Learning Together

WorksheetWorks.com - Oh yes!

2012-02-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a month already since my last post so I thought it was about time for a new one. I've been really busy with my MA work so that's why. Anyways, I came across WorksheetWorks.com and I think it's really good. Of course, I suggest that before printing any worksheets you do check for the accuracy of the information in it as the info is in there already and all you have to do is tick boxes choosing what you need. I check a few and they were fine but don't take things for granted!

I relaly like the fact that it's free and that it's not only for English but for maths and other subjects too so really good stuff!

Bye for now and enjoy this site!

Here's a link: worksheetworks.com

New year more studying!

2012-01-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everybody! I've been away for a few weeks but now I'm back. This time I'm not blogging about web applications, but about Sheffield Hallam University. I'm finishing my MA in TESOL with them and so I just wanted to also take advantage of this blog to talk a little about my very positive experience with them.

I'm in the final module of the MA, the dissertation module and so I'm busy reading and researching for my thesis. This is a distance learning program so the online web-based content is present - and thinking of this, it's not a totally irrelevant entry in my blog anyway! I'm really enjoying this module as the support given asynchronously is very good. We're using Blackboard for the online interaction and discussion boards and although I have not been as present as i would like to in the last month, I'm using every single application available through it. I think that the Library gateway and the possibility to have access to so much information on the web e.g. only articles and even books is just fantastic. Likewise, RefWorks is a truly wonderful tool for compiling your bibliography and not only! I've been using it for that but also to make and keep my notes on my reading and I can clearly see how this is going to make my life easier when it comes to the final writing.

Anyways, if any of you are interested in growing professionally and are thinking about doing a post grad course, it does not have to be an MA! You can do lots of post grad work which is not as demanding as an MA.

Do take a minute to check SHU out! It's worth it!

Robert

ELTMag Edited by Jill Hadfield

2011-12-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

I just came into contact with the ELTMag through my LinkedIn connection with Jill Hadfield. I really like this new magazine because of their aim to share ideas at a global scale to 'counterbalance a largely Eurocentric bias' as they say. The articles on this first issue are also interesting and I think it is a great way of keeping abreast as a teacher and trainer myself. I particularly like Briony Beaven's article on ideas for feedback!

Here's a link to the online PDF version: http://www.unitec.ac.nz/toolbox_items/eltmag_oct2011.pdf and deleting the final bits in the URL will take yu to the unitec.ac.nz site - lots of info if you're interested in studying in NZ!

Enjoy reading it!

Robert

BBC's Skillswise rocks!

2011-11-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

Francesca Pelli a CELTA tutor, colleague and friend told me about this site and voila', here we are. I think it's just wonderful. There are so many things that can be used not only but the average English learner but also and especially I'd say by our CELTA trainees. I spent a few hours browsing and looking through it today and it is addictive. I've got lots of ideas now of how to incorporate work from in on to our CELTA pre course work. I particularly like the reading activities which are very well designed and in line with standard s-centred methodology. Great job BBC! An excellent tool for tutors and learners alike!

Here's a link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english

GLOGSTER EDU

2011-10-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

I posted about Glogster in Feb 2010 when I first came into contact with this wonderful tool. Since then I have slowly but steadily created Glogsters for my trainees on University of Cambridge CELTA and YL Extension to CELTA courses and the response has been very positive. Glogster is now turning entirely to education so they're asking users to migrate their accounts to the new Glogster EDU. I had a quick look at the features and it's definitely safer as it'll be more secure, private and tailored for students and educators.

SO... if you don't have a Glogster account, get one now. It's free for educators and it's an absolutely fantastic tool. I like it because whenever preparing a Glogster, it helps me re-elaborate the information I want trainees/teachers to see in a a different, more involving, interesting way. I really enjoy it and believe it provides a good opportunity to give our students input in a variety of ways!

Here's a link: http://edu.glogster.com/what-is-glogster-edu/#five

New look!

2011-10-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

It'd been almost 2 years since I started blogging and it's wonderful to see how many more options there are now to make your blog look really cool. It was about time too for me to give mine a new look so here it is! The new/added features are more user friendly too. Well done to Blogger!!

My favourite new feature is under the design tab - the template designer and all the customising options available.

If you're new to blogging, why not have a look and play around with the different tabs? A blog is a reat way to keep learning!

I'm back!!!

2011-09-20T08:32:00.001-07:00

Hello,

It's been over a month now since I last posted and so I'm now back. It's been a busy period with lots of assessments taking place over the summer and the corresponding travelling to be done, but all good stuff. Our next CELTA course starts on Oct 3rd so I'll be posting new tools, ideas and reviews on what I'll be doing with my trainees on the course.

Stay tuned!

Robert

The New Sounds Application Rocks!

2011-08-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with the new Sounds Application for over a week now and I think it rocks! I've been making notes on the ideas that I've had while playing with it and here are some of them:

CHART - it can be used with trainees and students to introduce them to individual sounds. I have done this already with both groups using my iPad and iPod touch and the feedback was very positive. I've had them work in two groups as I only have these two devices. After a self discovery activity that heightens their awareness of their oral cavity and makes them think of the place and manner of articulation, I gave them 3 to 5 words and asked them to try and locate the sound in the chart. They enjoyed it and had fun.

WORDLIST - This could be used as an answer key to a phonemic treasure hunt. A list of selected words featuring specific sounds can be given to ss to first try and write in phonemic script and then check against the list.

PRACTICE - I really like the options given here. You can read, write or listen to phonemic script. You can choose which phoneme to practise with and how many questions 10, 25 or 50. It's really addictive and fun! I started practising the sounds I had most difficulty with when transcribing and I can say I feel a lot more confident now!

I'd like to try this as soon as we're back at school. I'd like to divide the class into 3 groups - read, listen and write and give them the same words to either write, listen to or read in phonemic script and see what happens in feedback. I'm already asking trainees at selection interview whether they have an iPad or an iPhone or iPod touch. Unfortunately, they're still rather expensive and so not many people have them. I'll keep using my iPad and iPod touch. I just got an iPhone so I'll be able to use the three in the sessions!!! Yay!!!

Ok, more ideas to come, so stay put! I gotta go back to playing with my Sounds App. Have you got one? You don't? What r u waiting for????

To Moodle or not to Moodle?

2011-07-14T03:36:00.000-07:00

I just finished a Moodle Starter course with TheConsultants-e.com and I must say that I'm very impressed! Not because of the quality of the training offer by them because this is my third course with them and I KNOW as a matter of fact that they're the best, but because I learnt so much over the 8 weeks! I should've done the course before!!!! Anyways, the way to go now is, I humbly believe, Moodle! More and more of our students are telling us they have no time and ask whether we have an online version of the courses we offer here at school. Up until now we had said no, but things are changing and this is because of the course I did!

I have completed 3 courses now using Moodle as the chosen platform and I'm in love with it. I'm now writing a course on Legal English for the school but this time as a teacher I can clearly see the benefit of all those activities we did on the previous courses where I was a trainee! It's really exciting to see how things fall into place when you mnake informed decisions which show pedagogy leads technology and you use it to enhance leanring!

Moodle away!

Robert

11 Free Mind Mapping Apps

2011-06-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

It's been a while since my last post, but I'm back. Anyway, I'm writing an ILEC (International legal English Certificate) prep course in Moodle and so while looking for a mind mapping app I found an article with 11 free ones at www.Lifehack.org

I tried the first one Free Mind and it works ok. Check the other apps out and see which you prefer.

Enjoy!

Robert

Iaza your images and have fun!

2011-05-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

I came across Iaza while looking for image son the internet and disovered a really cool tool. I still don´t know how to use it in the classroom, but I´ll fiddle with it for a while and see what it can be used for. In any case, it´s a nice way of experimenting with images.

Check it out at www.iaza.com

Edutecher's New Look!

2011-04-24T11:49:00.001-07:00

Edutecher has a new look and it rocks. This is a super cool website which gives yuo access to loads of great resources which you can use in the classroom. Do check it out. Here's the link: http://www.edutecher.net/

The pronunciation app for iPad, iPod and iPhone

2011-04-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

I just came across the MacMillan pronunciation application for iPad, iPod and iPhone and I think it rocks! It's free and can't wait for the improved version (at a charge)! It's great for both students and trainee teachers! I've used in an introductory session to pronunciation on our current CELTA course and it was a success. I used my iPad and iPod touch and they loved it. I used the iPad to present it and then gave both the iPad and iPod to trainees in 2 groups to explore the sounds in a task. Cool results!!!

Do check it out!

Robert

iPad in the classroom

2011-03-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

Right... I've been using in the classroom as a portable flashcard display for lower levels and offsite (as per my previous entry) for both visual input (clips, PPPs) and audio with small groups. I still have loads to learn but I think it's got lots of potential. I asked my students and only a couple have them so I'm trying to think how I could exploit them more in the classroom. I also have access to an IWB in the classroom, so I want to make sure my use of it is fully integrated into the lesson. Pedagogy must lead technology and not all the way around!

Flashcard Machine... and I'm back

2011-03-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last added a post, but I'm back. We're in the middle on our first CELTA course here so pretty tihgt in terms of time I can dedicate to my blog. All the same, I'm here to stay :-).

Today's post is about Flashcard Machine which is great! I've started using it and students are repsonding well to it. I'm using it both on the IWBs and off site on my iPad :-)

Hope you find it useful :-)

Robert

Sites for Teachers

2011-01-29T04:22:00.001-08:00

While surfing the web in search of new resources and sites I came across a pretty nice site for teachers with lots of links to 'sites for teachers'. I've checked some of them and it's worth checking it out in more detail.

Here's the link: sites for teachers.

Back to basics???

2011-01-27T01:46:00.000-08:00

I've been in Vietnam for about 2 weeks now working on a YL Extension to CELTA course, which I'm enjoying and learning lots from. Although I have had access to a projector and I've used my laptop, I do miss IWBs and the things we can do with them. I've been thinking a lot about IWBs v powerpoints and through the current experience, I have come to the following conclusions:

1. Both can be used effectively in the classroom and 'Death by PowerPoint' has nothing to do with the tool itself but with not having a sound pedagogical ground to base the training on.

2. IWBs definitely offer a wider range of interaction between the content and the participant - again when pegagogy leads technology and not vice versa.

3. A sound understanding of learning processes and how the activities we prepare for the students and the outcomes of those activities are co-dependent, is a good base to get started using ANY piece of technology in a student-centred and leanring enhancing way.

Well, this is my update from HCMC!

Robert

Teachnology site.... graphic organisers

2011-01-05T00:09:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's been a long time since I last posted, but the festivities got on the way! :-) Well, I'm back and here to stay! I've been working on CLIL lately and so I have come across a site which offers lots of links to Graphic Organisers. I believe that these are very useful not only in CLIL but in teaching in general as there is nothing easier to help students say: 'Ah, I see what you mean' than to help them SEE what we mean.

Anyhow, here's a link to the site: http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/

By the way, this site does not only offer the above info. There are plenty of other resources such as lesson plans, worksheets, etc.

Enjoy!

ActivInspire - How different from Activstudio?

2010-11-22T01:19:00.000-08:00

I know, it's been almost a month form my last entry, but my new job's keeping me at bay! Arghhh :-). Anyway, we bought a new Promethean IWB and ActivInspire software along with it. ActivInspire is for Primary and ActivStudio for secondary and adult learners. The software is very, very similar :-), but from my point of view having been trained to ActivStudio Levels 1 and 2, I think that the latter is more versatile. Another feature I don't like much or having ben able to work out yet :-O! is that you can open up ActivStudio flipcharts with ActivInspire but not vice versa!

Anyway, it's great stuff all the same :-) Here's the link.
http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en/support/software/activinspire/

Another Bloom's DIGITAL Taxonomy...

2010-10-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

I really like this Prezi on Bloom's Digital Map as it gives, in a very brief way, examples of what HOTS (higher order thinking skills) mean in terms of digital use. Really interesting to see the different examples shown. I cannot use a few of the ones listed under each skill and wonder how many people feel the same...

Here's the link: http://prezi.com/kmpwndr6zk7j/copy-of-blooms-digital-taxonomy/

MIRO - really useful and cool

2010-10-19T06:07:00.001-07:00

This year we're promoting use of web absed applications and open source programs amongst our students both adults and YLs. So far we're received good feedback :-) so all good stuff. I came across this site and I fell in love with it as I'm always searching different sites for short videos that I can use both with students and trainee teachers, and this one I think is really good to mnake my life easier :-)

Here's the link: http://www.getmiro.com/

Joshua Coupal's Bloom's Taxonomy in PREZI!

2010-10-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Bloom's on Prezi

I came across this presentation via The Twitter Times and I really like it. I think it really shows how technology can be integrated and how it is relevant to the way we learn. Whether we are a digital native or a digital immigrant, the way we learn changes with time as we adapt to new technologies. Really exciting and interesting, don't you think?

Simple Booklets? Similar to Storybird!

2010-10-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

I came across this application via The Twitter Times. I think it's even simpler to use than Storybird, but in the end it is pretty much the same thing in terms of writing. I sort of like Storybird a little more because of all the already-there stories which can serve as inspiration for more YL writing both by the teacher and why not the students.

Simple Booklets is also a good application but gives me a little sense of being more serious in its presentation so I would probably use it more with older ss. I like both though :-) It must be said that simple booklets offers a lot more possibilities as links to various sources can be added. I haven't seen this in Storybird yet. I'll check it out.

Prezi.com - Presentations that are 'different'?

2010-10-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

I came across Prezi.com and I've spent the last 2 hours putting together a presentation for one of our inset sessions. I like it very much, probably because I'm a really visual learner. However, I'm not totally convinced. I think it'ìs got potential and I just need to dedicate a little more time to see how to really exploit it! I may be just a little too tired today!

There are lots of prezis ready to explore and some are really interesting so it's worth checking them out anyway!

Here's the link: www.prezi.com

Nitro PDF Reader! Super cool and FREE!

2010-10-14T02:29:00.001-07:00

I just came across this super cool application that allows you to create, add text, sign, add notes, modify and read PDF file for FRE!!! It's super cool. I just tried it out and I can already see how it can be useful to create and anotate worksheets and the like for students. Really neat!

Here's the link: http://www.nitroreader.com/

PDFCROWD!! Super cool!

2010-10-13T04:10:00.000-07:00

This is a super cool site I came across during an Elluminate session on the E-Moderation course I'm doing with The Consultants-E. Gavin told us about it and I just checked it out :-) I love it. Just off the top of my head, I think it could be very useful for building up my own e-portfolio. In the classroom, maybe to work off line using it as an authentic text for a text-based presentation, discussion, language focus? I don't know, I still have to think more about it.

Check it out: http://pdfcrowd.com/

STORYBIRD!! I love it.... and you will too

2010-10-12T05:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I was watching Aadm Bellow's session on Classroom2.0 and he mentioned Storybird to create your own stories either on your own or with others. I think this site has lots of potential for both the YL teacher creating stories for the classroom and for collaborative work with older students. In my current context we don't have access to IWBs so this could easily be done as homework and then for ss to share their work with the class. I'll try it out and see what happens.

Here's a link to a screenshot of the site anotated by me using Bounceapp.
http://www.bounceapp.com/21060

You can create a free account and get started!

Here is the link: www.storybird.com

Bounce! And share your anotated websites!

2010-10-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

This is a really cool application I found out about via Adam Bellow in a Classroom2.0 show on EduTecher. It is really nice and although I think you can still do pretty much the same thing with Jing the good thing about Bounce is that you get a URL which you can share so it's easier to add to an email or your blog rather than having to deal with the image itself.

Pretty cool! Check it out!

iTunes U :-)

2010-10-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered iTunesU and all the educational TV channels available. It's absolutely fantastic. I've been watching lots of TV programs from e-learning UK, TeachersTV, and others that are really exciting! My favourite one right now is TEACHING AND LEARNING SCOTLAND! There is lots on cognitive development and teahcing students to think about thinking and about their learning. Empowering them so that they can understand and reflect and think about what works best for them in the classroom. Really cool stuff!

Screenjelly!!!

2010-09-23T09:30:00.001-07:00

I just came across this great resource while navigating English360 - a great and new platform. It's super easy to use and allows you to create 3 min videos wchih are great for classroom work with both ss and teachers. Here's the link: www.screenjelly.com

Adrian Underhill's Blog on Pronunciation

2010-09-23T02:47:00.000-07:00

Many ELT famous and not so famous writers have been blogging for a while. Mainly about their books and how to use them and about their own views and ideas in ELT, which is great as one can now get to know more about them through the blogosphere and not just through their books.

Anyway, Adrian Underhill's doing it now too and I think this is really worth mentioning as the teaching of pronunciation is still an area teachers are not very comfortable with. As a CELTA and YL Extension to CELTA trainer, I think that it is really important that teachers approach pronunciation with open arms and a 'Sound Foundation' regardless of their own idiolect!

Here's a link to Adrian's blog: http://adrianpronchart.wordpress.com/
Enjoy!

E-Moderation

2010-09-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

With so much going on out there and seeing how courses and demand for them are changing, I decided I really needed to get on to a course on how to moderate online courses. Well, I'm to start the E-Moderation course offered by TheConsultants-E in October and so I've been trying to get my head round the course and the materials. Here are some links to the course and materials which may help you decide whether this course is for you... it certainly is for me :-)

Here's a link to the course description: http://www.theconsultants-e.com/courses/em/index.asp

Here's an entry on it in Wikipedia: E-moderation

Ready to Resume!

2010-09-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

Right... I'm now back in Italy and a week into my new job. I'm still in the process of settling down after the summer in Canada running CELTA courses and coming back to then attend the AISLi DoS Day conference a few days into my new job!

This is just to say to those few followers :-( Hahaha that I'm back and will resume blogging soon :-)... OK blogging may be too big a word for what I do with my humble blog, but still!!!

Moodle Moodling Moodler

2010-08-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

Moodle.org is a great site which allows you to use their software to create online courses. This Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment is super cool! I did the ICTCert course in Moodle and it was really easy to use. There are tons of video tutorials in the following links if you want to learn how to use it.

Moodle Video Tutorials

Russell Stannard's Training Videos

2-minute Moodles

Enjoy!

2010-08-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through Rusell Stannard's wonderful site Teacher Training Videos and I found his video on www.languageguide.org and I loved it. I love languages myself, I'm a very visual learner and so this is an absolutely fantastic site and not only for English but for many other languages. It's so exciting to be able to see and hear lots of basic vocabulary in other languages. Really easy to use and wonderful visuals and graphic quality too and FREE!!!! God bless the internet!

I'm back!!!! VISUWORDS v Visual Thesaurus

2010-08-07T11:03:00.000-07:00

I really like Visual Theasurus and I bought it myself as I find it really useful when preparing vocabulary related lessons or training session on how to teach vocab. I recently came across Visuwords and I love it! It's very similar to Visual Thesaurus but I find that this one offers more visual support thanks to the left handside bar with a list of explanations as to what each colour and line represent. Visual Thesaurus is nice in the sense that if you buy it then the application is in your pc although some options are only available online. Visuwords, I don't know whether you can buy it, but the best thing is that it is free so all you need is an internet connection.

Well, have fun exploring it!

Big Move!

2010-06-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I'm in the process of moving back to Europe and so in the middle of a very hectic time. I haven't had time to blog lately but this doesn't mean I will not do it anymore, on the contrary! I'll come back soon.

In the meantime, a big thank you for following my blog! I've been thinking that with hindsight I would've called it something different as with its current name not many people get to see it as it's got nothing to do with ICT and languages! :-)

Bye for now :-) and I'll be back soon!

Robert

2010-05-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

This is a really cool tool. you can make 60 sec videos in a flash. Super easy and perfect for those snippets of video that you want to use in the classroom to add that little extra umpthhh! I came across this tool at the E-community. Ana D'Almeida used it to summarise the PicLits tool contributions.

Enjoy!

Here's the link: http://flixtime.com/

2010-05-07T00:43:00.000-07:00

And here's a video advertising the Teacher Training Development Centre where I've been working for the last two years here in Singapore!

2010-05-02T06:13:00.001-07:00

Teaching the Mobile Generation by Nicky Hockly at IATEFL Harrogate 2010

It's a very, very interesting session which I highly recommend. It've watched it twice and every time I get new ideas and see things from a different perspective. Feel free to add your comments here.

Preschool Fingerplays

2010-05-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful site I found and which is very useful for those of us working either teaching or training teachers on how to teach English in kindergarten. there are loads of finger plays and activities for the KG classroom. My KG trainees love this site.

Here's the link:

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-rhymes.htm

Revisiting the resources gathered here so far!

2010-04-25T05:29:00.000-07:00

Hello :-)

I haven't posted anything for over 2 weeks now, but I'm back. The last few weeks have been very hectic and so I've been trying to make use of what I have right now rather than trying to find new tools. A few comments on my recent experiences using some of the tools here:

Xtranormal - I went ahead and created a short intro movie clip for one of my courses on using web tools. The trainees loved the fact that it was relevant and a clear example of what the course is about and not just me telling them about something, but seeing it at work. So, good feedback here which is encouraging.

PicLit - also good feedback. I've used a few pictures in order to create interest and explore ideas by activating prior knowledge at the beginning of a session or before starting an important point. I've used it just as Wordleb and comments from trainee teachers have been good.

Triptico.co.uk and word magnets - I've used it more often with both adults and YLs and they love it. It's a shame that you cannot save the examples as it takes a little prep before the sessions and if there's no live internet connection, then it's out the window! All together, it can be used in many ways and not only as a warmer.

Jing - I've been using it a lot not only to manipulate images but to create short videos with extra info or questions or tasks for the trainees teachers. Their feedback has been very positive in that they feel it's not an extra handout they can read at home, but videos especially, are a little more engaging as I through in various questions throughout the screencast clips.

Ok, this is it for now and I'll be back soon with more reports of new resources!

Do feel free to comment on the resources you encounter here under each post as it'd be great to get the ball rolling and see how you use them too.

Robert

PICLIT - creative writing

2010-04-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

This tool is Tool of the Month 3 in The Community-E. What I really like about this tool is that there is great support to LEARN about CREATIVE writing. Simply click on LEARN IT and you will find three sections to learn about. Here's the link:

http://www.piclits.com

Triptico.co.uk... and WORD MAGNETS

2010-03-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

I found this site through TeacherTrainingVideos and while checking it out I found WORD MAGNETS. It's super cool and can be used for lots of different activities in the classroom.

Try it out! here's the link: http://www.triptico.co.uk/?p=43

Copyright in education and in general

2010-03-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

I was looking at the entries on this subject in the TheConsultants-e.com community and realised that I had no entries on the subject in my blog. Well, I'm adding here all the links and info I have on it and hope it is useful. I'm also adding links shared by Bea in the community.

Here are the links:

http://creativecommons.org/
http://creativecommons.org/choose/
http://copyrightfriendly.wikispaces.com
http://www.ict4lt.org/en/
http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/01/six-resources-for-learning-about-fair.html
http://wiki.creativecommons.org/FAQ
http://blip.tv/file/2900391/
http://www.spffy.com
A fair(y)Use Tale

Edutecher - wow, wow, wow

2010-03-04T03:22:00.000-08:00

I can't even remember how I came across this site, but it's super cool. There are tons of resources and links, I mean thousands... Too much to say and very little time! Been checking the site for over an hour and I can't get enough. Check it out: here's the link http://www.edutecher.net/index.php

Pixuffle along the lines of Jigzone!

2010-03-02T01:23:00.001-08:00

And this one too is really cool! Along the same lines as jigzone. I was thinking that I can also use it as a pass time too!! Hahaha Nice though!

Here's the link: http://www.pixuffle.net/

Jigzone rocks!

2010-03-02T01:17:00.000-08:00

One of my colleagues just told me about this site and I had to just go and check it out. It's great and a wonderful way to use pictures as a warmer and springboard for a discussion or simply to get the ss thinking about the topic of the article if in a reading lesson or the topic of anything really. Great to show trainees how technology can be fun and follow pedagogy rather than all the way around.

Here's the link:

http://www.jigzone.com/

Xtranormal - making your own movies

2010-02-25T03:14:00.000-08:00

I remember being introduced to this tool early on when I was doing the CertICT course with the Consultants-e.com, but somehow I never really got to do anything with it. Yesterday a colleague of mine showed me a cool 3 min video he created for a session and so here I go again! It's super cool and adds that little extra to some discussion tasks in teacher training sessions on how to use ICT in the classroom!

Here's the link: http://www.xtranormal.com

And here's my first movie for an ICT course I taught last year! :-)

Emerging EdTech- cool site with lots of info!!!

2010-02-19T08:07:00.000-08:00

This is a really cool site with a wealth of info I came across thanks to some posts in Tweetdeck. So much to look at, read and do to keep up to date! Lots of articles and links to resources, absolutely worth exploring!

Here's the link: http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/04/10-internet-technologies-that-educators-should-be-informed-about/

Safeshare.TV - this is cool!

2010-02-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

I was checking out Nick Peachey's Learning Technology Blog and came across this tool. It's really cool and easy to use and you don't have to download any software. You simply paste in the URL from YouTube and then click generate safe link. It also gives you the option to crop the video so as to see only the part you need for your lesson - even better! Nick's also prepared a video tutorial on how to do it, so do visit his blog!

Do try it out! Here's the link: http://www.safeshare.tv/

Bye for now,

Robert

I'm alive and will resume posting soon!

2010-02-08T23:53:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. It's been almost a week since I last posted anything. I'm sorry, but I've been really busy and although the situation hasn't changed I want more resources to try and find out about!!! This is just a gentle reminder to myself about keeping up with my blog!

:-) R

GLOGSTER Rocks

2010-02-02T08:14:00.000-08:00

I came across this great tool when doing the CertICT but didn't really started using till a couple of months ago. Anyway, I came across it again after joining The Consultants-e Community and so here we go. I used it to create my professional profile. I got the idea from one of the members of the community. You can use it with ss, so why not for yourself. I've added the link to my CV!

I've been quite taken by Glogster as a tool and so Ihave been using it as a way to prepare summaries on sessions I've delivered to either CELTA or YL Extension to CELTA trainees and so here are the links to some of these sessions:

http://robertmartinez.glogster.com/cuisenaire-rods/

http://robertmartinez.glogster.com/teaching-yls-writing/

http://robertmartinez.glogster.com/yls-learning-grammar/

Signup Sheets - useful tool

2010-01-27T05:01:00.000-08:00

This is a very useful site I found. Super simple to use and useful if you need to get groups of trainees?students organised and signing up for an activity.

Check it out! The picture is hyperlinked, just click on it and you'll be there in a sec!

Phonics, phonics, phonics

2010-01-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

I regularly teach phonics for primary school teachers and so here's a list of websites that offer lots of phonics ideas, materials, sources. The picture here is of one of my favourites: Progressive Phonics.

Feel free to explore the others here:

http://www.adrianbruce.com/
http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.schoolbell.com/ (Dolch words and games)
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/language_arts/phonics/
http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Worksheets/

Wordnik - super cool dictionary and more!

2010-01-17T05:11:00.000-08:00

Wow, I came across this great resource thanks to a RT by Valentina Dodge and goodness me. I think it is absolutely great. So many things you can do with it in the classroom! I'll come back with more on it once I've given it a go with trainees.

here's the link: http://www.wordnik.com/

Online Journals with PENZU!

2010-01-10T01:13:00.001-08:00

I recently found this tool and I think it's very useful. At work we use our own site hosted by ning.com byt PENZU could be very useful for any tutors running courses anywhere and who don't have access to a site on ning.com or don't want to create one and simple have the possibility to have their trainees' journals online.

Top tool for me because of my work context in teacher training. here's the link: http://penzu.com/

VOYCABULARY - really cool

2009-12-30T04:10:00.000-08:00

I know I said I'd be back in Jan but can't help it! There are so many great tools out there why miss them!?

I'm very interested in how to help trainees and students increase their vocab and so this site is really useful.

Ok, this is another really cool tool. The site is called Voycabulary and basically what it does is that it allows you to hyper link all the words in a text to various sources i.e. dictionaries, thesauruses or thesauri, translations into different languages, etc. This could be a very good tool for students working at home, a quick way to see a whole text with links to meaning.

Breaking News English - excellent site but....

2009-12-30T03:54:00.000-08:00

I came across this site thanks to Russell Stannard's EFL/ESL videos and I think it's a great tool. All the same, I can't help to wonder about the dangers of it. It can turn into an I-don't-need-to-prepare-my-lessons tool if not handled with care. Russell wisely advises that not all the activities can be used or that there may not be enough time to go through all of them. I would like to say that this site can provide variety to lessons and by making informed and pre-assessed decisions it can give a tired teacher a few new ideas and resources to work with and from.

Here's the link: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

On leave till 4 Jan 2010

2009-12-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

I know I've been away for a while but for a good reason: I'm on leave till Jan 4! I'll be back in a couple of weeks with more resources!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Reading Rockets site

2009-12-12T09:27:00.001-08:00

I'm very interested in teaching reading and so I'm always looking for sites with extra materials, theory and pieces of advice on how to approach the teaching of reading in the early years. I'm also a fan of phoics and so anything involving phonics also catches my attention.

This is a nice site with all of the above. Here's the link:

http://www.readingrockets.org/

English spelling games - try it out!

2009-12-05T08:45:00.001-08:00

This is a very nice site from the Woodlands Junior School to get ideas from or to use with the whole class. Lots of spelling games and activities to use with the little ones (K1, K2) and lower primary. Give it a try. Here's the link:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy.html#5

Scholastic Printables - yes, please!

2009-11-21T23:11:00.000-08:00

This is a cool site with lots of resources (printables) - not very green if you ask me, but with lots of materials - some are nicer than others but readily available so this could translate into time saving.

Here's the link:

http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/home/?OS_ID=OS6-Google-Printables-Printables-flash_cards-Broad

Clever island - lots of extra ideas and games ages 3-8

2009-11-21T23:04:00.001-08:00

This is a nice site with lost of games and activities in different areas of leanring and not only on vocabulary. Nice games and content.

Click on the picture to follow the link to the site.

Puzzle maker - yay!

2009-11-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

This is a free puzzle making tool which is simple to use and can help you add a little variety to the way you approach the teaching of vocabulary.

You can also make word searches, double puzzles, fallen phrases, math squares, mazes, letter tiles, cryptograms, number blocks and hidden messages.

Here's the link to the site:

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp

E-learning for kids!!!

2009-11-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

My friend Michaela just told me about this site and it rocks. Lost of ideas for those teaching or working with kids. Check it out!!! And here's the link:

http://www.e-learningforkids.org/courses.html

Jooce anybody?

2009-11-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I know my postings are not as frequent as before, but I'm still game and will keep my blog going. I've recently found Jooce ' your very own, private online desktop - with public file sharing capabilities. A highly-secure, online space to keep, view, listen to - and instantly share with friends; all your files, photos, music and video.'

And their website here: http://www.jooce.com/

Lingt classroom - super!!!!

2009-10-22T03:41:00.000-07:00

I found this tool while checking my netvibes from
Jose' Picardo's Box of Tricks. It's a great tool to
make your students speak and set assignments, etc. I
don't know how feasible this would be in my context. Gotta try it out first!

Here's the link: http://lingtlanguage.com/

Xtimeline... yayyyy!!!

2009-10-07T02:53:00.000-07:00

Hello!!

I just discovered this web tool which can be very useful to introduce simple time lines of famous events in the ESOL classroom. I'm sure my trainees will love it too!

Here's the link.

Coming soon...

2009-09-27T18:43:00.001-07:00

Ok, it's been almost 2 weeks now since my last post and you may be thinking that is it. Well, I've been very busy but I haven't forgotten about my dear blog. I'll be coming back in a few days with new sources!!!

Words, words, words...

2009-09-15T03:20:00.001-07:00

Ok, after 3 long weeks of absence I'm back! Great time in HK and now back to my life in SNG! I found this website and I think it's relevant not only to those in teaching languages, but also to anyone interested in widening their vocabulary range.

Savethewords!

Tweetdeck... yeehah

2009-08-24T18:16:00.000-07:00

Twitter is great for microblogging, but Tweetdeck is even better to keep your Tweets uptodate. What to do when you're at work and cannot have Tweetdeck though? Well, wait until you get home and work on the pc there :-) Not fair, you miss out on things!!!

Howdini, get yourself a guru... what about Videojug?

2009-08-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

OK, I like Howdini but can't help to wonder about Videojug. They're basically the same, aren't they? You can get videos on pretty much the same categories and both give you ideas and explanations about things you want to know. So, which one is the best one? I'll leave that for you to decide. I like Videojugs colors and attractive layout. I like Howdini too but find it less appealing to the eye!

Teaching Young Learners / Writing

2009-08-24T03:35:00.000-07:00

Hmmm.... Approaching this skill in the young learner classroom is not easy and certainly and a well informed approach is important in fostering/encouraging YLs to write.

I've found some valuable resources that I'd like to list here for future reference...

http://www.teachers.tv/
http://www.wordle.net
http://www.kidsdomain.com
http://startwrite.com

http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/922

Some of these were contributed by Laura Beco on week 4 of our CertICT course and some come from the materials I created/put together. Others I found myself searching...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/menu.shtml
http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/
http://www.planplanet.org/world/index.php
http://www.enchantedlearning.com
http://ishari.tv/flash.html
http://switchzoo.com/zoo.htm
http://www.cubeez.com/
http://www.cogcon.com/gamegoo/gooey.html
http://www.puzzlemaker.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/storycircle/
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids.htm

Linkedin... professional network...

2009-08-17T03:36:00.000-07:00

Linkedin... hmmm Mixed feelings here as I joined a few months ago and nothings happened really, so I'm giving it a try aagin here and this time I'm importing all my hotmail contacts so something may come up. I did noticed that one could earn money by teahcing through it. I've almost completed my profile and have been contacted by another teacher. We'll see... More to come!!

WordSift.... hmmm reminds me of Wordle

2009-08-17T03:24:00.000-07:00

Right, this new resource pointed out by Vale, our tutor, is cool too. It reminded me of Wordle and in fact is similar but a little more academic list sort of tool. I still need to fiddle with it a little more before I can decided which one I like best.

http://www.wordsift.com/

E-portfolios

2009-08-14T23:09:00.001-07:00

Well, lots to say here. I like the Cambridge ePortoflio for Ts a lot but still prefer to stick to my own blog as it gives me a sense of ownership, my baby sort of thing! I like the structure of the sample ones given to us for the task too, but I this can be mirrored in one's blog so no worries there.

I learnt that a blog can work as a wiki in the sense that an entry in my blog can have several postings under it in the form of comments which act a little like the links to new pages in the wikis. I alsmost started a wiki as my eportoflio, but realised that I've done quite a bit of work already in my blog and I really like it and enjoy coming back every now and then to add more and more resources.

Voxopop... hmmm similar to Yackpack, huh?

2009-08-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, here we go again... it's hard trying to keep up with work and studies and this blog but here we go again... Voxopop ricks. I think it's very similar to Yackpack, but better in that the design is more appealing and I find it somehow easier to use.

Doodle.... yesssss

2009-08-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

A little late for this addition to my blog as we've been using in on the course all the way though, but I just realised how handy it is. So, I'm adding it here to now to remind me of it and its usefulness. :)

My dream classroom

2009-08-06T02:22:00.000-07:00

Here we go...

This is my ideal classroom... big windows that allow lots fo light, nice square tables that can be easily regrouped if desired, a table with pcs on the side so that you don't have to book the computer room!!!!, a nice IWB, a console with a DVD, VCR and wireless keyboard and mouse, a projector, and a cupboard to store dictionaries and other essentials!!!

Flash Card Flash!!!!

2009-08-04T20:17:00.001-07:00

Here we go again! This one is directly from Vale! A great resource to help you find the flashcards you need! All you have to do is type in the type of flashcards you want and off you go to loads of links to a myriad of resources available.

At the bottom in blue lots of links to other flashcard making resources.

http://www.flashcardflash.com/

Rubystar... and write your rubricss in minutes

2009-08-01T21:56:00.000-07:00

Rubystar makes it easy to crate your own rubrics for assessment. There is a tutorial available too and plenty of other resources and rubrics divided into categories.

I believe though that it is probably easier to start from scratch rather than to spend time looking for one that's already there as your criteria may change according to your specific task.

A must read article by Heidi Goodrich Andrade about the topic is here.

Free virtual storage

2009-08-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, if you don't know where to store your files and have them always available on the internet for free this is your site. Remember you should always keep copies somewhere else so that this is not your only repository! After all, it's out there in the ether and things may go wrong.

If you want more features... you'll have to pay :-)

Here's the URL:

https://www.humyo.com/pages/en/free-online-file-storage

Byki and Quizlet

2009-07-31T00:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok, I've been

a little inactive lately but work is piling up like ants on a bitten apple on a picnic day in the park!!!!!!!!!

Vale just shared these with us for Task 14.3 so here we go. I really like Quizlet because you don't have to downlaod any software as opposed to Byki. Having said this I find Byki more appealing to the eye so will see what I prefer later on.

UN School bus resources for Primary and Secondary

2009-07-22T03:19:00.000-07:00

Our ICT co-ordinator shared with us here this resource and so I'm adding it here.

Here is what he has to say about it:

The UN Cyber-school Bus - http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/ This is mainly for primary and secondary, but it’s particularly useful for comparing countries (click on ‘country at a glance’) so could be used with lower level general adult classes. You can find out the low-down on any country in the world (UN style) and compare these countries on any particular statistic. Find out what the population density of Brazil is, and compare it with Singapore or get the news from each country via their newspaper websites. There are links to games and some serious UN-type (and GP-type!) topics such as disarmament or famine on the start page.

Super cool - The game crafter

2009-07-22T02:22:00.000-07:00

I just saw this on a Twitter post from Vel and I loved it! Gosh how do you manage not to keep on line and do work at the same time!!! Argh....

I had to come back to my blog and post it here to get back to it later tonight when I get home. I love this blog/repository of sources!!!

Thanks Vale :)

http://www.thegamecrafter.com/

Storytelling with Children Show

2009-07-22T02:06:00.000-07:00

Hello there,

I'm currently teaching a How to Teach English:Kindergaten course here at BC and while working on resources I found a very nice website which provides lots of video and audio input which comes in very handy. At this stage of the ICT course, wonderful ideas started coming up when I saw the resources available... embedding video and audio into PowerPoints and IWB flipcharts, etc.

Hope you enjoy it!

Lextutor - oh yes!!!!

2009-07-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

This is a portal that contains links to a variety of vocabulary/text analysis tools. It’s really for highly motivated high level students, er…or teachers! You can check your grammar intuition against corpus data; compare the content of two texts to see how much is duplicated (good for plagiarism check!); ‘profile’ the vocabulary in a text (for overall frequency of the words used in it) or find some ‘readalong’ listenings with review capability.

Eyeplorer rocks!!!

2009-07-09T02:47:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since my last post, but this come back makes it worth the wait!

Eyeplorer is a super cool and easy to use, or should I say to help you learn new things or expand on what you already know.

Well, you better see it yourself! Here's the link to an introductory video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJiSy7Bvsos

Devil's dictionary

2009-07-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Def. 1 Someone who's job is to 'work' in a school or a college.(Cambridge dictionary)

Def. 2a A Mormon ranking above a Deacon in the Aaronic priesthood (Merriam-Webster)

Def. 3 Someone whose job is to 'work', especially in a school.

NB Words in quotation marks are not the original word used in the definition.

This definition was not available in the Devil's Dictionary so here we go with my own...

Someone whose job is of primary importance in society, but has never been given the social status it deserves both in terms of pay and recognition.

OK, I'm back! E-learning stuff podcasts

2009-06-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm finally back in Singapore and at work and alsmot there with work and study! It's been reallty hectic! Ok, I just wanted to share a Podcast that I subscribed too and have found extremely usedful.

E-learning stuff - very interesting discussions for bus rides or while walking or travelling anywhere!

Bye for now and I hope you enjoy them!!

Robert

Is 'FOLLOW' the same as an RSS Feed?

2009-06-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

I jus discovered that if one wants to follow this blog, all they have to do is click on FOLLOW a sshown in the picture. I know a very simple step, but I'm new to blogging and this I hadn't noticed. My question now is: Is this following the same as the RSS Feed? My first thoughts are that it is not as more than ever the RSS feed icon is clearly dentifiable and very orange so, I'd say it is not, in which case.... I still need help as to why and how do I add that feed to my blog!!!

I already went to settings and added the Subscribe+ gadget but it fails to appear on the homepage. What is it that I'm not doing? I'm really going crazy here as I've read and re-read all the instructions and watched the videos too many times! Help, I need somebody, help, not just anybody!!!!

Tech, Sites, RSS Feeds Update!!

2009-06-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hey there!

Right, as you know I'd decided to use my blog as an-e-portoflio of all the work we've been doing so far on the course. Well, I started adding single posts for all the great tools we've been using lately. Needless to say, this takes a lot of time, so I decided to add all my favourite sites, new RSS feeds to relevant sites of my interest and experiment a little with the blog tools too so I gave it a face-lift already!!! Hope you like it!

Robert

My webpage in netvibes - is this a blog?

2009-06-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well, after watching Nick Peachey's video yesetrday on pageflakes and blogs, I went on and created my webpage too.

I still fail to clearly understand what the difference between a blog and a webpage is - maybe they're both the same and just hosted by different platforms... I still have to figure this out. Anyways, I'm determined to make of this blog my personal portfolio so this is just one more thing I need to get to grips with. If any of you can help me out here, THANKS!

My favourite website ever!!!

2009-06-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

Like you, I have visited so many sites lately that I've lost count. However, the one that has become my favourite without a shadow of a doubt is Russell Stannard's Teacher Training Videos! He really deserves the prize he got! Check it out!

Screen capture that rocks! JING

2009-06-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to Techsmith's website and the video showing how it works!

It's free, it's easy and it allows you to capture screen shots and also video, plus you can annotate!!!

Super cool! And useful for teachers and trainers, huh? Any ideas on how to use it?

Experimenting with Voicethread

2009-06-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to my first voicethread to which you were already invited. I'm just adding links to all the work we have been doing on the course, so that I can have it all in one page - my blog! This is cool! Blogging rocks!!! :-)

ICT Course Podcasts

2009-06-17T15:24:00.001-07:00

I also created podcasts for the first 3 sessions of the ICT course I mentioned before and made them available on PoDomatic. The idea behind it was that of exposing them to the podcasts after having mentioned them briefly in oe of the sessions and having set some research homework before actually asking them to produce their own for sessions 4 and 5 either using Audacity or Podomatic. ON the first run of the course we didn't have enough tme to do this so I'm looking forward to doing it on the next one in a few weeks'e time.

My ICT Blog in 21classes for my ICT trainees

2009-06-17T15:14:00.001-07:00

Hey,

Here's a link to the blog I created in 21classes (an edublog) to use hands-on with my trainees on the How to Use ICT in your Lessons course at BC Singapore.

There is not much going on now as the courses finished and I use it to give trainees first-hand experience of blogs, but there's enough evidence of what they did on the last course.

MY work and hobbies

2009-06-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

I work at British Council Singapore and more specifically in the TDC or Teacher Development Centre. I'm a tutor on CELTA, Young Learner Extension to CELTA courses as well as on other TT courses we offer known as KiTi Courses (Know it, teach it) - Pronunciation, Grammar, ICT in your Lessons, Phonics and Early Reading Skills, IWB Training Workshops, Reading Skills Comprehension for, How to be an Effective Tutor and many others.

In my free time, I like to go running or swimming. I'm a member of a small gym at Traders Hotel here in Singapore which is across from my office :)