TESOL CALL-IS's Library tagged VSL →  View Popular

If you are an iMac user and have been frustrated by not being able to access the iPhoto or iMovie databases directly, this Browser is helpful. In addition to the iLife media, you can browse bookmarks from Safari, et al., and drag and drop any folder to the source list to add it to your library. Works with a small window, so it is fine for smaller size monitors.

www.karelia.com/imedia - Preview

tools multimedia VSL

"Stupeflix is a REST web service that turns your pictures,
videos, and text into professional videos."

Looks interesting! You can add video to your Website from here.

www.stupeflix.com - Preview

video tools multimedia slideshow project-based VSL

You can insert text here and have it read to you in a fairly good electronic voice. This might make a nice listening practice for student writers who want to hear how they sound, or for new adult readers who are just getting an idea of print to sound connections. The upgraded (paid) version of iSpeech has premium voices, but the sound quality is very good in the free version.

www.ispeech.org/convert.text.php - Preview

listening reading adult_learners tools VSL

A video introduction to this feed reader. Looks fairly simple to use. A teacher could have all students in the class use the Reader for individual blogs or news items, etc., requiring that students read a certain number of them daily (for intensive courses), or weekly.

www.google.com/view - Preview

reading tools adult_learners VSL

Wallwisher can be used to post messages to someone or several people, but it can also be used for educational purposes. The page works like a set of sticky notes. In this page, Nik Peachey has asked teachers to collect resources or links to good Web 2.0 tools. It will take some time to go through them all. The disadvantage is that there is no inherent organizational method. New messages pop up wherever, sometimes even over other messages. But it might be great fun to have a class of students or student-teachers try it out and collect resources for you. For example, you could have students look for good Grammar sites on the Web, then have them explore each other's and write "comments" in another Wall wisher post. Another problem is that you can put in a link to an image or video, but it may be hard to get in a URL too (very limited number of letters allowed). So it's hard to use like blog or wiki.

www.wallwisher.com/...teachersweb20 - Preview

Web_2.0 writing research reading tools online_lessons adult_learners VSL

"For Teachers: automated homework assignment, grading, and reporting
For Parents: manage student success
For Students: learning with immediate feedback in students' preferred environment, the WEB
"

www.codidact.com. - Preview

grammar reading writing vocabulary online_lessons VSL adult_learners

"Between 2006 and 2008, while teaching “Ethics for Teachers” to EFL teacher
trainees at “Profesorado del Liceo Cultural Británico” (Buenos Aires – Argentina
), and certainly encouraged by the inspiring discussions that were taking place at TESOL EVO workshops, I had the chance to explore the integration of student blogs into the course. Class members were invited to start their own blogs (which I then linked and followed by means of a Feevy students in turn chose to embed into their blog templates) and weekly post their reflections on assigned readings. Since the topics discussed took in sharing values and personal experiences, this seemed a perfect occasion for fostering individual expression. Serving other aims of the course – the development of interculturalism and appreciation of diversity – the weekly assignment also involved posting a comment on at least an entry made by a partner."

gladysbaya.edublogs.org/...g-blogging-to-empower-learners - Preview

blogs writing reading culture adult_learners pedagogy teachers VSL

"Mit dieser Episode fahren die Präsentationen der Ergebnisse des ganztägigen Workshop der AG Podcasting am Duisburg Learning Lab fort. Zwei Ergebnisse werden hier Präsentiert! zum Einen die Auseinanderstzung mit einem Sachtext, was wir scherzhaft als “Verpodcasten” bezeichnen, also die mediengerechte Aufbereitung des “unbekannten” Textes mit dem Ziel die Hörerinnen und Hörer über den Inhalt adäquat zu informieren. Der zweite Teil wird für die Freunde mehrerer Sprachen von Interesse sein. Als Podcast “Babel” widmete sich diese Gruppe dem Problem der Mehrsprachigkeit. Vielen Dank den engagierten Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern für die Bereitschaft sich hierauf einzulassen.

Abschließend noch die Anmerkung: Wir würden gerne die Ergebnissse der anderen Gruppen ebenso präsentieren. Doch war verabredet, teilweise noch etwas nachzufeilen, teils sich erneut in z.B virtuellen Räumen zu treffen. Damit wir den Verlauf von Bildungimdialog ein wenig planen können, Bitten wir diejenigen, die noch etwas beitragen möchten, um Kontakt per Mail an unsere im Impressum genannte Addresse. Vielen Dank!"

userpages.uni-koblenz.de/...index.php - Preview

podcast media bilingual listening VSL

"Welcome to elearnspace! This site and blog explore elearning, knowledge management, networks, technology, and community.

Many resources exist for elearning, yet a model of how the pieces fit together is often missing. elearnspace has been organized to present a whole picture view of elearning"


George Siemens' collection of interesting articles, mainly about connectivism.

elearnspace.org - Preview

pedagogy teacher-training teachers VSL

"In the original 2004 article I stated: "The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe. Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today. A real challenge for any learning theory is to actuate known knowledge at the point of application" (Conclusion section, � 1). I find Verhagen�s (2006) critique falls at precisely this point.

The core of what I wrote in the initial article is still valid: that learning is a network phenomenon, influenced (aided) by socialization and technology. Two years is a lifetime in the educational technology space. Two years ago, web 2.0 was just at the beginning of the hype cycle. Blogs, wikis, and RSS�now prominent terms at most educational conferences�were still the sandbox of learning technology geeks. Podcasting was not yet prominent. YouTube didn't exist. Google had not released its suite of web-based tools. Google Earth was not yet on the desktops of children and executives alike�each thrilled to view their house, school, or business in satellite images. Learning Management Systems still held the starting point of most elearning initiatives. Moodle was not yet prominent, and the term PLEs (personal learning environments) did not exist. In two years, our small space of educational technology evolved�perhaps exploded is a more accurate term."

elearnspace.org/...connectivism_self-amused.htm - Preview

pedagogy connectivism teacher-training teachers VSL

"There are ten tasks and they can be done in any order, except for the tenth one which should be last. Please feel free to use and share these tasks and by all means leave any comments or suggestions for improvement. I will also be hosting a teacher development week using and discussing these tasks and the related tools from 7th to 15th December 2009 on the SEETA Moodle site: http://www.seeta.eu/ so by all means come along for that if you want to share ideas and learn a bit more together."

These ten tasks are a nice resource for teacher trainers, or if you are a teacher and want your students to try out one or more of the tools (not all of which are really Web 2.0 tools, BTW). I've used most of these before, but it is a pleasure to use them on the IMac Intel-based with very high speed Internet.

If you hit this site before December 2009, do join the SEETA discussion at their Moodle.

nikpeachey.blogspot.com/...velopment-task-for-web-20.html - Preview

tools pedagogy online_teaching teachers teacher-training VSL

"Collect up gifs related to any vocabulary area you want to teach or revise. Embed them in an html page on your desk top and start a collection. Each time you add new ones send the html page to your students. (They will need to have a live connection on their computer to be able to view the gifs)
Ask them to make notes of any words they relate to the images they see."

This is another neat little tool with notes on how to use it from the very extensive collection by Nik Peachey. I'd suggest having the students make animated vocabulary gifs of words they want to learn/find useful.

nikpeachey.blogspot.com/...animating-vocabulary.html - Preview

vocabulary media project-based adult_learners VSL

You can capture photos from a Webcam, upload images from your computer, use Flickr images, or borrow images from a Website to create an animated gif image.

Very nice little tool, and it also can be uploaded on Twitter.

gifup.com - Preview

media tool video project-based adult_learners VSL

"Twurdy is actually based on Google, but it analyses Google results for readability, so it can help you to find more lower level texts for learners without you having to read through every result from Google to see if it's simple enough.


Just type in the topic of the text you need and click on your Twurdy type. You have a choice of three different Twurdy types. The differences are mainly speed (how fast you want your results) vs complexity (how thoroughly you want the results analysed) I would recommend choosing Twurdy with Pop as this will analyse the number of word on the page, length of sentences, number of syllables per word and also the popularity of the words in the text."


After finding a good text, you could create lessons with Hot Potatoes for it.

Nik's blog entry also includes related links for reading, such as "Prompting reading speeds" and "Comparing Texts to aid Noticing"

quickshout.blogspot.com/...ead-text-for-lower-levels.html - Preview

reading online_lessons vocabulary syntax tools adult_learners VSL

These are comprehension questions that go with the Death by PowerPoint video.

www.digitalang.com/blog - Preview

media adult_learners peddagogy online_lessons VSL

A very useful demonstration of how to make a good PowerPoint presentation. Might be very useful for helping students design their projects.

www.slideshare.net/...death-by-powerpoint - Preview

media adult_learners pedagogy VSL

"This is a tutorial on how to create a presentation with voice-over on MS PowerPoint, and then converting it into a Flash file using AuthorPoint Lite add-on. Next, you can upload the presentation to WiZiQ. You can share and embed it on any website. You can also use it for your WizIQ virtual classes. "

This is a nice little tutorial for a free app -- thanks for the tip from Hanaa Khamis, Webhead.

www.wiziq.com/...41033-PPT_voiceover_final0910 - Preview

tutorials teacher-training online_lessons video media how-tos VSL

Jane Hart's blog on various aspects of technology and social networking.

www.c4lpt.co.uk/index.html - Preview

professional_development teachers teacher-training VSL

"Stunning Flash Websites for free. 1,823,517 sites built with Wix."

Might be an interesting way for high schools to get into Web design. Easy to follow help with a drag and drop editor, no technical skills required. You can add Flash-y photos and moving buttons, art and music, etc.

www.wix.com - Preview

tools project-based content-based adult_learners VSL

"Online programs for recording, uploading, mixing, and interacting. Free!"

Teachers can record audio with their computer, create mashups including uploaded photos, embed conversations on Webpages (wiki, blog, or homepage), podcast on your own channel, and make or use interactive worksheets, practice process writing and handwriting, upload video and add subtitles, etc. Lots of great apps.

clear.msu.edu/...index.php - Preview

listening speaking writing pronunciation podcast video tools multimedia VSL