Sandbox: Part 4

PROFESSOR GARFIELD is a mind blowing digital tool for comics. The teacher could use it as a wrap up activity. I can´t wait to start using them in class. Fun and easy! I only didn´t know how to give the strip a tittle, but I will find that out eventually.

GO ANIMATE also allows us to create comic strips. You can either have the information typed or recorded. The fact that it becomes a video makes it even cooler. Very easy to be used and a great wrap up activity. For this video in particular, I used infinitives for purpose.

GoAnimate.com: Lost in a desert island by cleiden

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Sandbox: Part 4

PROFESSOR GARFIELD is a mind blowing digital tool for comics. The teacher could use it as a wrap up activity. I can´t wait to start using them in class. Fun and easy! I only didn´t know how to give the strip a tittle, but I will find that out eventually.

GO ANIMATE also allows us to create comic strips. You can either have the information typed or recorded. The fact that it becomes a video makes it even cooler. Very easy to be used and a great wrap up activity. For this video in particular, I used infinitives for purpose.

GoAnimate.com: Lost in a desert island by cleiden

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Digital Story Telling 4 Kids: Play in the sandbox

                                http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalStorytelling4Kids/

I´m also participating in a session on story telling. I must say I haven´t even started and my mind is blowing already! One of our tasks is to play with some of the many tools suggested in a sandbox list and reflect on the use of such tools in class.

Digital Story Telling 4 Kids: Play in the sandbox

                                http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalStorytelling4Kids/

I´m also participating in a session on story telling. I must say I haven´t even started and my mind is blowing already! One of our tasks is to play with some of the many tools suggested in a sandbox list and reflect on the use of such tools in class.

Classdigitools: Task 2

For this task, we were supposed to reflect upon the Technology Integration Matrix provided at http://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/matrix.php and reflect on where we currently are and where we´d like to be. It was great to see where I am now, which is the active (I would dare to say "collaborative" also) adaptation level. There´s still a lot to improve, and I´m willing to reach a level in which students are able to choose a tool and work more independently to achieve an outcome. I had the opportunity to see that happen last semester, but with a few students, not all. Most of the time, I determined what tool to be used for a particular task and guided them all the way. Also, helping students use the tools more collaboratively and constructively is my goal for the next semester. I hope I can make it. There´s a long way ahead, but I´m optimistic about it.    

Classdigitools: Task 2

For this task, we were supposed to reflect upon the Technology Integration Matrix provided at http://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/matrix.php and reflect on where we currently are and where we´d like to be. It was great to see where I am now, which is the active (I would dare to say "collaborative" also) adaptation level. There´s still a lot to improve, and I´m willing to reach a level in which students are able to choose a tool and work more independently to achieve an outcome. I had the opportunity to see that happen last semester, but with a few students, not all. Most of the time, I determined what tool to be used for a particular task and guided them all the way. Also, helping students use the tools more collaboratively and constructively is my goal for the next semester. I hope I can make it. There´s a long way ahead, but I´m optimistic about it.    

Electronic Village Online: Free Professional Development

http://classdigitools.pbworks.com/w/page/44702717/Welcome

Hi everyone!!! I´m back. Still on vacation from work, but for the next five weeks, I´ll be participating in the EVO. During this time, I´ll be connecting with other EFL teachers, sharing and learning as well.I´ll be participating in two sessions: "CLASSDIGITOOLS" and "STORYTELING4KIDS". I´m super duper excited and I´ll try to keep you posted as much as possible. One of our tasks is to create an online space where we'll keep our tools, reflections and material we produce. Since I already have this space, I´ll be using it!Hope I have a lot of fun and learn a lot! By the way, I´d like to apologize for not posting this before. I´ve just realized that would have allowed  you to join the group on Day 1.

Electronic Village Online: Free Professional Development

http://classdigitools.pbworks.com/w/page/44702717/Welcome

Hi everyone!!! I´m back. Still on vacation from work, but for the next five weeks, I´ll be participating in the EVO. During this time, I´ll be connecting with other EFL teachers, sharing and learning as well.I´ll be participating in two sessions: "CLASSDIGITOOLS" and "STORYTELING4KIDS". I´m super duper excited and I´ll try to keep you posted as much as possible. One of our tasks is to create an online space where we'll keep our tools, reflections and material we produce. Since I already have this space, I´ll be using it!Hope I have a lot of fun and learn a lot! By the way, I´d like to apologize for not posting this before. I´ve just realized that would have allowed  you to join the group on Day 1.

Keep swimming ...keep swimming....

Every time I watch the animation Finding Nemo, I have fun with Dory. Especially because she reminds me of myself (I also happen to be forgetful and absent-minded), but recently, I have been experiencing her persistent optimism. There are times when teaching becomes really difficult, a struggle per say, either because we have to deal with so many different people at the same time - people who have different ways of seeing the learning of the language and I dare to say that some resist that in every way - or because all the aspects involved in this craft  demand attention, responsibilities, time, response and dedication. And I have been trying to insert my students in this world called "digital". Writing digital to be precise. And I got to tell you all that "keep swimming" is my latest motto now. I have an intermediate EFL group and since the first week, I´ve been persistently encouraging them to post material in my wiki. I assigned two activities actually, in which they were supposed to describe  a party they´ve been to and also post a link or a picture of a popular festival around the world. At first, nobody did it, which did not surprise me. I expected they wouldn´t. But after some time, little by little, (I mean "reeeeeeeeeally slowly) they started posting. Even the ones I thought would absolutely not do it at all because they didn´t care. For my surprise, they did. And Dory came to my mind. Keep swimming... keep swimming... I´m glad I persisted and I´m happy with the responses I have had so far. 

Keep swimming ...keep swimming....

Every time I watch the animation Finding Nemo, I have fun with Dory. Especially because she reminds me of myself (I also happen to be forgetful and absent-minded), but recently, I have been experiencing her persistent optimism. There are times when teaching becomes really difficult, a struggle per say, either because we have to deal with so many different people at the same time - people who have different ways of seeing the learning of the language and I dare to say that some resist that in every way - or because all the aspects involved in this craft  demand attention, responsibilities, time, response and dedication. And I have been trying to insert my students in this world called "digital". Writing digital to be precise. And I got to tell you all that "keep swimming" is my latest motto now. I have an intermediate EFL group and since the first week, I´ve been persistently encouraging them to post material in my wiki. I assigned two activities actually, in which they were supposed to describe  a party they´ve been to and also post a link or a picture of a popular festival around the world. At first, nobody did it, which did not surprise me. I expected they wouldn´t. But after some time, little by little, (I mean "reeeeeeeeeally slowly) they started posting. Even the ones I thought would absolutely not do it at all because they didn´t care. For my surprise, they did. And Dory came to my mind. Keep swimming... keep swimming... I´m glad I persisted and I´m happy with the responses I have had so far. 

Once upon a Time...

Video Segments

Students´Videos

                                        

My intermediate students are learning the Simple Past and Past continuous to tell stories.

1) Students watch two video segments;
2) Students are divided in two teams;
3) Each team will be assigned one of the stories;
4) They will decide what they will say and who in the group will say what. They have to know who the characters are, the setting and the plot;
5) Students in the group will tell the story to the other group and vice-versa.The teacher records them in audio or video.

Based on the audio/video recorded in class, the teacher will prepare for the following class, a transcription of both stories. As a WRITING TASK, students will receive each a copy of the transcriptions and with the monitoring of the teacher, they will add what they might think is missing and correct any grammar problems, such as verb tenses or word forms.

Once upon a Time...

Video Segments

Students´Videos

                                        

My intermediate students are learning the Simple Past and Past continuous to tell stories.

1) Students watch two video segments;
2) Students are divided in two teams;
3) Each team will be assigned one of the stories;
4) They will decide what they will say and who in the group will say what. They have to know who the characters are, the setting and the plot;
5) Students in the group will tell the story to the other group and vice-versa.The teacher records them in audio or video.

Based on the audio/video recorded in class, the teacher will prepare for the following class, a transcription of both stories. As a WRITING TASK, students will receive each a copy of the transcriptions and with the monitoring of the teacher, they will add what they might think is missing and correct any grammar problems, such as verb tenses or word forms.

Digital Communication: Our wiki

Our project is divided in four lessons, in which you´ll find a lesson overview, a final outcome (proposed by the teacher), resources (produced by the teacher) and the students´work. In case you want to take a look at our students´production, our wiki is http://www.tellingstoriesinclass.pbworks.com/ . Every picture is clickable. You click, and you´ll be there.When planning your lessons, you can adapt them to your students needs, but remember, young learners need to be guided, so the resources should be there, so they know what is expected from them.

Digital Communication: Our wiki

Our project is divided in four lessons, in which you´ll find a lesson overview, a final outcome (proposed by the teacher), resources (produced by the teacher) and the students´work. In case you want to take a look at our students´production, our wiki is http://www.tellingstoriesinclass.pbworks.com/ . Every picture is clickable. You click, and you´ll be there.When planning your lessons, you can adapt them to your students needs, but remember, young learners need to be guided, so the resources should be there, so they know what is expected from them.

Digital Communication: Our Final Project

Web2.0 and Young Learners

The computer went crazy again. Go figure! Anyways, these are just "some" of the tools we experimented with. There are so many more out there that you´ll be speechless. Scribd enables you to make a book with your students. Have fun.

The tool used here was Voicethread, which allows you to post a picture and record your voice to leave a coment. If you don´t want to record your voice, you can also type a comment.Take a look and leave a comment for us. We´d love to know your opinion.

Digital Communication: Our Final Project

Web2.0 and Young Learners

The computer went crazy again. Go figure! Anyways, these are just "some" of the tools we experimented with. There are so many more out there that you´ll be speechless. Scribd enables you to make a book with your students. Have fun.

The tool used here was Voicethread, which allows you to post a picture and record your voice to leave a coment. If you don´t want to record your voice, you can also type a comment.Take a look and leave a comment for us. We´d love to know your opinion.

Digital Communication: My Digital Journey

A year ago, if you asked me how I felt about the use of technology in class, I would definitely answer "I don´t know about that! It´s too complicated to deal with and time-consuming. I just can´t handle that. I have a 40-hour job and a tight schedule." When I look back and think about it, I´m flabbergasted to see how much I´ve changed, how the way I see technology in class changed. I absolutely love teaching and I don´t see myself doing anythingelse in life, but now I have something ELSE to help me get there, reach a teaching goal, reach my students.And all it took me was a little practice, time to use, explore the tools I had available and see what they could do for me. Choose from, experiment. And that´s what I did this year, while working on this project. I realize now that all I needed was a little push and  I realized it´s not that hard. We´ll never learn to do something unless we try. I was known as a digital illiterate (and there is still a long way, I know)and people might wonder why I am involved in a digital project. The thing is, I needed this little push to get started and the love for writing was what brought me this far.I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did.

Digital Journey (Cool) on Prezi

Digital Communication: My Digital Journey

A year ago, if you asked me how I felt about the use of technology in class, I would definitely answer "I don´t know about that! It´s too complicated to deal with and time-consuming. I just can´t handle that. I have a 40-hour job and a tight schedule." When I look back and think about it, I´m flabbergasted to see how much I´ve changed, how the way I see technology in class changed. I absolutely love teaching and I don´t see myself doing anythingelse in life, but now I have something ELSE to help me get there, reach a teaching goal, reach my students.And all it took me was a little practice, time to use, explore the tools I had available and see what they could do for me. Choose from, experiment. And that´s what I did this year, while working on this project. I realize now that all I needed was a little push and  I realized it´s not that hard. We´ll never learn to do something unless we try. I was known as a digital illiterate (and there is still a long way, I know)and people might wonder why I am involved in a digital project. The thing is, I needed this little push to get started and the love for writing was what brought me this far.I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did.

Digital Journey (Cool) on Prezi

Digital Communication

For this digital communication project, Dani Lyra and I expect to make our students go the extra mile in terms of writing. Besides the book, they´ll have the opportunity to create a piece of writing in which the grammar structure learned is used along with a digital tool. Each task is presented with a different tool, chosen by the teacher, according to its practicality.

Digital Communication

For this digital communication project, Dani Lyra and I expect to make our students go the extra mile in terms of writing. Besides the book, they´ll have the opportunity to create a piece of writing in which the grammar structure learned is used along with a digital tool. Each task is presented with a different tool, chosen by the teacher, according to its practicality.