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Blogging with Students: how to Integrate Internet Tools and Project Work
Rita Zeinstejer
Classblog• Sharing Learning at Ning http://ritamz.ning.com/• Opened: March 2008• CAE students: 18• Age: 17-20• Number of members today: 74
objectives• familiarize learners with technology • allow them to practise English in authentic,
meaningful situations • contact English speaking people from
other countries • raise awareness of the importance of
going global • help students hone the four skills • expand learners' cultural
understanding and horizons
• main aim:
• successful communication
• most important feature:
• tagging
Two environments
• blog: Sharing Learning
• wiki: Sharing Culture
blog
• Classblog: http://ritamz.ning.com/
• Project work• Discussion forums• Links for extra practice• Tools and apps
• Individual blogs
wiki
• Project work with Webheads http://caeb2008.pbwiki.com/
• collaborative writing• maps• images• photos• audio
Why a wiki…?
both allow uploading of files and photos by different users
• Blogs• structured• highly personal• focus: process• administered by one
individual• editable by creator• chronologically organized
• Wikis • flexible• intensively collaborative• focus: content• open to anybody
• editable by anyone• organized in innumerable
ways
Project work with Webheads
• Collaborative project
“What you know about the interviewee’s country
and what you’d like to know”
Stages of the Project
• Introduction: class discussion “purpose of studying a second language”.
• Countries and teachers involved: brainstorming knowledge on different cultures, info uploaded
• Agenda: • setting the rules• preparation: in class• wiki: in MM room• live interview• recordings uploaded• follow-up: in the classroom• reporting: written task
What the project with ten members of WIA from nine different countries implied for my students:
• honing listening and speaking skills• expanding vocabulary• using the language in authentic
situations• using English with native/non-native
teachers of the language• communicating safely• learning about other cultures• boosting their self-confidence• raising awareness on the importance of
learning English
Project work with students fom Korea
• Prof. Sook Whan Cho, from International Writing Exchange Projects (IWE) http://www.writeit.to/sys/
• essay postings• classblog exchanges• individual blogs exchanges
What the project with students from Korea implied for my students: • using English in authentic contexts• communicating safely• gaining cultural input• gaining self confidence• gaining new contacts• exposure to new experiences• using state-of-the-art technology
Essays published in our classblog on:
• international marriages : example of weddings in
Japan and Korea, with photos/images• differences between oriental/occidental cultures:
costumes, food, festivities, table manners, etiquette, art.
Tools and apps
• Glogster: poster maker http://www.glogster.com/
• Google maps http://maps.google.com/
• Animoto: http://animoto.com/
• One sens : message generator http://www.onesens.com/
• Voicethread: group conversations around images, docs and videos http://voicethread.com/
What the use of other Internet tools added to my students' knowledge and experience: • Tools:• Glogster: poster-maker: uploading images, writing• Videos: watching and listening comprehension• Google maps: useful tools for locating partners in
the world• Games: One-Sens: decoding messages, some fun• Articles: reading comprehension from authentic
sources and material for discussion and analysis• Extra Grammar practice: links to other sites• Voicethread: group conversation around images,
documents and videos.
Students’ feedback• http://ritamz.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?
id=1985596%3ABlogPost%3A4621
• WIKI url
• http://bloggingwith2008students.pbwiki.com/
Most people are mirrors, reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are windows, bringing light to bear on the dark corners
where troubles fester.The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.
Sydney J. Harris
Thank you!!!!
