Podcasting: Taking advantage of listening media for ELLs

What is podcasting?
Podcasting, like screencasting, can be extremely useful for your blended learning classroom. They are relatively easy to make, fun to work with, and best of all they are portable for our 21st Century on-the-go learner! The main difference is that a podcast, unlike a screen cast, is purely vocal. There is not video or images included with the instruction. However this isn't a disadvantage as it can easily be used to supplement textbook or web-based learning. Especially in the area of listening practice in the case of ELL students.

How do I make it?
When making a podcast it is best to keep them short and to the point, most people recommend keeping it under 10 minutes if at all possible. This way your students wont grow bored. A vodcast tends to be a little more in depth and longer and usually cover more complicated subjects.

In order to create a podcast you will need a program similar to Audacity. It's pretty simple to use and you can save your files as MP3 or MP4s for easy storage on computers, jump-drives, iPads/iPods, or any other technology that you can upload it to and listen. Since it is easier to show than do, I created a very short Photostory presentation of how to get started with Podcasting using one of the Tennessee ELL education standards for listening and speaking
:

The music in the background is by Lindsey Stirling, it is called Elements.

I know this guide wasn't the most thorough but I truly believe that technology = hands on! The best way to learn is by doing so what are you waiting for? Get out there and start playing around with technology, that's what its there for!

>.<

Building Blocks: Making a website for your classroom

If your anything like me then you really have no idea how to make your own website, all that coding and computer language? Haven't the foggiest! For me, as long as the computer turns on does what it's told then we are the best of friends! If this is the case then both you and I are supremely grateful for tools like website builders!

So what is a website builder? Well it's a place where you can find tools to help you create your own website to use in the classroom (or for your own personal use, but well focus on the class here). Basically website builders give you the framework to build upon. They usually come with themes to select from (similar to a blog) and multiple blank pages that you can label and fill to your hearts content. Some are for free and others are not, however there are some advantages to a 'paid for' site such as not having to deal with potentially non-kid friendly advertisements to making your website 'invite only' to limit inappropriate or unnecessary comments. 

Why do I need a website?
For one thing it makes it so much easier to keep in contact with your students and their parents, you can post announcements, email students/parents, homework reminders, wiki links, resource pages, links to your LMS (Moodle for me), downloadable handouts/videos/images, just about everything you could put up anywhere else you can conglomerate onto your webpage for quick and easy access that can be updated daily or only as needed. 

 How can I use it in my class?
All the above hasn't convined you just yet? Alright, how about this:

• You can assign each of your students his/her own page where they can upload papers they have written for peer review and submission.
• They can download their homework assignments and complete/submit them online, this cuts back on paper costs.
• You can send out a daily Class Newspaper to the students parents/families so they know what is going on in the class/school.
• Post your class and office times (this is great for special area teachers and ELL teachers as we don't always run on the same schedule as everyone else). 
• Post screencasts and other videos for your students to watch from home.
• Gives students a place to upload their works, written or otherwise, and share their ideas.

So, here are two short reviews on two different websites that provide website builders especially for teachers:

Teacher Web
Free trial: Yes, but you must enter your school information first.
Cost: $39 a year but discounts are available for schools who want to pay for multiple accounts.
Ease of use: Very easy, it provided everything you need to get started.
Tutorials: Yes.
Templates: Yes, literally hundreds of options are available!
Additional development features: 
Includes features such as calendars, homework pages, online quizzes.
Is Grade Book compatible.
WebQuest, widgets/video uploads, document share
Class supply/wish list
Announcements, and will even give you a teachers blog (if you don't already have one). 

Weebly
Free trial: Yes, any one can use it! 
Cost: Free! 
Ease of use: Very easy, it provided everything you need to get started. 
Tutorials: Yes, includes hundreds of themes. 
Templates: Yes, there are many to choose from. 
Additional development features:
Uses 'drop and drag', you can literally drop and drag images and text in order to create your webpages. 
Has an iPhone App, you can access your site from anywhere and at anytime.
Much like a blog it offers traffic stats so you can see who it doing what from where.
Allows you to make and receive emails directly from your moderator pages. 

Having your own class website can be a great benefit to you, your students, and their families. By providing a one stop place for all of their education needs!

Ready, Set, Action! Screencasts in the ELL Classroom.

What is a Screencast?
A screencast is basically a recording of whatever you are currently displaying on your computers desktop screen (so make sure your background is kid-friendly). You can make video tutorials such as how to find a certain file on your Moodle (or other LMS) or how to open up a Dropbox account or any other file or program. It's especially useful if you plan on using blended learning or to Flip your classroom since you will be able to use screencasting to record lectures or give students examples of how to solve problems.

What does it take, how do I make one?
In order to get started with screencasting you will need to download a screencasting program, you can download free trails for many of them and the prices after that are generally within a reasonable range. The one currently used by many educators is Camtasia Studio. It is both Mac and Window friendly so you shouldn't run into any issues there and it is relatively easy to use. You will need your computer (of course) and a good microphone (built in or external) for recording audio. Camtasia will record everything you do on your desktop and will also allow you to record audio, edit, and then upload your video. When your first download Camtasia it will give you a brief introduction to the product. At first it looks scary!
 But it is much easier to use than it looks. Some of the features include being able to pan and zoom on areas that you really want your students to pay attention to. After you have made your video there are lots of editing features where you can add animation or special effects. Then you simply choose to render your video.

Here is a short video I made as an example using the free trail, it only took me about 5 minutes to figure out the basics of everything:

The Hiragana chart I used in this video came from YesJapan! I use their website and book series to teach my daughter Japanese.

Where do I upload it?
When you use Camtasia it automatically gives you an option to upload to Youtube if that is what you are using otherwise you can save it as an MP4 for uploading onto your computer, iPad/iPod, or to put on a jump-drive for students to carry home with them to view later. You can also upload unto it your LMS or Wiki.

How do I use these in the classroom?
If you have read  any of my previous articles you will find numerious examples of how technology can (and should) be incorporated into the ELL classroom. For teachers of ELL students screencasting gives us an opportunity to create useful video's to illustrate grammar points, conjugations, listening practice, speaking practice (by having student repeat recordings for pronunciation and word familiarity).

Listening Accomplishments Grades 1 - 2 

L.1-2.4 Identify main points from spoken language (with and without visual support).

L.1-2.5Identify details from spoken language (with and without visual support).

Speaking Accomplishments Grades 1 -2 

S.1-2.8 Use logically connected language and discuss implied meanings.

S.1-2.9 Choose appropriate evidence, proofs or examples to support claims.
S.1-2.10 Express and defend a point of view using appropriate language and detail.
S.1-2.11 Use language to clarify, organize, agree and disagree

By creating a screencast about a curriculum topic, you can have your younger ELL students watch and listen. You can then make sure that they understood the materials by having a Q&A session with their peers and with you, the teacher. In this way you can evaluate both their listening and their speaking as well as checking that they understood the content and are ready to move on. 

Listening Accomplishments Grades 3 -12

L.6.1 Draw inferences, conclusions, predictions, generalizations (related to plot,character, setting, topic). 

Speaking Accomplishments Grades 3 -12

S.3 Provide detailed information on a relevant topic in a conversation.

S.4 Argue in favor of or against a particular relevant topic. 

Your older students might enjoy being able to make their own screencasts as parts of projects that they are interested in. You could easily assign students to write a script for a small historical play or perhaps create a news program where they might highlight events in the school and local community. You could give them some in class time to record and edit, a different group for each week for time, and then have them present it to the class. You could always invite some of their content teachers and the Principle to view their screencasts. 

I personally think that blended learning/flipped classrooms and the use of screecasts can be a wonderfully effective way to teach a class if properly managed. Students will not only be motivated by the idea of watching video's and interacting online but they will also appreciate having the teacher focus more on making sure they understood the materials and being able to take time answering questions during class rather than having the teacher simply standing in front of the class and 'telling' them what they need to know versus 'teaching' them what they should know.