Tom Walton Easy, fun, meaningful tasks with technology

Tom Walton

Easy, fun, meaningful tasks with technology

With a partner…

1. Show your partner an object of personal value

2. Find out all you can about your partner’s object

3. Photograph it

Do it #1

#1 Single digital image +text

Original idea: TechLearning.com “Portraits of Learning” Example: enmibolsillo.blogspot.com

Steps

• Take out (bring?) object of personal value to selves

• Show to partner

• Partner discovers all about object, why important

• Partner takes photo(-s) of object

• Partner writes text

• Swop roles

• Edit text and (single, best…) image

• Share texts and images (blog, Flickr, noticeboard…)

Sharing photos

• On camera /phone

• Via Windows Explorer

• Noticeboard in classroom

• Flickr.com

• Blog

Easy, fun, meaningful tasks…

Easy…•Uses technology available in school

•Fast, easy to set up

•Free

•No installation

•Can’t go wrong (in theory!)

•Limited post-class production

•Technology-light

Fun…•Creative

•Enjoyable

•Shared

•Motivating

•Successful

Meaningful…•Tasks with “answers” that matter to people

•Real questions

•Have an end-product that is shared

•Lead to real language use… and to language learning

Using technology to create and share end-products

With a partner…

1. Look around you for an object (possibly the same one as before)

2. Photograph it from an unusual angle/very close up

If you are waiting for a camera:

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a disposable camera for this project?

Do it #2

#2 Mystery pix on a disposable camera

Original idea: Susana Ortiz

Steps

• Single disposable camera provided to first pair

• Pair have 48 hours to take 3 photos of “mystery objects” (no “telling”!)

• Camera then handed on to the next pair

• Pictures printed, shared via noticeboard

• Guessing game, orally/via pieces of paper

mobile phone, digital camera, webcam

blog, Flickr…

via blog comments

#2b Adv.+Disadv. of disposable camera

• Having to develop (cost)

• Limited number of photos

• Can’t upload (without scanning first)

• Can’t edit (unless scanned)

• … ?

• Easy !!!

• Greater mystery

• Shared experience

• More of a challenge

• … ?

#2b Alternatives…

• Eyes

• Feet

• Shoes

• Pictures of city…

• Etc.

Editing images

• Paint *

• Picnik.com *

• Picasa *

• Gimp *

• Fireworks, €400 (?)

• Photoshop, €985 (?)

*free

Do it #3

In groups of at least 4…

1. Discuss when language learning actually occurs

2. Storyboard a tableau vivant using stick figures

3. Create tableau

4. Photograph it

Roles: Director, camera person, actors/actresses…

DON’T just do it: CREATE it (#3)

Original idea: Tom Walton

#3 Language learning taking place

#3 Language learning taking placeSteps

• Discuss when language learning takes place, in what circumstances, what factors affect it..

• Storyboard tableau vivant with stick figures

• Create tableau (roles: director, cameraperson, actors…)

• Take photograph(-s)

• Share and present photographs (+text?)

open class, but poss. on blog, as ppt. presentations

keep, share, scan (?)

noticeboard, PowerPoint, blog…

Original idea: Tom Walton

This is my classroom…

(a) where’s the technology…?

(b) what’s the technology being used for…?

twalton@bcn.ihes.com www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/eltblog/blog/

door window www.whiteboard

what’s the technology being used for…?

• creation, sharing, engagement, interaction, dialogue, owning and belonging…

where’s the technology…?

• not getting in the way of language learning

twalton@bcn.ihes.com www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/eltblog/blog/