carlatech

First paragraph: As 21st-century teachers, we are expected to help students master the technological tools they will use in college and the workplace. But in many districts, the one-computer classroom is not extinct. So how can we do a lot with a little? How can we best use limited resources to support learning and familiarize students with technology?" Here are some tips!

This is a collection from Joe Dale.  He writes:  "Somewhere to store ideas on useful iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad apps for language learners and teachers."

A collection of all sorts of things here - from tech gadgets to apps for iPod Touch, to podcasts for mostly Fr, Sp, Gr, Jpn - but many will be applicable to all languages.  It would take you a long time to look at everything that's here!

Google makes it easy to build and grade quizzes using Google Forms and an add-on script called Flubaroo. Flubaroo will also graph your scores for easy analysis, itemize questions, and email students with their scores.

For those of you testing out WallWisher - these aren't language specific, but if you think about content through language, some fun ideas!

Glenn Cake's site filled with tools to check out from the LARC presentation Aug. 10

Over at Mindshift Tina Barseghian shares why we should integrate Facebook into the classroom for obvious reasons like it's fun, free, and students are already using it.

Facebook is blocked at my school, and an educator there (not me, thank heavens) just had their (sorry about this pronoun) FB page hacked w/a very graphic sex video seen by all the kids and parents who were person's friend, but nonetheless there are reasons to use it with students.

A list of 26 free and easy tools that are good for education - from the edublogs people.

Directions for using Posterous - lots of possibilities where you can have students post things by attaching and sending to an email, and it collects them all so all can see/hear.

A short presentation about Voxopop

Abstract: Since their emergence in 2005, Web 2.0 technologies have been advanced as potentially transformative in the area of education in general and foreign language learning in particular. Web 2.0 technologies are presenting new opportunities for developing diverse online learning environments and enhancing interactivity, participation and feedback between students, their peer groups and teachers. This article examines one of the most significant Web 2.0 tools, Social Networking Sites (SNS), and focuses on Livemocha, an example of an online community specifically aimed at encouraging collaboration between foreign language learners. Results from the ethnographic approach adopted in the paper indicate that: (a) SNSs can be used by language learners to explore new relationships rather than merely maintain existing ones and that (b) longitudinal studies are required to achieve a better understanding of the complex processes of mediation involved in online community formation and maintenance

Funny! I also found this article last week and even attached it to last week's blog post in the ning. I've noticed this morning, that reading and commenting on it is also one of this week's assignments. I guess I chose well :)

Hmmm, what do you think of this ban?

It seems like the legislators have not been advised of the many positive attributes of a social networking site in the classroom. At the same time, they are probably acting out of fear and intense need to decrease liability. Unfortunately, as the article also states, such legislation probably won't stop inappropriate communications from happening. If a teacher and student decide to cross that line, they will, undoubtedly, find other ways of communicating.

The importance of focusing on "Why technology should be used?" instead of only "How to use technology?" is emphasized - indeed an important aspect teachers should not overlook.

I agree that we need to really access why we want to use technology. Is it really the best option all of the time? I love the checklist of questions one should ask him/herself before deciding to use the technology. I, especially, thought the question "Will students control the technology?. Sometimes, I need to remember that spending hours creating a great powerpoint presentation isn't as great as finding a way for students to engage in an interaction rather than passively listen to a lecture.

Are you a 'learner'? Are your colleagues 'learners'? Do you promote a 'learning culture'? Six suggestions to cultivating a learning environment to reflect upon.

Published in t.h.e. Journal. One state's decision on the Facebook teacher-student friend debate.