INTEGRATING VOICE TECHNOLOGIES INTO EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE Michael Coghlan January 2008 Becoming a Webhead Seminar

Four most common forms of voice communication on the web (Jan, 2008) Skype and Instant Messengers (YM, MSN) Podcasting Virtual Classrooms/Web Conferencing (Elluminate, Centra, iVocalize) Asynchronous Discussion Boards (Wimba, Vaestro, Voicethread)

Four most common forms of voice communication on the web (Jan, 2008)

Skype and Instant Messengers (YM, MSN)

Podcasting

Virtual Classrooms/Web Conferencing (Elluminate, Centra, iVocalize)

Asynchronous Discussion Boards (Wimba, Vaestro, Voicethread)

NEW PRACTICES PROJECTS Beyond Text (2005) http:// btresource.flexiblelearning.net.au/index.html Media on the Move (2006) http:// mediaonthemove.flexiblelearning.net.au /

Beyond Text (2005)

http:// btresource.flexiblelearning.net.au/index.html

Media on the Move (2006)

http:// mediaonthemove.flexiblelearning.net.au /

TARGET GROUPS English as Second or Other Language Learners (ESOL) Low level literacy Those with little recent formal learning experience Those with poor keyboard skills Those who prefer an auditory style of learning

English as Second or Other Language Learners (ESOL)

Low level literacy

Those with little recent formal learning experience

Those with poor keyboard skills

Those who prefer an auditory style of learning

Global Conclusions Relatively easy to train people in the use of voice tools – PC skills in the general population higher than you might think For types of learners targeted in this project it definitely results in greater participation and satisfaction – for them it was quicker and easier

Relatively easy to train people in the use of voice tools – PC skills in the general population higher than you might think

For types of learners targeted in this project it definitely results in greater participation and satisfaction – for them it was quicker and easier

Global Conclusions Saves times for students, but NOT for teachers Allows for individual monitoring/feedback/encouragement in ways not hitherto possible

Saves times for students, but NOT for teachers

Allows for individual monitoring/feedback/encouragement in ways not hitherto possible

ISSUES: Public v Private Space Students feel strange posting in public spaces Many students do not have private access to computers Reduces anxiety of talking in front of an audience Tip: use a collaborative approach if students are posting in a public space

Public v Private Space

Students feel strange posting in public spaces

Many students do not have private access to computers

Reduces anxiety of talking in front of an audience

Tip: use a collaborative approach if students are posting in a public space

ISSUES: Voice allows for complex tone (compared to uniform tone of written text)

Voice allows for complex tone (compared to uniform tone of written text)

Complex v Uniform Tone Using voice in online and elearning environments has been slowly but surely creeping into the educational landscape for several years now. Pioneers of online voice technologies were using them as early as 1997, but the proliferation of the range of available tools and the increase in the speed of Internet connections has made it possible for any teacher with a simple microphone to easily augment their teaching methodologies with online voice tools.

Using voice in online and elearning environments has been slowly but surely creeping into the educational landscape for several years now. Pioneers of online voice technologies were using them as early as 1997, but the proliferation of the range of available tools and the increase in the speed of Internet connections has made it possible for any teacher with a simple microphone to easily augment their teaching methodologies with online voice tools.

Asynch Synch Oral Written Dialogic Minimalistic Reflective; combination of dialogic and monologic Most structured form of communication COMMUNICATION AXIS

COMMUNICATION AXIS Asynch Synch Oral Written

Other Tools for Threaded Conversations Chinswing example (advanced EFL listening) Vaestro MyChingo (by Mobatalk) example VoiceThread Voice Thread example another example

Chinswing

example (advanced EFL listening)

Vaestro

MyChingo (by Mobatalk)

example

VoiceThread

Voice Thread example

another example

AUDIOBLOGGING Phone blogging (mobile or moblogging) Recent examples in blog at http://mikecogh.blogspot.com/ done using Hipcast ( http://www.hipcast.com/ ) now available @ US$5/month

Phone blogging (mobile or moblogging)

Recent examples in blog at http://mikecogh.blogspot.com/ done using Hipcast ( http://www.hipcast.com/ ) now available @ US$5/month

Media on the Move How can you use podcasting?

How can you use podcasting?

Online Casting (Media on the Move) – Issues: Production – who? How? Why? What? Uploading (ftp) Storage – space? How long? Bandwidth Students – consumers or creators? RSS feeds (subscription) Ownership/Copyright

Production – who? How? Why? What?

Uploading (ftp)

Storage – space? How long?

Bandwidth

Students – consumers or creators?

RSS feeds (subscription)

Ownership/Copyright

Online Casting (Media on the Move) – Solutions: Whole system solution Lectopia Podzone Wimba Podcaster Program Specific Solution Gipps External space Podomatic, Odeo (web) Hire server space

Whole system solution

Lectopia

Podzone

Wimba Podcaster

Program Specific Solution

Gipps

External space

Podomatic, Odeo (web)

Hire server space

“ iPod therefore I am” (Steve Jobs, Apple CEO) “ You pod therefore you learn English”? NO…… “ I pod I listen music!” http://www.hofstra.edu/images/adm_freshmen_student.jpg

“ You pod therefore you learn English”?

NO……

“ I pod I listen music!”

Current Practice – what is being podcast? Lectures instructional training materials for the workplace Interviews with experts or industry figures ( Can be recorded long distance using Skype ) Languages - foreign languages, ESOL/ESL (e.g. http://pod- efl.wikispaces.com/ELTPodcastProjects

Lectures

instructional training materials for the workplace

Interviews with experts or industry figures ( Can be recorded long distance using Skype )

Languages - foreign languages, ESOL/ESL (e.g.

http://pod- efl.wikispaces.com/ELTPodcastProjects

Current Practice – what is being podcast? Oral activities (e.g. Who Said? Literature Game ) Music education Oral reporting and presentations by students Learner-created radio programs (e.g. Room 208 ) For more possible educational uses see http://seanfitz.wikispaces.com/educational+uses+of+podcasting thanks to Sean Fitzgerald for this list

Oral activities (e.g. Who Said? Literature Game )

Music education

Oral reporting and presentations by students

Learner-created radio programs (e.g. Room 208 )

For more possible educational uses see

http://seanfitz.wikispaces.com/educational+uses+of+podcasting

What are YOU podcasting?

What makes a good podcast?

What makes a good podcast? Keep them brief. Anecdotal info says about 8 mins is ideal; definitely less than 20 mins. (However, many popular radio podcasts are about 1 hour duration….) Interview/discussion format works well (beware background noise!) Use music as backdrop, or to connect segments (suitable music available at http://freeplaymusic.com/ ) To script or not to script?

Keep them brief. Anecdotal info says about 8 mins is ideal; definitely less than 20 mins. (However, many popular radio podcasts are about 1 hour duration….)

Interview/discussion format works well (beware background noise!)

Use music as backdrop, or to connect segments (suitable music available at http://freeplaymusic.com/ )

To script or not to script?

More Podcasting Resources See http:// users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/vol/pod_wshop.htm http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/1460848008_30bc3b72cf_m.jpg

See http:// users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/vol/pod_wshop.htm

Other Uses for Voice

NEW PRACTICES PROJECTS Beyond Text (2005) http:// btresource.flexiblelearning.net.au/index.html Media on the Move (2006) http:// mediaonthemove.flexiblelearning.net.au /

Beyond Text (2005)

http:// btresource.flexiblelearning.net.au/index.html

Media on the Move (2006)

http:// mediaonthemove.flexiblelearning.net.au /

Other Resources Exploring the Use of Voice Online http:// users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/fll/vol_resources.htm A year’s inquiry: Informal: http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/fll/blog.htm Formal: http://www.elearn.wa.edu.au/kt/edition05/html/npra_michael_coghlan.html http://users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/mater/easy_voice.htm

Exploring the Use of Voice Online

http:// users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/fll/vol_resources.htm

A year’s inquiry:

Informal: http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/fll/blog.htm

Formal:

http://www.elearn.wa.edu.au/kt/edition05/html/npra_michael_coghlan.html

http://users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/mater/easy_voice.htm

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? [email_address] http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/