Group items tagged

"ANVILL (A National Virtual Language Lab) is a speech-based toolbox for language teachers. Like the language lab console of old, it's focused on the practice of oral/aural language, but at its core are very modern web-based audio and video tools from duber dot com and the University of Oregon: Voiceboards, LiveChat, and Quizzes and Surveys. Our newest tool, TCast, allows teachers to record and place audio or video files anywhere in a lesson--in 3 easy steps. Each of these tools really opens up the scope and sequence of lessons centered around spoken language tasks." Jeff Magoto has done a great presentation on how to use ANVILL, which is a wonderful, free, A/V tool available now internationally.

An online speed reading training tool, this site really helps you improve reading speed. Contains a very limited library for practice, but you can also highlight text in a browser and open the Eyercize tool from an icon on your browser toolbar. Should be quite useful. R. Stannard has a training video on how to use this tool /eyer/index.html>

"Drawing and recording your voice is not an easy task. What I've discovered is that once you start drawing, and your focus shifts to the image, there are few barriers to speaking. "The tool I'd like to share today is EDUCREATIONS (http://www.educreastions.com). I haven't explored it to its full potential but what I've seen so far is good enough. The free tool allows you use your mouse or your finger (ipad) to draw stick figures while you record your voice. You can also upload an image and draw and record your voice at the same time. Once finished, look at the right side below the twitter and facebook buttons for the URL and the embed code which allows you publish the recording." This tutorial shows how to sign up and use the tool, and there is an example from an EVO participant.

"Teachers who want to put web 2.0 technologies to work for them can find many different free options online. There are tools for creating online classrooms, social networks, student podcasts, web-based flashcards, elearning modules, and much more. Here are 10 free web 2.0 tools for teachers to try in the classroom this year." The first of these, Engrade, looks like it would be useful as an online assignment calendar, gradebook, IM, and progress report system.

"4Teachers.org works to help you integrate technology into your classroom by offering online tools and resources. This site helps teachers locate and create ready-to-use Web lessons, quizzes, rubrics and classroom calendars. There are also tools for student use." Loads of tools.

This great blog entry has a good description of free tools and their advantages and drawbacks. BTW, Jing is highly recommended and used by Russell Stannard.

Capture your child's voice and imagination with our creative story building tool and share them with friends and family.

Capture your child's voice and imagination with our creative story building tool and share them with friends and family.

You can set up an audio discussion board for your students. Very teacher- and student-friendly site. Great for practicing conversation online. (Formerly Chinswing.) See Russell Stannard's training video at http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/voxopop/index.html Stannard has also set up a teacher's discussion board for this tool: http://www.voxopop.com/group/8620c8e6-7839-4f55-842e-fce721d9eea2

Mailvu is a free video messaging system that looks simple and easy to use. R. Stannard's video helps you get started quickly, and he also discusses how he uses the tools with his students for language learning: you can have students send you video recordings and then comment on them, have students do interviews of each other, describe something, talk about a holiday or their weekend, etc. Mailvu also has apps for Android and iPhone.

Listen, create and share FREE geolocalized audioguides. Share your voice and make the world a more interesting place.

This might be a great tool for an extended project, e.g., have your students create an infospot audio guide to their local community. Lots of examples are linked on the front page, and there is an iPhone app to scan, listen, and record wherever you happen to be. There are currently over 1300 guides created by users, and more coming.

"A free online Talking Dictionary of English Pronunciation Just mouse over the pink words to hear them spoken " This tool also links to Google Translate to translate your entry, and you can select from dozens of languages.

A very extensive wiki with links to a huge number of Web2.0 tools, such as presentation programs, mindmapping, comics, image sharing and editing, search, etc.

Nice description of how to use this tool for education.

"Improve Reading Speed and Comprehension Spreeder.com is free online speed reading software designed to improve your reading speed and comprehension. Spreeder is a free service provided by 7-Speed-ReadingTM. If you like this site, please have a look at our powerful 7 Speed Reading Software." This looks like an amazing tool-- You can paste in your own text and it will pop up in a timer box. When you click the Speeder button it will tell you how long it took to read the passage. But no comprehension questions!

"Sites is Google's free tool to create custom websites. Similar to a wiki, you can develop the site by yourself or choose to collaborate with others on the creation and content of the pages. Then, you can decide on the level of sharing you would like to permit. You can determine who the owners are, whom you would like to give permission to edit and revise the site, and whom you would like to give permission to view the site. You can limit viewing your site to a small, private group or you can choose to publish it so that it is accessible to anyone in the world."