This week we are going to explore Web 2.0 tools which combine words, images and links. They can enhance students creativity, they can help us keep all our useful sites in one online collection and can offer tools to keep our blog visually appealing. Task 1: Quizlet to enhance student vocabulary
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Task 2: Let's explore Lingro!
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Task 3: Let's explore Word Clouds! a) Explore two online tools (Wordle and Tagxedo) which help us generate word clouds. Choose the one you prefer, read the articles posted below and create a word cloud related to a topic you are going to teach next week accompanied by a simple task for your students to complete then embed it into your blog. Place the link below, as a comment to this post, accompanied by three suggestions on how this tool can be used in the EFL classroom. Wordle - a toy for generating “word clouds” from the text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your students.
Wordle projects created by other EFL teachers:
Tagxedo projects created by our EFL teachers: |
Take your time to explore the possibilities offered by these four wonderful online tools: Padlet, Pinterest, Listly and ThingLink. Choose one, create your own collection and post the link below, as a comment to this post. The link should be followed by three suggestions regarding how the tool can be used in teaching English as a foreign language.
I. Uses for Padlet in your classroom could be endless - just have a quick look at this online Padlet library. Padlet is an online space to create a collaborative, digital word walls. It allows users to create sticky notes that can include text, images, links and videos. Teachers can embed this into a classroom website or blog which makes it a go-to collaborative space for students. For primary students, teachers will probably want to create the wall with words and links for students. Older students will get the hang of it fairly quickly. A great, collaborative tool and virtual classroom space to build online references and key vocabulary for content units. Recommended readings:
Student examples: Padlet collections created by your colleagues:
II. Pinterest is another great resource for all teachers http://www.pinterest.com/erinklein/pinterest-for-teachers/. It is a pinborad-styled photo sharing website. We can create and manage theme-based collections. For example: Check these ideas for teaching English: Read 37 Ways Teachers can Use Pinterest in the Classroom Nicoleta's Pinterest Project: http://classroomblogzabriceni.weebly.com/about-us/our-photos Natalia's project: http://ratanatalia.weebly.com/asignments/infinitive-and-gerund |
Other great examples:
- http://list.ly/list/QhF-kathys-list-of-ways-to-use-video-in-the-classroom
- http://list.ly/list/6Jj-online-english-tests
IV. ThingLink is a tool for making images interactive. To use, simply upload an image, identify hot spots on specific parts of the image, and add text or web links to the image. In the classroom, teachers could use ThingLink to launch a unit by introducing students to key vocabulary or students could design interactive images as they become more familiar with vocabulary.
Student examples:
Enjoy our list of recommended readings:
- 10 Innovative Ways to Use ThingLink in the Classroom
- 73+ Interesting Ways* to Use ThingLink in the Classroom
Natalia's task: http://colericii.weebly.com/hometasks/nature
Dumitru's Listly Project: http://gruscadumitru.weebly.com/the-7th-grade/great-britain
Ecaterina's task: http://englishdepartment14.weebly.com/assignments/november-21st-2014
Veronica's task: http://cazacuveronica.weebly.com/assignments/thanksgiving-day
Emma's task: http://emmamatreniuc.weebly.com/themes-for-english-classes/continue-discussing-the-best-novels-ever
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- Browse through the ESL Glogpedia collection. Choose one Glog from the collection or create your own interactive poster and create a task for your students related to its contents. Post the Glog and the task on your blog. For example:
Dear students, write a three paragraph essay about England using the information included the Glog below. Follow the essay structure explained in the YouTube video embedded immediately after.
Dear students, please collect all the Past Simple verbs from "Alice in Wonderland" Glog and group them in regular and irregular forms.
- For more ideas, read: 40+ Ways to Innovative Teaching Using Glogester EDU
- Check the lesson plan posted on ReadWriteThink.
- YouTube tutorial on how to create your own poster on Glogster.
Irina's task: http://irinapushney.weebly.com/materials/assignment-2
Dumitru's task: http://gruscadumitru.weebly.com/the-11th-grade
Natalia's task: http://ratanatalia.weebly.com/asignments/a-famous-person
Rodica's task: http://rodicaaculov.weebly.com/for-the-9th-grade
Ludmila's task: http://raciulaludmila.wordpress.com/vocabulary-exercises/
Natalia's task: http://colericii.weebly.com/hometasks/november-23rd-2014