UCAELI Instructor Technology Workshop

February 10, 2006, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Objectives: Today we will spend time in the computer lab exploring Podcasting, the Track Changes features of Word, the Computer Competencies for UCONN students and faculty, and Inspiration software.

You may work from this website to access podcasting sites, to download the activity with Track Changes and to access WebCT. I will give each of you the Inspiration software demo disk to try out on your own time.

We can explore independently according to our interests and come together on the UCAELI instructor listserve or WebCT teacher site to discuss our findings, ideas and reactions. Enjoy these exciting tools and sites!

The wonderful world of Podcasting!

What is a podcast? Click here for Wikipedia's definition

What are the applications for ESL? Here are a few I've thought of:

  • Podcasts offer a variety of constantly changing topics for listening material (both authentic and made for ESL) that are free to users
  • Students can download podcasts and listen to them on computers or MP3 players or iPods
  • Students can control their listening, rewinding, pausing, shadowing, writing down what they hear
  • Some podcast sites include accompanying text that can be used to test listening comprehension with or without teacher support
  • Podcast listening assignments can be given as homework to prepare students for discussions in class
  • Teachers can create their own podcasts: lesson or exam instructions, listening exercises, feedback on student papers or other work, etc.
  • Students can create podcasts to practice speaking English
  • You can subscribe to a podcast and automatically receive new recordings (see below for instructions)

Podcasts for ESL: (Note: I've added these to the UCAELI English Website page under "Listening")

You can also see a huge list of podcasts on iTunes. Open iTunes and click on Podcasts in the window on the left. You can narrow your search according to your interest.

To subscribe to a podcast in iTunes: Open iTunes>Advanced>Subscribe to a podcast and enter the URL of the podcast.

Suggested activity: Choose one of the above podcasts listen to it. Think about whether the podcast you chose would be appropriate for your current students. How might you use this podcast as part of a lesson or as an assignment?

Using the "Track Changes" Tool in Word

What is it? Track Changes is a feature of Microsoft Word that is useful for editing on the computer. You can mark changes on student's paper in a way that shows their original work and the correction you have made. This is done by the use of colored fonts, underlining, strikethrough, italics, and/or highlighting. The changes made by each person who edits a document will appear in different colors.

Applications for ESL:

  • Students will gain practice in submitting typed papers and editing on the computer
  • Students can go through each correction made and accept the change
  • Teachers can highlight corrections and provide a key that students will use to make corrections themselves
  • When students produce second or third drafts, they can leave Track Changes on to show the sequence of their corrections
  • Students can peer-edit papers and each person's edits will be identifiable

Suggested activity: Download my instructions for using Track Changes. I've provided a sample of student writing to practice editing. If two people do this activity at the same time, you can compare your editing with eachother. I've also provided a sample of my editing of the same piece of writing. You can look at my sample before or after you edit. Do you think you will use this tool in teaching writing? Why or why not?

  • Click here to download Track Changes Instructions and Writing Sample
  • Click here to download Kristi's Sample Editing

The UCONN Computer Competencies

What are the Computer Technology Competencies?
General Education requirements specify that every undergraduate student will be competent in each of these eight areas. Upper division schools and colleges may set additional technology competencies for their undergraduate students.

Why should UCAELI instructors know about these?
Many of our students will go on to UCONN or other colleges. They will need to use these tools as students. You may need to assist students in using some of these tools.

Most of you have been added to the UCONN Computer Technology Competencies WebCT course when you submitted your NetID to me recently. Have any of you completed any of the competencies yet? Hmmmmm.

Suggested Activity:
Log on to WebCT and take a look at the 8 competency areas. Choose one of the modules and work on it. Complete the module assessment when you are ready.

After you have reviewed all 8 of the individual modules, you can take an overall assessment and receive a score.

Inspiration Software

What is it?
The software allows users to create mind maps or visual diagrams to represent ideas or concepts or to organize for writing or even for oral presentations. It is a tool that visual learners will especially enjoy.

You will be given a demo of this software to try out here or on your own. This is not specifically ESL software.

Suggested Activity:
Try out the software and think about whether you would be likely to use this with students. Give me your feedback to help me decide whether we should purchase the software for our lab.

Here is the link to Inspiration's website in case you want additional information.