Using Etherpad and Twitter to Teach and Learn Foreign/Second Languages

Technology Workshop Using Etherpad and Twitter to Teach and Learn Foreign Languages Facilitated by Shigetake Ushigusa M.S. Student in Educational Technology Purdue University sushigu1@purdue.edu Wednesday, April 15th, 11 – 11:30 A.M. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Twitter and Etherpad Synchronous Asynchronous (=Same time) (=different time) Twitter Text Etherpad Text

Preview • Introduction (5 minutes) – Brief assessment • Demonstration of Etherpad (8) • Demonstration of Twitter (7) • Summary (5) • Questions and answers (5)

Etherpad • Etherpad: – is a synchronous collaborative editing tool. – works entirely on the Internet. – does not require log-in. • Etherpad in foreign language instruction: – Realtime textual communication • Helps students learn at a distance • Facilitates students’ collaboration

LgX= {Spanish, German, French, etc.} Etherpad for LgX202: Example • Who is this example useful for? – For all teachers who know how to use email and browse the Internet.

Etherpad for LgX202: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Etherpad Class 1 -Introduction: Syllabus In this course, Etherpad will be used to collaborate with other Class 2 students and with the Homework 1 instructor. Etherpad is a synchronous collaborative editing technology on the Internet.

Etherpad for LgX202: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Etherpad Class 1 -Introduction: Syllabus Use of Etherpad is not required, but you are recommended to Class 2 use it. It is a very strong Homework 1 collaborative tool.

Etherpad for LgX202: Example -Schedule- Class 2: In-class Activity Class 1 -Introduction: Syllabus Form groups of 3 students. Introduce yourself to each other Class 2 in each group. Present the In-class activity and following in front of the class (in follow-up homework English): -Short introduction of team members -Strengths of the team -Name of the team

Etherpad for LgX202: Example -Schedule- Class 2: Follow-up Homework Class 1 -Introduction: Syllabus Write the following in the target foreign language: Class 2 In-class activity and -Short introduction of team members follow-up homework -Strengths of the team -Name of the team You can use Etherpad, email, or face-to-face meeting to collaborate.

Etherpad: Hands-on • Shigetake is an intermediate learner of LgX. • He will phone you during your office hour. • He will ask you to help him with LgX composition. • You will open the email from “Etherpad”. • You will edit and correct his sentences.

Etherpad + Instant Messenger (& text-chat) (video, voice, drawing) Create a shopping list collaboratively (1 minute video)

Advantages of Etherpad • Double textual channels (pad & chat) • + Instant Messenger

Twitter • Twitter: – Social-networking (one-to-many and one-to- one) – Micro-blogging (140 characters) • Twitter in foreign language instruction: – Communication tool • Manage a course • Increase linguistic/cultural input and output • Twitter account

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example • Who is this example useful for? – First time teacher-users (and more) • How are class Twitter accounts set up? – Provide your and your students emails to Director of LRC.

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Twitter : Class 1 (Sample syllabus statement is available at -Introduction: Syllabus http://ushigusa.wikispaces.com/ ) In this course, you will be expected Class 2 to use Twitter, a micro-blogging device on the Internet. Class 3 Class 4

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Twitter : Class 1 You will have your class Twitter -Introduction: Syllabus account to communicate with the instructor and other students throughout the semester. Class 2 (Send an email to Director of LRC to Class 3 get an account) Class 4

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Twitter : Class 1 If you are new to Twitter, you are -Introduction: Syllabus advised to use your account only for the course. For personal purposes, create another account. Class 2 Class 3 Class 4

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Twitter : Class 1 How? -Introduction: Syllabus -Use a computer or mobile Class 2 phone -Log in to Twitter at least once a Class 3 day Class 4

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Twitter : Class 1 -Introduction: Syllabus Why? -Instructor’s posts: Class 2 Homework assignments, Changes of schedule Class 3 Word for today Class 4 -Other students’ posts: Questions and comments Target language output

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example -Schedule- Syllabus statement of Twitter : Class 1 -Introduction: Syllabus Here are some etiquette and tips regarding how to use Twitter: Class 2 -Use of proper language -Read Twitter terms of service Class 3 -If you decide to use your mobile, check costs of texting with your mobile Class 4 -Cyber stalker (Do not reply to any outsider’s message.)

Twitter: Hands-on • The next 6 slides are also in the handout. • You will log in to www.twitter.com . – The username and password (in the slip) have been created only for the practice purpose. • In this activity, please take the role of a student. Shigetake will be your teacher.

Open Internet Explorer If you find this symbol  Click on it and go to the next page. If you cannot find it  Please raise your hand. Shegetake will assist.

Twitter site (1) Type username and password. (2) Click “Sign in.”

Here is your username This part means “Type (just for this your message in the white demonstration). box below.” Please ignore what you already have in this part of Twitter. You will receive the instructor’s message, which is more important.

Instructor (sushigu1) will type a message here and click “update”. The message will be sent to all of you. Please disregard this part for now.

You will receive a message from sushigu1 (instructor) soon here. The most recent message will be added to the top.

(1) You can type your question to the instructor, then click “update”. Instructor’s message. (2) The question will be displayed here.

Specifying Receivers of your message Hello, everyone! Will be sent to all. @sushigu1 I have an important question. When is the deadline? Will be sent to sushigu1 and copied to all. Dsushigu1 This might be a dumb question, but when is the deadline? Will be only sent to sushigu1.

Advantages of Twitter: for Beginning teacher-users • Helps classroom management (reminders, schedule changes, etc.) – Students’ mobiles can be activated. • Can be used to provide “Word/Expression for today!” in the target foreign language (Example: Yo solo é que no sé nada. It means ….)

Advantages of Twitter: for Advanced teacher-users • Anonymity increases output. (Activities such as “20 Questions” or “Discussions” can be conducted in the target foreign languages.) • Twitter can increase authentic language and cultural input ( Twitpic) • Teacher can conduct a poll ( Twit Poll)

Summary : Advantages/Disadvantages for Foreign Language Course Etherpad Twitter Advantages 1. Distance tutoring 1. Management tool 2. Collaborative work 2. Linguistic and 3. Good for Spanish, cultural in/output German, French, etc. 3. “Cool” and appealing to college students. Disadvantages 1. Not ready for 1. No voice / video Chinese, etc. yet 2. Some mobile phones 2. Some students may don’t show texts in not have a webcam. foreign languages. (This table is also found in the handout.)

Compared to Adobe Connect and Blackboard: Synchronous Course Communication Management New “Cool” Tools Etherpad Twitter Easy to learn. Big Educational Adobe Connect Blackboard Tools Too many functions for beginners to learn

Possible applications for teaching Etherpad Twitter -Instructional tool -Course management tool -Instructional tool Distance tutoring / conferencing Announcements Student’s group collaborative project Word for today Various collaborative service-learning Information gap projects for creating documents in the target language Communication with Kutztown students who are studying abroad Inviting a guest who lives in the target culture

Practice Etherpad 1. Six of you will receive an Etherpad email. 2. Open the email. 3. Follow instruction there. Write a “shopping list” for a taco party for the faculty: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. http://etherpad.com/ep/pad/view/83VGTRv55D/uMqO26EDFJ

Practice Twitter: “20 Questions” 1. Log in to Twitter using the same username and password. 2. Shigetake has someone famous in mind. 3. Ask questions. (Example: “Is this person still alive?” “Is this person a male?)

Questions?

Misc./Appendix 1.Etherpad: Getting started 2.Etherpad: Edit, save, and retrieve 3.Twitter: Getting to know 4.Twitter: Mutual “following” among classmates 5.Twitter: 20 questions 6.Twitter: 3 techniques

Etherpad: Getting started

www.etherpad.com Type www.etherpad.com and push the enter key. www.etherpad.com Go to the next page.

Etherpad site Click “Create new pad” and go to the next page.

Etherpad collaboration page

Etherpad: Edit, save, and retrieve

Etherpad: Open, invite, co-edit/chat, save, and retrieve • Open: Type etherpad.com and push enter. • Invite: Type an email address (in right column) • Co-edit: You and the email recipient will edit a text together. • Chat: Under “Chat,” you can text-chat. • Save: Click “Saved Revisions” and click “Save Now”. • Bookmark the text in “Favorite”: Click “View”. Use the browser to bookmark it in “Favorite”. • Retrieve: Find the document in “Favorite”. Click “ View and edit current pad”. (If your browser does not allow you to bookmark the URL, you can copy and paste the URL in a Microsoft Word document (or email).

Twitter: Getting to know

Twitter: Breakdown Username “Home”

Twitter: Breakdown Still “Home”: This part works like INBOX

Twitter: Breakdown Still “Home”: 2 followers When Gyutaro1 says something publicly, it will go to the followers’ Homes.

Twitter: Breakdown Still “Home”: Gyutaro1 follows 5 people. When any of them writes a message publicly, it will come to Gyutaro’s Home (here).

Twitter: Breakdown Still “Home”: This works like bookmark. Bookmark good posts so that you will evaluate their Twitter performances efficiently later. Everyone’s messages are viewable here.

Twitter: Mutual “following” among classmates (including the instructor)

Mutual “following” is required All students are “following” the instructor now. This means the instructor’s messages will go to the students’ inboxes.

Mutual “following” is required The instructor will ask every student to follow everyone else in the class next.

“20 Questions”

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example 1 Twitter Homework 1: The instructor has a famous person in mind. Ask him/her only yes/no questions. (Examples: “Is this person alive?” “Is this person a female?”) Read questions and answers exchanged. When you figure out the answer, ask “Is this person name ?”

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example 1 • The instructor will send a name of a famous person (for example, Madonna, Dalai Lama, etc.) to half of the class (=Group A). • Any members of the other half (Group Q) will start asking only Yes/No questions (such as “Is this person an American?” “Is this person a leader?”) • Any members of Group A will answer the question by only saying a complete sentence, such as “Yes, he is an American.” or “No, he isn’t an American.” • You can also add “Maybe,” “Close,” “Absolutely,” etc. But do not give any specific hints such as “She is a singer” or “He lives in Asia.” • The best question and answer is “Is she Madonna?” “Yes, she is.” and “Is he Dalai Lama?” “Yes, he is.”

Twitter: 3 Techniques • To send a message to all: – Just type your message in the box under “What are you thinking?” and click “Update.” • Ignore the weird question of “What are you thinking?” at the top of the Twitter home page. • To send a message to a specific person, while copying the same message to all: – @sushigu1 Are you going to the library by yourself? • To send a message only to a specific person: – D sushigu1 I would like YOU to go to the library with me (and no one else other than sushigu1 will see it).

Using Etherpad and Twitter to Teach and Learn Foreign/Second Languages

by Shigetake Ushigusa

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 8

Statistics