1. Assignment 4 -
http://learnenglishict.blogspot.com.ar/
blog entry #1
Welcome to We Learn English
There is no denying that technology is part of our lives. As teachers, we cannot ignore this fact
and continue teaching in traditional ways, pretending that computers and the Internet do not
exist. On the contrary, teachers must foster student’s autonomy and for that purposes,
computer related skills are a must.
Learner’s independence is particularly important in language learning, since this process does
not finish with formal education.
One important concept in this topic, is that of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs)
Personal Learning Environments have been defined in many ways, but the ideas present in all
the definitions are: collection of works created using web tools, may be displayed in a blog,
controlled by the learners themselves.
A blog, wich has been defined as "a web page with regular diary or journal entries" (Dudeney
& Hockly, 2008) can be used as a PLE according to the above mentioned definitions
The main idea behind this blog is to create a space where students can learn about different
tools and then apply them. And also, to provide students with a place where their work can be
displayed and shared.
Entry #2
2. How to use Odosketch
How to use Odosketch
Odosketch is a site where you can draw and then see a replay of the process of
your drawing. I find this site useful because as you can see the process, it
can be used to tell a story while you see the actions happening.
To use odosketch, you have to enter the site http://sketch.odopod.com/ and click on create a
sketch:
Once you have clicked on create a sketch, you will be taken to a blank page where you can
choose the tools and just start drawing. Once you have finished , if you want to see it, you can
click on reload and you will see the animation
However, if you want to save your drawing, you will have to register. Once you click on save
(next to reload) you are taken to the registration page after you click on OK:
You enter all the necessary information and then, you’ll be ready to save your sketch.
To do an activity using odosketch, visit this entry: Working with Odosketch - Activity 1
Entry # 3
How to use Penzu.
How to use Penzu
3. Penzu is a site which you can use as your journal or diary. You can write there as if it were a
word document. I think this website is really useful because you can use it to write whatever
you want, from expressing your feelings to writing a composition for homework. Besides, as
students spend so many hours on the computer, writing on a website seems to be just natural.
To use Penzu, you must enter https://penzu.com/home and click on create your free journal.
When you click on create, you will have to register.
Then, after you register, you’ll be able to start your diary. You’ll be taken to a blank page
where you can start writing. Your first entry will look like this:
Then, you can start writing. To enter a title, you click on ‘enter title’ and then you just press
enter and start writing. When you have finished your entry, you have to save it.
To save it, you click on the ‘save icon’ that you will find on the black tool bar.
4. Then, you will be ready to create a new entry, just by clicking on the + button on the tool bar
This is an example of an entry on Penzu. Click on this link and you'll be able to see
it: https://penzu.com/p/f1dfd9cf
To work with Penzu, visit this entry: Working with Penzu - Acitivity 2
Entry # 4
How to use One True Media
One true media is a site in which you can create videos by uploading pictures. You can also
choose the music, the animation and you can add text. I think it’s a useful site because it
students can display their work, tell a story or share a personal experience or anecdote,
To use one true media, you have to enter www.onetruemedia.com and register:
5. After you register, click on create video.
Then, you will have to upload the pictures you want to use. You can browse pictures on your
computer:
6. Then you just have to click on select files, and choose the pictures you want to use in your
video.
When you have selected all the files, you click on upload:
After you click on upload, you will see a preview of your video and also you can change the
music, the effects, edit the sequence and add text. If you want to do any of these things you
just click on what you want to change, and that’s it!
Once you have finished with all the changes, your video will be ready!
Here you can see an example of a video created using One True Media:
7. Entry # 5
Fodey is a website in which you can create your own newspaper article. In order to do that,
you have to enter Fodey and there you create your article, it’s not necessary to register!
The site looks like this:
First, you choose the name of your newspaper and write it under ‘Name of the newspaper’
Second, you write the supposed date of publication of your article
Third, you choose a headline
Finally you write your piece of news and click on ‘Generate’, then your article will be ready!
It will look like this:
8. To download the article to your computer, you click on download your image. And that’s it!
This an example of an article created using Fodey:
Entry # 6
You are going to work with Odosketch.
9. In this website you can make a drawing and then see the animation of you drawing from the
moment you started it.
In this activity you’re going to make a drawing and tell the story or anecdote of your drawing
as we see the animation.
) You must plan you story carefully. Think of this situation: you and your friends are talking
about last summer holidays. Your story/ anecdote must be about this topic. Once you have a
clear idea (you can take down notes in order to remember it) you can start your drawing.
2) When you have finished your drawing, you will present your story to the rest of the class, at
the same time they watch the animation. You will have 5 minutes to practice it and you can
replay the animation as many times as you need. (take into account that the speed of the
animation is quite fast, so you should draw as many details as you can)
3) The teacher and you classmates will tell you whether they have understood the story or not,
if they liked it or not and any other comment that might be useful.
If you have any doubt on how to use Odosketch, you can visit this entry: How to use Odosketch
Evaluation criteria:
The teacher will take into account the following aspects of your story/presentation:
a) was the task accomplished?
b) Language used in the story
c) Use of the tool
Entry # 7
You are going to work with Penzu.
10. 1) Your teacher will read the story ‘Chameleon’s Colours’
2) After reading the story, you have to enter www.penzu.com
3) You are going to re-write the story but from the point of view of any of the other animals in
the story.
You can choose the rhinoceros, the snake, the zebra, the lion, etc. when you have chosen your
animal, you can start writing your story.
4) Remember to save your story when you finish writing it. (bear in mind that you have to
create an account to be able to save your work)
If you don't remember how to use Penzu, you can visit this entry: How to use Penzu
Evaluation criteria:
The teacher will take into account the following aspects:
a) Was the task accomplished?
b) Use of language in the story
c) Use of the tool
11. Entry # 8
Working with Fodey - Activity 3
You and your classmates are going to create a School Newspaper: first, we are going to analyze
some of the features of newspaper language and after we have read some articles, each
student in the class will have to write a piece of news related to our school and write it out
using the newspaper generator.
1) You should decide on the topic of your piece of news. It can be about:
- a new teacher or student at school.
- a teacher who retires
- the 7th forms that graduate this year
- the school concert
2) Enter Fodey and write the article. Write aproximately 80-100 words
3) Remember you have to choose:
- Name of the newspaper
- Date of the article
- Headline for your article
12. If you have any doubts, you can visit this entry: How to use Fodey
Evaluation Criteria:
The teacher will consider the following aspects when evaluating your work:
a) Was the task accomplished?
b) Use of language
c) Use of the tool
Entry # 9
Working with One true media - Activity 4
You are going to work with One true media.
You have to create a video about your summer holidays
1) Before working with the website, you have to choose approximately 7 pictures from your
last summer holidays.
2) Once you have selected the 7 pictures, you enter the site and start creating your video.
3) In the video, you must write:
- where you went
- who you went with
- what you did there
- how you travelled
4) Then, you must choose a song for your video and it will be ready.
5) When all the students have finished, you will present your video to the rest of the class.
13. If you don't remember how to use One true media you can visit this entry: How to use One
true media
Evaluation Criteria:
Your teacher will consider the following aspects to evaluate your work:
a) Was the task accomplished?
b) Use of language
c) Use of the tool