This document summarizes a presentation about leveraging technology to create knowledge-building environments for second language learners. It provides examples of technology tools that can be used such as TitanPad for collaborative writing, Vocaroo for audio recording, and Dropbox for file sharing. It also gives examples of classroom frameworks that integrate these tools, such as having students discuss and watch a video, answer questions in TitanPad, and write about the topic in their own language. The goal is to enhance learning through collaboration and interaction rather than just adding technology for its own sake.

1. Leveraging technology to
create a knowledge-building
environment for L2 learners.
Nathan Hall and Michael Burri
University of Victoria
http://wallwisher.com/wall/levtech
Twitter hashtag: #levtech

2. Introduction
Technology in the classroom - best
practices
Cross section of technology tools and how
to put them into practice
General classroom frameworks
Group session
Experience
Questions

3. Technology in the classroom
- best practices
Teach English, not
technology
Don’t add technology
just to add technology
Enhance, not replace
Encourage
collaboration
Support the learners

4. "The essential feature of e-learning extends
beyond its access to information and
builds on its communicative and interactive
features. The goal of quality e-learning is to
blend diversity and cohesiveness into a
dynamic and intellectually challenging
'learning ecology.' ... We now can provide
freedom and control within a vibrant
community of inquiry." Garrison and Anderson (2003)

5. TitanPad Wallwisher
• Real-time collaborative • Create an online
writing document ‘corkboard’
• Can be password • Others can add ‘sticky
protected notes’
• Free • Can be used with tablets
and phones
• Free

6. Vocaroo VideoMessageOnline
• Online audio recorder • Online video recording via
• Can host audio in unique webcam
web address • Can record up to 2
• Can upload audio files minutes
•Free • Hosts the video
• Free

7. Screencast-O-Matic Dropbox
• Creates a video recording • Creates a folder on ‘the
of your screen (screencast) cloud’
• Video can be uploaded to • Sync with phone, tablets
YouTube or downloaded • Share files
• Can record up to 15 • Free(mium)
minutes
•Free

8. Markkit Wordle
• Highlight text on a web
• Create a ‘word cloud’
page
online
• Share annotation with
• Download and print
others
• Free
• Free

9. Weebly Edmodo
• Create an online
• Create dynamic class and classroom in a social media
student websites style
• Education version • Private
• Free(mium) • Free

10. Mike’s ISEP Courses Nathan’s Edtech Site
mikeisep.weebly.com nathanhall.ca

11. Framework example
Business English
Students discuss and then watch a
video on the etiquette of Japanese
Business meetings - streaming video
(remembering)
Students answer questions based on
the video - TitanPad (understanding)
Students write about business meetings
in their country using the same
framework - TitanPad (creating)

12. Framework example
Business English
Students read and comment on other
students’ writing using a rubric -
TitanPad (peer evaluation)
Students audio record their writing -
Vocaroo (speaking and pronunciation)
Students listen and comment on other
students’ recordings - Picosong
(listening and peer evaluation)
Students add their writing and recording
to their eportfolio - blog (formative
assessment)

13. Framework example
Business English
Possible additions or changes:
Use video recording instead of just
audio - VideoMessageOnline
Create a presentation and screencast
- PowerPoint and Screencast-O-
Matic
Create a class website on business
meeting etiquette from different
countries - blog

14. Framework example
Skills-based class: Reading 500
Students read unit on Scientific Method
(reading)
Students apply 6 steps of Scientific
Method (application of reading skills/
strategies and content knowledge)
In lab, students in groups of 3 research
a problem: e.g. why can people in
downtown Vancouver smoke marijuana
in public? – search engines (e.g.
google)

15. Framework example
Skills-based class: Reading 500
Students watch clip on creating voice-
over PPT – youtube (listening)
Students design PPT with voice-over
feature – PPT (creating)
Groups play clips instead of face-to-
face presentations (speaking & listening
skills; teacher & peer evaluation)

16. Framework example
Skills-based class: Reading 500

17. Things we have learned...
Hardware
Software
Knowledge
Attitudes
Integration

18. TY :-)
Nathan Hall
http://nathanhall.ca
nathan@nathanhall.ca
Michael Burri
http://mikeisep.weebly.com/
mikeburri@gmx.net