6. Audio/ Video Tools: Podcasts

Podcasting is the new way of distribution of audio and video files. These files can be listened any time by only downloading them into an Ipod or an Mp3 or Mp4 player. The term "podcasting" comes from the words "Ipod" and "broadcast" together,and it was used by the creator of this new trend (Adam Curry)to refer to his audio archives on the Internet in 2004.

Podcasts can be about any topic. Some of them resemble radio shows, since podcasters record several different episodes on the same topic, which can be downloaded and listened (or watched)at any time, and they include music pauses and even commercials. There are many hosts that offer the opportunity to listen, watch and record your own podcast for free, such as: Podbean.com and Mypodcast.com; and there are others which only allow you to subscribe and listen to or watch your favorite podcasts, such as Digitalpodcast.com.

Podcasts can be very useful for ELT. They allow teachers to record about almost anything, from a piece of conversation in the language or a list of new vocabulary, to a summary of what has been done in class or the pronunciation of irregular verbs in past -which are sometimes difficult for Spanish speakers. Students can benefit from this, since they only have to have an Ipod or an Mp3/Mp4 player to download and listen to their teacher. Another great advantage of this new tool is that teachers can select from a variety of podcasts online for learners to listen and practice their listening skills on the go.

Here is an audio welcome to this blog, which is the first podcast I recorded.

Powered by Podbean.com

This is another audio tool. Check it out!

Comment | Copy This

5. Wikis

A Wiki is a collaborative site. In a Wiki, everybody can create a page, share information, or edit content in an easy way, usually, by having only a password. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia in a Wiki browser where people can collaborate to create pages and edit information about almost any topic, and nowadays, it is the biggest Wiki in the world. The term "Wiki" comes from the name of a bus in Hawaii which the developer of the first Wiki (Ward Cunningham) found interesting. For him, Wiki means "quickly" since the upgrading of content is very fast.

A wiki can be used for educational purposes. In fact, there are a lot of wikis used to practice English outside the classroom. Apart from eliminating geographical barriers, ELT Wikis are very useful, since:

• First, a Wiki allows teachers and students to share information about their English classes in a very fast way.

• Second, it allows students to edit content, participate and get involved in their own learning.

• Third, it connects them with the new technologies while they learn the language and practice their reading and writing skills in a fun way.

I have created a Wiki for my little preschool students where they will have the opportunity to review everything we have been doing in our English classes and participate in new fun online activities to continue learning the language. Of course, these learners are not able to edit pages; nevertheless, I asked for their parents' assistance in this matter. If you are interested in visiting my site, just click here. Although I chose Wikispaces to start my own wiki, you can also visit and sign up to other free wikihosts, such as Wikidot, Pbworks, Zohowiki and Wetpaint.

To know more about this topic and its advantages, click on the following links:
http://articles.sitepoint.com/article/what-is-a-wiki
http://wiki.org/wiki.cgi?WhatIsWiki

You can also visit this interesting Wiki for English Language Teachers from Pearson-Longman

4. Web 2.0: Blogging

Blogging is one of the new trends in this century. A personal blog allows people to publish experiencies and comments about something in which they are interested. People blog on almost everything: from daily experiences to politics, recipies and even pets. Each comment is posted in a "reverse-chronological order"; this means that people read the last entrance first. They are composed of text, but they may also include images, audio or video, and many times, they include links to other similar blogs. A significant feature of blogs is that people can comment on entries and let the writer know his/her point of view about the topic.

Blogs are being used for educational purposes. Many English teachers around the world are now using this tool to enhance communication among their students while they practice the language. A topic is posted by the teacher and students can share their opinions and thoughts about it and, at the same time, they are practicing their language skills. As an English teacher, I find this tool very useful, since it is another way of making students think and use the language outside the classroom walls.

If you want to create your own blog, you may try these free blog hosts:
Blogger.com by Google
Wordpress.com
Blog.com
Okayblog.net

To know more about this topic, click on the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog
http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging

Check out this presentation with some of the reasons for encouraging students to blog.

3. Web 2.0 vs. Web 1.0

The World Wide Web is a system of documents which people can access through the Internet. Users can view pages that might contain text, images or videos, and navigate among them. However, there are applications in these web pages which make them different. Web 1.0 refers to static web pages and information flow in one way, that is, material that users can “only read;” in contrast to Web 2.0, in which readers can contribute with the information and interact socially with the author leading to a two-way information flow.

Web 2.0 is interactive: users can share information, participate and collaborate with material and content of the page, whereas in Web 1.0 users are more “passive” and they can only view the information provided. You have an example of Web 1.0 here, and one of Web 2.0 here.

Web 1.0 started in the 60’s and it is used for designing any page created before the development of Web 2.0. Some advantages of this phenomenon are that Web 2.0 permits the free flow of information and it can be consulted from different sources, it allows people to communicate for a fraction of the cost of a phone call, and it also allows them to use the Internet according to their specific needs. However, Web 2.0 also has its disadvantages. For instance, dependence: people depend on this tool to communicate and when connection fails, they cannot communicate. Another problem is copyright: information is freely shared and people do not earn profits for the work they do. One last disadvantage is saving information in digital form without having a back up and work can be lost in a matter of seconds.

In my own experience, both Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 can be used for different purposes. Hence, I took advantage of this and created a static page on Wordpress.com (If you want to see it, click here) to have a professional website so that people know who I am and what I do professionally speaking. Besides, I work on this blog to exploit the benefits of Web 2.0, to involve my readers and create a two-way information flow.

To learn more about this topic, click on the following links:

http://www.exforsys.com/tutorials/web-2.0/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-web-2.0.html

http://www.wisdump.com/web/top-10-web-20-winners/

2. Current Trends on ICT in ELT

Technology is always improving. Everyday we get surprised by new devices and upgraded ones. Hence, it is difficult to list new trends in ICT. Some of them, however, stand out regarding ELT. For instance, we have currently the use of laptop computers at school, digital media (such as images, videos or movies) and Web 2.0 (such as blogs and wikis.) These are the general trends around the world. Nevertheless, in Venezuela, it is difficult to follow or to keep up with these trends. Some of our schools have old computers, and not all students can afford laptops. TV sets and video beams are also expensive and Internet connection is not always available. Therefore, teachers frequently cannot take advantage of new technology and new trends in ICT.

In my own experience, it is difficult to work with new technologies where I work. We do not have computers at our school; however, children have computers at home and they like to use them. My project is going to be adapted to this. I am going to create an internet site for them to learn and play in English. I want to create a wiki where I can upload information, homework, games and links according to their ages, so that they can access from home and practice their English. It will be necessary that their parents assist them in this matter. The idea of this project is to involve my students in the use of new technologies and contribute to their future digital literacy, while they have fun learning. Moreover, this project will contribute to the ICT world since my wiki could be used for other students to practice English, and other teachers can take advantage of these materials and activities. Besides, they can use my site as a starting point for their own projects, activities and new ideas in ELT in general.

1. What is Digital Competence?

Nowadays, technology has taken over the world. We use technology everyday and it permits not only to communicate and stay in contact with others, but also to sell goods and services. Everyday, jobs require high-tech and computers, and employers and employees need to be proficient in their use.

Digital literacy refers to the knowledge, work and skills to understand and create information with digital technology. Those who are digital literates have the knowledge and skills to work with computers, internet, and cell phones, among other digital devices, to interact with society and to communicate effectively in different contexts. All these skills are called digital competence, or e-competence, which has to do with acting and interacting with computers and other digital devices to search, find, process and communicate information. Digital competence includes the use of the internet, e-mails, word processing, spreadsheets, database, and information storage. However, digital competence not only includes knowledge: values and attitudes toward digital tools have to be taken into account. According to Peña López, lecturer and researcher from the ICT the society,

“Digital competence is reached in the strategic use of different skills in several spheres of action which lead to their respective dimensions of the digital competence:

• Sphere of learning: learn and generate knowledge
• Sphere of information: Retrieve, evaluate and manage information
• Sphere of communication: how we relate with others, communicate, etc. in digital environments
• Sphere of digital culture and digital citizenship: civic behaviour, political participation, security, etc.
• Sphere of technology: use and manage technological devices — not the first sphere, not the only one, but one in five"

Teachers should help in the development of this digital competence. Wikis, blogs, podcasts and other web tools can be used in the classroom to this purpose. They can also take advantage of the popular social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and Skype, that usually youngsters use to communicate and to be in contact with their friends.

To learn more about this topic, click on the following links:

1. Digital competence in ICT
   
2. Digital competence for learning
   
3. International Journal of Digital Literacy
   

Welcome to Reflections on ICT in ELT

Hello everybody!
Welcome! This blog is intended to develop and share my knowledge about Information and Communication Technologies in English Language Teaching. You are warmly welcome to leave your thoughts, questions or comments.
I hope you find it interesting,
Fernanda