Voicethread, Spiderscribe, Padlet
Fi.na.lly!!!!
I've been dying to write about these three web 2.0 tools. Truth be told, I started the blog for them. They've been my constant companions these last 5 or 6 years. I confess I've spent more time with them than with Ramakanth (the husband).
These web 2.0 tools were also huge hits in every workshop I conducted. Most teachers went on to use them quite successfully in their classrooms. (In fact, you can access most teacher accounts on these tools with combinations of kshemamadam or kshemaeflu as passwords. Just kidding :))
Joking aside, there's a large amount of research conducted in the use of these three tools in the ESL classroom.
Do you need more reasons? I could honestly go on. By the way, did I mention that these tools are free?
Fi.na.lly!!!!
I've been dying to write about these three web 2.0 tools. Truth be told, I started the blog for them. They've been my constant companions these last 5 or 6 years. I confess I've spent more time with them than with Ramakanth (the husband).
These web 2.0 tools were also huge hits in every workshop I conducted. Most teachers went on to use them quite successfully in their classrooms. (In fact, you can access most teacher accounts on these tools with combinations of kshemamadam or kshemaeflu as passwords. Just kidding :))
Joking aside, there's a large amount of research conducted in the use of these three tools in the ESL classroom.
Do you need more reasons? I could honestly go on. By the way, did I mention that these tools are free?
A quick recap: The advantage of web 2.0 tools is that they make communication collaboration, critical thinking and creativity (4Cs) more possible in a learning setting. Read this post for details.
Let's get down to using these tools.
But, before that a word of caution: All, or most web 2.0 tools ask you to "register" or "create an account" before you can use them. (Just like Facebook does.) When you create an account you'll be asked for an email and a password. Take a look at the screenshot of the page for opening an account to use Voicethread.
Screenshot of register page of Voicethread
Please enter your email id, but DO NOT enter the password of your email account here. What they want is a password you'll use to open the voicethread account once you create it. So, please do not share the password of your email account here.
Let's get down to using these tools.
But, before that a word of caution: All, or most web 2.0 tools ask you to "register" or "create an account" before you can use them. (Just like Facebook does.) When you create an account you'll be asked for an email and a password. Take a look at the screenshot of the page for opening an account to use Voicethread.
Screenshot of register page of Voicethread
Please enter your email id, but DO NOT enter the password of your email account here. What they want is a password you'll use to open the voicethread account once you create it. So, please do not share the password of your email account here.
Voicethread: Would you like to look at an example first? Here's a voicethread to develop speaking skills. Here's another one to teach giving directions. (You might have to register before you can view them.)
Okay, here goes.
A Voicethread is a free web 2.0 tool that allows you to create tasks to teach, practice or test all the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing.
First upload your material to the slide. Then type or speak your instructions.
Once a task is created, you can share the Voicethread with your students. Students can post their responses in spoken or written format.
Here's another sample Voicethread to teach direct speech to young children. On the first slide I uploaded a picture from my computer. Then I spoke a few sentences as an introduction. On the second slide I uploaded the story as a Word document. I gave instructions in both spoken and written formats. The last three slides are created for three groups of students who will record their responses on the corresponding page.
If you want more information on Voicethread, please Google. The web has loads of resources, or visit guidelines to create a Voicethread.
Here are some sample ideas for using the Voicethread web 2.0 tool in the ESL classroom.
I have also used this tool to make my students create multimedia assignments and to hold group discussions.
Okay, here goes.
A Voicethread is a free web 2.0 tool that allows you to create tasks to teach, practice or test all the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing.
First upload your material to the slide. Then type or speak your instructions.
Once a task is created, you can share the Voicethread with your students. Students can post their responses in spoken or written format.
Here's another sample Voicethread to teach direct speech to young children. On the first slide I uploaded a picture from my computer. Then I spoke a few sentences as an introduction. On the second slide I uploaded the story as a Word document. I gave instructions in both spoken and written formats. The last three slides are created for three groups of students who will record their responses on the corresponding page.
If you want more information on Voicethread, please Google. The web has loads of resources, or visit guidelines to create a Voicethread.
Here are some sample ideas for using the Voicethread web 2.0 tool in the ESL classroom.
I have also used this tool to make my students create multimedia assignments and to hold group discussions.
Spiderscribe: Mind mapping or drawing web diagrams or spider graphs has always been every teacher's favourite activity for brainstorming, teaching reading comprehension or as a pre-writing exercise.
A mind map created by Dr Arul Nehru, my PhD student using a digital tool called imindmap (extracted from his thesis)
Now, instead of gathering information from your students and putting it up on the blackboard, what if you and your students can create a mind map together? A colourful one? One where you can easily make connection among different points? Where you can justify your view with additional images or texts or videos? Spiderscribe allows you to do all these.
Now, instead of gathering information from your students and putting it up on the blackboard, what if you and your students can create a mind map together? A colourful one? One where you can easily make connection among different points? Where you can justify your view with additional images or texts or videos? Spiderscribe allows you to do all these.
A warning: You might be asked to download flash. Please do. Click on Get Flash.
Or your system might prompt you to run flash - Allow or Block. Please choose Allow.
Okay, let's get back to the tool. As a teacher, you can create one bubble that is the central concept. Take a look at a spider graph I created for my students to discuss 'how can use of technology enhance classroom teaching'. The bubble in the middle in red is what I wrote. After that I shared it with a batch of postgraduate students. Eight students in the batch drew eight branches and added their ideas. As a second step, I asked each student to respond to a peer's idea. And after this, I added a language trainer from the corporate sector who commented on each student's response.
Given below is a screenshot of another Spiderscribe created to teach students use of Wh-words. Each student is asked to draw a branch and write a sentence using a specific Wh-word.
My digital native students find Spiderscribe too ancient. So, here are newer alternatives and these don't require flash
Honestly, there a 100 more!
Now to the last web 2.0 tool in this post. (Which means I'll talk about more tools later :)
Padlet: Aren’t we all familiar with post-its? Some of us call it sticky notes. Usually yellow in colour, they now appear as digital versions on our computers too.
Sticky notes or post its Image credits
Now, imagine a digital whiteboard or a notice board where every student can post a sticky note? That’s Padlet.
Take a look at an example. I created this for my students to share their opinion on 'why do we need to teach digital literacy in the ESL classroom.' Each student was also asked to share a related web resource and explain its relevance to the topic. Four batches of students (from 2015 to 2019) have contributed to it already. Look at the wealth of resources I have!
This Padlet works like an inside-classroom library for us now. The fourth batch consulted these resources to make their presentations and write their opinion papers. Imagine the time we saved! That's the beauty of web 2.0 tools.
Padlet can be used not only for students to share their ideas and resources they find, but also to post their responses to a question. Here's an example.
A final recap on how the 4 Cs are delivered through these tools:
Before I wind up, I'd like to share this resource of web 2.0 tools from Nik Peachey.
A handsome chap, Nik Peachey, he's worth an entire post, not just for his earring that I fell in love with. (I was a young girl then, around 40 I think, when I met him and was too shy to ask for a picture :))
But seriously, he does a lot of amazing stuff with digital tools. And, more importantly, he writes about them. Download the free resource from the link I shared above. The book lists 11 web 2.0 tools and explains how to use them in the classroom.
This, we like. Right? A big shout-out to Nik Peachey.
Padlet: Aren’t we all familiar with post-its? Some of us call it sticky notes. Usually yellow in colour, they now appear as digital versions on our computers too.
Now, imagine a digital whiteboard or a notice board where every student can post a sticky note? That’s Padlet.
Take a look at an example. I created this for my students to share their opinion on 'why do we need to teach digital literacy in the ESL classroom.' Each student was also asked to share a related web resource and explain its relevance to the topic. Four batches of students (from 2015 to 2019) have contributed to it already. Look at the wealth of resources I have!
This Padlet works like an inside-classroom library for us now. The fourth batch consulted these resources to make their presentations and write their opinion papers. Imagine the time we saved! That's the beauty of web 2.0 tools.
Padlet can be used not only for students to share their ideas and resources they find, but also to post their responses to a question. Here's an example.
A final recap on how the 4 Cs are delivered through these tools:
- Communication - all three tools allow students to communicate with each other
- Collaboration - all three tools allow collaboration with a larger community of users
- Critical thinking - is facilitated when we open up discussion with a large community and make available multimodal resources
- Creativity - these tools 'tickle' students to come up with new ideas by giving them multiple options to write/doodle/ share an image or video/ speak, etc.
Before I wind up, I'd like to share this resource of web 2.0 tools from Nik Peachey.
A handsome chap, Nik Peachey, he's worth an entire post, not just for his earring that I fell in love with. (I was a young girl then, around 40 I think, when I met him and was too shy to ask for a picture :))
But seriously, he does a lot of amazing stuff with digital tools. And, more importantly, he writes about them. Download the free resource from the link I shared above. The book lists 11 web 2.0 tools and explains how to use them in the classroom.
This, we like. Right? A big shout-out to Nik Peachey.
3 comments:
Do let me know if you have a specific web tool you'd like me to talk about next.
Greetings of the day madam!!You have slayed me off!! I swear!! Awesome,thank you very much for a detailed explanation how to explore further and create a new world using ICT.Its useful not just for teachers like me but also for many who wish to be creative.
This pandemic brings me to your blog and your class in 2018, they are very useful, there are a lot of tools that I can use to teach my students. I really miss your class ma’am🥰
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