tacho: 2006

June 23, 2006

June 22, 2006

I've but been having a hold back at TeacherTube, the novel video sharing website designed specifically for teachers. I intend this is a potentially actually useful resource. It enables teachers to upload in addition to part videos, either publicly, amongst anyone who visits the site or privately inwards 'groups'. The groups characteristic enables yous to bound who tin encounter your videos in addition to could travel actually useful if yous solely wanted to part specific videos amongst your students. You tin encounter a tutorial on how to create this past times clicking here.

What's on the site?

There are quite a few videos on at that topographic point already, but they vary inwards lineament in addition to usefulness enormously!
They are categorised in addition to yous banking concern jibe out the diverse categories or 'channels' equally they telephone yell upwards them, past times going to this page: http://www.teachertube.com/channels.php
There is a channel for World languages, which at the minute is pretty small-scale in addition to limited. There are too quite a few on technology in addition to i on professional development. These aren't aimed at ELT but to a greater extent than or less of them could travel quite useful.
My favourite category was the channel dedicated to using TeacherTube as it has quite a few informative, curt videos on how to larn the best out of the site.

What's most useful?
A couplet of the most useful videos I establish were this one on how to travel Cam Studio. Cam Studio is a useful fleck of complimentary / opened upwards origin software which allows yous to tape whatever covert drive in addition to well that occurs on your computer. This is actually useful for making whatever form of video calculator tutorials for your students. You tin respect out to a greater extent than almost Cam Studio here:
http://www.camstudio.org/ in addition to download it from hither (2.2Mb): http://sourceforge.net/projects/camstudio/

And scout the video hither to encounter how it works.

Another useful video was i showing how to brand posters using Microsoft Excel. This i could fifty-fifty travel used equally a listening delineate amongst your students. If they were viewing it 'full screen', the combination of the well in addition to the video covert movements should travel plenty for them to empathize it. It's too a adept illustration of what yous tin brand using Cam Studio.

You tin accept a hold back here:

If yous travel this or accept a hold back in addition to spot whatever useful videos for ELT, delight add together a link inwards the comments department below.

June 21, 2006

Unicef: Summit Ten Cartoons For Children’S Rights

This is a site I spotted a land dorsum in addition to was genuinely impressed by. UNICEF are creating lots of rich media to instruct their message across in addition to the whole of the site is worth exploring if y'all are looking for materials to help y'all tackle merely about to a greater extent than controversial issues.

What's on the site?

This is 1 page I works life genuinely useful. On this page y'all tin discovery 10 genuinely useful brusque video cartoons which trace the diverse rights of children. They accept depression in addition to high bandwidth versions, then fifty-fifty if y'all are on equally depression network connecter it would move possible to download the smaller videos inwards a reasonable amount of time. The videos are not verbal, then they could move used amongst lower levels too.

Here's a lesson plan
I had a quick endeavor at creating a lesson innovation for them. This should move usable amongst students who are at an intermediate or higher level.

It includes atomic number 82 inwards tasks equally good equally discussion, viewing in addition to follow upward tasks. You could genuinely role merely about bits of it fifty-fifty if y'all can't plough over your students access to the site.
You tin download it inwards pdf format from here: Lesson innovation (39k pdf)

If y'all role it, delight come upward dorsum in addition to instruct out a comment hither in addition to experience gratis to instruct out a proposition for whatsoever improvements or variations y'all tin intend of.

June 20, 2006

Tutorial: Using Videos From Youtube

Sites similar YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/) tin live on a actually rich root of authentic video as well as audio. Many of the videos are neat for the ELT classroom because they are quite short, thus they don’t direct maintain also long to download as well as at that spot is a vast collection all for free.

Sending students, specially younger ones to a site similar this tin live on real risky though. Even if you lot post them straight to the page alongside the video you lot desire them to watch, you lot never know what other links are probable to live on on the page as well as what kinds of unsuitable things they mightiness direct maintain your students to. This quick tutorial shows you lot agency to larn to a greater extent than or less this problem

The Tutorial

It shows you lot how to purpose a elementary template as well as 'Wordpad' to exercise a elementary spider web page that you lot tin embed the video into.
This doesn’t hateful that you lot need to direct maintain your ain website or spider web skills. You tin shop the spider web page on your difficult drive. The video volition yet locomote equally long equally your figurer has a alive connection to the Internet.

You tin come across an illustration from hither past times exactly clicking on this link:

Tony vs Paul

This is a funny curt video that I idea would live on actually useful for describing prepositions of movement, or fifty-fifty a fiddling flake of daily routine. Or exactly just describing what you lot come across happening. Students could either write a brief description of a curt segment or direct maintain it inwards turns to depict to each other orally.

To come across how the elementary worksheet is created, exactly spotter this Flash motion-picture exhibit tutorial:

Launch Flash tutorial (890Kb)

To endeavor creating this yourself, you lot tin download these pace past times pace instructions:

Instructions (447Kb pdf)

You’ll also need to download the html template, exactly right click the link below as well as click on ‘Save target as’ and salvage the template to your computer's desktop:

template.htm

June 19, 2006

Bbc Online Media Training

I’ve only seen that the BBC has released a lot of its ain internal staff grooming courses together with made them available gratis online at: http://www.bbctraining.com/onlineCourses.asp

What's on the site?
I’ve had a await through the courses together with they truly are good, particularly if you lot desire to survive amongst sound for podcasts or video for projects. Some of them are rattling short, thus fifty-fifty if you lot solely induce got 10 – xv mins to spare you lot tin withal teach or thus evolution from them. I looked at i on interviewing for radio:

This i has or thus truly useful sound files of interviews which you lot could truly purpose amongst your students for listening activities. There is also a collection of brusque vox pops interviews which induce got a huge attain of unlike UK of Britain together with Northern Republic of Ireland accents.

I also looked at i on the basic principles of shooting skillful video footage.

It had lots of brusque video clips amongst sound voice over together with they all had text transcriptions available. The clips were all quite short, thus they wouldn’t accept every 2d good long to download fifty-fifty if you lot induce got a ho-hum connection.

There are also quite a few on the software together with engineering side of editing the materials. All of them induce got clear ho-hum commentary together with nifty visuals. This truly is useful textile fifty-fifty for people who are basic beginners amongst this sort of technology.

A truly useful site whether you’re looking for authentic listening materials for your students, educational activity journalism or media classes or looking to develop your ain might together with agreement of video together with sound technology.

June 18, 2006

Make You Lot Ain Animated Movies

D- film is a actually useful website that has been or thus for a few years now. The site makes it really tardily to create brusque animated movies alongside colourful characters as well as cartoon way dialogue inwards bubbles. (Be careful though, some of the characters may hold out unsuitable for younger learners less mature students.)

The site is actually tardily to operate as well as you lot simply click your way through diverse screens selecting backgrounds, characters, scenarios, soundtrack as well as credits. You also type inwards your ain brusque dialogues. Then when you lot are cook a unmarried click turns the whole matter into a Flash movie.

You tin brand brusque unmarried shroud animated movies or longer ones yesteryear adding to a greater extent than scenes. You tin as well as thus electronic mail the link to your motion-picture demonstrate either to yourself or to your students etc.

How practise I create movies?

If you lot sentry this tutorial you lot tin run into simply how tardily it is to brand a film.
Tutorial movie (458k flash)
Here’s an instance of a cinema that took close two minutes to produce.
Example movie
This link takes you lot right away to the motion-picture demonstrate maker page.
Movie maker

How practise you lot operate this inwards the classroom?
You tin operate it for a position out of things:

To demonstrate linguistic communication points
Example movie
To plow over examples of social English
Example movie
To say jokes
Example movie
I in i lawsuit got my students to create their ain movies based or thus concepts (fear, happiness, boredom, etc) as well as nosotros had our ain miniature animation festival.
You could attempt setting upward a contest inwards the schoolhouse to run into who tin create the best film.

If you lot hollo back of whatever slap-up ways of using this niggling tool or you lot or your students create some squeamish films, yesteryear all agency add together a link to them inwards the comments below.

June 17, 2006

Creating Audio-Visual Monologues

Flipz TV is a actually useful slice of gratuitous software for creating entertaining audio-visual materials.

The software enables y'all to tape your ain well monologues together with lip-sync them amongst a choice of animated talking heads. It together with therefore turns them into pocket-size Flash files which tin endure run inwards a spider web browser. These tin endure lay on the Internet, run shape your reckoner desktop, or the Flash files tin fifty-fifty endure delivered to mobile phones.

Here’s an instance that I created using a Sonnet (130) yesteryear William Shakespeare. (You’ll demand to cause got the well o your reckoner turned up)

Click hither to come across an example

Use the pocket-size controls on the correct to terminal together with replay the audio.

What I similar nearly this software, apart from the novelty value, is Flipz creates quite pocket-size files. You could easily electronic mail the file to students amongst to a greater extent than or less instructions therefore they could heed at abode or inwards a self access lab. Or lay them on their telephone or mobile device. You could brand to a greater extent than or less actually useful homework tasks for them. The students could fifty-fifty download the software onto their computers at abode together with do their ain materials to direct to class.

Creating something similar this is really easy. Just click through the v steps on the interface.

The offset pace is to select the grapheme y'all desire from a possible viii talking heads (two come upwardly amongst the criterion download of the software together with y'all tin download to a greater extent than or less other viii yesteryear registering)
You together with therefore type or re-create together with glue inwards the text that y'all desire the animated caput to read.
You together with therefore either import your well file or tape your own
Then only click a push clitoris together with the software generates your well grapheme together with synchronises the spoken language to the text
You tin the either preview or complete your project. The software generates an html page amongst the talking caput embedded inwards it.

You tin scout this brusk tutorial moving-picture exhibit to come across precisely how slow it is.

Tutorial movie (Flash 523k)

Here are to a greater extent than or less ideas for combining this into your teaching.

Record brusk poems or stories for the students to heed to
Record to a greater extent than or less natural language twisters for the students to heed to together with practice
Get students to gain together with tape their ain tidings reports
Get students to tape an imaginary daily diary for i of the characters
Get students to tape imaginary problems for a work page. They tin together with therefore heed to each other’s problems together with tape to a greater extent than or less advice
You or your students could tape a vocal or import a vocal well file together with add together the words

You tin download Flipz for gratuitous from: http://www.flipz.tv/
It’s nearly 3.15Mb therefore it shouldn’t cause got to long to download, together with therefore precisely unzip the file together with install it. It exclusively runs on PC (sorry MAC users)

Click hither to come across how Flipz would await on a telephone or PDA
Flipz on phone

If y'all purpose Flipz or cause got whatsoever expert ideas for how to exploit it, yesteryear all agency post them inwards the comments below.

Best
Nik Peachey

June 16, 2006

Pronunciation Videos

This is a useful site if y'all are pedagogy pronunciation. Though it could accept precisely about fourth dimension to charge the get-go fourth dimension y'all role it.

There is a phonemic nautical chart which has pocket-sized sound clips of the phonemes along amongst video clips that demo the rima oris movements every bit the sounds are made. (Be warned, this is quite a large file)

Open pronunciation chart

You merely click on the rima oris as well as and then lookout adult man as well as listen. I’m non therefore certain how helpful seeing the rima oris is amongst precisely about of the sounds, but amongst precisely about it could survive quite helpful.

Because the nautical chart is a Flash (swf) file if y'all correct click on it, y'all tin strength out ‘zoom in’ as well as this makes the sentiment of the rima oris much larger. You tin strength out fifty-fifty create amount the whole concealment amongst precisely i clip if y'all desire to, though this looks a flake scary!

If y'all role the carte du jour at the side y'all tin strength out plough off the symbols as well as precisely direct keep the video clips, therefore y'all could role this for a phonemic dictation activity. (Students heed as well as write downwards the phoneme they here)

You could likewise role it to pronounce words piece your educatee essay to spell them out (in touchstone script)

Also if y'all click the nautical chart where it says ‘Words’ y'all volition come across a give-and-take nautical chart as well as clicking the words that are inwards blueish gives y'all a page amongst the dissimilar sounds that brand upward that word.

The page is at that topographic point to promote the software that the fellowship ‘Thrass’ is selling. I haven’t tried the software, therefore I don’t know if it is whatever good. If anyone does essay it or purchase it could y'all post service a comment to scope what y'all mean value of it?

Also delight post service ideas for activities using the costless page if y'all mean value of any.

Best

Nik

June 15, 2006

Creating An Online Classroom

The Nicenet Classroom Assistant is a actually useful tool which enables teachers to rattling rapidly in addition to merely create their ain virtual learning environment. I’ve been using this amongst diverse classes in addition to groups of teachers for the concluding seven or 8 years in addition to it has remained reliable, stable, rubber in addition to free.

Features
The VLE it creates has a issue of useful features.

A messaging business office which allows registered users to shipping personal or grouping messages to others registered on the VLE (this tin last configured to forwards messages on to e-mail addresses if the user then chooses)
A conferencing function. This acts similar a bulletin board where threaded discussions tin last created to a greater extent than or less tasks or topics.
A link sharing resources where the tutor in addition to / or users tin post in addition to part in addition to annotate links to external sites. This tin assistance to focus your students’ exercise of spider web resources.
Document publishing. This tin last used past times either tutor, to release course of report materials, or students to release their work.
The tutor has access to administrative functions that volition allow them to configure the score command they retain over these features.
The tutor tin also gear upwards in addition to schedule tasks for their students to consummate inside specified deadlines.

Why I similar it
This is a actually skillful uncomplicated in addition to complimentary solution for whatever instructor that wants to showtime exploring online or blended learning. It’s rattling rubber equally entirely registered users accept access. Users tin entirely add together text, equally it doesn’t back upwards motion-picture present formats. It enables teachers to create a forum for online communication fifty-fifty for younger learners who don’t accept access to things similar email.

Because the VLE is text only, it makes it rattling quick to motion to a greater extent than or less inside the surroundings fifty-fifty if users are accessing the site through a dial-up connection.

The features of the site are integrated then you lot tin gear upwards a chore inside the conferencing section, render the resources inside the link sharing department in addition to acquire students to submit completed piece of employment in addition to release it inside the document sharing section.

Tutorials
Here are some tutorial sheets showing you lot how to create your ain classroom in addition to manipulate the diverse features. These tutorials were developed for a workshop presentation that I delivered inwards Cordoba Argentina. This wokshop was sponsored past times the British Coucnil inwards Argentina

I promise you lot uncovering this tool equally useful equally I have. Good luck amongst your online teaching.

Nik Peachey

June 14, 2006

Exam Practice

I’ve simply been doing unopen to writing function for a actually useful site called Exam English. The site specialises inwards providing data in addition to gratis do materials for a multifariousness of English linguistic communication language exams including IELTS, TOEFL in addition to the make of Cambridge exams..

The do materials are by in addition to large Flash based in addition to are interactive. They examine a make of skills in addition to grammar, in addition to you lot expire the results at the terminate every mo good every mo the risk to review your answers. Many encompass listening skills amongst professional person lineament recordings for students to heed to.

I’ve simply written 1 for the TOEFL reading newspaper based on a text virtually Robert Capa.

You tin essay that out here

I've too written a listening newspaper based on the life of Sylvia Plath

You tin heed to that here

There is too a basic score examine which students tin purpose to run into which examine would survive appropriate for them.

You tin accept a hold off at it here

On the whole I intend this is a actually useful site amongst unopen to actually useful resources in addition to data in addition to unopen to good designed interactive activities.

June 13, 2006

Developing Screencast Tutorials

There's a real handy spider web based tool called Screencast-o-matic that I've precisely spotted. If y'all instruct to the website as well as but click on 'Create' y'all should move able to tape as well as brand movies of your on covert activity. This isn't anything novel every bit in that place are quite a few software tools that y'all tin either purchase or download to utilization this, but what's skilful nearly this tool every bit that it all plant through the spider web page as well as also allows y'all to create an employment concern human relationship as well as salve your screencasts online. This makes it much easier to portion them.

The tool is real tardily to purpose as well as it looks similar it's fifty-fifty capable of recording roughly quite complex covert activity, such every bit gaming as well as 3D virtual worlds. You tin also tape well vocalisation over. Great materials as well as all free.

June 12, 2006

Materials Blueprint For Virtual Worlds

I was late lucky plenty to hold upwards invited to give a presentation on course of pedagogy too materials pattern for Second Life at the SLanguages 2007 virtual conference (June 23rd 2007) which took house on the Edunation Island inward Second life. The conference itself was a fascinating lawsuit too the sense of presenting a conference newspaper inside a virtual globe to an audience of avatars was sure as shooting a novel too novel ane for me.

I was asked to give this presentation because I receive got been working over the in conclusion few months on designing a Business English linguistic communication course of pedagogy for Second Life. As component subdivision of putting together the presentation I came upwards amongst a listing of lessons I’ve learnt spell going through the procedure of designing the course. The listing is past times no way finalised too I’m sure it volition travel along to grow too alter equally I acquire to a greater extent than nearly developing materials for this world, but I idea I’d issue it hither for anyone who is interested inward designing their ain materials for linguistic communication teaching inward SL.

For anyone who hasn’t already visited Second Life therefore you lot tin ship away download some instructions from here too encounter how it is done (1.3Mb pdf). Be warned though. To access SL you lot demand to receive got a expert broadband connector too quite a powerful computer. See system requirements

So hither is my listing of things to think nearly if you lot are trying to pattern teaching materials for Second Life. Feel gratuitous to leave of absence comments.

Tips for linguistic communication learning materials pattern inward Second Life

1. Design exterior the classroom box too into the reckoner game box
Think nearly the kinds of mutual reckoner game genre. They are actually quite limited. The primary ones are things like

Driving or flight games (Grand Prix racing etc)
Shooter games (Kill everything inward sight etc.)
Sports type games ( Football, Golf etc.)
Strategy type games ( Zoo Tycoon, Hotel Tycoon etc.)
Sims type games (The Sims, Sims two Pets etc.)

Think nearly how these tin ship away hold upwards made collaborative too why students playing them mightiness demand to communicate. Admittedly, it’s much easier to create these types of games if you lot receive got an isle too a squad of technicians to piece of work on them for you. If you lot haven’t at that spot are yet plenty of things you lot tin ship away practice using places too objects already built inward world. If you lot acquire your students to travel to Nissan Altima Island they tin ship away choice upwards at that spot ain car, which they tin ship away either work at that spot or anywhere else to receive got a driving competition. On AOL Pointe they tin ship away acquire their ain skateboard too a collection of tricks to practice on it. There are numerous places to play but nearly whatever sport you lot tin ship away think of. Finding too learning how to work these objects too places could hold upwards a communicative business inward itself.

2. Build inward ownership of the environment
If you lot receive got your ain Island why non build a pupil surface area of some kind. Somewhere they tin ship away postal service their ain materials, pictures etc. or give them their ain room to decorate.

3. Give students command of their learning / activities
When you lot pattern learning tasks similar role-plays allow students hold upwards themselves, don’t endeavor likewise difficult to orchestrate things similar what they volition do, where they volition hold upwards or what they volition say. Good role-play is similar jazz improvisation, you lot render a construction too students improvise inside it.

4. Make learning too business goals clear to students
Sounds obvious, but when nosotros know why they are doing things nosotros oft accept it foregranted that students know. This oft isn’t the case, therefore hold upwards sure to allow your students know why you lot desire them to practice something too what you lot think they should hold upwards achieving.

5. Make sure that students acquire individualised feedback on their performance
Especially inward virtual globe activities where students are inward reality quite isolated too actually sitting at habitation on a reckoner alone, it’s real of import that they acquire some feedback on their functioning too know how they are doing. Keeping complaint cards at the prepare spell you lot are monitoring your students tin ship away hold upwards actually handy for making notes to transcend to them at the destination of the lesson.

6. Maximise pupil to pupil interaction
Now that Second life is going to receive got spoken language for everyone, at that spot is no excuse for the activities to hold upwards tutor led. Let the students piece of work together. Be sure to explore the vocalization capabilities too expect at how you lot tin ship away grouping too couplet students for vocalization chat.

7. Breakdown texts into smaller chunks too brand ‘input’ tasks collaborative.
SL isn’t a text driven surroundings too doesn’t actually lend itself to reading long texts. It’s much meliorate to split upwards your texts upwards past times giving a pocket-size chunk to each pupil on a complaint card, too therefore acquire them to reconstruct the overall important collaboratively.

8. Make the activities engaging on a mental (cognitive), personal too a cultural level
SL offers us the chance to connect people from all around the world, therefore hold upwards sure that your tasks too activities draw on that international sense too exploit the unique experiences that each pupil brings from their culture.

9. Build the materials into the immediate SL environment
SL is a wonderfully rich graphic environment. Try to brand sure your materials exploit that immediate environment. Get students doing things inward dissimilar places too moving around. Don’t but endeavor to recreate a classroom inward SL, recollect the most successful linguistic communication learning that happens goes on exterior the classroom.

10. Make tasks relevant to existent life too existent SL life
The borders betwixt existent life too SL are becoming increasingly blurred. Think nearly how virtual 3D worlds volition travel integrated into our everyday lives too the kinds of skills people volition demand to operate too communicate inward them effectively.

11. Exploit the ‘authentic’ SL world
There are lots of interesting too novel things to practice too places to travel inward SL, therefore why non exploit them too pattern activities around them? Get students to leave of absence inward groups too explore too practice reports, computer programme trips too tours for each other, convey dorsum experiences to percentage amongst other shape members.

12. Exploit the SL user interface
The SL user interface is an incredibly useful tool too has lots of features that tin ship away hold upwards used creatively. The snapshot tool tin ship away assist students to practice magazine reports amongst wonderful graphics or a photograph diary of their experiences. The painting tool tin ship away assist students to practice machinima. They tin ship away work it to practice their ain video interviews, advertisements, or tape role plays or drama productions.

13. Train learners to exploit the SL user interface / develop expert information technology literacy / study skills.
The user interface tin ship away also hold upwards used to a greater extent than or less effectively equally a study tool, to accept notes brand records or to percentage information. Make sure that you lot educate students to work it effectively, therefore that it aids rather than obstructs their study.

14. Build inward social interaction
Knowledge is socially constructed too linguistic communication is a social function. Try to pattern social fourth dimension too infinite into your course of pedagogy too your tasks.

15. Create too exploit data gaps
Make sure that you lot practice the demand to communicate inside your tasks. Creating data gap type activities is relatively slowly inward SL equally you lot receive got a lot of command nearly how too who you lot give data to.

16. Develop too exploit the students’ human relationship to their avatar
The SL avatar that represents your pupil tin ship away travel a vehicle for the seem of their personality. Think nearly how you lot tin ship away involve this human relationship betwixt pupil too avatar inward your activities.

The Slanguage 2007 conference was sponsored past times The consultants-e
Video too well transcripts of the presentations tin ship away hold upwards works life on the Edunation Island at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation/178/40/22/

If you lot are a instructor too you lot are interested inward developing linguistic communication teaching materials for Second Life or doing some linguistic communication teaching at that spot brand it comport on amongst The consultants-e as they are forthwith running seminars too preparation sessions inward SL.

June 11, 2006

Voice Inwards Mo Life

Over the end twain of weeks I've been trying out the novel phonation customer for Second Life together with despite a few remaining bugs alongside phonation groupings it seems to operate pretty well. It is sensitive to distance together with location! If y'all plow to a greater extent than or less spell someone is speaking to you, it actually does audio similar they are behind y'all etc.

It is possible to seat groups / pairs of students (avatars) into dissimilar groups then that they tin bathroom alone listen the 'person' inside their pair or grouping together with for the 'teacher' to switch betwixt groups to brain inward on how each grouping is doing. (though this is nevertheless buggy at present)

This is actually going to opened upwards up the potential for linguistic communication teaching.

How to attempt it out

If y'all desire to attempt the phonation customer out. You volition quest to download a assort 'First await Viewer'. You tin bathroom learn this from: http://secondlife.com/community/firstlook.php
It seems to run fine on both MAC together with PC.
If y'all can't learn it to work, it could live on that either your firewall or anti-virus is blocking it, then y'all may quest to depository fiscal establishment jibe your settings.
You'll equally good quest a reasonably skilful character microphone together with headset, preferably alongside USB connection.
NOTE: Not all areas inside SL are phonation enabled
To notice phonation enabled areas depository fiscal establishment jibe out this map

I promise y'all savor this together with past times all way learn out a comment to enjoin how y'all got on.

June 10, 2006

Teaching English Inwards 2Nd Life

Over the by few weeks I've been pretty busy pedagogy my start English linguistic communication students on a Business English linguistic communication class I induce got been developing for Second Life.

The experience has been pretty daunting amongst myself too the students having to come upwards to price amongst the complexities of the user interface too I induce got felt at times that my 15 years of 'real world' classroom experience too the subconscious habits too reflexes that I developed over that menstruation induce got totally deserted me.

The introduction of phonation inside SL has sure enough made a huge difference, though at that topographic point are even too then problems too bugs to survive ironed out. Though to my surprise I did notice myself drilling a grouping of advanced learners to aid them amongst their discussion stress, something I rarely practise inward the 'real' linguistic communication classroom. To my relief though, the rank out of students inward the degree seems to survive steadily increasing rather than decreasing too they appear nifty to come upwards dorsum for more.

As business office of the class I've establish it necessary to give a lot of aid amongst the user interface, especially amongst some of the complexities of manipulating the phonation customer to acquire students into pairs too groups without having to shift them across the isle too then they don't overhear each other.

I've created these videos which induce got been actually useful both for myself too my students, too then I idea I'd portion them here. I promise that anyone involved inward pedagogy inward SL finds them useful, too anyone who isn't involved gets some insight into how this tool tin survive used, peculiarly for linguistic communication learning.

This i shows how yous tin acquire students into pairs or groups, too then that they entirely postulate heed the people yous are working with. (Be careful though. This characteristic even too then seems to survive a chip buggy)
View the movie
This i shows how tin purpose the 'Active Speaker' panel too then that yous tin alter the book of the other speakers to a greater extent than or less yous or mute them.
View the movie
This i shows yous how to practise a banker's complaint carte to accept notes during the lesson.
View the movie
This i shows how to re-create notes from Second Life banker's complaint cards into a Word document (If yous desire to buy the farm on copies of your notes exterior of SL)
View the movie
This i shows yous how to portion too top banker's complaint cards to other avatars / students.
View the movie
This start i shows yous how to prepare the interface too then that yous tin psyche to sound too sentry video.
View the movie
This i shows yous how to purpose the photographic telly camera tools to accept pictures / snapshots inside Second Life.
View the movie

Hope yous relish too practise goodness from these. Please experience gratuitous to leave of absence comments.

Best Nik Peachey

June 9, 2006

Subtitling Your Video Clips

I’ve merely been looking at a actually first-class Beta site called Dot Sub

The site is an interesting adaptation of the Youtube model. People tin upload videos (up to 300Mb) together with portion them alongside express groups or with everyone.

What’s actually interesting though most Dot Sub is that it is aimed at subtitling together with translation for people with hearing problems. The video tool allows you lot to input subtitles beneath the clip. These tin either endure translations or transcriptions. Users tin also upload clips for others to interpret for them. The site isn’t express to English linguistic communication solely together with thence the translations or transcriptions for the subtitles together with celluloid clips could endure inwards whatsoever language.

This is actually a marvelous persuasion together with has bags of potential for linguistic communication instruction together with development.

Here’s a few ideas off the transcend of my head.

Upload a celluloid clip (in English) together with enquire students to interpret or transcribe it. They tin thence compare with your ain translation / transcription.
Transcribe a clip with roughly errors together with encounter if they tin location / right them.
Ask students to independently interpret a clip of a poetry form together with thence compare their dissimilar versions.
Ask students to practise their ain video clips (If students bring their ain cameras or webcams) upload them together with thence become roughly other fellow member of the course of report to transcribe it.
They could merely browse together with interpret or transcribe i of the existing videos.
Transcribe inwards what people are thinking equally opposed to what they are saying

Here’s a video produced past times the site with a really fast explanation of how it all works.

The site is costless together with registration is quite quick. So banking concern fit it out at: http://www.dotsub.com
By all agency allow me know what you lot hollo back together with postal service a comment here.

Best
Nik

June 8, 2006

Interactive Presentations

I’ve but been looking at a actually interesting on work tool called Voicethread.

What's Voicethread?
Voice thread enables users to practise online presentations using their ain images. It also allows the creator to add together good or written text to the images as well as plough over access to other people to exit good or text comments on the presentation. This is a actually squeamish means of creating presentations that tin plough over notice interact as well as practise dialogue amongst an online audience.

Here’s a distich that I’ve created. I decided that I wanted to purpose this tool for a shape of students I learn inwards Second Life. I wanted them to explore diverse islands as well as accept snapshots of what they found. They would as well as hence live on able to upload these to Voicethread as well as tape good reports, which they could as well as hence percentage amongst the shape as well as exit comments on. I idea this would live on a adept means to larn them to actually concentrate on producing a high character fine tuned finished product, equally they would know that in that location was as well as audience for these presentations.

I created these ii presentations of examples of what I wanted them to do.

Example 1 This ane is a tour of Edunation II inwards Second Life.
Example 2 This ane is a see to Vassar Island as well as you’ll encounter that a few people cause got already left comments.

How practise I purpose it?
In social club to assistance them empathise how to purpose the tool I also created this flick tutorial.

I actually intend that this is a remarkable tool. It’s been peculiarly created for educators as well as hence it has some actually squeamish features.

How tin plough over notice I purpose it amongst my students?
Here’s a few other things I intend yous could larn students to practise which would assistance to prepare their linguistic communication abilities.

Ask as well as hence to upload some images of things amongst personal significance as well as practise a form of online demonstrate as well as tell.
Get students to practise as well as enjoin a even using pictures. If they cause got access to digital cameras, yous could larn the students to operate inwards pairs or pocket-size groups to gain a even together.
Upload ii images as well as inquire students to tape what they intend is the connective betwixt the ii images
Upload images for students to describe, such equally rooms or people etc.
Upload images of people speaking as well as inquire students to add together a dialogue. They could also add together text bubbles of what they intend the people are thinking
Ask students to question a fellow member of their household unit of measurement as well as hence upload an prototype of the somebody as well as enjoin close them.
Get students to upload pictures from approximately their town as well as practise a sort of interactive tourist guide
Upload some images of graphs as well as statistics as well as encounter if students tin plough over notice depict them appropriately
Upload some images amongst wrong descriptions as well as encounter if they tin plough over notice location as well as right the errors

This page is also good worth looking at: http://voicethread.com/classroom.php
It has some user guides which yous tin plough over notice download as well as also shows yous how to laid identities for your kids hence they don’t cause got to bring out whatsoever personal information.

I promise yous detect this useful as well as practise permit me know how yous purpose it.
Best
Nik

June 7, 2006

Ms Give-And-Take Tutorial 1: Adding ‘Comments’

This is the kickoff inwards what I promise volition acquire a serial of tutorials on exploiting the pedagogy / learning potential of just about of the to a greater extent than mutual desktop applications similar MS Word. Like many people I’m a regular user of this application together with it’s belike the 1 I piece of job most, amongst the exception of my spider web browser.

Despite the amount of fourth dimension I convey spent using it, I’m oftentimes surprised to uncovering just about other useful toolbar or technique that I tin piece of job to brand life easier or my pedagogy to a greater extent than effective.

This kickoff tutorial shows how to piece of job the ‘comments’ characteristic that tin last works life on the ‘Reviewing’ toolbar.

The ‘comments’ characteristic allows yous to add together comments to the text of a document. These comments don’t look inwards the text itself, but tin last seen on covert whenever yous hover the cursor over the business office of the text that the comment refers to.

To detect out how it works, Watch a tutorial (450k Flash movie)

What I similar nearly it

This tool enables me to start a dialogue amongst my students nearly their piece of job on the actual piece of job itself, without interfering amongst the period of time of the text. I’ve tried using tracking earlier together with works life that it tin shortly acquire a existent mess, thus present I much prefer to piece of job this ‘comments’ feature.
It doesn’t add together greatly to the file size thus yous tin electronic mail documents dorsum together with forth equally yous review together with re –review them amongst your students.
It’s an ideal tool for encouraging a ‘Process writing’ approach, equally students don’t convey to re-write their compositions every fourth dimension they demand to alter it.

A few ideas for using it amongst students

You tin piece of job it to add together explanations of hard words
Students tin add together translations or explanations to words inside the text
You tin comment on students’ piece of job together with propose improvements, or ameliorate all the same they tin piece of job it to comment on each other’s work.
You tin add together questions to a text at real precise points. These could last comprehension questions that yous would similar to ask, or could last questions nearly a text they convey produced which encourage them to write to a greater extent than or add together farther item or description
You could only piece of job it for fault correction or to betoken out weaknesses inwards the text.
You could construct upwards dialogue amongst students nearly the text, past times adding questions to it or squall for students to add together questions together with and then respond etc.

None of the ideas inwards a higher house are just revolutionary together with they could all last done amongst pen together with paper. The payoff though, that I convey found, of using this method on a calculator is that students seem much to a greater extent than willing to choke dorsum together with revise piece of job if it doesn’t involve rewriting text. After all the existent procedure of writing that nosotros desire to prepare together with aid is the human activity of creation, non the physical procedure of forming letters.

If anyone else uses this characteristic inwards other ways, I’d dearest to withdraw heed nearly your ideas.

Best

Nik

June 6, 2006

Looking At There.Com

For a spell straight off I’ve been a fan of the virtual 3D globe guide on how to create machinima inward There.com

Organise a hover-boarding tournament for your students

Take a serial of pictures in addition to choke the students to create a storey some them

Really though I intend for these environments to piece of job good for linguistic communication learning you lot involve to piece of job them amongst distance learners or inside a blended learning context. Not i where students are coming together regularly confront to face.

Conclusion
On the whole I intend There.com is a fun in addition to real sociable surroundings where teens are probable to relish hanging out in addition to coming together people. There are things to practise at that spot in addition to it has the potential to survive quite accessible because the makers’ claim that it tin run on much lower spec computers without broadband. It doesn’t convey the visual comport upon in addition to programming potential that to a greater extent than complex worlds similar Second Life have, but if you lot merely desire to brand a get-go on agreement how these worlds piece of job in addition to what the potential is, earlier you lot invest serious coin inward a powerful computer, thus There.com is good worth a look.

I'd survive actually interested to listen what other people intend of There.com, specially amongst ideas to piece of job amongst students.

best

Nik

June 5, 2006

Creating A Mobile Outcry Upward Website

With the increment inward involvement inward mobile too handheld learning, I idea I’d investigate 1 of the many novel Web 2.0 type start ups that are offering gratis (at the minute at least) services for setting upwards websites too spider web based communities to live on accessed on mobile phones too other mobile devices.

The 1 I’ve started alongside is a service called Winksite. On the dwelling identify page of their website the society claims that, “Winksite makes it slow to issue mobile websites too communities that tin live on viewed worldwide on whatever phone.” So I idea I would crusade to ready my ain site equally an extension of this blog.

What’s practiced virtually it
I was genuinely quite impressed at merely how slow it is too at the number of features on offer. Once you lot get got registered, Winksite offers users the chance to ready equally many equally five websites for mobile devices. Each site tin get got a make of features that you lot tin pick out too edit from a fairly slow to role spider web based interface. Some of the possible features for your mobile website include:

Announcements
Blog entries
Journal entries
Field reports
Profile information
User surveys
Chat rooms
Forums
Feed syndication
Plus a few others

I spent virtually an lx minutes on Winksite, yesteryear which fourth dimension I had;

set upwards my mobile site
added my profile
personalised the expect of the site
created a duet of surveys
added chat too a forum
posted a weblog entry too an announcement.

Once you’ve created your site at that spot is also a tool that allows you lot to import e-mail addresses from your address majority to shipping out invitations to join, thus you lot tin quite easily acquire people onto your site too publisise it to your friends.

The sites that Winksite creates comply to all the established standards for mobile site, thus that’s swell likewise too also way that the site tin live on accessed through other mobile devices. I role an Opera browser on my Nintendo DS Lite equally a sort of wireless palmtop equally I roam unopen to the identify too garden, thus to live on able to access the site on that for me is genuinely a swell bonus.

Here’s a motion-picture present showing what my site should expect similar on a mobile phone.
Winksite demo
Here’s some other motion-picture present showing how to create your ain site
Tutorial motion-picture present 1
An this motion-picture present shows how you lot edit too modify the site
Tutorial motion-picture present 2
You tin crusade the alive site on your PC
Interact alongside the alive Winksite

The Featured books department is also interesting equally it provides a way to access books on your phone, page yesteryear page too chapter yesteryear chapter, equally they are written. This also enables you lot to interact alongside the author equally the majority is written too hash out diverse elements through the forums too surveys.

What’s non thus practiced virtually it
From the Winksite homepage you lot tin also get got a expect unopen to at the other sites that are existence created. This isn’t thus impressive, equally it seems that lots of people are interested inward finding out how this industrial plant etc, but it’s hard to abide by whatever sites that get got to a greater extent than than 1 or ii members signed up, too non many get got much content added. That isn’t a criticism of the tool though, I scream upwards it’s merely that the audience / marketplace for mobile spider web content is soundless quite novel too at that spot is manifestly huge potential here. The makers get got also tried to steer you lot towards the best content yesteryear adding an Editor's choice section, equally good equally having a regular Featured site.

Unless you lot get got a practiced contract alongside your telephone provider that gives you lot enough of spider web access included, accessing the site could live on expensive. Having said this the pages the site create are all pretty visible lamp too should charge pretty quickly, thus comparatively, this won't live on such an expensive site to access.

How to role it alongside my students
This is a hard one. If you lot get got students who come upwards to degree regularly, are they genuinely going to desire to role a στοιχείο based spider web community to interact alongside their instructor too the other students from the class? I scream upwards belike not. There is also the work that some students may good non get got phones that are capable of browsing websites.

If nonetheless you lot get got distance or online classes too thus I could meet the possible potential of using a tool similar this inward conjunction alongside other spider web based materials to back upwards students too locomote into easier for students to operate together too locomote on inward impact alongside you.
The site could live on useful for a degree project. Get the students to determine on issues that they experience are of import to them, too thus ready the site based unopen to 1 of these issues too crusade to acquire students from other classes or schools exchanging opinions too polling each other.
You could ready polls too surveys on Winksite equally a shape of activity inquiry to acquire anonymous feedback from students too create dialogue alongside them virtually some of the methods you’re using inward class.
You could acquire students to create their ain site equally a shape of learner diary.
You could ready a site to locomote on inward contact alongside the parents of your students too assist to locomote on them informed virtually what’s going on alongside their children too whatever events etc that are happening at the school. You could fifty-fifty post your homework assignments on the site thus that the parents cheque to meet that their children are doing the operate you lot laid them.
You could crusade to acquire students to collaboratively write a book/ floor from their telephone or computer. Decide on the theme outset too and thus inquire students to get got it inward turns to add together a page each. Others could interact too vote on what they would similar to hap adjacent using the survey feature.

Conclusion
If you lot desire a multi-featured στοιχείο website alongside lots of interactive features, too you lot don’t desire to pay anything for it, this is a swell identify to start. The characteristic laid is rich too varied too the interface seems to live on pretty slow to use. It’s hard to enjoin though at the minute if having a website that is accessed though a στοιχείο has whatever genuinely meaning advantages over 1 that is purely accessed through a computer. I suppose a lot depends on how much modify at that spot is inward coming months / years regarding access the spider web through mobile phones. The popularity of Apple’s novel I-phone surely points towards, this happening, but looking at the costs involved at present, it’s soundless going to live on a spell earlier this sort of access is available to many inward poorer countries.

If you lot crusade out this tool or get got tried similar 1 delight acquire out a comment.

Best

Nik

June 4, 2006

Phonology Tin Last Fun Too Free

Phonetics Focus is a actually wonderful novel costless resources produced past times Cambridge English linguistic communication Online Ltd.

Basically it is a collection of interactive multimedia Flash based games together with resources that tin hold upwards accessed through the CEO website at http://cambridgeenglishonline.com/Phonetics_Focus/

What is it?
In all in that place are almost twenty dissimilar interactive tools all accessible through the 1 page. These vary from an interactive phonemic nautical chart where users tin click on the symbols to listen the sounds together with thence prepare their cognition of the nautical chart together with the phonemic alphabet, through to to a greater extent than fun games which demand shooting the right sounds to brand a discussion inwards a ‘duck shoot’ type game.

What I liked almost it
All of the action types are pretty intuitive every bit they depict on standards similar hangman, strange 1 out, discussion searches etc together with they all convey clear instructions. Many of the games together with quizzes also convey to a greater extent than than 1 score thence this isn’t only for beginners.

Some of the actually particular features are:

‘Record together with Practice’ which is a small-scale tool that users tin download to assist them tape together with heed dorsum to what they are saying.

‘Flashcard Maker’ which helps y'all to brand your ain flashcards past times either using images from an prototype library or sketching y'all ain pictures on the program, together with adding phonemic symbols to them. You tin together with then impress them upwards for purpose inwards class.

‘Entry together with Exit’ tests thence that students tin banking concern represent their score earlier using the tools together with and then banking concern represent in 1 lawsuit again every bit ofttimes every bit they desire afterwards.

What wasn’t thence good
I can’t intend of anything much incorrect alongside this

Conclusion
I convey to enjoin that it’s rare to notice actually skilful reckoner based pronunciation materials, but to notice them for costless is a existent exception. They are actually nicely designed, operate well, charge pretty apace together with convey made actually skilful purpose of multimedia. This is a fantastic costless resources that volition hold upwards useful for teachers together with for students of whatever score or historic current too.

Be certain to check it out

Please experience costless to larn out a comment if y'all purpose these tools together with permit me know how it goes.

Best

Nik

June 3, 2006

Creating An Interactive Cloze Text

This is the instant business office inward a serial of tutorials based precisely about using discussion processors to practise interactive as well as multimedia materials.

This tutorial looks at how you lot tin exercise a discussion processor to practise a closed text - also known equally a 'gap fill'- that users tin interact amongst on their computer.

This is quite a mutual type of activity that nosotros exercise inward the classroom. The students commonly practise it inward a majority as well as thus the instructor tells them the answers. But nosotros tin practise these materials to live on used on the computer.

Here is an illustration text that I created based precisely about a Shakespeare sonnet. Click on the gaps as well as thus hitting F1 at the elevation of your keyboard. You should larn a clue to assistance you lot fill upwardly inward your gaps.

Example: Sonnet 130

At the goal you lot tin scroll downwards as well as banking concern check the answers.

Here is a brusk tutorial film showing how the interactive 'gaps' were created (Using MS Word 97)

Tutorial movie: Adding assistance text

How to exercise this amongst students
This characteristic could live on used inward a lay out of dissimilar ways. You could exercise the text to give the students:

The right answer
The offset alphabetic lineament of the missing word
A synonym
Some instructions telling them to add together to the text
A textual clue or prompt

The payoff of getting students to practise these activities on the computer, is that past times adding prompts or clues at that topographic point is some nub reason for evolution betwixt getting the respond right as well as getting it wrong, thus this isn't but a test.

Close activities similar these tin live on used for a lay out of purposes:

Students tin brain to an well file as well as fill upwardly inward the missing word
Students tin scout a video as well as consummate a description of the action
You tin delete all the prepositions as well as larn students to add together them
Delete all the verbs as well as students supervene upon them
Take out all the vocabulary words of a lexical group
Delete words at random ( every 5th, tenth discussion etc.)

Making the right gaps
Generally I retrieve it's best to accept out words where at that topographic point is some direct chances that the students volition live on able to operate out the important of the missing discussion from the context that surrounds it.

Example 1: "He went to the store as well as bought a ____ " doesn't give you lot much clue to the important of the missing word, but
Example 2:"He reached into his pocket, took out a _________ as well as lit a cigarette" gives you lot a much improve direct chances at guessing the important of the missing discussion ( Probably check or lighter)

The same tin live on truthful of grammatical words.

Example 1: " He had an functioning on his __ final year" Not much direct chances of guessing this, though you lot would know it was in all likelihood a business office of the body.
Example 2: " He had an functioning __ his leg final year" Good direct chances of guessing this. If your students know their prepositions they'll know that the missing discussion is 'on' (operate on).

Hope you lot honour this useful. The tutorial film higher upwardly was done on MS Word 97, I'm guessing that other versions of Word operate inward a similar way, but if anyone knows how you lot tin practise the same affair on other costless software similar Open Office, thus delight practise exit a comment.

For anyone interested inward using the Sonnet worksheet above, at that topographic point is also a recording of Alan Rickman reading it here on Youtube (Thanks to Jo Bertrand for the link)

Best

Nik

June 2, 2006

Teacher Preparation Videos

Over the in conclusion few weeks I’ve been exploring some of the content on Russell Stannard’s http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/ website. The videos aren’t pedagogical type classroom videos of teachers working amongst students, equally y'all mightiness at offset assume from the title, but are video tutorials which demonstrate how to usage diverse software together with websites to develop your teaching.

What’s on the site
The site is aimed at ELT teachers who are interested inward developing their applied scientific discipline skills for instruction purposes. The top dog content of the site is dissever into 3 top dog categories, which y'all tin uncovering inward the left-hand column of the homepage.

The offset is ‘General instructor grooming videos’
This contains video tutorials on how to practice some pretty useful stuff from how to usage ITunes together with download podcasts to how to practice a Blog together with PowerPoint tips. There’s a really useful serial on how to practice a Wiki together with I actually enjoyed the ones 1 PhotoShop basics ( H5N1 plan that I direct maintain tried to original a let on of times!)
The 2nd is ‘ELT instructor grooming videos’
This department is peculiarly aimed at the ELT instructor together with looks in-depth at some ELT related sites together with how best to usage them. There’s a actually useful review of some of the best ELT podcasts equally good equally a serial of videos on how to usage Podomatic to practice together with upload your ain podcast.
The concluding department is ‘Multimedia learning videos’
This contains videos that volition move peculiarly useful for anyone who wants to larn how to usage some of the major authoring programs existence used to practice e-learning materials. The top dog focus at the instant seems to move on Flash together with Director. The videos acquire from the basics of agreement the tool laid to some of the to a greater extent than demanding tasks, such equally animation.

Each 1 of the topics higher upwardly is covered past times a whole serial of equally many equally twenty brusk two infinitesimal video tutorials amongst sound narration which direct maintain y'all through the processes involved pace past times pace showing y'all just what to do.

What I liked virtually it

The tutorials are really clear together with are actually good staged.
You tin easily saltation to simply the video y'all desire to lookout adult man from the side menu
The videos are brusk together with download reasonably speedily (on my broadband connection)
They encompass a existent multifariousness of software tools together with websites
It’s free

What wasn’t together with therefore good

This is a huge collection of actually good prepared together with presented FREE grooming materials together with therefore what’s non to like?

Conclusion
This site actually represents a wealth of complimentary evolution for anyone actually interested inward improving the tech skills together with using ICT amongst or to practice materials for their students. Russell has patently pose inward hours of fourth dimension together with a huge amount of function on the site to render a actually first-class resources that I’m certain teachers around the the world tin practice goodness from. Check it out at: http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/

June 1, 2006

Exploiting 2 Computer-Based Rpgs

In this article I’d similar to expect at how nosotros could purpose 2 reckoner based RPGs (Role playing games) every bit the the world for linguistic communication development.

The 2 RPGs that I’m suggesting yous purpose are both really similar in addition to really different.

They are really similar inward that they are both simulations of everyday life scenarios in addition to involve 24-hour interval to 24-hour interval ‘survival’ type choices.
They are really unlike inward that the situations they are based around are a stark contrast betwixt life inward a rural developing acre in addition to life inward an urban developed nation.

The showtime is called Stick RPG in addition to features a minor blueish human living inward a hotel. The histrion manipulates the human in addition to makes choices for him whilst helping him to endure life inward the city. The histrion has diverse options each 24-hour interval including fining a job, studying, eating diverse foods, gambling etc.

The histrion has to keep wellness in addition to boot the bucket along his finances inward depository fiscal establishment gibe in addition to meet what he tin attain inside the cycle of the game.

You tin meet how the game is played past times watching this 'Stick' game tutorial movie
To play the game acquire to: http://www.eskimo.com/games/stickrpg/

The minute game is called Third World Farmer in addition to features a minor rural family. In this game the histrion needs to brand decisions close how to pass the yearly budget, what crops to constitute in addition to what tools or animals to invest in.

At the cease of each turn, the histrion gets a yearly study showing how successful the yr was in addition to how much coin they accept for the adjacent year.

You tin meet how the game is played past times watching this 'Third World farmer' game tutorial movie
To play the game acquire to: http://www.arcadetown.com/3rdworldfarmer/gameonline.asp

The games would live appropriate for teens or older learners alongside an intermediate+ score of English.

How to purpose these games alongside students.
Here are some suggestions for using these games inward class. You could combine all or simply some of the suggestions.

Get one-half of the cast to play 1 game in addition to the other one-half to play the other. Then inward cast acquire them to describe, compare in addition to contrast the games inward pairs.
Get the students to collect whatsoever novel words they honour patch playing the games.
Get each twain to depict their ain ‘story’ inward the game. What happened to them in addition to what was their outcome?
Get the students to compare the unlike problems their grapheme had inward the game. Which game practice they mean value was harder?
Ask them to compare strategies. What things did they practice inward the game that helped them to live to a greater extent than or less successful? How did they alter their strategy?
Ask them to charge per unit of measurement the game. How expert practice they mean value it was? Did they bask playing it? Would they recommend the game?
Develop some of the themes from the games for a cast debate.

Who practice they mean value these games are aimed at?
What did they larn from the games?
How accurately practice they depict the 2 unlike lifestyles?
Does playing a game similar this trivialise the situations?
Can reckoner games similar these educate people in addition to alter their opinions?
Do these games depict stereotypes rather than realities?
What practice they mean value the makers of these games wanted to achieve?
What other political or educational reckoner games practice they know about?

Of course of instruction yous could simply forget close all of the suggestions to a higher house in addition to acquire the students function past times play the games at dwelling in addition to meet what they larn from them.

I promise yous in addition to your students bask these games. Please experience gratuitous to function out a comment in addition to propose other games yous accept used for linguistic communication learning.

Related links:

Best

Nik

May 31, 2006

Machinima Alongside Moviestorm

I late came across a real impressive slice of software for making Machinima. It’s nevertheless inwards Beta at the moment, in addition to it’s free, in addition to thus I’ve spent a chip of fourth dimension looking at it in addition to seeing how it works.

For those of you lot who don’t know, machinima is a cast of animated cinema, which is produced inwards reckoner games or virtual worlds. In some representative the animated characters are ‘played’ past times avatars in addition to inwards others the characters are figures inside a virtual footing which are controlled past times a ‘producer’.

Moviestorm offers the 2nd of these 2 options, in addition to thus ane time you lot accept downloaded it from the Moviestorm site, you lot no longer bespeak an meshing connectedness in addition to you lot tin piece of employment lonely or amongst a grouping to create your machinima project.

The software is pretty impressive in addition to tin enable you lot to make many things. You can;

create phase sets in addition to characters,
place the characters on the set
get them to displace in addition to interact amongst each other in addition to diverse props
place cameras around the laid upwardly to celluloid the activity from unlike places
create in addition to tape a script for your characters
lip-sync the animated characters amongst the recorded dialogue
cut, edit in addition to homecoming your terminal motion painting inwards a format which tin easily move distributed on the spider web or CD.

So this is pretty much all you lot bespeak to acquire started creating machinima movies.

Here’s a demo motion painting to exhibit how to create the action
Here’s a demo motion painting to exhibit how to celluloid the action

So why make this amongst students?
The learning potential of the software is huge, fifty-fifty if you lot don’t ever acquire your students to a phase where they tin create their ain movies.

You tin acquire them to create characters in addition to alter them to exercise linguistic communication of description
You tin utilisation it to exercise a whole hit of clothing, colours in addition to textures
You tin acquire them to create a laid upwardly in addition to house things to exercise prepositions of place
You tin create your ain movies to demonstrate a whole hit of prepositions of movement, diverse tenses
You tin add together dialogue to the movies to demonstrate functional in addition to intercommunicative language

Personally I experience though that the software is ideal for projection work. You tin acquire your students working together inwards groups on their ain machinima projects. They tin correct a enshroud play in addition to a script it. Record themselves in addition to lip-sync to the animated characters, create upwardly one's hear on in addition to create their ain scenes in addition to phase sets. Even the deed of learning ho to utilisation the software would brand for an fantabulous project. There is an online forum where users of the software tin telephone substitution ideas in addition to aid each other.

You would in all probability bespeak to run the projection over the infinite of a few weeks or fifty-fifty months in addition to move certain to specify to students earlier they start how you lot intend to evaluate their piece of employment on the project. I’m certain that most students would detect this a motivating in addition to creative agency to exercise language.

What I liked virtually it

It’s free, non also hard to larn in addition to doesn’t involve whatsoever programming skill.
Once you’ve downloaded it you lot don’t bespeak an meshing connectedness to utilisation it
The tool laid upwardly is swell in addition to you lot tin brand the animated characters make a whole hit of things in addition to celluloid them from loads of unlike angles
It’s fun to utilisation in addition to larn in addition to slow plenty in addition to thus that you lot tin install the software in addition to create a brusk clip inside an hour
Any films you lot create amongst the software are your ain belongings in addition to you lot accept the correct to sell in addition to distribute them!!

What I wasn’t in addition to thus certain about

It’s a large download (almost 200Mb) in addition to thus you’ll either bespeak a adept connectedness or a lot of patience to download it.
There are expansion packs amongst to a greater extent than phase sets, props in addition to characters only you lot accept to pay for these (not that you lot actually bespeak them)
There’s no MAC version in addition to you lot bespeak a pretty adept graphics carte du jour in addition to a lot of RAM for it to run easily

On the whole I recollect this is actually ane to watch. As to a greater extent than people commencement using it in addition to the forum / user community builds upwardly I recollect this volition plough into an fantabulous resource.

If you lot desire to detect out to a greater extent than virtually Machinima accept a await at a few of these links.

Machinima.com
The abode of machinima in addition to in all probability ane of the biggest collection of machinima films in addition to links.

Machinima in addition to education
An interesting article from Futurelab on the uses in addition to benefits of including machinima inwards education

SecondLifeVideo.com
A site designed to aid machinima creators inside the virtual footing of Second life to upload in addition to portion their creations.
Here’s a widegt from their site that shows some of the arts machinima existence created inwards SL

Wikipedia
More information in addition to a Definition from Wikipedia

I promise you lot taste the software in addition to I would dearest to hear comments from anyone who gets their students working amongst it.