I do have some concerns about privacy with G+, but I am still trying to weigh, in my mind, the benefits vs. the costs of using a slick app like G+ vs. something we already have access to behind a password like Moodle. I am also wondering if the quality of engagement is the same, better or worse than that found in a forum like Moodle.
This article gives a brief overview about why Google+ is useful to educators, and has some links to related articles at the bottom with more information on how educators can and should be using G+ in their classrooms.
A number of you wanted to know more about Google+ and how you might use this in the classroom. This one is not language specific, but it would give you a good start?
its primary feature, "circles," allows you to nest your contacts into different
groups with Google suggesting "friends," "family," "acquaintances" and a
twitter-style "following."
This article addresses the issue of 'noise' on Twitter, which has come up often in the discussion boards about his weeks experiences. I thought you all might find it interesting!
I've read enough this about Google+ and its positive aspects to make me want to be able to use it. Just waiting for their email...
@Alyssa - thanks, since I wrote this, I got in. Now I just need time to explore.
From this blog post:
"One Twitter topic that we've addressed often is how best to maintain an archive of Tweets, whether your own or those associated with a particular hashtag. In two different posts, Mark introduced readers to what is, arguably, the best free solution for this: Martin Hawksey's TAGS, "a free Google Sheet template which lets you setup and run automated collection of search results from Twitter."
Well, now Hawksey has created a user-friendly site for this tool, complete with a help section and support forums.
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This is a script you can install on a google doc. I could spend time explaining it, but the demo is very clear. It will save you a ton of time! We use Google Forms with flubaroo to do common formative assessments in our department as well as a homework assignment to get data for flexible groupings the next day. If you have not used Google Forms before I would strongly recommend playing around with them, and then learn how to Flubaroo to save yourself some time!
Encourage students to have silent conversations using Google Docs. Choose a theme and have each student select a color for their responses. Make sure they share the document with you too, so that you can monitor and comment.
I love this idea of using google docs for interpretive activities
In order to help students better master the units we teach, remember these rules when selecting activities:They must be authentic. They should always be engaging. Activities should be varied. They need to be focused on the unit theme. Perhaps most importantly, they should force students to use the target language.
This reminds me of the assessment class I took at CARLA where I learned about the importance of using authentic materials to help boost student engagement and language learning.
f we make activities genuine, our students will be much more inclined to participate, acquiring new knowledge in the process.
Amazing blog! I really like the explanation they provide for authenticity since it is not just decoration of the classroom with the cultural aspects of the target language. I will be using some of the activities they suggest :-)
This is such a valuable resource. While it felt validating to see some of the activities that I already use on these lists, they also gave me new ideas to try for next semester. I am sure students will appreciate the variety.
I have used both Veinte Mundos and Paperboy--Wondering if I can use EdPuzzle/ Playposit, or Diigo with these-- I think that will help with greater student engagement and my ability to track what they are 'doing' with these resources-- It is not enough to assign them to watch/ read, I need to provide the activity to accompany it.
Focusing on authenticity makes students more inclined to participate. In addition, activities should be engaging, varied, focused on the unit theme and force students to use the target language. This article has suggestions for engaging activities for the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational mode. Many of these activities use technology, and the author provides links to the apps. A very useful and quick read.
Get around firewalls by using Google Translate - does this really work? Those of you who have blocked access to YouTube movies at school - let us know!
This is a YouTube video that introduces how to use Google Classroom. I sometimes like to watch video tutorials about how to use new technology because they give me a better idea about how the platform, website, tool will function for students.
If you're looking for new material on YouTube, you can follow certain people's/organizations "channels," you can create public or private "playlists" of videos to save for yourself, or you can search for existing "playlists" that others have created.
Cool!! If anyone is looking to see how a hangout could work, and you speak Spanish or Chinese, maybe try this out!
The idea is simple: I want to host a public Hangout (so anyone can join) and people may come in and practice with me any one of the three languages I speak (Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and yes English too!). I’m not counting Japanese yet because I still can’t really produce Japanese effectively.