PhD TESOL - to be or not to be?

Hello,

A lot has happened since my last post, so here's a brief summary: I finished my MA TESOL and got Merit! :-), I've been appointed Cambridge ESOL presenter, invited to collaborate as an Online Teacher Trainer with TheConsultants-e.com and decided to continue with my studies into a PhD TESOL! Yes, it's been a busy time and so this is why I haven't posted in the last 5 weeks!

Anyways, this post is on my PhD in TESOL studies because I will be investigating the effects of transmedia literacy on CELTA trainees. The term itself is not new, after all what's new under the sky? However, the idea for my PhD revolves around the how all the technology that I use prior and during course affects (positively or negatively) trainee teachers.  The feedback received has so far been very positive, but researching this topic in detail may help bring up new insights into this field, so I'm really excited about it. 

Bye for now,

Robert

Present me! :-)

I came across this very functional tool recently and I love it. It's easy to use and a wonderful way of talking to your clients, students, etc.whenever you cannot meet them face to face or online. It's like Camtasia, IMHO, with the added value that you can be recorded while you make your presentation thus adding a bit of a personal touch!? You can get a free account, but from what I understand you wound't be able to have many presentations up unless you get a plan :-(. They also use the same referral system Dropbox uses so there is a chance of getting more 'storage' e.g. presentation space.  All the same, I think the fact that you can add yourself to the presentation reduces the distance and detached feeling one may get if only listening to the presentation. If you want to try it out here's the link: http://present.me/

Robert :-)

Prezi.com - Wonderful tool for making presentations rock!

My CV in Prezi!

My Glogstered CV on Glogster EDU

Textivate reminds me of Triptico's Word Magnets

I came across Textivate just recently as my tutor on the Games in ELT course I'm doing mentioned it amongst other games with potential for the classroom. I like Textivate because it reminds me of Triptico's Word Magnets. Triptico has many more applications, but this one is also a valid one. Why not try it and see how you can use it with your ss? You can use it in and out of the classroom for HW if you create an activity and then share the link with your ss.

 

Here's the link: www.textivate.com

Gaming is the Way forward!

I just started a new course with The Consultants-E on Play to Learn: Digital Games in ELT and I came across this very interesting article on it. It can be found at http://frugaldad.com/gaming/ . Digital Games are indeed the way forward in learning because of the power they have on people. It is a fast growing industry and so if you can't against them (it is still very much debated whether they have positive effects on people or not) then join them (there is a growing body of research also showing the good sides of it). I have just started this course, but I'm already eager to see what I'll learn from this. The articls and reading materials available on the internet are great and provide a very good base for critical thinking - some are not that good anyways!

Ok, time to go now, but I'll be back with more on this I'm sure.

Cheers!

Source: Frugal Dad

Freemake Video Converter - ABSOLUTELY YES!

I recently bought RealPlayer so that I could convert all my videos easily to MP4 - iPod format. While it was a good idea - not a cheap one - I came across this freeware open source resource which I wish I had known of before! It does even more than RealPlayer and it's free!

I've tried it already and it rocks. I'll continue to use RealPlayer of course - I paid for it! But, I can see I'll become close friends with Freemake Video Converter. It's super easy to use and there is so much you can do with it. Specially, for those of us in education, where the pay and the resources are low, a freeware resource like this one is a must to enhance our creativity and reach out for our students and trainee teachers through all kinds of formats. I personally use my iPod a lot to listen to lectures, study, review via podcasts or videos from the internet while waiting for the bus.  Why not encourage our trainees and students to do the same?