Conference: Arizona Computer-Assisted Language Learning Conference

Arizona Computer-Assisted Language Learning Conference

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Ed-Tech: 5 Useful Ipad Apps

(Pic from Treehouse Blog. All rights theirs.)

Back-to-school shopping season may still be months away, but instructional technology specialist Andrew Marcinek suggests that many traditional items can be replaced by purchasing an iPad for students. Initial cost will of course be much higher than purchasing materials but if you factor in the cost of materials over several years of school this will likely be the better alternative. He suggests that note-taking be done on the Notability application, and that students use Haiku Deck to help build presentations. Other recommended applications include Edmodo, ShowMe and Google Drive, which helps students archive their work. You can view the full article here.

Are there any other useful educational apps that you can recommend?

Let us know what you think! Connect with us @C_LaCross #edtech,

Sylvia Duckworth's eTools for Language Teachers blog

My Twitter friend and colleague Sylvia Duckworth, has a fantastic website of resources for teaching French as a Second Langague (also known as Français langue étrangère, or #FLE on Twitter). Her resources are especially good for primary school students, bt many of the resources are also very easily adaptable for use with secondary students. High School and Middle School teachers of FLE need not shy away from looking at her postings!

Sylvia has everything from eBooks to videos, songs, language learning games, vocabulary building activities, Smartboard files, and links to many other sites of interest. She also has a channel on YouTube worth checking for videos. Sylvia has been very generous to make these resources available gratis to everyone. Merci beaucoup, Sylvia!

A bientôt, les amis,

Don
@dr_dmd/Twitter



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Technology: How technology can help students learn

In a recent article, educators and experts share their insights and advice for integrating technology into the classroom in ways that improve student learning. According to Sylvia Martinez, president of Generation YES, "The best way to use tech in the classroom is when the technology primarily supports the process of student learning, not the product." In what ways do you use technology in the classroom? Which ways of using technology were you already familiar with and what ways were new for you?

How technology can help students learn

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Technology: Education technology terms

Education technology is diverse and constantly evolving. It has a language all its own and there are terms teachers and administrators should know. In the article linked below, writer Corey Murray shares 24 education-technology terms that should be known by all teachers and administrators. These include one-to-one learning, adaptive learning, blended learning and differentiated learning, in which technology is used to match students' individual learning styles. You can view the other terms by reading the article linked below. How many of the terms were you familiar with before reading the article? How do you use technology in your classroom? 

Education tech-talk

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News: Indonesia to expand ICT-based ecuation

During the recent International Symposium on Open, Distance and E-Learning, officials in Indonesia announced plans to use ICT-based education in schools. According to the plan, information and communication technology would be rolled out in 100,000 schools nationwide by 2014. "Indonesia is an archipelagic country with 13,000 islands, but we are optimistic that we can provide the best education to all school-age students despite any geographical obstacles," professor Taufik Hanafi said.

You can read more about these developments via the article linked below:

Indonesia to expand ICT-based ecuation
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News: Foreign language taught at a distance using Skype

Students at a Wisconsin school are using Skype to participate in a distance learning exchange with a school in Thailand. The Wisconsin students are learning about Asian culture in an accredited class taught by a teacher in Thailand, while students in Thailand learn about U.S. history. Officials recently announced that the program, which began about two years ago, would continue at least until 2015. You can read more about the program via the article linked below:

Foreign language taught at a distance using Skype

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News: More teachers experimenting with flipped instruction

The concept of flipped instruction appears to be catching on in classrooms nationwide, as more teachers say their students are benefiting from the technique. 

What is flipped instruction?

The following link will provide you with some background information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_teaching

Essentially, flipped instruction (aka reversed instruction) requires students to view online lectures outside of class while using valuable class time for group and project work which might otherwise be assigned for homework.

A recent survey on flipped instruction found that among teachers who have utilized it, most report increased student achievement. The technique, however, is not without its detractors. It has drawn criticism from some who say not all students have equal access to technology at home. There certainly still is a technology gap among students. We would love to hear your thoughts on flipped instruction! Have you used the technique? What are its pros and cons? Let's start a discussion!

(Pic from viaAcademies. All rights theirs)

Technology: 80+ Google Forms for the Classroom

Hello everyone, Claudia here,

I would like to share with you this cool article I found on "Google Forms".  The author created example forms for each of the different topics, follow the links in each of the sections to see them. He also included a link so that you can get your own copy of the form – click on the appropriate link and it should open in your docs home.    http://edte.ch/

Technology: Illinois school shows teachers new digital language labs

The Warren Township High School near Chicago recently gave a two day training session on new language instruction material on the Sony Virtuoso/Soloist software. The Sony technology helps with classroom management while also providing students an interactive way to practice speaking and listening at their own pace. The high school's two campuses have 35 language labs serving 2,700 students that cost about $300,000 to establish. You can read more about the development of this language lab via the article linked below:

Ill. school shows teachers new digital language labs

10 Great Free Google Forms Every Teacher Should Be Using

Google Forms is a great free service by Google and that has a huge potential in education. Google Forms is very easy to use and does not require any advanced technology skills to run it. It is automatically built in Google Docs meaning it is completely web-based and does not require any software download.
Follow this link to get access to 10 free forms and for information on how to use them if you are not familiar with Google Docs.

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/

Technology: Sony Digital Language Lab Technology

Chris here again. I recently came across some useful computer software which may be of interest to fellow language teachers, especially those who focus on lab work. Take a look at Sony's  Sony Virtuoso™ and Soloist® Digital Language Lab Technology.

This software incorporates a wide variety of features such as internet, audio & video, and collaborative work with course management software which may be ideally suited to your program's needs.

http://www.sansinc.com/products/teaching-benefits.php

Socrative: Smart Student Response System

Socrative is a FREE smart student response system that empowers teachers by engaging their classrooms with a series of educational exercises and games. Our apps are super simple and take seconds to login. Socrative runs on tablets, smartphones, and laptops.

Spanish: 60 herramientas para la formación apoyada en tecnologías

Guía de plataformas y recursos tecnológicos para apoyar procesos de e-learning, video learning, learning games, mobile learning y realidad aumentada, en empresas, instituciones educativas y organismos públicos; que también aborda herramientas para la creación de contenidos en cursos virtuales. Análisis de algunas herramientas de amplia difusión y soluciones innovadoras recientemente lanzadas a mercado.

http://www.americalearningmedia.com

News: Colorado district cuts language teaching positions

A Colorado district has cut the jobs of three foreign language teachers, and students instead will pay $150 per semester to learn a new language on the Aventa computer system. One of the laid-off teachers, to no avail, appealed the changes to the school board, citing the need for foreign language in the modern economy. Foreign language also helps with learning grammar, critics of the plan argue. Spanish is the only language in the high school that will continue to be taught by a teacher. You can read more about the situation in this district via the article linked below:

Colorado district cuts language teaching positions

News: Fla. HS opens new digital program-based language lab

Winter Haven High School in Florida has opened a new language lab for students learning Spanish, French or German. The students wear headphones and each student can interact with the software, the teacher or another student with whom he or she is paired. Each language teacher has 120 students, but the digital program provides individual attention by correcting students' grammar and pronunciation.

You can read more about the language lab via the article linked below

Winter Haven HS gets new language lab

Do you teach in a school that has a technology-based lab? What are your experiences with incorporating such a lab?

News: Could a Machine Spare You Hours Spent in Spanish Class?

"You might soon be able to speak a foreign language through a computer program, but there are other reasons to learn a new tongue."

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology

Technology: Yabla Online Video Immersion

Want to add some exciting content to your curriculum? Then take a look at Yabla!

Yabla Online Video Immersion features authentic content, interactive controls, integrated dictionaries, and a cloze listening game. Give your students invaluable listening practice leading to broader vocabulary, improved accent, and increased fluency.

Each teacher and each student receives his or her own unique login and can access Yabla from any Internet-connected computer. Teachers can assign videos, goals, and due dates on a class-by-class basis.

Technology News: Microsoft software makes audio translation sound just like you

Microsoft researcher Frank Soong has developed software that could have major implications on language learning and convenience for international travelers. In comparison to other software which solely translates speech, this program can take a person's voice and translate it into another language, while still making it sound like his or her own voice. You can read more about this exciting development in the article linked below:

Audio translation that sound just like you

What potential impact will such software have on traditional language learning?

News: Learn Chinese with Toy Story 3 app

Mobile application developers taken a popular Disney Pixar title to create "Learn Chinese: Toy Story 3." This app allows children to learn Mandarin from some of their favorite Toy Story characters. The lessons begin in English and gradually progress to more Mandarin as the student becomes more advanced. The app is available for $4.99. You can read more about this exciting app in the article linked below:

Learn Chinese Toy Story App