Parlez-Vous . . . Web 2.0?
The focus of this demonstration-style presentation will be upon web 2.0 tools for use in the foreign language classroom, specifically TerraClues, Dipity, and GoAnimate. This will not be a step-by-step tutorial, but rather example projects that have been created using each tool will be shared and additional ideas for activities and lessons will be presented. While all examples regarding these tools will be targeted specifically toward foreign language classroom applications, teachers of other disciplines may easily adapt these ideas to suit their specific subjects and grade levels. All of these sites are free, do not require any software downloads, and can be accessed from any device with internet capability. These features make them ideally suited for use by both teachers and students, and allow access anytime, anywhere.
TerraClues enables teachers, and also students, to create their own geographical scavenger hunts using Google Maps. The user writes his/her own clues to help the hunter locate various geographical locations around the world. Images and web URL’s can also be included to provide extra information about the locations. Locations can be viewed both in the map setting and also in the satellite setting, which allows hunters to see the location as it actually appears in reality. Foreign language teachers can use this tool to allow students to explore locations of historical and cultural importance related to the language being studied. Clues can be presented in English or, to make it a more authentic language-learning experience, clues can also be presented in the target language.
Dipity is a timeline creation tool wherein users can create their own timelines for events in history, entertainment, business, fine arts, science, etc. For each event that is added to a timeline, internet URL’s, video clip URL’s, and images can easily be included, which makes this a multimedia creation tool. Timelines can be viewed in their traditional format, as well as in flipbook and list formats, providing for increased user versatility. Dipity is not only a timeline generator, but also allows users to “follow” timelines created by others, much like users of Twitter can follow others’ “tweets”. In a foreign language classroom setting, students and teachers can create timelines of important cultural and historical events that can be presented either in English or in the target language. Also, teachers can access timelines made by others that may be pertinent to their lessons.
GoAnimate is an easy-to-use web tool that allows teachers and students to create their own short animated movies. Users can choose their own settings, scenery, and characters, as well as control the characters’ facial expressions, motions, and dialogue. Since the dialogue writing tool is text-to-voice, users can hear the characters say exactly what they have typed. This can be very helpful for students, since they do not always catch their writing mistakes, but may be more attuned to them when they are spoken and heard. GoAnimate encourages creativity and originality, and is an excellent tool for fostering the use of target languages in the foreign language classroom. As an exciting application for this tool, foreign language teachers can have students create their own animated movies in the target language and can host a foreign language film festival, complete with awards for best picture, best script, etc.
The ISTE NETS for students that will be addressed are creativity and innovation; communication and collaboration; critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making; digital citizenship; and technology operations and concepts. The ISTE NETS for teachers that will be addressed are facilitation and inspiration of student learning and creativity; designing and developing digital age learning experiences and assessments; modelling digital age work and learning; promoting and modeling digital citizenship and responsibility; and engaging in professional growth and leadership (ISTE NETS S & ISTE NETS T, 2011).
Our students are natives to the technologically driven world in which we live (Prensky, 2001) and, in order to successfully engage and retain their attention, we as educators should use learning formats and environments which are familiar to and natural for our students. The use of web 2.0 tools in education makes lessons and learning accessible to our students anytime, anywhere. In short, the use of web 2.0 technologies in our teaching permits our students to take their learning everywhere, whether on their smart phones, laptops, or iPads, and is “taking IT to the streets”.
Sources and Works Cited
Dipity - Find, Create, and Embed Interactive Timelines. 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2011.
<http://www.dipity.com>.
GoAnimate - Make Your Own Animated Videos. It's Easy and Fun. 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2011.
<http://www.goanimate.com>.
"ISTE | NETS Standards." ISTE | Membership, NETS Standards, Books, Journals and Professional
Development for Teachers. International Society for Technology in Education, 2011. Web.
29 Aug. 2011. <http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx>.
Prensky, Marc. “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.” On the Horizon 9.5 (2001): 1 - 6. Print.
Prensky, Marc. “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Part II: Do They Really Think Differently?” On the
Horizon 9.6 (2001): 1 - 9. Print.
Spodark, Edwina. "Technoconstructivist Methodology for Our Millennial Generation Students." FLAVA
Conference. Koger Conference Center, Richmond, VA. 13 Oct. 2006. Lecture.
TerraClues. 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2011. <www.terraclues.com>.
TerraClues enables teachers, and also students, to create their own geographical scavenger hunts using Google Maps. The user writes his/her own clues to help the hunter locate various geographical locations around the world. Images and web URL’s can also be included to provide extra information about the locations. Locations can be viewed both in the map setting and also in the satellite setting, which allows hunters to see the location as it actually appears in reality. Foreign language teachers can use this tool to allow students to explore locations of historical and cultural importance related to the language being studied. Clues can be presented in English or, to make it a more authentic language-learning experience, clues can also be presented in the target language.
Dipity is a timeline creation tool wherein users can create their own timelines for events in history, entertainment, business, fine arts, science, etc. For each event that is added to a timeline, internet URL’s, video clip URL’s, and images can easily be included, which makes this a multimedia creation tool. Timelines can be viewed in their traditional format, as well as in flipbook and list formats, providing for increased user versatility. Dipity is not only a timeline generator, but also allows users to “follow” timelines created by others, much like users of Twitter can follow others’ “tweets”. In a foreign language classroom setting, students and teachers can create timelines of important cultural and historical events that can be presented either in English or in the target language. Also, teachers can access timelines made by others that may be pertinent to their lessons.
GoAnimate is an easy-to-use web tool that allows teachers and students to create their own short animated movies. Users can choose their own settings, scenery, and characters, as well as control the characters’ facial expressions, motions, and dialogue. Since the dialogue writing tool is text-to-voice, users can hear the characters say exactly what they have typed. This can be very helpful for students, since they do not always catch their writing mistakes, but may be more attuned to them when they are spoken and heard. GoAnimate encourages creativity and originality, and is an excellent tool for fostering the use of target languages in the foreign language classroom. As an exciting application for this tool, foreign language teachers can have students create their own animated movies in the target language and can host a foreign language film festival, complete with awards for best picture, best script, etc.
The ISTE NETS for students that will be addressed are creativity and innovation; communication and collaboration; critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making; digital citizenship; and technology operations and concepts. The ISTE NETS for teachers that will be addressed are facilitation and inspiration of student learning and creativity; designing and developing digital age learning experiences and assessments; modelling digital age work and learning; promoting and modeling digital citizenship and responsibility; and engaging in professional growth and leadership (ISTE NETS S & ISTE NETS T, 2011).
Our students are natives to the technologically driven world in which we live (Prensky, 2001) and, in order to successfully engage and retain their attention, we as educators should use learning formats and environments which are familiar to and natural for our students. The use of web 2.0 tools in education makes lessons and learning accessible to our students anytime, anywhere. In short, the use of web 2.0 technologies in our teaching permits our students to take their learning everywhere, whether on their smart phones, laptops, or iPads, and is “taking IT to the streets”.
Sources and Works Cited
Dipity - Find, Create, and Embed Interactive Timelines. 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2011.
<http://www.dipity.com>.
GoAnimate - Make Your Own Animated Videos. It's Easy and Fun. 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2011.
<http://www.goanimate.com>.
"ISTE | NETS Standards." ISTE | Membership, NETS Standards, Books, Journals and Professional
Development for Teachers. International Society for Technology in Education, 2011. Web.
29 Aug. 2011. <http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx>.
Prensky, Marc. “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.” On the Horizon 9.5 (2001): 1 - 6. Print.
Prensky, Marc. “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Part II: Do They Really Think Differently?” On the
Horizon 9.6 (2001): 1 - 9. Print.
Spodark, Edwina. "Technoconstructivist Methodology for Our Millennial Generation Students." FLAVA
Conference. Koger Conference Center, Richmond, VA. 13 Oct. 2006. Lecture.
TerraClues. 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2011. <www.terraclues.com>.