Even more FREE language tools!!

I found this site which has an interesting video and shares some language learning tools that aren't mentioned in the book. ALL FREE!! :)

http://freelanguage.org/

Chapter 11 - Networks and Personalized Learning

Chapter 11 begins with frequent use of the term Web 2.0. As the book mentions, it is the tools made available by Web 2.0 that have changed not only education but business and communications in general. Today, individuals have the opportunity to customize a lesson or personalize any inquiry right at their fingertips. With the invention of iPhones and the like, the opportunity use web 2.0 to customize anything of your choosing is right in your pocket.

I had never really considered Facebook as an educational tool. The only applications I was aware of were time passing games or entertaining quizzes. The book mentions an application called “courses” in which students were able to share their notes and start discussions. I think its an interesting idea to use Facebook to like student-to-student and teacher-to student.  I’m guilty of checking my Facebook account at least once a day and you know today’s high school students check it nearly once and hour. It’s a great way to communicate quickly and the students can’t claim they didn’t get the message.

In addition to Facebook, teachers can also use blogs, and webcasts to communicate with their students and other teachers.  These applications give the users the ability to share information instantly and with any number of people. Imagine the possibilities for educational sharing using the networking of Facebook.

I love the idea of using the Internet to learn a new language. Both of my parents were fluent in French and my grandparents all preferred to speak in French, but some how it was lost in my generation. I hate that! The book mentions Livemocha as a site where you can be tutored free in the language of your choosing. I think this is awesome. What a great tool for foreign language teachers, or for anyone who wants to learn a language but doesn't have access to a classroom.  I am definitely going to look into using the site. Hopefully it won’t be long until I can eavesdrop on the “secrets” my mother will only utter in French!!

The book mentions many different tools that are available online for mentoring and tutoring in foreign languages but there are webcasts, podcasts, blogs and video sharing sites that are great for tutoring all subjects, and can meet the individualized needs of students. 

New to me!

We have only had two classes and already I have been exposed to a couple of tech tools that I've never hear of. I'm really excited to look further into Second life, Edtechtalk.com, and glogs.

Since I currently don't have much experience in front of the classroom, I absolutely love hearing stories from teachers about how they used technology to enhance a lesson. Please feel free to share your experiences using new technologies either as a teacher or as a student of a teacher who used technology effectively.