNYI2Wl0KYPnoUPqKcwKVVvSMPue1JfxPpDZTtpppJYToeN6UDq7ocJg4gjtju-JDauHv3Ibgx_Sbl1DLcc4InpSaaOk9ixDiNw7bctN8Bz3Qzbc1aOTvpjPy9__-Ocsaega1A6AP8/s1600/riddle6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wySNYI2Wl0KYPnoUPqKcwKVVvSMPue1JfxPpDZTtpppJYToeN6UDq7ocJg4gjtju-JDauHv3Ibgx_Sbl1DLcc4InpSaaOk9ixDiNw7bctN8Bz3Qzbc1aOTvpjPy9__-Ocsaega1A6AP8/s320/riddle6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<li>The list type quizzes are a great way to segment the presentation of new materials</li>
</ul>
I hope you enjoy using <a href="http://www.riddle.com/" target="_blank">Riddle</a> and create some useful interactive learning materials.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Using a backchannel</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Getting students' attention</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/20-things-you-can-do-with-qr-codes-in.html" target="_blank">20 + Things you can do with QR codes in your school</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/brainstorming-and-polling-with.html" target="_blank">Brainstorming and polling with AnswerGarden</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/creating-illustrations-and-infographics.html" target="_blank">Creating illustrations and infographics for ELT tasks</a> </li>
</ul>
<br />
Best<br />
Nik Peachey<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"></ul>
<br />
<br /></div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-49199309335858069772015-10-31T06:59:00.001+00:002017-04-22T07:09:01.435+01:00Creating illustrations and infographics for ELT tasks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://draw.io/">Draw.io</a> is one of my favourite tools and the one I use most for creating graphics and infographics. As someone who doesn’t draw very well and has only limited design abilities it has really helped me out a number of times and enabled me to produce professional looking illustrations, product mockups and teaching materials.<br />
<br />
<b>How it works</b><br />
When you go to the Draw.io site you can either open an existing diagram or create a new one. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjuoOm2hQZguU5fcVSU5F7XgP1S6XZxDfRxKb50MBfkrENzbpnuEuJu6Sm5lyQDXYs5Grhyj-7FnAf4CPCfrmuP0hvHcLle7AijpWqL-zkS273Hl_MJKXMjuP_MIoha96Sqx0cAUQX_dk/s1600/image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjuoOm2hQZguU5fcVSU5F7XgP1S6XZxDfRxKb50MBfkrENzbpnuEuJu6Sm5lyQDXYs5Grhyj-7FnAf4CPCfrmuP0hvHcLle7AijpWqL-zkS273Hl_MJKXMjuP_MIoha96Sqx0cAUQX_dk/s320/image1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Click on <b>Create New Diagram</b> and you will have the option to either choose from a number of templates that you can edit or use a blank template.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbAze_c97sBsldEnGLpOz5_n_fwyso4HhHNlL_1A9z1VUwpuPrP2UzIlmxYEoX3hGEP0DjZBV-S9_IKnkPnUQBjgzWlSrqzE7vuT9OY-Xqe5sTDhkMcFZdrrK3Yr7BGy8gUFHf56mW386/s1600/image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbAze_c97sBsldEnGLpOz5_n_fwyso4HhHNlL_1A9z1VUwpuPrP2UzIlmxYEoX3hGEP0DjZBV-S9_IKnkPnUQBjgzWlSrqzE7vuT9OY-Xqe5sTDhkMcFZdrrK3Yr7BGy8gUFHf56mW386/s320/image2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once you open a blank template you see the canvas in the centre and on the left of the screen there are a number of shapes and a search engine. If you scroll down the categories on the left and click on them you’ll see a vast range of shapes images and icons any of which you can use by simply dragging them onto the canvas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOJDa8suOqEuR1g87FL5lbWAFdcbZiCT5dp_3tmOzpEMyil5IWsbjIQvcjFU_yU766sR61dNBF5yFPNuWqF34aA5rnxrcJfFO9jxpo8boKrBiUNICvZUACq0S0VHVxMzdNUmFfxipedkR/s1600/image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOJDa8suOqEuR1g87FL5lbWAFdcbZiCT5dp_3tmOzpEMyil5IWsbjIQvcjFU_yU766sR61dNBF5yFPNuWqF34aA5rnxrcJfFO9jxpo8boKrBiUNICvZUACq0S0VHVxMzdNUmFfxipedkR/s320/image3.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
The canvas appears to be A4, but to can drop images and shapes anywhere around it and it will expand in any direction to accommodate your graphic.<br />
<br />
If you want something specific you can type a key word into the search engine and you’ll see images related to the word.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVXSCYwEwk17ZCHFw5uCvuzNDmsKfd48qYhSxGRIIaLEnjNGM-oswgPN-zm6lKRkXqB25RpAe6_HSjmtMT5STV5OdepgqOvRrleTFdrlghOrXvaa0nYTyHR_w_M5IH7zu4sWoGvkP6_H7/s1600/image4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVXSCYwEwk17ZCHFw5uCvuzNDmsKfd48qYhSxGRIIaLEnjNGM-oswgPN-zm6lKRkXqB25RpAe6_HSjmtMT5STV5OdepgqOvRrleTFdrlghOrXvaa0nYTyHR_w_M5IH7zu4sWoGvkP6_H7/s320/image4.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
All shapes and images can be resized, dragged around and have text and colour added once they are on the canvas.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM_C48_b_FZ8tJ00Fhq2YO-VH_oQF_PSNCAi7n9c5ZXJ2uWaD-HjekFFNp6nL3sfBXzaElV9FW8P2zdfBNZznPgVWd74uDxTk2z_8kZvBolWqxtO8aVTQNuELUX1CTzLPHBZaeyQ1HWyR/s1600/image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM_C48_b_FZ8tJ00Fhq2YO-VH_oQF_PSNCAi7n9c5ZXJ2uWaD-HjekFFNp6nL3sfBXzaElV9FW8P2zdfBNZznPgVWd74uDxTk2z_8kZvBolWqxtO8aVTQNuELUX1CTzLPHBZaeyQ1HWyR/s320/image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Going to the insert menu also enables you to add images from URLs or search Google for images to add to your graphic.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYolQfyC8td_iv0qMYyufcxxSqaVIpKKdbByPe_CwNw_SWyiL-NAhpxMqx70J2TtVUDpfJ7IN00jzqXD6i5pIqBEW9DRdkoGiK__rW9333F_AVto5BKAp58ZKUH6W5dKkpUwlijUvyEjad/s1600/image6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYolQfyC8td_iv0qMYyufcxxSqaVIpKKdbByPe_CwNw_SWyiL-NAhpxMqx70J2TtVUDpfJ7IN00jzqXD6i5pIqBEW9DRdkoGiK__rW9333F_AVto5BKAp58ZKUH6W5dKkpUwlijUvyEjad/s320/image6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Once you have finished creating your graphic you can export it as an image or save it in a number of different format types including PDF, PNG, SVG and HTML. You can also save an XML file of the graphic and then open it at a later date or share it with someone else to edit it. This is a really useful if you spot an error or typo at a later date.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k1V0sxaZoxY8qgkQNE5PKXco7nZ2TQAnFW4ipsBp5s2a7_qXpW_Psn9xRVvgqOCwYeyxfdZFzD_g5YQpj_dbJQgf1_WrVBWRzSqp9SZwNsSzeLSQ5z6nMEwBT5QjGczaXpcXgS0oSn_a/s1600/image7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k1V0sxaZoxY8qgkQNE5PKXco7nZ2TQAnFW4ipsBp5s2a7_qXpW_Psn9xRVvgqOCwYeyxfdZFzD_g5YQpj_dbJQgf1_WrVBWRzSqp9SZwNsSzeLSQ5z6nMEwBT5QjGczaXpcXgS0oSn_a/s320/image7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The files can be saved on the device you are working on or on Google Drive or DropBox, so they are easy to share with other people.<br />
<br />
<b>How to use it</b><br />
<br />
<b>Create time lines</b><br />
Time lines are great for helping students to understand the concepts and time relationships in various statements. You can use the timeline to map out the events in the sentence and illustrate the order in which they happened. draw.io can help you to quickly produce visually appealing timelines with images to help illustrate the sentences.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4v1-3ckK6PUlArHcwa0uGpsbyGFl9r_fdVoeJxQjH4jnnmNVnumYK3lkHXbDSRSUJtkKeYX3b77VXI0_ZlmHBlc2cmq9h34A0_ED4Of2gOj0G1_sloKSXy-SYkrtyO4EJs5W1GbIRkjy/s1600/timeline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4v1-3ckK6PUlArHcwa0uGpsbyGFl9r_fdVoeJxQjH4jnnmNVnumYK3lkHXbDSRSUJtkKeYX3b77VXI0_ZlmHBlc2cmq9h34A0_ED4Of2gOj0G1_sloKSXy-SYkrtyO4EJs5W1GbIRkjy/s400/timeline.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Flashcards</b><br />
Creating flashcards can be time consuming, especially if you can’t draw. You can very quickly create your own flashcards using the images from draw.io and add text or phonemic script (You can copy paste the phonemic text from: <a href="http://www.photransedit.com/Online/Text2Phonetics.aspx">http://www.photransedit.com/Online/Text2Phonetics.aspx</a> ) or you can find and add the images on Google Images.<br />
<br />
<b>Create infographics</b><br />
Infographics are a great way to convey dense statistical information in an accessible way for the computer screen. draw.io is a great way to create your own infographics for students or you can get students to create the infographics themselves. draw.io makes it easy to add images and colour to the graphics.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGy7xUW0CiFT9hlUiELa-3IAre7sfVc6bjeOf6NnQQ06hucomiXVTbD-S3G1HXr6EVYfIdrzHKWaHt_yg6oS9vF9RfG3m3knvsls7IAypxvAYjAeMXo26XgRAjkJgMkHE-pq4SrEXLU0t/s1600/webcam%25284%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGy7xUW0CiFT9hlUiELa-3IAre7sfVc6bjeOf6NnQQ06hucomiXVTbD-S3G1HXr6EVYfIdrzHKWaHt_yg6oS9vF9RfG3m3knvsls7IAypxvAYjAeMXo26XgRAjkJgMkHE-pq4SrEXLU0t/s400/webcam%25284%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You can find lots more tasks and suggestions for exploiting infographics in my ebook.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="payhip-button payhip-button-grey payhip-button-medium payhip-button-meta" data-key="Sypm" href="https://payhip.com/b/Sypm">My eBook</a><script src="https://payhip.com/btn.js" type="text/javascript"></script> </div>
<br />
<b>Process maps</b><br />
draw.io is great for creating process maps students can create these to demonstrate their understanding of the processes described in a text or you could create them to show students different process, such as visually explaining a the writing process.<br />
<br />
<b>Mindmaps</b><br />
Mindmaps are a great way to support memory and show connections between different topics. They are also great for helping students to remember and review vocabulary. draw.io makes these very easy to create and you can also add images to illustrate them. If you save the xml file created by draw.io you can also share it so that others can edit it and create their own version.<br />
<br />
<b>Grammar summaries</b><br />
You can use draw.io to create illustrated grammar summaries or get students to create them. You can have a section for meaning, form, pronunciation and appropriacy and use icons or illustrations to help clarify and make the summaries more attractive and memorable.<br />
<br />
<b>Conversation/ dialogue maps</b><br />
Many transactional conversations follow very similar patterns. You can use draw.io to create dialogue maps to illustrate this for students or get them to map out a conversation themselves. They can use the dialogue map to show the purpose of each part of the conversation.<br />
<br />
<b>Visual story summaries</b><br />
You or your students can use draw.io to create visual summaries of stories. These can show the characters and the main events in the plot. For longer stories, students can build the visual as they read each section or paragraph. This is a great way to get students to demonstrate their understanding of the text.<br />
<br />
<b>Lifeline maps</b><br />
Students can create lifeline maps of themselves showing the main events in their lives. These can be really useful as prompts for speaking activities and to help students get to know each other better. They can also create lifelines for famous people or historical figures or events.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfQLwqXyoOYEO3JB30cD7H6k0tRBlqspd-psH34AUaZr2CKFry-DPbSYoMl0f2KVGPa4p7V5i-mV9mrqr4OYyE52ppwks0wkWlTUkBxMRBE1WvtZsc9naA3fHUAdd0m890NiwKC6A2j6S/s1600/lifeline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfQLwqXyoOYEO3JB30cD7H6k0tRBlqspd-psH34AUaZr2CKFry-DPbSYoMl0f2KVGPa4p7V5i-mV9mrqr4OYyE52ppwks0wkWlTUkBxMRBE1WvtZsc9naA3fHUAdd0m890NiwKC6A2j6S/s400/lifeline.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Illustrations for materials</b><br />
If you create your own texts or worksheets you can use draw.io to add illustrations graphs and images to them to make them look a bit more attractive and professional.<br />
<br />
<b>What I like about it</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It’s free and runs in the web-browser so no need to download anything.</li>
<li>Great selection of images and icons to add to illustrations</li>
<li>Great to be able to save to Google Drive and share with others</li>
<li>Great range of formats for download</li>
<li>Love the unlimited canvas space</li>
<li>Doesn’t require any login or registration</li>
<li>Quick to learn so usable with students</li>
<li>Great that photographic images can be imported in too</li>
</ul>
<br />
As a tool for creating graphics, infographics and illustrations there isn’t much that can be improved. I guess some people might prefer a freehand creation tool but I’ve personally never had much success with these. For me <a href="http://draw.io/">draw.io</a> is great the way it is. I hope you and your students find it useful too.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://payhip.com/peacheypublications" target="_blank">My infographic lesson plans </a></li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/exploiting-infographics-for-elt.html" target="_blank">Exploiting Infographics for ELT</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Using a backchannel</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Getting students' attention</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/20-things-you-can-do-with-qr-codes-in.html" target="_blank">20 + Things you can do with QR codes in your school</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/brainstorming-and-polling-with.html" target="_blank">Brainstorming and polling with AnswerGarden</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Best<br />
Nik</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-4942124683045024392015-10-24T06:36:00.001+01:002015-10-24T06:36:35.754+01:00Brainstorming and polling with AnswerGarden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://answergarden.ch/" target="_blank">AnswerGarden</a> is a very simple tool for creating short answer polls and displaying the answers as word clouds. It’s really simple and quick to use and can be used in the classroom or embedded into webpages, blogs or in online courses.<br />
<br />
To create an AnswerGarden poll just go to <a href="http://answergarden.ch/">http://answergarden.ch</a> and click on the + sign at the top. Then you can either type in a topic to brainstorm or a question.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitCY0VqUg84gEmI1I-HFIo97WST_zsIE4DVeDM7TA5qEk0CDLE8c-4zB4l1do17IrgL7O8hwsLWohyZvgv4J5BF2hRZxb7MT88etd_rP5WcNDNgoqBA16XeLoWM_Ltpjmltf_vC3Sf2OB/s1600/AnswerGarden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitCY0VqUg84gEmI1I-HFIo97WST_zsIE4DVeDM7TA5qEk0CDLE8c-4zB4l1do17IrgL7O8hwsLWohyZvgv4J5BF2hRZxb7MT88etd_rP5WcNDNgoqBA16XeLoWM_Ltpjmltf_vC3Sf2OB/s400/AnswerGarden1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://answergarden.ch/" target="_blank">AnswerGarden</a> poll responses are limited to either 20 or 40 characters so be sure that the type of question you use doesn’t require a long complex answer. AnswerGarden works best when only a single word answer is required.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdhamekvbnRJqYjME0kavXDt7xkPKFKzKzettKkdKK3vppEXuUvN7KUNF8iyeDrGhx1WaoJVskYFy4d5ipr_AZ9Ze3qPmxlHOceB8WMCqWBtYPctch1PXIxd8BdjMSE1OnUkrSxZqIARS/s1600/AnswerGarden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdhamekvbnRJqYjME0kavXDt7xkPKFKzKzettKkdKK3vppEXuUvN7KUNF8iyeDrGhx1WaoJVskYFy4d5ipr_AZ9Ze3qPmxlHOceB8WMCqWBtYPctch1PXIxd8BdjMSE1OnUkrSxZqIARS/s320/AnswerGarden2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once you have added your topic or question you can just click enter and your poll will be ready. Then just share the URL with the recipients.<br />
<br />
<b>You can refine your poll and add some security to it if you wish.</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There are a number of modes you can choose for your poll. </li>
<li>You can allow different users to repeat the same answer, in which case the repeated word will appear larger depending on the number of people who enter the word, or you can allow each word to be entered only one time.</li>
<li>You can set the poll to be moderated so that words only appear once you approve them.</li>
<li>You can add a password for the poll and add your email address to get an admin link for the poll.</li>
<li>You can lock the poll so that nobody can add to it, but this would usually be done once the poll is complete.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJBfbL9u5wZJzusrgOJD1lDJ0uxcEM614ZNT09inKe9ZujQC0uDL1eh4Gb6u_M49Ao1OpVa3NxxlFV7Hop0DktlFciJcMcOSmmnZa4yrNq6WpS9cUB1sN0213HWpomIhWsX05zlr9Tuxp/s1600/AnswerGarden3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJBfbL9u5wZJzusrgOJD1lDJ0uxcEM614ZNT09inKe9ZujQC0uDL1eh4Gb6u_M49Ao1OpVa3NxxlFV7Hop0DktlFciJcMcOSmmnZa4yrNq6WpS9cUB1sN0213HWpomIhWsX05zlr9Tuxp/s320/AnswerGarden3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once the poll has been launched there are a number of other nice features including an automatically generated QR code to make the poll easy to access for students on mobile phones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2A5cXE_2Q7rN0rnpt2e9d9oZK-N74psui5TSfD5TB7TgiW3az7WYFUMizvc4xBHFHnMB4ZuuOXzlRtjOg8SXpR-V8kgKI4eGFnk_I9r5NHvJKQlboDx7tFWHzewhrIDYsKaM4xVcmMHD/s1600/Answergarden5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2A5cXE_2Q7rN0rnpt2e9d9oZK-N74psui5TSfD5TB7TgiW3az7WYFUMizvc4xBHFHnMB4ZuuOXzlRtjOg8SXpR-V8kgKI4eGFnk_I9r5NHvJKQlboDx7tFWHzewhrIDYsKaM4xVcmMHD/s200/Answergarden5.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
You can also share the poll quite easily through a range of social media or get an embed code to add it to a webpage or blog. You can even geo broadcast the poll through your local network so that anyone can discover it on their mobile phone or laptop.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHr4FgnPHkhSsAKa0NwdnxUDcdx_2UZgJA6jSbsbaHN3GhkfiZuAe8KY2uxtaud3aC6xHW7ybAlY2kqzgbW2GG67KmhW2Z2wXLdkACBwX8IRwZr1uD02UDsiEYB0BBBibBRiwe0zCmDk0/s1600/AnswerGarden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHr4FgnPHkhSsAKa0NwdnxUDcdx_2UZgJA6jSbsbaHN3GhkfiZuAe8KY2uxtaud3aC6xHW7ybAlY2kqzgbW2GG67KmhW2Z2wXLdkACBwX8IRwZr1uD02UDsiEYB0BBBibBRiwe0zCmDk0/s320/AnswerGarden4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once your students have completed the poll there are a number of export options including export to <a href="http://www.wordle.net/" target="_blank">Wordle</a>, <a href="http://www.tagxedo.com/" target="_blank">Tagxedo</a> which allow you to customise the word cloud and save or edit the results. You can also send it to <a href="http://twitter.com/nikpeachey" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or save it as a PNG.<br />
<br />
<b>AnswerGarden in the classroom</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>You can set a topic and get students to brainstorm vocabulary connected with that topic. Once all the words have been added you can ask students to peer teach any they don’t know in pairs or small groups or research the words in an online dictionary.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example: <a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216363">http://answergarden.ch/view/216363</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>As a warmer you could get students to enter all the verbs, nouns or adjectives they know that start with a particular letter. You could even create two or three AnswerGardens with the same task and give them to different groups and see which group produces the most examples.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example: <a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216365">http://answergarden.ch/view/216365</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>You could do a variation of the above game by getting students to brainstorm nouns that have specific qualities. For example, students could add anything they can think of that has feet, or anything that can fly, or anything that is green.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example: <a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216364">http://answergarden.ch/view/216364</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>You could start with a route word and ask your students to enter or collect words that collocate with it. This doesn’t have to be done in one lesson but students could use a number of these AnswerGardens to collect collocations. They could do a similar thing with phrasal verbs using either a verb or a preposition in the question.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example: <a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216366">http://answergarden.ch/view/216366</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>You could use AnswerGarden to get your students to create anagrams from a route word. Again you could have a different poll for each grup and make this competitive.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example: <a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216367">http://answergarden.ch/view/216367</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>You could use an AnswerGarden to find out more about your students by getting them to enter things or people that they like or don’t like, such as favourite sports or actors.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example:<a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216368">http://answergarden.ch/view/216368</a></li>
</ul>
<li>You could find out how students feel about something by getting them to enter adjectives to express their feelings about anything from politics to action research on specific classroom techniques you use. Or they could just enter adjectives to describe how they are feeling. This is a good way to take the temperature of the room.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example: <a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216362">http://answergarden.ch/view/216362</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>You could use AnswerGarden to get students to decide between two or three options. They just type in the one they want and the most popular one will appear as the biggest word.</li>
<ul>
<li>Example: <a href="http://answergarden.ch/view/216369">http://answergarden.ch/view/216369</a> </li>
</ul>
</ul>
Because <a href="http://answergarden.ch/" target="_blank">AnswerGarden</a> is so simple and quick to use and doesn’t require registration it would be great to get students using it to create their own small research questionnaires. They could then share these within the class or through their social media networks and then present the responses in class.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy using <a href="http://answergarden.ch/" target="_blank">AnswerGarden</a> with your students. Please post any additional ideas or links to examples you have created in the comments.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Using a backchannel</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Getting students' attention</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/20-things-you-can-do-with-qr-codes-in.html" target="_blank">20 + Things you can do with QR codes in your school</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/crowdsourcing-knowledge-with-students.html" target="_blank">Crowdsourcing Knowledge with Students</a></li>
</ul>
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-85784560397749144412015-10-03T06:38:00.001+01:002015-10-03T06:38:10.303+01:00 10 reasons why you should buy my book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the last year I have been working on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">the first</a> in what I hope will be a series of books to help teachers exploit new technologies in ways that will enhance their students learning. My first book - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> - was released in August 2015 and here just a few of the reasons why I think it's worth the price of a cup of coffee.<br />
<br />
1. It’s a ground breaking ebook that combines text and images with 26 embedded video tutorials.<br />
<br />
Here's an example: <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="313" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/123821450" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
2. It combines instruction on how to use the best in new technologies with creative practical classroom activities.<br />
<br />
3.It gives an overview of how new technologies can be combined with existing methodological approaches such as TBL, CLIL and Flipped Learning to make students’ learning more engaging and effective.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfdRUOhZFtLUNwH_wYVsqqy3yHvpnx2m7cZrYNHLChyphenhypheni_4-hrain-25-T8NkaBq-wzDQiaSK0_icUNpH2mT_RbF8Lt5qurkIaR-WsHpvxfvBf68x-I8wTGklIA-fOQNO1HIVV0lg5Obkq/s1600/image-4b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfdRUOhZFtLUNwH_wYVsqqy3yHvpnx2m7cZrYNHLChyphenhypheni_4-hrain-25-T8NkaBq-wzDQiaSK0_icUNpH2mT_RbF8Lt5qurkIaR-WsHpvxfvBf68x-I8wTGklIA-fOQNO1HIVV0lg5Obkq/s400/image-4b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
4. It shows you how to build your own technical and pedagogical skills to enable them to create their own materials and activities for students.<br />
<br />
5. It helps you to see beyond the concept of using video for comprehension and consumption and looks at ways you can exploit the amazing power of handheld devices to encourage students to use video creatively to develop their skills.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldrtEOnUhF2tBeZ1Lihyphenhyphenw_95ujBMeGC9u1Jpo-flTcyVOT0LushbwYfDjTIvQCVlcvuex4fA7niDWec-ypTguTldakuz5B3jQlycIfi13lfb8J-KqIWsvK3CBJm5l1OvDAoMk8ibu6ZaI/s1600/image-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldrtEOnUhF2tBeZ1Lihyphenhyphenw_95ujBMeGC9u1Jpo-flTcyVOT0LushbwYfDjTIvQCVlcvuex4fA7niDWec-ypTguTldakuz5B3jQlycIfi13lfb8J-KqIWsvK3CBJm5l1OvDAoMk8ibu6ZaI/s400/image-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
6. It includes annotated links to some of the best free video based apps and resources that are available online.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_exc6jjdeaAWnWgdOTdbRlXoodkYDFVk3Hu7v7XFD79Ow1Dh8-94ZhVIiZizBOqqnS0En1MDavdo9XSnAN21rU-ckAnm6Kf2UxkygLjdtH_ninLMCVOeN_Whgnmcus8T_KmQEmvpDEIFb/s1600/image-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_exc6jjdeaAWnWgdOTdbRlXoodkYDFVk3Hu7v7XFD79Ow1Dh8-94ZhVIiZizBOqqnS0En1MDavdo9XSnAN21rU-ckAnm6Kf2UxkygLjdtH_ninLMCVOeN_Whgnmcus8T_KmQEmvpDEIFb/s400/image-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
7. It shows you how to build the technical skills and confidence you need to gradually start introducing new technologies to your classroom.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1UiLo1wkcgvjaws2Ikhf8s2dUdQH0DICYikOu5-4jhPCz9VtCb_X0dfObkbes0kb7n8ioC-SDgXODSz7JdnNnmf5AngT1GD7src-8h-4gmPb2K_B7DUvMO9w4JEqObNY9jh2dsKhqDMh/s1600/image-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1UiLo1wkcgvjaws2Ikhf8s2dUdQH0DICYikOu5-4jhPCz9VtCb_X0dfObkbes0kb7n8ioC-SDgXODSz7JdnNnmf5AngT1GD7src-8h-4gmPb2K_B7DUvMO9w4JEqObNY9jh2dsKhqDMh/s400/image-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
8. It helps you to see how you can make the transition from classroom teaching to blended and online teaching.<br />
<br />
9. It’s the cheapest good quality 400 page full colour multimedia ebook for teachers that you can buy online. (Price at present is below £1 / $1.99 so around the price of a cup of coffee)<br />
<br />
10. The money raised from creating the sales of the book will help to ensure that I’m able to produce similar books like this at a comparable price.<br />
<br />
<b>You can buy the book from:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The iBook Store for Apple users: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485</a> </li>
<li>For other platforms Scribd: <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/276137280/Digital-Video-A-manual-for-language-teachers" target="_blank">https://www.scribd.com/doc/276137280/Digital-Video-A-manual-for-language-teachers</a> </li>
</ul>
I really hope you enjoy the book and please do leave a review. <br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/lesson-plans-and-activities-for.html" target="_blank">Lesson plans and activities for exploiting video</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/19576895/Web-2-0-Tools-for-Teachers" target="_blank">Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers </a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/using-scribd-to-monetise-your-writing.html" target="_blank">Using Scribd to monetise your writing work</a> </li>
</ul>
Best<br />
Nik Peachey </div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-37232077907375322012015-09-25T09:58:00.005+01:002021-02-21T08:12:12.165+00:0020 + Things you can do with QR codes in your school<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This post has been updated and moved to my blog at: <a href="https://peacheypublications.com/blog">https://peacheypublications.com/blog</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Apologies for the inconvenience. <br /><div>
</div><div><br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://peacheypublications.com/thinking-critically-through-digital-media" target="_blank">Thinking Critically through Digital Media</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Using a backchannel</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Getting students' attention</a></li>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/tap-into-backchannel-in-your.html" target="_blank">Tap into the Backchannel in Your Presentation</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/3-tools-for-exploiting-wifi-during.html" target="_blank">3 Tools for Exploiting the Wifi During Presentations</a></li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/instant-back-channel-chat-room.html" target="_blank">Instant back channel chat room</a> </li>
</ul>
Best<br />
Nik Peachey <br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-20843780294989212242015-09-19T07:04:00.001+01:002017-07-02T06:19:45.709+01:00Managing the digital classroom - Using a backchannel <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
In my first post in this series - <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">Getting students' attention</a> - I mentioned the use of backchannels. This post should give you more information about the use of backchannels within the classroom.<br />
<br />
If you are working in a classroom where your students have internet connected devices, either through wifi or their mobile phone, using a backchannel can have a transformative impact on the way you can use technology with your students.<br />
<br />
<i>“Backchannel is the practice of using networked computers to maintain a real-time online conversation alongside the primary group activity or live spoken remarks.”</i><br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backchannel">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backchannel</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99NPR12IvptLpmyXsMMeUo8A4P26ULpZe_pPfJWPQhYY8qTHEfvVG5QrFdUo2-VL26_09LWzK90x0za2r0g2P1Md3_biiLZ0xAdaeoGB3ruBfoBqBu1_QqBWnOrUoZB_rWvfK_CTljMar/s1600/mobile-phone-1419275_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99NPR12IvptLpmyXsMMeUo8A4P26ULpZe_pPfJWPQhYY8qTHEfvVG5QrFdUo2-VL26_09LWzK90x0za2r0g2P1Md3_biiLZ0xAdaeoGB3ruBfoBqBu1_QqBWnOrUoZB_rWvfK_CTljMar/s400/mobile-phone-1419275_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Most backchannels are text based and many-to-many, meaning that anyone can type in a message and it is seen by everyone who has access to the chatroom. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NtssWC9uhwI?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Back channels are particularly useful if you are working in a face to face environment where all or pairs/groups of students are working at a computer or if you are delivering live online classes using some form or web conferencing or webinar platform.<br />
<br />
<b>Backchannels help to solve a number of common classroom problems</b><br />
<br />
<b>Distraction</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I often describe a backchannel as the communication that happens between your students in the classroom every time to turn your back on them. The advantage of using a backchannel tool is that you can capture the intercommunication, be part of it and make it a constructive rather than a distracting part of the class.</li>
</ul>
<b>Democratisation of learning</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Backchannels democratise the classroom or lecture room, at least for periods of time, and enable everyone to contribute what they know about the point or topic being discussed.</li>
</ul>
<b>Giving students links to online resources</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>If you want students to investigate a website, do an online task, watch a video or complete a digital worksheet, you simply use the back channel, paste in the link and they can access the materials simply by clicking the link and opening it in a new tab. This saves a lot of time and gets students directly to the sites you want them to access rather than leaving them struggling to write down long URLs and type them into the browser address bar.</li>
</ul>
<b>Getting all students to respond to questions</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>You can type in questions and get students to respond through the backchannel. Using this method all students are able to participate and respond to questions rather than the first one to put up their hand. This also gives less outspoken students the opportunity to respond.</li>
</ul>
<b>Setting and reinforcing clear task</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>When you set tasks for students to do you can back them up by also typing your instructions into the backchannel. This gives them something to refer back to and also helps to reinforce your verbal instructions. This can reduce wasted time going round the class helping weaker students get on task.</li>
</ul>
<b>Brainstorming </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>You can get students brainstorming ideas, suggestions, vocabulary, opinions or anything else through the back channel. This way everyone's contribution can be collected, shared and acknowledged. </li>
</ul>
<b>Enabling students to share knowledge</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Students get share what they know about any topic or ask a question at any point during lesson, even when you are presenting, without disrupting the flow of the class.</li>
</ul>
<b>Socialisation with students</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Students can socialise and you can socialise with students within the back channel. Just spending a few minutes at the start of the lesson asking questions and finding out what students are up to can really help to engage with your students. </li>
</ul>
<b>Developing written fluency</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Interacting with students in a chatroom also gives students an opportunity to develop their written fluency through genuine communication.</li>
</ul>
<b>Saving notes from the class</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The script from a backchannel can be saved and downloaded, so this is a great form of collaborative note taking. At the end of the class each student can edit their own version of the text to ensure they keep the parts that they feel are relevant.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Some problems with back channels </b><br />
<br />
<b>Safety </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>As always we should take our students' online safety very seriously when using any form of computer mediated communication that allows students or others to communicate with our students. Some back channel tools require registration and this adds a greater element of security to the platform as users are more traceable, though student registration can add an extra layer of time management and friction to the setup process.</li>
<li>If you decide to use a back channel that doesn't require registration then it's better to make sure you create a new one each lesson and only leave it live for only a short time. </li>
</ul>
<b>Behaviour </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>When you first start to use a back channel you may have some initial behaviour problems, especially with younger less mature students. Try to stay level headed when you deal with this. As the use of the back channel becomes more common place your students will get used to using it in a more responsible way, especially if they realise their comments can be traced back to them.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Class size </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>If you have really large classes and lots of students are contributing comments it may get hard to keep up with all the interaction. Having a more complex backchannel tool like Backchannel Chat can help you to manage this more effectively.</li>
</ul>
<b>Chaos</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Reading back through the text from a back channel can seem like reading through chaos to someone who wasn’t there at the time. Backchannel records will need to be edited to be useful, but this is a good review activity for students.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Backchannel tools</b><br />
<br />
Here are a number of tools you can use to create a backchannel in your classroom.<br />
<br />
<b>TodaysMeet:</b> <a href="https://todaysmeet.com/">https://todaysmeet.com/</a> <br />
TodaysMeet is one of the simplest and easiest to use tools, and also one that’s free and very reliable. It doesn’t require registration by you or the students so it’s really quick to set up and get students into, but if you want that extra security you can register for a free account, which will also enable you to save your chat transcripts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJ1ubvmFHeLW4fvFArmeqE4OejQN4AETQA0Y3ZG6VsPfh_-zb5s3layWLKNThqBlrco8J16omPr5ECoqDO4hn-bgeVuwD-bFW-gtO2YhwtiU-h_RcprHPloRXvWwQTtLLC8UGykzJM5PL/s1600/exampleroom1_-_TodaysMeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJ1ubvmFHeLW4fvFArmeqE4OejQN4AETQA0Y3ZG6VsPfh_-zb5s3layWLKNThqBlrco8J16omPr5ECoqDO4hn-bgeVuwD-bFW-gtO2YhwtiU-h_RcprHPloRXvWwQTtLLC8UGykzJM5PL/s400/exampleroom1_-_TodaysMeet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
You can enter an example room here: <a href="https://todaysmeet.com/exampleroom1">https://todaysmeet.com/exampleroom1</a><br />
<br />
<b>Backchannel Chat:</b> <a href="http://www.backchannelchat.com/" target="_blank">http://www.backchannelchat.com/ </a><br />
Backchannel Chat is a bit more sophisticated and enables students to choose avatars for the chat and more importantly it enables you the teacher to pin a question or message to the top of the chatroom stream so that it doesn’t disappear as students respond. There is both a free version (which is limited to 30 students) as well as paid versions which have larger limits and other features like file adding attachments and personalising avatars with students’ own picture.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4BZsSnDkLk4-ZEVwSwcgiZfXEybgn5ZttxWYN8QakpcPGHPt-tdHSxhOJuJXmdtUgQ8yr2E2onvCOn1Z2yAom1gxefi636PvOq-kflin7Rzl7196NiXEkg10DmNWRdvDRtZICq4C1xAR/s1600/Backchannel_Chat_-_Safe_Secure_Classroom_Discussions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4BZsSnDkLk4-ZEVwSwcgiZfXEybgn5ZttxWYN8QakpcPGHPt-tdHSxhOJuJXmdtUgQ8yr2E2onvCOn1Z2yAom1gxefi636PvOq-kflin7Rzl7196NiXEkg10DmNWRdvDRtZICq4C1xAR/s320/Backchannel_Chat_-_Safe_Secure_Classroom_Discussions.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You can enter an example room here: <a href="http://backchannelchat.com/chat/7x82l">http://backchannelchat.com/chat/7x82l</a><br />
<br />
<b>Chatzy</b>: <a href="http://www.chatzy.com/">http://www.chatzy.com/</a> <br />
Chatzy offers two options; A quick chat room which you can set up quite quickly and simply (more like TodaysMeet, or a more complex virtual classroom which you can configure to allow students to add various types of online media too, such as images and videos.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52vGOKTqd2D9662kT-SgV0_HxC8Gdce_CWFg2cX-4Ccm_d9uAOf4Z44zu-Oer14eGzdH77213MEt5lJDPM6rxznyojJK59Tkwlo4KsGbbSLy_s-CxTQriQSbPQ2wsVe_xXBNd1VTHOjCS/s1600/Chatzy_-_Free_Private_Chat_Rooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52vGOKTqd2D9662kT-SgV0_HxC8Gdce_CWFg2cX-4Ccm_d9uAOf4Z44zu-Oer14eGzdH77213MEt5lJDPM6rxznyojJK59Tkwlo4KsGbbSLy_s-CxTQriQSbPQ2wsVe_xXBNd1VTHOjCS/s320/Chatzy_-_Free_Private_Chat_Rooms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You can enter an example room here: <a href="http://us21.chatzy.com/55961595316533" target="_blank">http://us21.chatzy.com/55961595316533 </a><br />
<br />
Find more tools to use in the digitally connected classroom by downloading my ebook - <a href="https://payhip.com/b/Y1TA" target="_blank">Digital Tools for Teachers</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a class="payhip-button payhip-button-grey payhip-button-medium payhip-button-meta" data-key="Y1TA" href="https://payhip.com/b/Y1TA">Check it out</a><script src="https://payhip.com/btn.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<br />
I hope you find backchannels useful with your students and that they help you to integrate technology into your classroom in a more meaningful way.<br />
<br />
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-getting.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Getting students' attention</a></li>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/tap-into-backchannel-in-your.html" target="_blank">Tap into the Backchannel in Your Presentation</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/3-tools-for-exploiting-wifi-during.html" target="_blank">3 Tools for Exploiting the Wifi During Presentations</a></li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/instant-back-channel-chat-room.html" target="_blank">Instant back channel chat room</a> </li>
</ul>
Best<br />
Nik Peachey</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-78080201457409373232015-09-11T06:44:00.000+01:002015-09-23T06:21:22.087+01:00Managing the digital classroom - Getting students' attention<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Competing with a computer or mobile screen for students' attention can be a challenge at best and at worst extremely frustrating. In this posting I will share some techniques and approaches for dealing with these problems.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e6UlpJVikkeWr9MJGWleTJmlVykhb6O4E5Buw7pFDZY2R6z5z7-JG-t48XsyBQnC5bXZ6KdU6UotC1ToFIhU11tZxC2C3AuZ5KGtSBRLAW4j3mZN8y6WcfLdAF3fc1Xmqb5uw6W95a4e/s1600/laptop-425826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e6UlpJVikkeWr9MJGWleTJmlVykhb6O4E5Buw7pFDZY2R6z5z7-JG-t48XsyBQnC5bXZ6KdU6UotC1ToFIhU11tZxC2C3AuZ5KGtSBRLAW4j3mZN8y6WcfLdAF3fc1Xmqb5uw6W95a4e/s320/laptop-425826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b>Ban devices </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Obviously this is the simplest way to deal with the problem, however, banning devices in class can be hard to enforce especially with teen students and older. It will also become harder as more technology becomes wearable, and particularly with adult classes, this approach could border on the insulting. </li>
<li>Banning devices in the classroom also deprives us and our students of the opportunity to develop responsible approaches to using these devices and robs students of the opportunity to develop their digital literacy skills and exploit the genuine benefits that technology in the classroom can bring. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Turn off the device</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>This is much less extreme than banning devices from the class and can be
part of a strategy for more responsible use of devices. Have parts of a lesson or even complete lessons when you ask students to turn off their device. </li>
<li>In this way the devices can be available when we need them and we can start to build a more responsible though very controlled approach to the use of technology. This becomes more difficult with computers which take much longer to boot up.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Motivational reward</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>You can use mobile or computer use as a motivational tool by giving students a break when they have been working well and allowing them a few minutes to use their mobile device or computer freely. </li>
<li>This isn't to say that you don't also use them as part of the lesson, but just giving students a short break to check their email or social media can help top reduce their anxiety levels. Remember that many more digitally connected people now have parallel virtual lives happening along side their physical life.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Turn off the screen </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>If you have students sitting with a computer screen screen in front of them in a more old fashioned computer room with desktop computers then you can ask them just to turn off the screen when you want their attention. Then they can quite easily turn it back on again when you are ready to get them working again. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0RNuKe0ix3j_y9hNDuY-ADnGlf1SdeJwxyQroE2Vjyd4v99986t9X3fRXc2U_e2iOlDjCaOda3KmHTrQLho8aJoPdF39RPmrKGGsYQKGaKdbNth_bJTLjXVKPKESbJhdPIKOXJpNkhe0/s1600/class-377117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0RNuKe0ix3j_y9hNDuY-ADnGlf1SdeJwxyQroE2Vjyd4v99986t9X3fRXc2U_e2iOlDjCaOda3KmHTrQLho8aJoPdF39RPmrKGGsYQKGaKdbNth_bJTLjXVKPKESbJhdPIKOXJpNkhe0/s320/class-377117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Go to the home screen</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Rather than turning the screen off, you can also get students to go to the home screen on the computer or device, until you are ready for them to go back to work. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Turn over </b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>In the case of tablets or mobile phones an easy solution when you want students' attention is simply to ask them to turn their device over on the desk so the screen is facing downwards. Then as soon as you are ready for them to get back to work they can turn it over again.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Reinforce instructions</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>You can use the devices with a <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">backchannel</a> tool like <a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/tap-into-backchannel-in-your.html" target="_blank">TodaysMeet</a> to reinforce your instructions. As soon as you have given instructions verbally you can add them to the <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">backchannel</a> and then students also have them to refer back to during the activity.</li>
<li>This can also help them to stay on task and interact with you and each other while they work.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Reduce teacher directed learning</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Think about how you can reduce teacher directed learning and point students towards web based materials where they can learn for themselves. </li>
<li>You can use the <a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">backchannel</a> tool like <a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/tap-into-backchannel-in-your.html" target="_blank">TodaysMeet</a> to share links to the materials you want them to investigate. This could be text video or audio materials that you have created yourself or that you have discovered. You can point different groups of students towards different materials sources and then get them to share and compare what they have learned together.</li>
<li>This approach makes much better use of the technology and helps your students to develop as more autonomous learners. It also demands more from them as critical thinkers and researchers and helps to develop the kinds of real life digital literacy skills they will need. </li>
<li>This approach also has benefits for you as a teacher. It takes the spotlight off you and gives you The opportunity to get up close to the students, to monitor what they are doing and steer weaker students in the right direction. </li>
</ul>
<b>Controlling the device</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Teach students how to control not be controlled by their mobile device. Many mobile apps are designed to be attention needy. They constantly flash up notifications through messages and sounds which attempt to engage the owner’s attention. Teach your students how to switch off these attention grabbing alerts so that they can control when they decide to check messages. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Keep doing it</b><br />
Whichever of these techniques you use, the important thing is to be consistent and persistent. You have to train your students to adopt the kind of responsible behaviour towards their device that you want in your classroom. This isn’t going to happen instantly. You’ll need to stick with it.<br />
<br />
Please feel free to share any suggestions or techniques you have for helping to manage a digital classroom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>Related links:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/managing-digital-classroom-using.html" target="_blank">Managing the digital classroom - Using a backchannel</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/tap-into-backchannel-in-your.html" target="_blank">Tap into the Backchannel in Your Presentation</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/3-tools-for-exploiting-wifi-during.html" target="_blank">3 Tools for Exploiting the Wifi During Presentations</a></li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/instant-back-channel-chat-room.html" target="_blank">Instant back channel chat room</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A manual for language teachers</a></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
</ul>
<br />
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-84639712957623287992014-07-31T11:14:00.001+01:002014-07-31T11:14:36.164+01:00 Why do so many Moodle courses suck?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Moodle is a magnificent free product and has the potential to enable schools and teachers to build wonderfully unique interactive online learning courses in which learner interaction can be tracked, measured and responded to. Despite this the vast majority of Moodle courses I see are a long list of Word and PDF documents with at best a few forums that enable a minimum of human social interaction.<br /><br />Given the state of many of these courses, it’s no wonder that drop out rates for online learning are so high. And of course Moodle isn’t the only culprit. Many of the other commercially available LMS (learning management systems) and VLE (virtual learning environment) platforms aren’t doing any better.<br /><br />Moodle has been around now since 2002 and research carried out in 2013 showed that more than 7.3 million students had studied in more than 83 thousand registered sites.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE_jXRtc2a6kuNWhUyaKrncoaiLKlywGiqq1IdAzsbWJS7_0tOq1Ej9rKpckpKQyITek3MU_4MtRHm4hkXDjygH0bF0ZbJt_5k7-oxwj4UliTtOb3oGr1SrWr0udostEmyUiX02lXVm6z/s1600/12221346503_2feb312776_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE_jXRtc2a6kuNWhUyaKrncoaiLKlywGiqq1IdAzsbWJS7_0tOq1Ej9rKpckpKQyITek3MU_4MtRHm4hkXDjygH0bF0ZbJt_5k7-oxwj4UliTtOb3oGr1SrWr0udostEmyUiX02lXVm6z/s1600/12221346503_2feb312776_z.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from ELTPics: https://flic.kr/p/jBXAwK </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><b>So why is it that so little progress has been made in developing innovative courses that really generate interaction with media rich content?</b><br /><br />The problem surely isn’t Moodle, because the platform is capable of delivering all of the above. <br /><br />The reality is that there are a number of causes:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I think it’s fair to say that Moodle isn’t the most intuitive of platforms to work with. A lot of progress and improvements have been made, but it’s inevitable that a product with multiple modules constructed by different people is likely to result in some inconsistencies of look and feel.</li>
<li>The fact that Moodle is seen as a ‘free’ platform and so a ‘cheap’ way to get learning online is another factor. Schools start using the platform with the impression that it won’t require much financial backing and that once they have provided the platform teachers will just be able to get their classes online.</li>
<li>This brings me to the next point and that is lack of training. Most teachers I have met who use Moodle do so with only the most minimal and basic training and again this comes back to the perception that Moodle is a cheap solution. Many school managers seem to think that a few hours of training is enough to get their teachers designing great online courses. It’s not! Training to use Moodle effectively takes considerable time and needs to be constantly reinforced and renewed.</li>
<li>A second element of training which is often overlooked is instructional design. A teacher may well be marvellous at developing and delivering their own materials in the classroom, but when it comes to converting those materials into effective online learning units there is a new level of skill and understanding that they need. Understanding the instructional design potential of an online platform and how to structure materials so that students progress through an online environment requires training and experience.</li>
<li>Another factor in this mix is that the Moodle platform is often seen as the ‘property’ and responsibility of the IT department and as such they make the platform as secure as possible. Often this means that teachers’ access to many of the different features and potential that Moodle can deliver are hidden from the teacher and they don’t have the opportunity to experiment with the platform and learn for themselves.</li>
</ul>
<br /><b>So given all of these problems is it worth using Moodle or any other platform to develop online and blended learning for your students? </b><br />
<br />
The answer is of course a resounding yes. To ignore the potential that online learning and new technology has to offer is to be like King Canute trying to order back the sea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZggCNZhyx2YBeJ76jFexNn7K6XtFwqzkzeEiznrWv4EJwPhoIaZXXGQbWaJEBEB5-FGcL3kb8WZ2wwjYgbc5BSTNYVqoKJkzDehzK81CvL_7Yu9tsMOkWuf7G0wyFKHOaOaA-d0rSyd8/s640/king+canute.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZggCNZhyx2YBeJ76jFexNn7K6XtFwqzkzeEiznrWv4EJwPhoIaZXXGQbWaJEBEB5-FGcL3kb8WZ2wwjYgbc5BSTNYVqoKJkzDehzK81CvL_7Yu9tsMOkWuf7G0wyFKHOaOaA-d0rSyd8/s640/king+canute.png" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
But to use technology effectively education establishments have to approach online learning with their eyes open.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It isn’t a cheap solution.</li>
<li>It will require a significant investment in training for teachers</li>
<li>Teachers won’t just construct wonderful online courses in their free time. Developing good online materials takes time. More time than it takes to develop paper-based face to face materials, so they will need to be paid for this time.</li>
<li>Teachers need to be trained at all levels of the platform including the admin level, not just at teacher level.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>How about ready made courses?</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Knowing all of this schools may be tempted to by an ‘off the shelf’ solution with all the content ready made, but I would be wary of this type of ‘one size fits all’ content. In many cases the content has just been adapted from a course book with a copious amounts of drag and drop and gap-filling activity mixed with a little multimedia and very little student - teacher or peer to peer interaction built in and no sign of any authentic materials or personalisation. These courses are often dull beyond belief and fail to engage the students.<br /><br />The best online courses, just like the best face-to-face courses, are usually designed by teachers who have developed an understanding of the needs and interests of their students and can choose content which they will enjoy and find engaging.<br /><br />So, if platforms like Moodle are really to be used to develop effective and engaging learning which realises the potential of online and blended learning modes of delivery, then we must have managers who are willing to invest in developing the skills of their teachers and teachers who are willing to meet the challenges of new technology head on and accept their changing and more diverse roles as teachers, mentors and instructional designers.<br /><br /><b>For teachers who would like to try to develop their own Moodle skills.</b><br />You can register for a free Moodle platform at: <a href="http://www.mdl2.com/">http://www.mdl2.com</a>/ It takes a few moments to register and then you have your own Moodle platform to use as a sandpit. <br /><br />Here are a few quick video tutorials that can help get you started.</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/7D7iteEpnM9" target="_blank">How to add an image to Moodle and size it correctly</a><br />This video shows how to edit the html code to control the space the image takes on the screen.</li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/htmKfkyp" target="_blank">Formatting a Moodle page</a><br />This video shows how to make the Moodle page look more attractive and professional</li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/phjWJnIfIK8" target="_blank">Adding an image to a Moodle webpage</a><br />This video shows how to add an image to a Moodle page</li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/8jRxw4Ay0" target="_blank">Adding a YouTube video to Moodle</a><br />This video shows you how to embed a video from YouTube into a Moodle page</li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/Nk1vEaGf" target="_blank">Embedding a webpage into a Moodle page</a><br />This video shows you how to embed a webpage from a different site into a Moodle page so that it appears as part of the Moodle course </li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/uTPMznBJDv0i" target="_blank">Creating a questionnaire</a> <br />This video shows you how to create the questionnaire framework. </li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/lZDa8sPXa1Io" target="_blank">Adding questions to a questionnaire</a> <br />This video shows how to add questions to the questionnaire once the framework has been created. </li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/1xHHB2UX1m" target="_blank">How to create a quiz</a><br />This shows how to create the quiz framework before adding questions </li>
<li><a href="http://screencast.com/t/ca97C7ukS7l" target="_blank">How to add questions to a quiz</a><br />This shows how to add questions to your quiz once you have created it. </li>
</ul>
I hope you find these videos useful and enjoy making a start at using Moodle to create more engaging materials.<br />
<br />
Best<br />
<br />
Nik Peachey <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-24078506966941232462014-03-15T11:51:00.000+00:002014-03-15T11:51:07.610+00:00Creating social phrasebooks with Phraseum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I spend a lot of time looking at different web-based tools and apps and thinking about if and how they can be used for learning. Sometimes it takes some thought and at other times it’s really obvious. With <a href="http://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> it was instantly obvious that this was a really great tool for learning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9C49Tk7Rwgz-p5VoL3kS90lkhjngpvk0zFgR9-6dDLV3OK7uG7Ik8SNFjjVU_io1Uvsfr56cNRIKH8Sw-1I13v6FefjddpBQ8DlB3SlkudVVBFJi3pEccoDVmbJCErH3T3dC8fYNSG3R/s1600/My_phrases___Phraseum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9C49Tk7Rwgz-p5VoL3kS90lkhjngpvk0zFgR9-6dDLV3OK7uG7Ik8SNFjjVU_io1Uvsfr56cNRIKH8Sw-1I13v6FefjddpBQ8DlB3SlkudVVBFJi3pEccoDVmbJCErH3T3dC8fYNSG3R/s1600/My_phrases___Phraseum.png" width="90%" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> allows you to collect words, phrases and sentences from anywhere on the web while you you browse and organise them into social phrasebooks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2To1ro9f2PqUVzBxuWGjC821XqVdT2z7AvUuoulN1Ve8Z8_urkhXfqWv-JTapNccXckXdhSMGKAgIT5Wn4PHBBB6Ftw6xiyz4lYdAmyGC5zZ0jyOfNEHpQYfZE9lVtVQs43B7ashpULGH/s1600/All_phrasebooks___Phraseum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2To1ro9f2PqUVzBxuWGjC821XqVdT2z7AvUuoulN1Ve8Z8_urkhXfqWv-JTapNccXckXdhSMGKAgIT5Wn4PHBBB6Ftw6xiyz4lYdAmyGC5zZ0jyOfNEHpQYfZE9lVtVQs43B7ashpULGH/s1600/All_phrasebooks___Phraseum.png" width="90%" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> is a browser-based tool which can be activated from your browser toolbar. Simply create an account and then drag the ‘Clipping button’ bookmarklet to your favourites bar on your browser.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0Xf5W6sNFkWvM2CeBzEnbbtdmQm_lW0a2Yc6pu6nsEYd4rIK5f94-s-CZbZPOg3RLM41-ZaQRYtWIl34B3rTVLRk-nmx79TQgiE-WvztACf8dUaa7C-ws3Y2hoNpwDPwLQmEWjOnQj7O/s1600/Clipping_button___Phraseum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0Xf5W6sNFkWvM2CeBzEnbbtdmQm_lW0a2Yc6pu6nsEYd4rIK5f94-s-CZbZPOg3RLM41-ZaQRYtWIl34B3rTVLRk-nmx79TQgiE-WvztACf8dUaa7C-ws3Y2hoNpwDPwLQmEWjOnQj7O/s1600/Clipping_button___Phraseum.png" width="90%" /></a></div>
<br />
Once that’s done you can just collect any words or phrases that you find online by highlighting them and then clicking on the bookmarklet. This opens up a window where you can add tags to the phrase and add your own private notes and annotations. The tags could be a definition, translation, part of speech or something about the context in which it could be used. You can then save the phrase into one of your phrasebooks. The phrases and phrasebooks can be private or they can be made public and so shared with others.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR5fQHnBSNzcGp_4LGsix6GQ-Dp-JBFkkWwp6Y95JNC-80n8Ee1f2APUrmzfpU10ByL0uulwa20l52ev2vyXS0N_Wf9uUj_WAYjNaNpIfQbiEVAn9IcFj0ATvlPjPTR7FKgTdISMDqT1U/s1600/BBC_News_-_Mark_Zuckerberg__confused_and_frustrated__by_US_spying.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR5fQHnBSNzcGp_4LGsix6GQ-Dp-JBFkkWwp6Y95JNC-80n8Ee1f2APUrmzfpU10ByL0uulwa20l52ev2vyXS0N_Wf9uUj_WAYjNaNpIfQbiEVAn9IcFj0ATvlPjPTR7FKgTdISMDqT1U/s1600/BBC_News_-_Mark_Zuckerberg__confused_and_frustrated__by_US_spying.png" width="90%" /></a></div>
<br />
If you want to include specific words or phrases from a word document or PDF, you can also just type in the words or phrases you want to include in your phrasebooks, but if you save them from the web then Phraseum also stores a link back to the original source, so you can go back and see how the word or phrase is used in context. You can also get a link from the phrase to a translation from Google Translate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7TO0zCUnBRdgqjfsDsNhJv2ED7zEX9z7_ws-UeTiFEU0rP0bxEVndn02-y_xo_1NTsLLAHhK0ALQp7IKgvC8tZ-Eh_IRGTb6XJBK-8ih_UETkg3cyvoL2S5DZGMrN1G6ieffOv9Anqbz/s1600/resigned_as_chief_executive___Phraseum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7TO0zCUnBRdgqjfsDsNhJv2ED7zEX9z7_ws-UeTiFEU0rP0bxEVndn02-y_xo_1NTsLLAHhK0ALQp7IKgvC8tZ-Eh_IRGTb6XJBK-8ih_UETkg3cyvoL2S5DZGMrN1G6ieffOv9Anqbz/s1600/resigned_as_chief_executive___Phraseum.png" width="90%" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> is social, so you can share phrases and phrasebooks with anyone else on the site and follow other people if you like the kinds of things they are saving and sharing. You can also click on any of the tags on your phrase to find other related words or phrases which have been saved by other users and add those to your own collection. <br />
<br />
If you use social media with your students you can post the phrases you save through various social media channels so this is a great way to feed information and activities into something like a Facebook group or page or a Twitter feed that you use with students.<br />
<br />
All of the entries you make to Phraseum can be edited and changed, so students can always add additional tags, change them and add the same entry to multiple phrasebooks.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> also enables you to follow people in a similar way to Twitter or Pinterest. If you follow people you can see their public phrasebooks and keep up-to-date with what they are saving.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ1zvTFAfwhpXLBYxbVe743haKM4CNHUM6J5ELlClDg7kMHj-ZkUHr6KO58VU-1GBj2rz23A-4F5s29XEAL4cJKudBTqsR33a6F0loRlglCtr-Qboxwsmh1v7o-2I-rsbOX6mLevehvby/s1600/All_users___Phraseum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ1zvTFAfwhpXLBYxbVe743haKM4CNHUM6J5ELlClDg7kMHj-ZkUHr6KO58VU-1GBj2rz23A-4F5s29XEAL4cJKudBTqsR33a6F0loRlglCtr-Qboxwsmh1v7o-2I-rsbOX6mLevehvby/s1600/All_users___Phraseum.png" width="90%" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is really useful if you are using it with students, as by following them you can easily monitor their work and use the comments feature if you need to help, support or encourage your students.<br />
<br />
Here are a few examples of phrasebooks I've created:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.phraseum.com/phrasebook/business-collocations-174" target="_blank">A collection of business related collocations</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.phraseum.com/phrasebook/quotes-education-257" target="_blank">Quotes on education</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.phraseum.com/phrasebook/politics-175" target="_blank">Words related to politics</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>How to use Phraseum with students</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>You could get started just by creating a few of your own useful phrasebooks and sharing them with your students. </li>
<li>If you like to pre-teach vocabulary, a good way to do this would be to create a vocabulary phrasebook from a particular online article you would like your students to read. They can look at the phrasebook before they read and check they understand the vocabulary, or use it as a reference while or after they read.</li>
<li>You could also collect a phrasebook with a collections of more random words and phrases and see if the students can predict the genre or kind of text the phrases came from.</li>
<li>You can collect phrases into a phrasebook and ask students to suggest appropriate tags to add.</li>
<li>If you train your students to use Phraseum then they can start using it to create phrasebooks while they read. They can sort new words into specific groups. They could be grouped according to the source or topic or they could group words according to word classification such as parts of speech or types of collocation.</li>
<li>You can get students to share phrasebooks and crosscheck so that they share vocabulary and check that they have similar definitions or translations of the words.</li>
<li>You can send students on treasure hunts for specific things, for example searching for business related collocations. If they use this as the tag they will then be able to share their results together (any tag you click on shows you all other words and phrases which share that same tag).</li>
<li>Get students to use the phrasebooks to revise and review their vocabulary.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>What I like about Phraseum</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I love that it works in the browser tool bar. This makes it really easy and quick to access at any time you are online.</li>
<li>I really like the social aspect too. Being able to share and compare phrasebooks with other people is really useful.</li>
<li>It’s great that it makes it easy for students to go back to the source of the word or phrase.</li>
<li>Saving phrases really encourages students to think about words within lexical chunks rather than as independent entities.</li>
<li>Phraseum can be used in multiple languages.</li>
<li>It’s free.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I think this is a great tool to support more of a lexical approach to online learning. It can also support students digital literacy and study skills. I hope you and your students find <a href="http://www.phraseum.com/" target="_blank">Phraseum</a> useful. Be sure to share in the comments any ideas you have for using it with your students.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Related links:</b></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/get-students-checking-grammar-and.html" target="_blank">Get Students Checking Grammar and Collocation</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/how-i-use-social-media-for-my.html" target="_blank">How I use social media for my professional development</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/two-contrasting-views-of-educational.html" target="_blank">Two Contrasting Views of Educational Technology</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/online-teacher-development-works-best.html" target="_blank">Online Teacher Development Works Best - 15 Reasons Why</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/developing-your-digital-study-skills.html" target="_blank">Developing your digital study skills </a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Best</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nik Peachey </div>
</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-84519399448931060242014-01-31T11:07:00.000+00:002014-01-31T11:07:58.304+00:00Managing behaviour in the digital age<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you ask most teachers, especially newly trained ones, what one of the biggest challenges of teaching is, they would probably say managing student behaviour. Especially as class sizes grow and more students are bringing along potentially distracting digital devices, making sure you are keeping students on task is becoming ever more important. If this is something that concerns you, then read on.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> could be the solution to your problem. <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> is a digital management tool which can help you, your students and their parents to track and improve student behaviour across the whole school.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='380' height='306' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz2ubmPkh2n-cwXQhxWFf5aAUYBnWGnmQ-j5DsxCzXm_v_S4_AsQZpMYAt9uMmW9SyPqtBvJBdL3UQ5H537Dg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Using <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> you can set up seating charts for every room in your school and create a profile for each student. Teachers can then use <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> to monitor and reward positive behaviour as well as track negative behaviour. As the teacher builds up data across classes they can start to understand how different seating arrangements and student pairing and grouping can impact on behaviour, then generate seating charts for students that group them in ways that help them to work more efficiently and harmoniously.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>So how does it work?</b><br />
<br />
Well one of the first things to do is to add seating plans of your rooms. This is easy to do and you can drag the virtual desks around into whatever configuration you have in your classroom.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF62l-iVuJ9IXX6ggAa0EAHviETcOIOWFIXE3-RoDJvJ_rd0id737JJE_TrxK-QmoaddUzHzZPFuVYI9qWunz3r_8EI37EaIEe-19lYhq79JhXQupndSGHOZjZNkJ-88rI61UIbNnVkrB/s1600/My_rooms_-_Class_Charts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF62l-iVuJ9IXX6ggAa0EAHviETcOIOWFIXE3-RoDJvJ_rd0id737JJE_TrxK-QmoaddUzHzZPFuVYI9qWunz3r_8EI37EaIEe-19lYhq79JhXQupndSGHOZjZNkJ-88rI61UIbNnVkrB/s1600/My_rooms_-_Class_Charts.png" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Then you also need to upload your students. What I really like about <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> is that you can also upload a photograph of each one, and this can be really useful if you have large classes and lots of students names to remember, especially when it comes to writing reports.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X6waN5qkMxqnskC04Mih8sZQWqqZq4BXGQYx79dMgdGQ8qBOA_9oCHJOkDa_ONE1UXwKMT-_L2-u2MJccjNf0oDlJ7PFRLRtaPbNQkWKtvV5gBXw5D5YPMDKvBwGXfJj_pcNPZepnWU5/s1600/8C_Sc_-_classroom_view_-_Class_Charts-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X6waN5qkMxqnskC04Mih8sZQWqqZq4BXGQYx79dMgdGQ8qBOA_9oCHJOkDa_ONE1UXwKMT-_L2-u2MJccjNf0oDlJ7PFRLRtaPbNQkWKtvV5gBXw5D5YPMDKvBwGXfJj_pcNPZepnWU5/s1600/8C_Sc_-_classroom_view_-_Class_Charts-3.png" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You can then either manually assign seats or generate a random seating chart. During the class you can use <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> acknowledge a range of positive and negative behaviours. These behaviours are all customisable so you can create your own or use the default ones.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiykDl86d60_jz1MpS2uhk4zb84D9uW8SUegPJo_nhtIDmIzKpGIgWqrin0SQ-NbbtvILGcuMzQC9uKNtYgQMmbIth_wzCGyyiFvN2Acs6Uk1Y_GChvgH6RDNMoKer2BRDQAGj6m08UGp/s1600/8C_Sc_-_classroom_view_-_Class_Charts-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiykDl86d60_jz1MpS2uhk4zb84D9uW8SUegPJo_nhtIDmIzKpGIgWqrin0SQ-NbbtvILGcuMzQC9uKNtYgQMmbIth_wzCGyyiFvN2Acs6Uk1Y_GChvgH6RDNMoKer2BRDQAGj6m08UGp/s1600/8C_Sc_-_classroom_view_-_Class_Charts-4.png" height="400" width="365" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> uses html 5 so should run in any modern browser whether it’s a laptop, iPad or Android tablet, so the teacher can use an tablet during the class to instantly update behaviours.<br />
<br />
Either before or during the class the teacher can also shuffle the class seating depending on a number of criteria from things like attainment targets to gender or previous behaviour.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9dlOEyEviw_fUMUrSNOudhemc7MCNOWM0JnW0dHIYLFIyDT4Z_hyphenhyphen9JP_g8yi_AXWLMmhyphenhyphens_tznbHoScNHAeVNHyE8Qkfp8x-npM_iaf3XyN3EQR3_ypf6tA_J8-T7buPJw_yzGm6JcKl/s1600/8C_Sc_-_classroom_view_-_Class_Charts-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9dlOEyEviw_fUMUrSNOudhemc7MCNOWM0JnW0dHIYLFIyDT4Z_hyphenhyphen9JP_g8yi_AXWLMmhyphenhyphens_tznbHoScNHAeVNHyE8Qkfp8x-npM_iaf3XyN3EQR3_ypf6tA_J8-T7buPJw_yzGm6JcKl/s1600/8C_Sc_-_classroom_view_-_Class_Charts-5.png" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of the real time-savers of <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> though is when it comes to report writing time. Each students’ behaviour has been tracked through their various classes and teachers can get a detailed report, including dates when different behaviours were recorded.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZpBdAQwoovlc6FB6KuqKHbOWNaq9zVUJpovWSaGlE-KcUDolap1ISq7jYLEStBi1D8SkTqgFevYxHQn23fyNRJWMjxcy84nf_7Ir0YNrbq7TuwKbWOVNdzrzUSYfIbj1jACj9PHySDUH/s1600/Student_activity_report_for_Kevin_Jameson_in_8C_Sc_-_Class_Charts-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZpBdAQwoovlc6FB6KuqKHbOWNaq9zVUJpovWSaGlE-KcUDolap1ISq7jYLEStBi1D8SkTqgFevYxHQn23fyNRJWMjxcy84nf_7Ir0YNrbq7TuwKbWOVNdzrzUSYfIbj1jACj9PHySDUH/s1600/Student_activity_report_for_Kevin_Jameson_in_8C_Sc_-_Class_Charts-2.png" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Both students and parents can also access live reports and monitor progress throughout the term, so students and parents know how they are doing and parents don’t have to wait until the end of term to find out what’s been going on with their child.<br />
<br />
This helps to share responsibility and makes it much easier to get parents involved in dealing with any negative behaviour at the earliest possible date.<br />
<br />
Although <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> is free and has been designed so that a single teacher can set it up to track their own classes independently, the real power of the platform is its ability to work across the school and track student behaviour in every class. To make this easier <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> also interconnects with a range of other educational management software systems, from simple tools like Edmodo to more complex ones like SIMS and PowerSchool.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What I like about ClassCharts</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I’m really impressed by the fact that such a powerful and well designed tool is free.</li>
<li>It’s great that a system like this and the data it collects can be applied and shared across a whole school.</li>
<li>I really like that you can see the student and access a range of information about them from targets, to behaviour and even a little about their background.</li>
<li>Great to get parents involved and students monitoring their own progress.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>What I’m not so sure about</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>This is quite a complex tool and creates a lot of data, so I think it’s going to take a bit of getting used to for teachers and perhaps a bit of training too.</li>
<li>It does produce a lot of data and you can easily get a bit too tied up in this and forget about the person.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Well I hope you find <a href="http://www.classcharts.com/" target="_blank">ClassCharts</a> useful and give it a try.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Related links:</b></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/digital-books-for-teacher-development.html" target="_blank">Digital books for teacher development </a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/making-lectures-and-lessons-more.html" target="_blank">Making lectures and lessons more interactive with mQlicker </a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/evaluating-authentic-mobile-apps-for.html" target="_blank">Evaluating authentic mobile apps for learning </a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/publishing-30-new-model-for-independent.html" target="_blank">Publishing 3.0 - A new model for independent educational publishing</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/digital-classrooms-online-video/x/4856585" target="_blank">The Digital Classrooms on Indiegogo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Digital-Classroom/1419781631588751?ref=hl" target="_blank">Digital Classrooms on Facebook </a></li>
<li><a href="http://flip.it/7fZdR" target="_blank">Digital Classroom on Flipboard</a> </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nik Peachey</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-90977944365270981032014-01-09T09:29:00.001+00:002014-01-09T09:29:11.537+00:00Publishing 3.0 - A new model for independent educational publishing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My New Years resolution this year was to start work on a series of ebooks for iPads, e-readers and other digital devices. This has been my ambition since I published my first book <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/19576895/Web-20-Tools-for-Teachers" target="_blank">Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers</a> back in 2009, but I’ve never felt that the time, the technology or the market was at the right place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROio5mWxWlNxoE2uFHKSSPI2dIxZ-Ygs33CQ1b3Ag4IJs5e2WhNmhlCyh3U-kuXgqcGWbAUgCXMu8wTbUN6Kq1qckbEcp_-n4Xhauo7F3cwdQs_zbYcO9THMftuQ5x3KUEeTvcrD3EpZL/s1600/DSC05582+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROio5mWxWlNxoE2uFHKSSPI2dIxZ-Ygs33CQ1b3Ag4IJs5e2WhNmhlCyh3U-kuXgqcGWbAUgCXMu8wTbUN6Kq1qckbEcp_-n4Xhauo7F3cwdQs_zbYcO9THMftuQ5x3KUEeTvcrD3EpZL/s1600/DSC05582+2.JPG" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Significant changes over the last couple of years though have led me to believe that now is the time to look at a new model of ELT publishing, at least for the realm of teacher development books.<br />
<br />
The changes I mention above include<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A proliferation of increasingly low cost e-reading devices and tablets.</li>
<li>The development of powerful free software and applications such as <a href="http://www.apple.com/uk/ibooks-author/" target="_blank">iBooks Author</a> for the development of media rich ebooks.</li>
<li>The combination of these applications with secure and reliable marketing platforms, such as <a href="http://www.lulu.com/" target="_blank">Lulu</a> and <a href="http://www.apple.com/uk/apps/ibooks/" target="_blank">iBookStore</a>.</li>
<li>The development of crowd-funding platforms such as <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/" target="_blank">KickStarter</a> and <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/" target="_blank">Indigogo</a>.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I believe that the combination of these developments is now enabling individual teachers to write develop and launch their own products to the market on a commercially competitive basis with established publishers.<br />
<br />
<b>So why is this a good thing?</b><br />
Well anyone who has ever approached a publisher with an idea for a book will know how difficult it can be to get it accepted. The established publishers are, by necessity, cautious about taking on new, innovative or risky projects. Producing and distributing paper-based books is a hugely expensive endeavor and in the case of teacher development books, the returns are likely to be small for both the publisher and the writer.<br />
<br />
The changes I mention above, however, have the potential to liberate writers from the established publishing process and give them the freedom to develop their own projects and products independently.<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The proliferation of low cost mobile devices such as e-readers, tablets and iPads provides a really useful and accessible medium on which to publish teacher development materials. Instead of having your books at home on the bookshelf you can now carry them around with you on your device so they are on hand at the moment of need.</li>
<li>These devices and the applications used to develop content for them are capable of providing a media rich experience with colour interactive images, audio, video and a range of interactive learning apps, none of which is possible in a traditional paper-based book.</li>
<li>The combination of these applications with established secure marketing platforms means that writers with the commitment to see their projects through to completion can easily market them internationally and actually get a reasonable financial return on the work they put in.</li>
<li>Crowd-funding platforms like <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/" target="_blank">KickStarter</a> and <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/" target="_blank">Indigogo</a> enable writers to raise the funds they need to develop good quality professional products that the market wants.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I’ve put the crowd-funding platform at the end of my list, but really it should be at the beginning, because crowd-funding doesn’t just supply the money to launch the product, it also acts as a market research tool to see if there really is a market for the product. If the people for whom the product is intended aren’t willing to invest in it to get it created, then it’s likely that there isn’t really a viable market for this product.<br />
<br />
So this brings me back to where I started with my New Years resolution. I have launched my own crowd-funding project to try to create the first in a series of ebooks in a series that I intend to call The Digital Classroom. The first of these will focus on the use of online video as a tool for learning.<br />
<br />
You can find out more about this project by following this link <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/digital-classrooms-online-video" target="_blank">Digital Classrooms - Online Video</a> or watching the video below.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qrue9BZqmq4?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
If you think this is a product you would be interested in having them please do support it buy either buying and advance copy of the book or by sharing the link with others you think may be interested.<br />
<br />
You can also get an idea of the kind of content the book will cover and even contribute your ideas for what the book should contain, using the crowd-sourcing questionnaire below. Just add your ideas and vote for the things you would most like included in the book. That way you can ensure that I produce the book that you need to help support and develop your teaching.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://tricider.com/embed/?show=1JDbP" width="450"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://tricider.com/" style="color: #d3cdcb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">powered by tricider</a><br />
<br />
You can also follow the project on Facebook by going to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Digital-Classroom/1419781631588751" target="_blank">The Digital Classroom</a> and clicking on 'Like'.<br />
<br />
I hope you find the project interesting and that this post gets you started thinking about how you can produce your own book too.<br />
<br />
Best<br />
Nik Peachey </div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283339544946232720.post-5782762541833468042013-09-25T11:51:00.001+01:002017-04-24T09:54:58.993+01:00Evaluating authentic mobile apps for learning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Back in April 2013 I delivered a workshop at the IATEFL 2013 conference in Liverpool. The topic of the workshop was '<a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/criteria-for-evaluating-web-tools-and.html" target="_blank">Criteria for Evaluating Web Tools and Apps</a>' and in the workshop I encouraged participants to share and explore their subconscious criteria for deciding which apps and web based tools they used with their students.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" id="viddler-424f0260" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/424f0260/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&secret=78106038&disablebranding=0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="445"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
I particularly encouraged them to think about 'authentic' apps rather than those made for learning. This is because in many ways I feel that most made for learning apps have made very little pedagogical progress beyond their roots in CALL from the last century.<br />
<br />
I also believe that encouraging students to get 'hands on' with authentic apps has a much more important role in helping them to develop digital literacies which they can use outside of the classroom.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="payhip-button payhip-button-grey payhip-button-medium payhip-button-meta" data-key="Y1TA" href="https://payhip.com/b/Y1TA">Check out my ebook</a><script src="https://payhip.com/btn.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As a result of that workshop and the research that developed from it I've now developed this list of criteria for evaluating mobile apps for educational purposes.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here I've divided the criteria into 4 categories and given some explanation of each. I welcome your comments and feedback as this is still very much a work in progress.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Technical </h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Accessibility</b> - Will all the students have the necessary equipment to use it? Will it work across all / most mobile platforms and also work within a desktop web browser?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Unless teachers are working in a teaching environment where a uniform set of physical devices are provided for students, such as a complete set of iPads or Android tablets, then they need to check carefully that all the variety of devices that their students possess are all supported. The safest way to ensure this is to check to see if the app also has a browser based version, so that students without up-to-date mobile devices will still be able to participate.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>User friendly</b> - Will students be able to learn how to use it reasonably quickly? </div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Apps that are complex and take a long time to master may not be worth the commitment. Teachers need to ensure that they plan how to teach the students how to use the apps in a reasonable amount of time or have a strategy for gradually uncovering more features of an app as they develop more activities with it.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Registration</b> - Do students need to register to use it?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Getting students and teachers to register and remember passwords can be laborious and time consuming, so apps that don’t require registration and particularly those which run in the browser on mobile or desktop can be very convenient to use. Registration does however offer students more protection and makes any potential misuse or mischief trackable back to its source.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Security</b> - Is the app secure? </div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Although it can be difficult and time consuming to check, teachers need to determine that the app is secure and the creators will treat their students data and personal information responsibly and confidentially. If there is any form of social interaction enabled through the app teachers need to check if there is any mechanism or process for blocking and reporting abuse.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Financial</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Price</b> - Is it free or affordable?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>One of the great advantages of apps is that many are free, freemium (have both a free and a commercial version) or are quite low cost. Having said that, even if low cost apps are being used it needs to be decided who will pay for them, especially if each student in the class needs one.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Business model</b> - Is there a business model to support the app? Is it clear how it makes money?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Every app producer needs to make money somehow, so it is important to identify the business model supporting the development of an app. Although teachers and students are keen to use free apps, apps that have no visible business model may be generating money through advertising or by trading data. An app that has no visible means of financial support, may have a very short life span, rapidly become unreliable, and fail to develop and evolve due to lack of funds.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Motivational</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Digital literacy</b> - Does learning and using the app help students to develop a useful or transferable digital literacy? </div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Just using an app in itself doesn’t necessarily constitute developing a digital literacy. The use of the app must in some way develop a digital skill that can be transferred outside of the learning context and used in some authentic way either in the workplace or as part of the students’ lifestyle.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Authenticity</b> - Does it have an authentic purpose beyond language learning? Is it an app that a native speaker would use for a genuine purpose outside of a classroom?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Apps that are motivating for native speakers to use for a genuine purpose should also be motivating for language learners for that same purpose, so authentic apps that involve some sort of linguistic input or output are ideally suited to language teaching purposes.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Personalization</b> - Does the app enable user to express some aspect of who they are and what they believe?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It’s important that language learners have the opportunity to use language creatively to express something of their own personality or identity. Apps which support this kind of creativity can be potentially very useful.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Pedagogical</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Learning goal / outcome</b> - Is there a a possible learning outcome that use of the app will lead to?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Using an app is not in and of itself a learning outcome. Use of the app needs to lead towards some form of learning goal. In some cases it can be easy to see what learning goals can be achieved through using the app, at other times teachers may need to think carefully what learning outcomes can be achieved through building activities which include the use of an app.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Interaction / communication</b> - Does it support interaction and communication between users?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Apps which are developed around social interaction and communication are much more likely to be able to find a useful place in the language classroom and should be easier to base tasks around as communication naturally fits with the aims of language acquisition.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Prolonged use</b> - Does the app need prolonged use to achieve a satisfactory outcome?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Many apps are designed around short daily tasks build up over a period of time to achieve an outcome. If teachers choose to use these kinds of apps they need to factor this long term approach into their timetabling.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Assessment</b> - Is the work on the app assessable by the teacher? Does the app support the delivery of teacher response and feedback?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Students need to know that teachers are evaluating, assessing and responding to their work, so apps which can support this kind of teacher intervention can be potentially very useful.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Collaboration</b> - Does the app support collaboration between users?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The ability to collaborate on projects or producing some form of tangible outcome is viewed as being a potentially significant digital literacy so apps which foster these kinds of collaborative interactions in a meaningful ways have great potential.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Context </b>- In what context would the app be useful? For whom is the app more useful?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There are a number of different contexts in which apps can be used. Some may be more appropriate for use at home by the student, or in the class by students, whereas others could be more appropriately used by teachers for their own development or the development of content for students.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Reusable</b> - Does the app have sufficient depth of purpose to support multiple activities and tasks?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Many apps have great novelty value which can be motivating for students, but novelty can soon wear off, so it is wise to weigh the amount of benefit students gain from novelty apps against their potential for extended use and the amount of time it takes to download install and register them.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Learner autonomy</b> - Can app be used independently outside of the class by the student to support some form of learning?</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Apps that can be used by students working independently may well help to foster a degree of learner autonomy if there is some in built learning outcome.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As I said, this is still a work in progress, and I did struggle with which criteria fell in to which of the categories and with the categories themselves, so all comments are welcome.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I hope you find these criteria helpful in evaluating the apps that you choose for your students.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Related links:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-video/id1025275485" target="_blank">Digital Video - A Manual for Language Teachers</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/making-lectures-and-lessons-more.html" target="_blank">Making lectures and lessons more interactive with mQlicker </a></li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/creating-interactive-video-on-ipad.html" target="_blank">Creating interactive video on the iPad</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/tools-for-learners" target="_blank">Tools for learners</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/video-communication-apps-and-mobile.html" target="_blank">Video communication apps and mobile learning</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/mix-images-and-animation-on-your-mobile.html" target="_blank">Mix Images and Animation on Your Mobile</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://nikpeachey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/peer-editing-in-digital-and-mobile.html" target="_blank">Peer editing in digital and mobile environments</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://quickshout.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/taking-notes-from-web-on-ipad.html" target="_blank">Taking notes from the web on the iPad</a></li>
</ul>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Best</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nik Peachey<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Nik Peacheyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13397596906147004693noreply@blogger.com2