Audioboo

WHAT is Audioboo?

Audioboo is an online recording website in which you can create your own podcasts for learning. Users can make various kind of recordings such as interviews, conversations, musics, narrations and so forth to be applied in language teaching or learning. Besides that, this website provides the medium of entertainment and leisure as users are not being controlled in their recordings-making and elicit their creativity. Apart from that, Audioboo is a useful tool to record any reports or meetings which is beneficial for language teaching. Users can find that Audioboo is very flexible as it is linked to various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Posterous. Moreover, it is even linked to iTunes in which other people could hear the recorded podcasts there.Further information can be obtained in the following
website:

http://audioboo.fm/

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It is FREE again!

(b) The podcasts or recordings can be shared via medias such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and so forth.

(c) Useful for listening practices in classrooms.

(d) Easily recorded and uploaded ( We can even record and upload it through mobile phones! )

(e) Easy intructions and procedures in producing a podcast.

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Adequate facilities needed. (i.e. Internet access, phones, computers, microphones and others.)

(b) Recording is limited to a duration of 3 minutes only.

(c) Public/ No privacy. (i.e. The podcast is shared publicly.)

(d) Registeration for an account is needed.

Just The Word

WHAT is Just The Word?

Just the Word is an online word or phrase finder to provide various aids to learners when they encountered some difficulties. This website is a better mean than online dictionary, as it's function is not just limited to words meaning or thesaurus, but it also help learners in writing as it provides the service of 'Learner's Errors'. This new function provides opportunities for learners to figure our various kind of errors made by people and of different languages.

Apart from that, this website also provides a list of combinations of words for the lexical word that we are searching for. It lists down a variety of categories such as Noun, Verb, Adverb, Adjective, Preposition and so forth, and it shows us a list of word expressions or combinations that we frequently use in modern English. From there, we can a wide relations of meaning for that certain word. Besides that, this website also shows us how strong that word is used with certain partners or collocations. The green bar besides the word is the indicator of how frequently or strong that word is joined with another particular word.

HOW?

1. Go to the following website!

http://www.just-the-word.com/

    

2. Enter the word/ phrase.   

 

3. A list of word relations is shown (Noun, Verb, Adverb, Adjective, Preposition and so forth)

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It is FREE!

(b) Provides different categories or forms for a word.

(c) Display some examples of sentences.

(d) More choices and services (i.e. Two modes are provided: Thesaurus and Learner's Error)

 LIMITATIONS:

(a)  None discovered yet.

                                                                          

WordSift

WHAT is WordSift?

WordSift os a tool that allows teachers to insert text and play with the results. WordSift has almost the same function as Wordle, however, it only shows the most 50 used vocabulary or words of the chosen text. Besides that, it also brings up some Google images for selection and the Visual Thesaurus word cloud web on the page to show synonyms of the words.

Learn the STEPS! 

How to use WordSift? It is easy! All we have to do is find an appropriate text that is benefial for students' learning and copy-pase into the blank space provided, as shown in Diagram 1 below. After we have pasted it, hit the SIFT button and WordSift will automatically help us todisplay the most 50 frequently-used vocabulary.

DIAGRAM 1  

    

 

What's next? We then proceed to Diagram 2!  As displayed in the diagram below, there are words of different font sizes. Images are available for all the words which are sorted out by WordSift. We just have to click any of the tags shown at the bottom of the words. At the same time, we can employ the Visual Theasaurus which appears in the page too if we want to know the synonym of the word. 

DIAGRAM 2

     

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It introduces the most frequently used vocabulary to students. (i.e. It sorts out the 50 most used words.)

(b) Again, it is FREE! 

(c) Able to learn synonyms by using the Visual Theasaurus.

(d) Enhance students multiple skills (reading, writing and speaking).

(e) It provides examples of the particular sifted word (i.e. How to use the word in our daily lives.)

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Limited control of the maximum number of words that can appear in the word cloud (unlike Wordle).

(b) The word cloud cannot be printed out. We need to print the whole page.

(c) Limited choice of learning (i.e. The sifted words are frequently used; students may not have the 

     opportunity to learn new vocabulary.

(d) The need of adequate facilities such as Internet access and computers.

Wordle

WHAT is Wordle?

Wordle is an essential tool for creating word clouds using the chosen words or texts. Wordle is a combination of colours, words, font sizes and layouts. We can insert a maximum number of words into the word cloud, and it is not as limited as compared to another website called WordSift.

Below are Example 1 and Example 2: The differences between these two examples are in terms of the word layouts and colours. As we can see in Example 1, the word clouds are in black and white. All the words or texts are in horizontal layout. However, in Example 2, the words are created in several colours and there are different layouts identified. Some words are in horizontal layout, and some are vertical. In addition, font sizes can be edited according to word preferences.

 Example 1

 

    Example 2

ADVANTAGES:

(a) Introduce vocabulary in a more attractive manner.

(b) Word clouds can edited according to individual preferences (i.e. Font size, styles, colours and choice of

      words.)

(c) It is FREE.

LIMITATIONS:

(a) None discovered yet.

PIM PAM PUM

WHAT is PIM PAM PUM?

Basically, PIM PAM PUM is all about teaching through visualisation by using authentic photos or images in slides. It is a far more interesting and exciting tool system than using just Microsoft PowerPoint. The presentation slides produced by this application can be more authentic-look and attractive. There are two useful websites introduced:

1. Bookr

2. Bubbler

 

(A) Bookr

Bookr is a tool where people can search some Flickr images and employ them in their photobooks or slideshow presentations. This website is accessible and it is very easy for users to find their wanted images. To apply the selected image into the presentation slides, users just have to drag the chosen photo to the slide page and add text. Next, the user just have to publish it. An example of Bookr is shown below:

                       

bookr :: pimpampum

Procedures of using Bookr:

1. Type in the keyword to find your images or photos.

  

2. Select your image/ photo.

   

3. Insert caption/ add text.

      

4. Drag into your presentation slides/ Publish your work!

     

 

(B) Bubbler

Meanwhile, Bubbler has almost the same function as Bookr. After users have found their chosen images and add into their presentation slides, they can actually apply Bubbles to insert the captions or texts. This function enable readers to have a clearer understanding of what is meant by the selected images. Then, users could publish their posts or slides. Examples of Bubbler are shown as below:

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It is FREE.

(b) Attractive and interesting ( Lots of visualisation)

(c) Does not violate the copyright conditions as the images are taken straight fron the Flickr website.

(d) Provide authentic materials for classroom activities.

(e) Improve students' creativity and skills of writing.

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Time consuming ( i.e. A variety of images and selection of appropriate images.)

(b) Inadequate facilities such as Internet access and computers may restrict the use of this application in

     classroom teaching.

(c) Need careful edition. (i.e. Once the slide is published, it cannot be edited anymore.)

(d) The font and font size cannot be change; restricted selection.

(e) Students may find inappropriate photos if they are requested to apply this application.

BrainShark

 WHAT is BrainShark?

BrainShark is a current technology system in which people are allowed to upload their  narrated presentations online. This website enables us to insert some creative narrations into our work such as PowerPoint presentation, photo album, video, word documents and so forth. Besides pictures and videos, users are also allowed to insert background music into their work in order to generate public's interest and maximise the desired effect of their presentation. Further information can be accessed via the attached link below:

http://www.brainshark.com/

ADVANTAGES:

(a) Allows creativity and innovation.

(b) It is FREE.

(c) Easy and compatible with a variety of sources

     Examples: PowerPoint, Word documents, Podcast, Videos, Photo albums

(d) Giving the opportunity to improve and enhance individual's communicative skill (speaking mainly).

(e) Can be set as public (shared) or private (privacy).

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Time consuming ( in order to produce a good narration).

(b) Can only be done if there are computers, Internet access and microphone.

(c) Disable for downloads.

(d) No active interaction (face-to face interaction).