2nd World Summit on the Knowledge Society - WSKS 2009 6-8 September 2009, Chania, Greece Language micro-gaming: fun and informal microblogging activities for language learning Maria A. Perifanou Department of Italian and Spanish Language and Literature, University of Athens, mariaperif@gmail.com Play can be highly influential in learning. What happens when play becomes informal learning supported by web 2.0 technologies? Practical ideas applied in an Italian foreign language classroom using microblogging to promote fun and informal learning showed that microblogging can enhance motivation, participation, collaboration and practice in basic language skills.

1. Language micro-gaming: fun & informal microblogging activities for language learning 2nd World Summit on the Knowledge Society - WSKS 2009 6-8 September 2009, Chania, Greece Maria A. Perifanou Univ. of Athens

2. In the era of ‘Knowledge Society’…. … nothing can be the same in business, industry, education

3. different way to communicate … to get the information

4. Language competencies & Intercultural skills … key qualifications to work & live in this new reality Technology step… … new methodological approaches

7. Play can promote excitement, enjoyment, a relaxing atmosphere and can be highly influential in learning play-centered approach ‘ Play should not be thought of as peripheral activity or a trivial, but as central to learning’ , Cook (2000)

10. Sharing (resources,thoughts, ideas...) Learning (through conversation) Networking (connecting the classroom to a wider audience) Interacting (providing experiences, perspectives...) Having fun (in a spontaneous, informal and social environment...) Micro-technologies can offer Huge Learning Possibilities

12. Micro-Language Learning: first experiences

14. Case study: Italian Language & micro-gaming

21. 1 st activity: ‘digital stories’ Italian culture 5 groups Create a story Start a story Publish in ‘Incontri italiani 2 ’ &

23. 3nd activity: ‘ Italian music ’ ’ 1st step Each of the 5 groups had to Visit Utube & find the video of one of the Italian songs proposed by the teacher & post it to the class microblogging space (edmodo group’s channel) 2 nd step watch the video that has chosen and then write and post the verses of the song (1 st is the winner) 3nd step Visit the class blog, find & explore the music site italianissima.net Find & correct the verses 4 th step Sing the songs!!!

24. 4 th Activity: ‘cartoon based story’ 1st step : story based on photos of cartoons designs 2nd step: write the dialogue of each photo of the ‘cartoon heroes’ in each turn 3nd step Peer- correction/ Publication of the story (edmodo class’s channel) All class one group!

25. Results

30. Thank you!!

31. [email_address]

32. Questions?