Hello Again, and Drama Activities

 Hello to everyone from lockdown :(! There has been a looong while since I uploaded anything to this blog as I was extremely demotivated due to this terrible pandemic and its outcomes. Even now I feel nothing near cheerful, but as I am a teacher-to-be (a teacher who does not want to become a loser as Mr. Can says) I decided to pull myself together and take better care of my blog. As I did not pay enough attention to my courses I feel like there is a lot to catch up with the school. 

This year my goal is to upload some contents about Drama Classes in ELT, Teaching Language to Young Learners of English, Critical Thinking in Language Classroom, Language Acquisiton and Learning Disorders. These are topics of some of the courses I take this semester and as time goes on and I broaden my knowledge on these issues; I will try to create contents that might be helpful for ELT students like me.

Today I want to talk about use of drama activities in language classroom. Drama activities are very useful in the sense that it enables us teachers to create an authentic context. It integrates language skills in a very authentic way and also non-verbal aspects of communication. It fosters self-awarness in students and activate multi-sensory skills in a contextualized way. Language teachers, especially those who work with young or teenager learner groups should definitely benefit from drama activities at some point. It will make the experience a lot more fun and memorable for students. Today I want to introduce you a very nice drama activity you can play with your elementary and A1 level students to break the ice. It is called "The Sun and The Moon". (Drama Techniques, Alan Maley, Third Edition)

Focus is on simple paired vocabulary on this game. Teacher picks certain vocabulary pair that describe personality traits. Pairs can mean opposite things; for example "outgoing-not so outgoing", "shy-extroverted" etc. Teacher can stick the pair onto the wall, or call them out. "Extroverted over there", "Introverted over there". Instead of personality trait teacher my use the words sun and moon. "The Sun is over there", "The Moon is there." This kind of choice would also neutralize the tension. Instead of moon and sun, teacher may choose to use animals or food; anything that would be interesting to children. Children make impulsive chocies without thinking and go to the corners they choose. Later class discusses why they make that choice altogether. 

This activity can be adopted in many ways. It can be very helpful for a new classroom to break the ice and add a bit of fun to the learning atmosphere.

From now on I will try to create more contents on my blog in higher quality. My next content will be about technology oriented language education. See you soon! :)

Augmented Reality

Hello, today's topic is Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the features of real-world objects are enhanced by technology and computers. The difference between VR and AR is that AR adds digital elements to a live view often by using the camera on a smartphone. Examples of augmented reality experiences include Snapchat lenses and the game Pokemon Go. Virtual reality (VR) implies a complete immersion experience that shuts out the physical world. Now lets talk about how to use AR in education.
AR has the potential to make classes more engagable and information more apprehendable. It is suc an effective way to new and additional methods of studying and teaching. By technologu being involved in education day by day, main criterias in education are creativity and productivity. AR technology is a good way to create student's engagement and creativity. 

Although it is such an effective tool, AR technology is not fully discovered by instructors. One way to use is to create a augmented reality classroom. Augmented reality animated content in classroom lessons could catch students’ attention in our dynamic day and age, as well as motivate them to study. Adding 3D images and interactive games to the process will make it even more motivating. There are also educational AR apps for students such as Elements 4D for chemistry classes and Anatomy 4D for medical school students.

See you next time!

Virtual Reality

Today we are going to talk about Virtual Reality.
Virtual Reality is the use of technology to create a simulated environment. Its not like other 3D artifical environment creaters as it puts the experiencer inside the enviroment. The user is in the position of a experiencer not an observer. It includes as many senses as possible such as smell, touch, vision, hearing.

 Today we'll talk about how to use VR technology in education. First example I want to give is on accessing unaccessible experiences such as taking a look inside a human brain. It is almost impossible that you can get your students experienced such a thing but thanks to VR creating that kind of an artifical environment is possible. Like that it is possible to create a virtual lab environment for your students. These two are most applicable for chemistry classes. INmind2 is game designed by the VR technology to make these things I have mentioned above accessible. In the game students get to experince how a child become an adult and what processes his brain goes through during stages. Another helpful way is museum experiences with guides. Its a good way of using VR for art and history classes. On the google apps and many other platforms students can visit museums that are even oversee. They can zoom, read about the museum pieces and go around the museum. Thanks to VR distance is no longer a problem.

So, these are the ways to use VR in education. Have a good day.

ThingLink

Hi everyone, today we are gonna talk about THINGLINK.
Thinglink is an app where there is a good collection of image and video data. Its works in a way that you upload a video or an image and link it to any content on the internet. For educational purposes teachers can also link the images or videos to educational channels on various platfroms aside from linking them to websites.

It can be good way of creating classroom materials such as portfolios and word walls. It is more applicable for young students aged between

14 as it would take a lot of time and require imagination to create complex materials. Here is an example I made, I hope it will clarify the way you can get benefit from the app. Have good day.

My Thinglink example: https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1323021302188998659

TPACK and SAMR

Hi everyone, today we'll talk about two main issues that can be important for teachers. We are gonna start with TPACK.
TPACK (Technological Pedogogical Content Knowledge)
Tpack is a combination of content knowledge, pedogogical knowledge, technology knowledge requirements. These are 3 components of this system. Technology knowledge is a very critical one as our age's education is deeply connected with technology and it is getting deeper each day. It includes understanding tools that are useful in educational purposes and knowing how to use them in the classroom. It mainly focuses on how teachers can get benefit from technology.
Pedogogical knowledge is about practice of teaching. It refers to both accuracy of knowledge and effectiveness of it. It focuses on how to make process more interesting and utilizing the information teacher has. Content knowledge is the knowledge of teacher about what is supposed to be taught such as concepts, ideas. TPACK is so important as it combines technology use without eliminating the importance of content and pedogogical knowledge.  Therefore it sets up an education model taht is futuristic. To accept TPACK teachers should follow new technologies and improve themselves on how to utilize educational technologies and what is next etc.
SAMR
SAMR is framework created by Dr. Puentedura. SAMR stands for four categorizations of classroom technologies which are Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. These are teh steps to follow while following SAMR model. First two steps are enhancements steps, last two are transformation steps.
Substitution stage is about technology being presented as simple as possible. Such as presenting a slide presentation. 
Augmentation is about increasing students productivity by using technology in a traditional way.
Modification is about students using technology directly to improve productivity and start transformation stage.
Redefiniton is a stage where technology can transform into a student's experience as novel experience example.
See you later. by.

A Review: Socrative, Quizlet and Canva

Hi everyone, today I am gonna talk about three platforms that O think can be useful for educational purposes. We will start with Socrative.
Socrative

Socrative is an interactive web-based student-response system where teachers can create polls and quizzes. Students get involved in system by a room code and their answers and submissions are collected in teacher's database. Kids can also have immediate feedback and app shows students data change over time as well. It also allows students to make collabration assignments. Teachers can use the app to create poll questions with multiple choices or true/false answers around a topic. It's a simple and flexible app and it works on all kind of devices. It is good for students who are not willing to raise hand in the classroom to answer questions digitally. 
Quizlet

Quizlet is a website including visual and text-based study materials for kids. Kids can create flashcards with audiol and visual support. It allows the users to create true/false questions, multiple choice questions and other types of questions. It hase wide range of subject selection. Its effectiveness is debatable as the accuracy of the content created such as flashcards depends on the background information of the user. But, it can be a great free study environment for kids if it is used properly and under control. Teachers can use the app to encourge students creating their own study material by giving assignments on quizlet. Teacher can organize quizlet competitions to increase peer collabration. As it requires collabration work to answer questions it is also a good way of introducing a new subject to your classroom. Its con is that it need supervision of a teacher as the content needs to be checked in terms of accuracy. But other than that it is good way of creating a personal study session.

Canva

Canva is a platform that enables you to create perfect graphic design both for professional or amateur purposes. It is really is with Canva to turn an idea into a stunning design or material to study with. It is so easy to cretae graphics for your presentations with Canva or you can use it to design marketing posters as well. It is an ideal tool for design process. Users can comment on each other works which increases interaction. App offers various templates for your designs which is also another pro. Its features includes; editing your photos, adding text on your images, badges, free icons, photo enhancer, add frame, sticker, add photo blur. You can get most of its features freely.

That was all for today, see you next time.

A Review on Storybird

Hi everyone, today I'll talk about another website that I can regard as useful for teachers: Storybird.

Storybird is an online storytelling app. Students can use it to create texts and can upload by using the Storybird's collection in their pictured books. Students, aside from creating their own, can read other published stories as well. They can repost, like or leave comments on stories they like. When students decide to create there are 3 options: pictured book, long form and poetry. After signing up and logging in students can start creating stories by choosing which format they want to write; then browse Storybird's art collection to find illustrations. Students can also make collabration work on the app as well. Storybird can be used by teachers to prompt student writing. Digital writing is on the rise in our age via blogging etc. They create a more free environment for students to express themselves compared with the classroom environment. So, Storybird is good option to encourge students to use target language on a personal platform for writing and reading skills. Teachers can also create assignments on the app, grade submitted stories.
That was it for today, take care of yourself.

A Review on Seesaw

Hello everyone, so today I'm going to write my thoughts on Seesaw. Let's get right into it.
Seesaw- a robust digital portfolio
Seesaw is a platform that teachers can find useful activities for students. Students can get benefit from it by taking pictures, recording videos, studying on portfolio. Families can also see their child's activities on this platform.

Teachers can give assignmnets to be sumbitted via Seesaw. They can collect works of students on the platform. This makes Seesaw a platform where teacher and student can interact with each other. Teacher can enable comments and likes, students may prevent their works being seen by other classmates if they wish. Teachers can also use Seesaw to engage in families of their students. It also shows student progress overtime. Since teachers can check all assignments at once it is time saving as well. All around the world students and teachers can use the platform to create digital portfolios for educational purposes.

Hope you find it useful, see you!

Language Learning Apps- Busuu, Memrise, Dualingo: A Review

Hi everyone, today we are going to talk about three language-learning apps: Busuu, Memrise, Dualingo. All three of them function quite similar: you sign up, choose a target language, choose a level and then the journey begins. 
Dualingo
Duolingo is a great example of a straightforward language app. It’s really simple to use. You set up a profile, choose your target language, set your weekly goals (only if you’re brave enough) and off you go!

 It sends you task notifications day by day. Four skills are included in these tasks. It is really quick and easy to step next level. It is not very realistic to assume that you can learn a language by using it. It is useful to use if you are travelling to another country and try to get to know a little bit of the local language.

Memrise

Memrise supports over one hundred languages, and even other topics that you may learn. Memrise focuses heavily on learning words and phrases. Lessons begin usually with a couple of new words or phrases. These are pronounced, translated, and you may add your own "mem" to them to better memorize the word or phrase. It is not an app that can make you fluent in any language but help you practice while you do extra main work.

Busuu

Busuu has really well structured courses that are clear and accurate. But it has a small selection of languages and boring activities. It might be useful but we can't say it surpassad the popularity of Dualingo yet. Its premium version has more language choice and better-designed activties that mainly focus on core language teaching.

All these three apps have free and paid subscriptions. They all show similar performance, but among these three I would suggest you to try Memrise. Language learning apps in general do not make you a speaker of a language but help you learn basic phrases maybe; keep that in mind. Have a nice day,  see you!

Meet Kahoot and Pixton

Hi everyone, I am present with another useful application suggestion for my colleagues: Kahoot. Kahoot is an application we used to use so much when I was in the high school. By using Kahoot your lessons can become quite interesting for your students. To join Kahoot students need to downloas the app on their smartphone and then enter the code teacher gives to them. Students pick a nickname before entering the competetition so they can be unknown if they wish which makes the app more prefferable for each type of student. After they join the Kahoot you created, you start the Kahoot and questions show up on your screen; students answers the questions by touching the buttons on their smartphone screen. At the end of the Kahoot you can see the winner. So, creating a Kahoot is also no complex at all, first you sign up the website and then you click the "create Kahoot" option.

 And then you are supposed to entitle your Kahoot and writing questions and answer. You can choose true/false questions as well.

Here is an example of the Kahoot I made:
https://create.kahoot.it/share/learning-the-capitals-of-the-world/94cade3a-9887-488a-b21f-4da0801ac7b4
So let's talk about Pixton now.

Pixton is agreat platform that you can create your own comics. You choose a setting, charachters, dialogues and avatars. Then you can create material for educational purposes.

Thats me lol. You can make your own avatar and add your students' avatars as a classroom photo. 

You can add speech bubbles, your students can also create comics by joining the group you create by entering the class code you give to them. You can give assignments to students on different topics and ask them to create a comic about it on the group as a example of use of it in the classroom.
I hope you find it helpful, have a nice day.

Meet MindMeister, edPuzzle and Nearpod: A Review

Hello everyone! In these days where we see a drastic decline in the number of cases of Coronovirus, I'm here to talk about another useful website for instructors. Today we are going to talk about MindMeister. MindMeister is a website that enables you to create online mind-mapping apps. There are many different templates you can use such as brainstorming, aligned, org chart, free, planner so on. It is good way to produce classroom materials or organize your day. Here are some maps I've done to make you understand the website better.

Now, let's talk about edPuzzle. 

It enables both teachers and students to create content, resources, voice-overs, comments, quizzes and videos. It can be used for pre-teaching; you can use it to match videos with texts. You can teach pronounciation by using its voice-over feature. You can choose content from Khan Academy, Tedx or curriculum library. There is no appropriateness filter so you should pre-check the content you plan to use. There are also many boring and not helpful videos, so it can take a little time while searching for content.

Finally Nearpod:

n

It creates a platform for active learning to occur as its feedback feature. Teachers can use this to prepare poll questions, maps and diagrams and make students actively engaged all these activities and get immediate feedback. Students can watch videos and take notes, design slideshares with each other. Creating presentation is a time-consuming thing and can get a little expensive; not all features properly functions on every device. 

So, that was it for today, see you next time.

My Edmodo Review

Edmodo is an application that connects teachers and students on a digital platform. We cannot deny that technology has a important place in our education system nowadays. It offers many opportunities such as making communication process between students and teachers faster and easier to happen. Edmodo, which is one of those apps, offers a platform where students and teachers can send messages to each other, teacher can upload assignments and make announcements.

One negative effect of the application is that it can give server error from time to time. Apart from that it is quite easy to use without any problem. So as you can see in this screenshot, there are 5 sections: classes, planner, discover, messages, notificaitons. To join a class, you need an edmodo code given by your teacher. After you have joined the class you can check the announcements and assignments on "latest activity" section. You can switch classes from "my classes" section. 

You can send messages and get notifications on what's new. There are not any other functions to mention as it has a basic design which makes it really easy to use. Have a nice day see you next time!

Review on Padlet

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is doing well  and no one got sick. During these depressive quarantine days there is absolutely nothing I'm zealous about but here it is a new review of mine.
So Padlet is a platform that enables you to create a online bulletin board. It actually helps you organize your life in a way since you can add any content to your board; you can add your notes, to do list, your design or anything else. If you are learning a new language, you can add common vocabs on your board and set it as your background, that would help you memorize the words more easily. As it enables you to add images, audios, videos and links you can create various content an Padlet.
One way of using Padlet is for educational purposes. You can create brainstorming maps, you can short stories, you can create a matching activity for students by adding images, you can make short lists etc. You can create a material for your classroom easily on Padlet. I created short lists including categorized subordinating conjunctions. I can use this type of content for high school student, it can be presented in the classrom as a visual content.
You can add the link below and reach my samle Padlet material.
Have a nice day!:)
https://padlet.com/zeynepkaya2018/okoyxu2hzgr1zwz5

Creating Animation

Hi everyone, here is my first attempt to create an animation. It's kind of a failure but I believe it will get better by doing practice overtime. I used Toontastic app, you can use it both on computer or mobile phone. It is the less complicated animation-maker app I've found. Other applications you can use are Pawtoon and Animaker. In this animation I just tried to understand how the application works so it does not have a content don't give it too much attention. App is very simple, first you choose what type of story you want to create then you choose the setting and characters. After that you move the characters as you wish and when you tap on them they dance. I couldn't find adding dialogue feature so I assume it does not exist (if it's not please let me know! :) but you can add background music to your animation. I hope this video helps you understand the graphics quality of the app. Have a nice day.

Here is my animation:

My First Podcast Experience

Hi guys! So today I tried to record a podcast for the first time for my elective course Material Design. I used Anchor App while doing this, you can also use Spotify if you want. I wanted to make something simple and brief and I tried to summarize Direct Method from my notes as much as I could. Again, I know it's quite amateur but App enables you add background music that sometimes may hide the amateur intonation. I'm sorry for my pronounciation mistakes in advance, hope you find it helpful. Have a nice day!

Here is my Podcast: https://anchor.fm/zeynep-kaya

My First Vidcast Experience: Voki (Speaking Characters)

Hi everyone! Since this is my first post ever on this blog, I'd like to start with a short introduction of myself. My name is Zeynep and I am a sophomore at Istanbul University- Cerrahpasa, English Language Teaching Department. I created this blog as a task for one of my elective courses and I'll try to create content related to ELT. Today I'd like to start with a concept called VidCast. As you know, as teachers we have to chase technological opportunities we have in our day to make teaching process more effective. Using visuals, audio materials, videotapes when teaching a new language will not only help you get the attention of your students but also help you increase the efficiency of tour teaching method. Using such materials in the learning environment is crucially important and very helpful especially if your students are young learners or beginners. So here it is my first attempt to create a vidcast for my elective course Material Design in English Language Teaching. In this VidCast I used the Voki Application and made my visual figure talk about the differences between "the use of may and might" in English. Application is very simple, not complicated at all. After you choose a character you must write down the box that pops what you want your character to say. First click on create button, then you will se a character is given already. You can change clothes, gender, background of your character from the column on the left. After you establish the look and background of your character click on the audio sign at the bottom of the column and write down what you want your character to say. That's all! If you're also trying to create that kind of material, you should give it a try. My work looks very amateur though I have to admit, but at least I am more familiar with this process than I used to be now. I hope you find it helpful!

The link for the website is down below: 

https://l-www.voki.com/
Here is my Vidcast: https://www.voki.com/site/pickup?scid=16238135&chsm=c17183da7ee9efc0c30e013250dcf0a1