Week2

 Synchronous and asynchronous communication tools: Text /Audio/Video

 

(Week 2: Jan 16 - 22)

 

 

 

Moderators:  Ayat Tawel (Egypt), Helen Davies (France), Jose Antonio da Silva (Brazil), Maria Bossa (Argentina), & Marijana Smolcec (Croatia)

 

Guest presenter: Michael Coghlan

 

 

Please click on the image below to listen to a Voxopop message about this week's activities: 

 

 

Objectives

 

By the end of this week you will have:   attended mini live chat sessions in Skype and YM.  explored different tools for sending audio and video messages.  attended the live presentation on the topic of the week. commented on the presentation of the week.

 

 

Activities 

 

Task 1

• Download and install Yahoo Messenger (YM) and Skype, (concerning Skype, if you already have it, you might consider going to Skype and see what is new for the latest version) if you haven't done so yet; then,
• Create a Friend (buddy) List (YM) / Contacts (Skype) using the participants' Yahoo and Skype IDs available at our Participants page; or in our Yahoo Group Database (write your ID's in the database so you can be contacted by other participants);
• Explore these tools and their features, including voice chat, by joining any of the moderators and other participants for chats or conferences (group chats), and reflect on their potential in TEFL/TESL;  

 

Task 2 

• Join Michael Coghlan's live session of the week about "Using Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication Tools in Teaching" at YM on 18th Jan. 

         The session will be at noon GMT (Check local times in Qlock or The world clock).

Information on Live Sessions are found here.

Here's a tutorial on how to use the different features of Yahoo Messenger (YM). If you have questions, please post them to the BaW Yahoo Group.

 

• Here's a video that Michael sent us on January 17. Take a listen:

 

• Add your comments and reflections about the session here 

 

Task 3 

• Add your recording to the Voxopop thread above, sharing with us how you would use audio or video tools in teaching.

(You will be able to make links to or embed your audio/video recordings in the blog/wiki which you will create in week 3). 

 

 

Tools to explore

 

Audio tools
Podomatic	An option for podcasting that allows you to record your own voice from your mic or upload files from your computer. Podomatic podcast can be shared in many social networking websites, blogs, wikis. It also gives you an embed code to post on your website.
Podbean	A tool that allows you to make a free mp3 audio player & embed audio on any website. You can use text to speech,  a microphone, or upload mp3 files to play on the web.
Audiopal	A free web tool to record unlimited audio messages or upload mp3 files to embed in your website or blog. It's easy as no account or software is needed.
Voki	Great for creating a speaking character. You add your voice with text to speech, a microphone or uploading a mp3 file. Share online or  embed to your blog or website.
Voxopop	A good tool for creating group discussions and practice listening and speaking. It has been used for TOEFL practice. It cannot be embedded, but it can be shared in many blogging hosts and social networking websites.
VoiceThread	An excellent tool for group conversations. Vocethread allows you to upload pictures and create voice threaded discussions or conversations. Users can post voice or text comments to threads.
Vocaroo	A very easy and simple tool to record, share and embed your audio messages. No registeration is needed.
Video tools
Eyejot	An easy to use video tool that allows you to record video messages and get replies. You can also embed your messages into your website.
Winkball	Another video messaging tool that allows you to send video messages. Once a video message is created, you can get replies and have a threaded video discussion or conversation. Winkball messages can also be embedded into your website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Self-check   I have.... chatted with moderators/other participants through YM and Skype explored audio and video tools for sending messages attended the live session/listened to the recording commented on the live session

 

 

 

Suggested readings

 

• Almeida d'Eça, T. (2004). Online Communication Tools that Promote Language Learning. Polifonia.  "The paper is in English though the abstract is in Portuguese." (This article is based on my year-and-a-half experience with the Webheads in Action, an online community of practice... After referring the main features of each tool (Tapped In, Yahoo Messenger and Yahoo Groups), as well as some advantages, disadvantages and practical applications to the teaching-learning process and to online professional development, the article ends with advice and conclusions based on my practical experience with the Webheads.)

 

• Lai, Chun and Zhao, Yong (2006). Noticing and Text Based Chat, Language Learning & Technology, Vol.10, No.3, September 2006, pp. 102-120. (This study examines the capacity of text-based online chat to promote learners’ noticing of their problematic language productions and of the interactional feedback from their interlocutors.)

 

• Gonzalez, D. & Esteves, L. (2006). Enhancing Collaboration Through Chat in ESP: A Conversation Analysis. IATEFL Poland Computer SIG Journal, May 2006. (Chat rooms are ideal spaces for interaction, collaboration and negotiation of meaning, crucial aspects in language learning. However, they have not been fully exploited in language teaching. This study shows the results of a conversation analysis of 30 transcriptions of chat sessions where architecture students were carrying out collaborative group work. The researchers wanted to discover the discourse patterns and conversational strategies used by the students in this online context to study their possible repercussions in English learning. The results seem to indicate that the students were building the kind of discourse that is thought to lead to language learning.)

 

• Peachey, Nik (2012) Tech Tools for Teachers: Podcasting. (A comprehensive overview article on podcasting and how it can be used to help students develop their listening and speaking skills both inside and outside the classroom)

 

•  Vilà, A. C. (2010) Skype in the EFL Class. Humanising Language Teaching, Year 12, Issue 4, August 2010. (Skype has become a very popular tool for making calls on the web. In this article, Cristina Arnau Vilà briefly explains what Skype is, how it works, and gives some tips on ways to use it in the classroom.)