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?

I'm alive!

It's been just over 2 months since my last post and maybe you thought I had given up. Well, I haven't! Unfortunately, it's been 2 long and hard months with our beloved dog going to doggie heaven after 12 years, all the admin for a YL Extension to CELTA, an intensive CELTA course which finished in July and my MA dissertation coming to an end - should be done in a week's time!

So, now that I seem to have a little bit more time, I realised it was about time I came back and said hello.  This blog has been from the beginning, more than a blog for others - I have very few followers - a repository of resources for myself and my teaching and training.  So far it's been great as it all started with a 'I have no idea how to set up a blog' and now's it's over 3 years since I go it so a very good experience all together!

Ok, that was just a little note to say I'm back.  I'm adding the picture of my beloved friend who left us about a month ago. My dear Sirio.

Dropbox is the next best thing!

I've been using Dropbox for a while and after experiencing all the advantages it has first-hand I decided it was time to add a blog post on it.

I've been using it with all of my trainees teachers, colleagues and clients, let alone my own personal stuff, and it's proved to be a success!

SO MANY USES!

You can use it with your students as a hand-in tool for homework and assignments. That way you won't receive lots of emails with attachments which will fill up your inbox. It can also be used to give HW and share any extra resources between you and your students. Oh, and it doesn't have to be just you giving! They can also share files of all types with you! 

Dropbox is also great for pre-course work and preparation. I'm using it to share pre-course work with my trainee teachers and with colleagues. I think that Dropbox is like a wiki-like folder which you can share with others and where all the info you have and share stays there for everybody. Something important to take into account is that you should only copy files INTO or OUT OF it and not drag or cut as the files leave the Dropbox folder if you do it as opposed to copying from one file to the other in your computer where it automatically duplicates the file for you. Although this has it advantages it can also play against you if you're not careful!

All the same, nothing to worry about if one of your students takes a file away! If you are the creator of the folder, you will be able to go to your online Dropbox account and UNDELETE the files needed. 

REFERRAL POLICY

One really smart thing about Dropbox is that you can increase your storage by  sharing it with other people. If they download it to their PCs then you will get extra free storage! 

Here's a link to it: https://www.dropbox.com/ Now, what are you waiting to go and check it out?

CEO Pronunciation Site!!!!

One of my ex-CELTA trainees came across this website and sent me a link a few hours ago - Thanks Steve! I've fiddled with it for a while and I think it's just plain F-U-N! I've spread the word amongst our teachers and will be using it along with the McMillan iPad/iPod/iPhone application (SOUNDS) in my coming teacher training courses! I think it's a great way to get students (of all ages) interested in and working on their segmentals.


Do check it out!  Here's a link: http://cambridgeenglishonline.com/Phonetics_Focus/

Triptico Word Magnets for your IWB

I had already posted an entry about Triptico on 20 March 2010, but time has gone by and now David has come up with an IWB Toolkit which is very useful. There are 23 resources to use although one of my favourites is Word Magnets. You can also use Find Ten (where you create ten categories amongst other distractors for them to find). Another good feature of this application is that there is always a demo so that you can SEE how it works before you start planning your lessons.

If you have access to an IWB this is a toolkit you really want to have. It will definitely help you add variety not only to your YL classes but also to adult ones.

Here's the link - http://www.triptico.co.uk/ You will need to download it onto your computer but it takes seconds and it is worth it!

As with all technology used in the classroom remember that PEDAGOGY should lead TECHNOLOGY!