Group items tagged

ThingLink is a web tool that allows groups to comment on with text, audio, video, and to share and/or embed them. This resource has multiple applications in the FL classroom, including visual literacy, information literacy, enhancing communication and collaborative skills. One example activity: upload a map and have students describe various locations on map orally, in video, or text, and then have them comment on/expand upon each others' posts.

This website contains ideas and resources not only for mind-mapping but also creating classroom activities and games.

A list of websites for mind-mapping

HistoryPin is a free Web 2.0 tool that allows users to "pin" photos, audio, or video to a particular world map location, much like the Google Earth program. The main idea is that, with enough participation, users will be able to get a sense of the history a location - both the visual and narrative aspects of it - as photos or videos from various time periods are pinned to that location. I can envision my students using it in partnership with another class of L1 students to share the concept of how people and places can change. For instance, both groups might focus on how a major city in their own country has changed, in order to demonstrate that to the other class via HistoryPin. Students would collect and upload photos or videos that show how the respective cities grew, how building or even fashion styles changed. They would use the HistoryPin audio option to describe the changes, my L2 students in Spanish, the L1 students in English. Once the L2 learners had "pinned" their photos on the map, L1 students could review and e-mail corrections so that L2 students could return to HistoryPin and edit their contribution. My students would do the same in return in English for the L1 students (assuming they are learning English, possibly). In this way, through collaboration, all students can gain a new perspective on how people and places look and change in another culture, while honing "technical" language skills.

This article provides a definition of mind-mapping as well as some great examples of how to use mind-mapping tools in the foreign language classroom.

A "hot/cold" interactive map game to find major cities in France. In French with audio and visual clues

Today's Front Pages is a dynamic feature of the Newseum website, providing pdf versions and links to prominent newspapers around the US and around the world. To access today's news in another country and in another language, view the collection via the "Map"view which allows you to choose the region of the world you want to explore. As an activity for world language students, have them research a current event that appears on the front pages of several international papers, in English and in the target language. Use this activity to not only learn about current news and culture, but to explore how a singular event is reported differently by different newspapers.

Through a special agreement with more than 800 newspapers worldwide, the Newseum displays  front pages each day on its website. The front pages are in their original, unedited form.  I could see this being used to compare how different countries report news stories, especially international ones.  No papers from France, yet.  

Allows students to create concept maps to help organize information and material.

This site has many great pictures and information about sites all over the world.  The Education tab gives you lesson plans as well for some of the sites.  Click on 'find a location', and you are brought to several possible areas around the world.  Additional information is available by clicking on the arrows along side the pictures.  

Enjoy these nice examples to engage the attention of our students while working on the retention. To share with our colleagues

This video introduces apps that help people communicate with others and learn language through pictures.