Breaking News English

What is "Breaking News English" ?

This website supplies loads of news articles which are accompanied by their mp3 files and PDF files as handouts.

Why is this particular tool relevant to language learning? What research underpin the use of this technology?

Updated news could be designed as authentic reading materials for students, at the same time, the accompanied mp3 files might become an ideal practice for listening skills. The well organized PDF handouts greatly free teachers from generating items for class-room based formative assessment. With them, teachers could assess their students in class, and give them instant feedback,which could raise standards of achievement (Black and Garces 1998). Interactive activities could make peer assessment possible.

What limitations can you see with the use of this technology?

We could reagard this website as an item bank in class-room based context. Suppose teachers choose to leave these exercises to students as homework, it would be better to give them clear instructions on how and to what extent, some of the exercises could be used. Too much homework or "over-test" could lower their motivation and lead to negative washback.

Brainstorming by Using Wallwisher

http://www.wallwisher.com/

What does wallwisher do?

Wallwisher is a web page where users could post their comments, ideas, thoughts and so on.

Why is this particular technology relevant to language learning? What approaches to language learning underpin the use of this technology?

Teachers could set up a wallwisher wall for their class on a specific topic. For example, they could collect their students' feedback or suggestions for next lecture's content. Secondly, students could post their questions on the wall, where other students could brainstorm. It's not only helpful to sudents' linguistic competence, but also good to connect everyone in the class to foster interdependence. Interaction, negotiation, collaboration, etc., are important things in generating learner autonomy (Little 1994:435).

What limitations can you see with the use of this technology?

First, there is a word amount limit to each poster(160 words at most).

Second, suppose your class' size is big, the posters sticked on the wall could become clustered quickly. Maybe, it would be better to limit up to two ideas that each students could post most within a ten people group.

Say Goodbye to Mocrosoft Word Feedback Now!

http://www.techsmith.com/jing-features.html

What is Jing?


Jing, is a software which could let users capture an image of what they see on their computer screens. It could also record up to 5 minutes of onscreen video.


Why is this particular tool relevant to language learning? What approaches to language learning underpin the use of this technology?


With the advent of Jing, teachers could give feedback instantly and vividly to their students. This could greatly foster the learner autonomy. “autonomy is a capacity---for detachment, critical reflection, decision-making, and independent action” (Little 1991:4). Students could improve their language learning result under their teachers' guidance in the video feedback.


How might you use it to foster language learning outside class?


This feedback could be not only helpful to just writing skills, you can always rewind the video to practise your other language skills, for example, listening skill.


What limitations can you see with the use of this technology?


Firstly, teachers who give feedback are supposed to be a fluent speaker in target language, if not, the efficiency of this tool could not be reflected.


Second, you might still need to write an email, suppose your students' language are not  so competent to follow what you said in the Jing feedback video.