Group items tagged

There is no denying the fact that the type of students we teach today are completely different from last century. Today, we need to look at some of the skills we, as teachers, need to equip ourselves with to better live up to the challenge. Among all the challenges we have in education, we need to catch students' focus and get them engaged in the learning process. Here is a list of some important digital skills that you, as a teacher, need to seriously consider if you want to pave the way for the 21st century teaching.

My favorite one is the use of infographics to visually stimulate students! I am aware of the importance of such a skill and it is the only skill that I haven't tried to acquire yet! I hope that those abe will get me there. Thanks for sharing.

This article details various ways to assess student speaking skills quickly in class; aligns with recent ACTFL conference presentations.

This blog is for English Language Teachers, but the ideas can be used for any language - I could take the same idea he gives for Scrible and use it on another language site and have students respond to the readings.  

Students are encouraged to write their own lyrics to songs of their choice, translate them into the target language, record them (audio or video), and share with the world.  This is an excellent way of incorporating 21st century skills, ISTEs, ACTFL standards, and more.  This could require collabortion, too.    This project is 'owned' by the students - teachers just guide the process.  Many examples and support available.

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.

Compiliation of cloze transcripts for foreign language commercials. Can be used for lesson plans to enhance listening skills

Commentary on "21st Century" skills.  Interesting

A foreign language assessment directory funded by the U.S.Department of Education which provides a searchable directory of over 200 assessments.  Information provided includes grade and proficiency levels, languages available, skills targeted, and publisher and developer contact information.

A free online infographic program which is easy to use to display data.  You can include illustrations, upload excel charts or use the ones provided, download the infographic you create, share and embed the finished product. Easy to use for those not skilled with excel programs with some fun extras.

The site offers step-by step video courses and training exercises on different technology skills that will help you build a web site, start a blog, and more.  I would use this for the 605 and 610 course.  

Account is free; find collaborative projects with students around the world. Has a limited number of free student epals account too.

ePals is a free web 2.0 resource that provides language classes the opportunity to connect with target language speakers around the globe. Communication can range from simple email messages to wiki and blog collaboration to multimedia presentations and even Skype video chat. Teachers can monitor all activity, for the sake of student security. A potential project would be for both groups - advanced level students in the local L2 group - to read the same story or poem and then use the ePals blog tool to share opinions (targeting writing skills) and later the Skype video chat to discuss (or perhaps debate) the text (targeting oral skills).

full day workshop at 2012 ACTFL with Barbara Lindsey, Cherice Montgomery, and Lauren Rosen.

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.

Teacher and author Larry Ferlazzo shares some great resources for creating visuals to accompany short texts.  This could be used by both teachers and students at all levels of instruction to address differentiated learning and to offer students options for demonstrating their learning.

Barbara - Thanks for sharing this blog article and the teaching tip. What a great idea for differentiation and integration of digital literacy. This provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their digital literacy skills with respect to appropriate use of images, citation, etc.

Interesting study and report

Technology tool chosen to support ACTFAL standards and 21st century skills.

Use colorful collaboration with an online canvas. Incorportates sticky notes, uploading of pictures and YouTube videos. You can create calender reminders also. By making your canvas public it can be used as an exit ticket or for class discussions. Students can use their computers, IPads or Smart phones. Great collaboration tool which students can use both in and outside the classroom