CALL_IS_VSL

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Makes several kinds of puzzles--such as crosswords, word search, etc.--either from canned word lists or lists you make up yourself. The puzzle can be printed for class use, but not completed online.

SimplyBox is a great way to add some Web 2.0 to your research. This would be esp. useful with group orjects where students can then look at what each other group member has found. Use SimplyBox for Education, and get the free app (also has district or school-wide standardization for a fee). The teacher couldstart the ball rolling, and have students join in, boxing their own sites and info. Esp. good for visual learners. This age has three good help videos: Overview, Sharing, and Twittering with SimplyBox. Fairly easy to use, once you get used to it.

A nice page sponsored by the International Reading Association and National Council of Teachers of English. Though oriented to native English speakers, many of the programs and activities, e.g., critical thinking, collaboration, games & tools, tips & how-to's, are appropriate for or can be adapted to EFL/ESL. Teacher Resources can be explored by grade level, from Kindergarten through 12th grade (i.e., sr. high school).

This page by fellow Webhead Ibrahim Rustamov is an online Webquest maker. Follow the directions to complete a Webquest for your students.

Check out the list of prior blog tasks and you are sure to find something wonderful to use.

This is an excellent example of how a teacher can use blogs and podcasting to create interesting and exciting activities for language learners, in this case in tandem with learners in other countries, while practicing all the language skills.

The Social Media Classroom (we'll call it SMC) includes a free and open-source (Drupal-based) web service that provides teachers and learners with an integrated set of social media that each course can use for its own purposes-integrated forum, blog, comment, wiki, chat, social bookmarking, RSS, microblogging, widgets , and video commenting are the first set of tools." This may be an appropriate replacement for Ning. Looks interesting and is designed especially with educators in mind.

Not well organized, but packed with fun-learning sites that kids can use on their own, or that teachers might want to incorporate into class projects. Not just for summer!

Looks like it might be a nice, free place to create a media rich portfolio. Probably more oriented to high school-adult, given the professional look.

Nik Peachey's blog has 5 tasks for starters: "...anyone can download them and use them either to do teacher training or to develop their own ability to use technology."

This blog also has a download of the pdf file with the 59 tips. Very informative.

Like most items at TeacherTube, these videos are uneven in content and production values, but contain several real gems.

Learning Made Mobile issue focuses on iPod and apps 4 learning.

"Twurdy is actually based on Google, but it analyses Google results for readability, so it can help you to find more lower level texts for learners without you having to read through every result from Google to see if it's simple enough. Just type in the topic of the text you need and click on your Twurdy type. You have a choice of three different Twurdy types. The differences are mainly speed (how fast you want your results) vs complexity (how thoroughly you want the results analysed) I would recommend choosing Twurdy with Pop as this will analyse the number of word on the page, length of sentences, number of syllables per word and also the popularity of the words in the text." After finding a good text, you could create lessons with Hot Potatoes for it. Nik's blog entry also includes related links for reading, such as "Prompting reading speeds" and "Comparing Texts to aid Noticing"

"For Teachers: automated homework assignment, grading, and reporting For Parents: manage student success For Students: learning with immediate feedback in students' preferred environment, the WEB "

You can insert text here and have it read to you in a fairly good electronic voice. This might make a nice listening practice for student writers who want to hear how they sound, or for new adult readers who are just getting an idea of print to sound connections. The upgraded (paid) version of iSpeech has premium voices, but the sound quality is very good in the free version.

Not only talkes about this little tool, but mentions how useful Twitter is too.

Teachers are welcome to create new quizzes. [They then can be posted on Detwiler's site, or embedded in their own Web page.] You can base your quizzes on videos from YouTube, Blip.tv, TeacherTube, or other video hosting website. You can view, edit, or delete your quiz at any time from your Account page. Click here to see how to create a quiz.

Allows you to enter text and select every N words, articles, auxiliaries, wh- words, or choose your own to delete. Can be printed or made interactive online. No registration required. Cool.