Gamification To Encourage Learner Autonomy

This transportation service tries to describe together a twosome of things I bring been thinking well-nigh recently. The offset was a transportation service I saw on the 3D Computer Games amongst Young Learners

Adventure Narratives for EFL ESL

Educational Games That Really Are Fun

Exploiting 2 computer-based RPGs

Games With a Purpose in addition to a Social Network

Create your ain game

Online Water Conservation Game

Best

Nik Peachey

Why 1 Don't Desire An Iwb (Interactive Whiteboard)

Recently, I direct been asked quite  few times well-nigh IWBs too which ones are best etc. My green respond is 'none' too and thence I direct to explain, thence I thought, instead of explaining I would write this postal service thence that I could betoken people towards each fourth dimension they ask.

So this is my classroom prepare of preference too these are the commutation components.

1. Data projector - I'm non actually bothered which 1 equally long equally it produces a expert covert resolution (There's a reasonable article hither on how to select one:
How to Buy a Projector)

2. H5N1 Laptop - My preference hither is for a MacBook, but I tin dismiss sympathise why some people honor that extravagant too don't experience they are worth the extra fiscal outlay. Personally, I recall they are worth the extra money, because they piece of employment faster too thence relieve fourth dimension (the most valuable commodity nosotros have) too because they are pretty durable(The Apple products I've owned direct lasted at to the lowest degree twice equally long equally their PC counterparts I've had too are nevertheless going strong.)


3. iPad - Again my preference hither is for the iPad mini, because it is thence calorie-free to gibe inwards 1 manus too exceed around, but nevertheless big plenty too powerful plenty to fulfil my storage needs too to operate without squinting (also quite a flake cheaper)

4. Reflector app - This is a commutation app that y'all download onto your laptop. It too thence enables y'all to projection your iPad covert onto your estimator (and thence through the information projector) equally it wirelessly receives signals from the iPad's Airplay function.

For those who aren't familiar amongst Airplay, it's an Apple component division that allows y'all to utilisation the wireless to projection audio too vision from an iPhone, iPad, iTouch etc of to Apple TV. You tin dismiss honor to a greater extent than information here: Airplay

Why I similar the Airplay enabled prepare

• For me this allows the best of both worlds. I tin dismiss utilisation the laptop for whatsoever software that's native to estimator footing too rattling speedily too wirelessly switch to the mobile surroundings of the iPad.
• This prepare is portable thence y'all tin dismiss utilisation it inwards whatsoever room amongst a information projector too computer, equally long equally the Reflector app is installed.
• This also has the wages of allowing your students access to the information projector if they also direct iPads, inwards fact the Airplay component division combined amongst Reflector tin dismiss allow your students to projection onto the covert from a issue of iPads simultaneously, which is slap-up to acquire students showing too comparison piece of employment for the whole flat to see.
• Controlling the projection covert from the iPad way that y'all tin dismiss motion approximately the flat too command it from wherever y'all are.
• To manus command over to students y'all but exceed them the iPad
• You tin dismiss shop all your materials on your iPad too utilisation it to make all your training / marker etc at home.
• You don't direct to fiddle amongst supplant or endeavour to honor those awful IWB pens.
• The iPad gives y'all access to the vast gain too diversity of apps that y'all but can't run on a estimator or IWB environment. 
• An iPad too a $12.99 app are hugely cheaper than the damage of an IWB too far to a greater extent than flexible.
• You tin dismiss also utilisation the Reflector app to tape covert action thence y'all tin dismiss easily plow parts of your lessons into flipped learning or useful revision.
• The iPad too laptop prepare provides an authentic digital learning surroundings thence digital literacies tin dismiss live developed, whereas IWB software is an artificial digital surroundings which students volition alone run into inside schools.

There are of course of instruction some downsides to this arrangement. 

• Hand writing on the iPad covert isn't thence comfortable fifty-fifty amongst a stylus too a expert whiteboard app (though if y'all desire to endeavour it I would recommend Bamboo Paper).
• The Reflector app isn't free, but it is rattling inexpensive ($12.99) thence much cheaper than an IWB.
• This prepare alone industrial plant amongst Apple mobile products equally the controller (Though y'all tin dismiss utilisation whatsoever laptop to install the app on), thence if your students direct along Android or other devices they won't live able to access your projector (but they wouldn't on an IWB either).
• The Reflector app runs through the wireless to connect the laptop to the iPad, thence y'all may demand to direct some specific ports opened upwards if your information technology managing director has them closed.

If y'all don't direct the selection too y'all already direct an IWB, too thence that's fine, y'all could nevertheless install the Reflector app too commencement using an iPad too, but given the selection it's pretty clear. So, at in 1 lawsuit hopefully I'll live getting asked this inquiry a lot less often.

Do postal service comments too allow me know what y'all think. I'd also appreciate hearing well-nigh whatsoever choice apps y'all may direct used to connect your iPad too specially your Android tablet to the projector

Related links:

• Learning Technology News 
• Tools for Learners
• Could Doceri live the IWB killer?
• Can y'all supplant your IWB amongst a $10 dollar app?
• Questioning the role of engineering scientific discipline inwards education 
• iPad apps for English linguistic communication language teachers
• Some Pros too Cons of iPads for ELT 

Best
Nik Peachey

Peer Editing Inward Digital Too Mobile Environments

For years immediately I cause got been happily using EtherPad based services similar http://primarypad.com/ and http://sync.in/ to acquire participants on the grooming courses I deliver to piece of work collaboratively to exercise in addition to peer edit texts. Increasingly though I've been having problems alongside the reliability of the complimentary services these companies furnish in addition to the lack of reliable compatibility alongside mobile devices.

At concluding it seems that immediately I cause got a really elegant solution inwards the shape of https://quip.com/.
Quip looks a lot similar Evernote in addition to has a similar interface alongside documents contained inwards notebooks, only i of the large differences is that Quip was designed specifically to enable peer editing in addition to collaboration on documents in addition to has a really clear agency of showing in addition to tracking the changes.

Here's a brusk tutorial showing y'all how it works:


Why should nosotros acquire our students peer editing?

• It improves their awareness of accuracy
• It tin hand the axe improve the character of their writing
• Pushes students to convey that writing is a procedure that needs revisions in addition to redrafting
• The mightiness to collaborate inwards digital environments is probable to live on an of import existent footing digital literacy

What kinds of peer editing activities tin hand the axe nosotros exercise alongside students?

• We tin hand the axe hand them texts alongside planted errors (10 - 20) inwards to piece of work on a notice in addition to right together. These could live on the lyrics of songs they similar or stories or articles they cause got read.
• We tin hand the axe acquire students to right each others' compositions earlier nosotros await at them.
• We tin hand the axe hand them texts alongside specific features missed out in addition to acquire them to piece of work together to add together them. These could live on linking or referencing devices, punctuation, vocabulary words, grammatical features such every bit prepositions or articles etc.
• We tin hand the axe acquire them working together to rearrange parts of a text into a meliorate guild or structure.
• We tin hand the axe hand them the bare construction of a even out in addition to inquire them to embellish it in addition to acquire inwards to a greater extent than descriptive in addition to interesting.

What I similar almost Quip

• It's free
• Nicely designed interface
• Works in addition to looks good inwards both tablet  app shape in addition to inwards the browser
• Clearly tracks in addition to highlights changes to documents yesteryear dissimilar users
• It looks secure in addition to enables y'all to limit who sees in addition to works on the document spell editing
• Has a sort of chat messaging characteristic which works along side the notes for changes
• We tin hand the axe usage it to acquire students collaborating in addition to working together exterior the classroom

What I'm non in addition to then certain about

• It requires registration, which tin hand the axe tedious things downward inwards class, only it does every bit good add together a grade of security
• I haven't tried it alongside larger groups all the same in addition to then I'm non certain how reliably it volition piece of work when scaled upwards to country having a whole shape piece of work synchronously on a unmarried document
• Not certain how long it volition remain complimentary (There is a Quip Business already available)

I'm immediately looking forrad to my side yesteryear side class in addition to then that I tin hand the axe endeavour Quip out in addition to acquire a fleck to a greater extent than experience alongside it. I promise y'all every bit good notice it useful alongside your students. Do drib me a employment in addition to permit me know how it goes.

Related links:

• What exercise y'all experience are the primal digital literacy skills that 21st century learners need? 
• Get Students Checking Grammar in addition to Collocation 
• How I usage social media for my professional person development  
• Two Contrasting Views of Educational Technology 
• Online Teacher Development Works Best - xv Reasons Why
• Developing your digital written report skills
• Temporary Bookmarking
• Creating a personal homepage
• Social Networks in addition to the Web 2.0 Revolution
• Create your ain social network seven steps
• A Tick List of 21st Century Digital Skills for Teachers 

Best

Nik Peachey

Video Communication Apps As Well As Mobile Learning

One of the smashing things almost mobile devices such equally tablets, iPads as well as phones is that most modern devices receive got proficient character cameras as well as microphones built in. This opens upwardly a actually broad attain of potential for communication as well as speaking practise that used to endure such a scrap to organise on older laptops as well as desktop computers.

App developers receive got also been quick to exploit the potential of this powerful tool as well as inwards this post I'd similar to await at some of the tools that receive got been created as well as how they tin forcefulness out endure used for linguistic communication development.

Mailvu for asynchronous messages

Mailvu has been a long fourth dimension favourite of mine, mainly because the spider web based version is hence slow to usage as well as doesn't take away whatsoever downloads. You only indicate your browser at: http://mailvu.com/ as well as equally long equally you lot receive got the Flash plugin installed on your reckoner you lot tin forcefulness out start recording immediately. Mailvu also provides mobile apps for iOS, Android an Blackberry. These are slow to usage as well as it allows you lot to ship brusk spoken messages which don't take away the viewer to receive got whatsoever specific software or to download large video files. They only click a link as well as scout your message. This variety of cross platform compatibility is actually of import if you lot are working inwards a BYOD surround where students could endure coming to shape amongst a broad attain of devices.

EyeReport for moving painting inwards picture

EyeReport  puts an interesting twist on the video communication genre past times adding the powerfulness to tape video on video. By this I hateful that students tin forcefulness out upload or tape a video on their mobile device as well as hence add together a video commentary over the hand explaining or commenting on what they view inwards the master copy video. This opens upwardly a whole attain of potential activities that nosotros tin forcefulness out acquire students doing. They could add together commentary to sporting clips, give guided tours of places they receive got visited, explicate processes or fifty-fifty brand their ain documentaries. Once students receive got completed their recording these tin forcefulness out endure shared to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or emailed straight from inside the app.

CoachesEye for video annotation

CoachesEye is a similar app to EyeReport (though this i is no longer free) but is much to a greater extent than characteristic rich. Like EyeReport you lot tin forcefulness out tape video commentary over video, but amongst CoachesEye you lot tin forcefulness out also add together annotations as well as you lot tin forcefulness out halt as well as command where you lot insert your comments into the video. This app was designed for coaches to give detailed feedback to athletes on their physical movements, but it's a smashing app to acquire students creating as well as talking almost their ain videos, as well as also a useful tool to usage when observing teachers for preparation purposes.

Storytime for bedtime stories 

Storytime is some other app which puts a novel Twist on the video communication genre. It combines video conferencing amongst reading stories out loud. The app was designed to enable parents to read to their children from a distance as well as it contains a issue of books you lot tin forcefulness out pick out to read as well as spell you lot read you lot tin forcefulness out speak over the books, enquire questions as well as indicate to things on the page whilst chatting amongst the video window at the top. This is smashing for doing online tutoring amongst younger learners. There is quite a attain of books from real basic as well as upwardly as well as they are nicely illustrated.

Teleprompter for controlled speaking practice 

iPhone for Speaking Homework ). The app is what it says, it allows you lot to import text as well as hence it scrolls through the text spell creating a video of you lot reading it. This is smashing to acquire students doing controlled speaking practise as well as hence watching as well as improving their speaking. You tin forcefulness out fix texts which include a attain of sounds which they notice hard as well as hence scout them together as well as handle them to sympathize what elements of their pronunciation are causing problems.

Keek for video journals

Keek mixes spider web amongst mobile inwards the shape of video journals. Users tin forcefulness out post brusk messages of upwardly to 35 seconds from their mobile or reckoner as well as these are published to the spider web or tin forcefulness out endure browsed through the app. This would endure a smashing tool to usage equally a daily learning journal, but it's in all likelihood best used past times adults or to a greater extent than responsible teens. It seems to endure a real pop tool amongst teens inwards the USA as well as at that topographic point is a broad attain of content that students tin forcefulness out browse through, some of which is non best suited to educational purposes, but equally a concept this is quite a proficient app. If you lot prefer your students to endure sheltered from this variety of pop civilisation app, hence you lot tin forcefulness out even hence accept upwardly the thought of the video learning periodical as well as only acquire them to usage their built inwards video photographic television receiver camera app as well as post the messages to a Dropbox site.

Six3 for video messaging

Six3 is similar to MailVu as well as also compatible amongst most platforms, but it gives you lot the alternative of recording individual or world message as well as has an additional filter characteristic which tin forcefulness out handle to ameliorate your appearance on the video. It's called Six3 because you lot receive got 63 seconds of recording fourth dimension inwards each message. Like Mailvu, the messages are also sent via links through your email, but they tin forcefulness out also endure posted straight to Twitter or Facebook from inside the app.

Skype for synchronous online tutoring

Skype has been roughly for a proficient spell as well as was i of the showtime video based communication tools to interruption into the mainstream. It's beingness used past times many online schools to deliver alive online lesson from teachers to all parts of the globe. One of the smashing things almost Skype, apart from the reliability, is that it keeps developing as well as adding novel features. The recent improver of video messages that enable it to endure used equally an asynchronous tool volition actually handle to widen its orbit for usage equally a linguistic communication evolution tool.


Built inwards photographic television receiver camera app
With all these apps as well as the possibilities they offer, it tin forcefulness out endure slow to overlook the obvious. Most modern mobile device come upwardly amongst a built inwards video photographic television receiver camera application as well as you lot tin forcefulness out ever usage this to tape as well as ship video message. This has the wages that messages are real prophylactic from tertiary political party app providers as well as whatsoever possible safety breaches, but sending the video clips to someone else oft involves sending the whole clip via e-mail which tin forcefulness out endure ho-hum as well as take away proficient connectivity.

For to a greater extent than ideas as well as activities for using video as well as webcams to develop languages view my posting 20 WebCam Activities for EFL ESL Students

Why usage video communication?

• Well i of the best reasons to usage these kinds of apps is to acquire students speaking. Speaking homework has ever been especially hard for students, but at nowadays you lot tin forcefulness out enquire students to make spoken homework which you lot tin forcefulness out scout as well as assess.
• Video equally a communication genre is probable to acquire increasingly of import equally a 21st century digital literacy, hence it's of import that our students receive got practise as well as are able to usage this communication genre, only equally they do amongst speaking on the telephone or writing emails.
• Video tin forcefulness out describe students' attending to many of the paralinguistic features of communication that are hard to highlight inwards a crowded classroom.
• Enabling students to tape themselves speaking as well as hence to scout themselves tin forcefulness out endure real enlightening for students equally they tin forcefulness out hence start to self assess their ain functioning as well as await for ways they tin forcefulness out improve. It tin forcefulness out also encourage some students to elbow grease harder, because they know that someone else mightiness view the video.
• Video tin forcefulness out endure real engaging as well as tin forcefulness out endure played repeatedly hence it gives students the lead a opportunity to take away heed in i lawsuit again as well as inwards to a greater extent than depth.
• Video communication tin forcefulness out handle teachers to construct a stronger feel of connectedness amongst their students, especially amongst online course of instruction when you lot mightiness never physically encounter your students. Conveying some feel of your personality, feel of sense of humour as well as graphic symbol tin forcefulness out endure real hard inwards written communications, hence video has some actually large advantages.
• Giving students 1 to 1 fourth dimension as well as having the fourth dimension to only sit down downwards as well as pass a few moments listening to a unmarried pupil without the dissonance of others roughly tin forcefulness out endure actually hard inwards the classroom, but having a brusk recorded video clip of our students tin forcefulness out actually enable us to focus on their specific strengths as well as weaknesses as well as enable us to give them some actually personalised feedback.

Potential problems

• As amongst whatsoever variety of online communication, brand certain your students know how to protect their privacy as well as also themselves from harassment. Be certain to receive got a transparent as well as opened upwardly policy on whatsoever variety of harassment hence students know what is probable to locomote on to anyone harassing as well as how to written report harassment.
• If you lot are using video communications amongst younger students also brand certain their parents know what you lot are doing as well as why you lot are doing it as well as acquire their approving (in writing if possible) as well as if possible acquire them involved too.
• Make students aware of the divergence betwixt piteous character speaking as well as piteous character audio. You don't desire them to mean value they sound bad if the existent occupation is the recording character as well as interference from background dissonance etc. Help your students to sympathize how to acquire he best character results from whatever recording tools they have, past times finding somewhere tranquillity to tape as well as experimenting amongst the best distance from the microphone.
• Helping students to await their best on video volition also handle to boost their confidence. Getting the photographic television receiver camera angle correct as well as having the lite coming from the correct administration tin forcefulness out also receive got a large comport upon on how students look, hence helping amongst this tin forcefulness out endure role of the learning experience. There is a useful article hither which may help: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/look-good-on-webcam/
• Always think as well as remind students that anything they do or country on video tin forcefulness out potentially endure seen past times other people for years as well as fifty-fifty centuries to come, hence whenever i of these apps is used, encourage them to mean value almost what they are doing as well as proverb as well as proceed inwards heed that it could endure seen past times people they know as well as people they mightiness yet encounter equally good equally strangers who they mightiness never meet. It's of import to remind students of how they desire to endure perceived.

I promise you lot relish these apps as well as that they handle to acquire your students speaking. Please locomote out a comment if you lot receive got whatsoever favourite video communication apps that you lot usage to acquire your students speaking.

Related links:

• Mix Images as well as Animation on Your Mobile 
• Peer editing inwards digital as well as mobile environments 
• iPhone for Speaking Homework 
• iPad Apps for English linguistic communication Language Teachers
• Create Books for the iPad
• Getting Learning out of the Classroom amongst Augmented Reality  
•  Augmented Reality as well as Web 3.0
• Creating texting dialogues for students

Best

Nik Peachey

Making Lectures In Addition To Lessons To A Greater Extent Than Interactive Amongst Mqlicker

As the traditional lecture has come upwards increasingly nether burn for beingness completely out of affect alongside modern teaching too learning methods, at that topographic point has been a motion past times many teachers, conference presenters too lecturers to brand their teaching techniques to a greater extent than modern too interactive. One of the fundamental technologies for enabling this has been a hit of audience response systems that render existent fourth dimension responses to polls, questions too surveys piece the speakers is really presenting.

It’s peachy that many teachers are taking this step, but some of these response systems similar mQlicker tin deliver much to a greater extent than than a uncomplicated audience response, inwards fact you lot tin run them to initiate debates, brainstorm ideas or fifty-fifty educate consummate units of elearning which tin aid you lot to ‘flip’ your classroom too create motivating blended learning materials which encourage too proceed rail of pupil engagement.

mQlicker has a seat out of ways of encouraging interaction too displaying results. To run into a alive demo of how mQlicker await at: http://www.mqlicker.com/demo.html

Be certain to tab through the dissimilar questions types, acquire inwards information too run the settings tab to alter the agency the information displays. I specially similar the news cloud type information display for text too numerical entries.

To laid upwards your mQlicker interactions you lot involve to register too log inwards on the mQlicker site. This is gratis to do.

Once you lot receive got done this you lot run into the admin user interface. This is much simpler to run than it looks at firstly glance too the initial champaign shows you lot the half-dozen pace instructions for how to create your poll or questionnaire.

Once you lot receive got created your questionnaire too launched it, participants simply involve to become to: https://respond.cc/ acquire inwards a numerical code too and hence input their response.

Here are three brusk video tutorial which demo you lot how to practise that.

How to create an mQlicker questionnaire 1



How to create an mQlicker questionnaire 2

How to create an mQlicker questionnaire 3



Why I similar mQlicker

• For a start mQlicker is cross platform compatible hence every bit good every bit working an app on all the major mobile platforms it volition also run inwards the browser on both mobile too desktop.
• It has a hit of ways of displaying participants responses which you lot tin pick out from. I specially similar the i which shows responses to text input every bit a news cloud.
• I really similar that you lot exclusively involve to laid upwards i fixed URL https://respond.cc/ for responses too that respondents simply acquire inwards a brusk digital code. This makes it pretty uncomplicated to acquire people to the correct house at an lawsuit too they don’t receive got complex URLs to re-create downwards or registration codes to handle.
• mQlicker is pretty uncomplicated too remove forrard simply to acquire started with, but it also comes alongside a consummate manual http://resources.mqlicker.com/doc/manual.pdf that you lot tin download to start earthworks into the to a greater extent than complex capabilities.
• You tin embed mQlicker nautical chart results into a presentation (PPT) too arrive dynamic hence that your presentation slide updates automatically when people vote.
• It’s slowly to reuse questions or questionnaires alongside multiple classes every bit it collects questions together inwards a inquiry bank.
• There are premium services if you lot desire something that looks customized for your companionship or event.

Some tips for getting the best from audience response

• Don’t bound participation to the room. Why non post out surveys too polls for response through social networking sites similar Twitter too Facebook or through a dorsum channel chatroom, too hence you lot tin acquire a much wider multifariousness of thought too acquire the people inwards the room to respond to that.
• You tin run the tool to brainstorm, especially alongside the news cloud information display. This would hold upwards peachy for brainstorming vocabulary based roughly topics, or words which collocate alongside ... etc.
• You tin laid upwards earlier too afterward votes for inwards aeroplane discussions, to run into how many people tin hold upwards persuaded to alter their minds.
• You tin create consummate flipped interactive learning, past times creating questionnaires alongside a video embedded into a slide at the start too and hence a multifariousness of questions to acquire students exploring the video content. Then when you lot come upwards to aeroplane students are prepared too you lot receive got some response information to acquire them working alongside too thinking too talking most inwards class. Using videos for flipped learning inwards this agency when you lot are tracking the responses,  puts to a greater extent than trace per unit of measurement area on students to really practise the piece of job too lookout adult man the video every bit they know their responses are beingness tracked past times the teacher.
• You tin create questions based roughly images, hence hold upwards certain to receive got wages of this characteristic to aid induce response from the students.
• You tin allow students / participants to hold upwards anonymous, hence this is a peachy tool for doing activity inquiry too to collect truly honest feedback on your teaching methods or content.
• You tin run it to brand your classroom to a greater extent than democratic, past times setting upwards votes to discovery out which parts of the majority or course of report students most desire to report or what kinds of activities they desire to practise next.
• It’s peachy that mQlicker tin enable opened upwards text input, hence brand the most of this feature. Participants are ofttimes frustrated wit questionnaires or polls that don’t really render the answers that they desire to give. Creating opened upwards text questions gives the respondent much to a greater extent than mightiness to limited what they feel. This tin though hold upwards to a greater extent than hard for you lot to analyze statistically
• And final but non to the lowest degree you lot tin run it for assessment too laid micro tests every bit you lot aeroplane progresses. This tin assure you lot that participants are next too agreement your message.

mQlicker is a peachy gratis tool for making your classroom, lecture or conference presentation to a greater extent than interactive. It would hold upwards peachy to run into to a greater extent than tools similar this beingness used at conferences too inwards classrooms, but of course of report you lot practise involve to brand certain that your venue or classroom has adept connectivity too acquire people into the habit of coming along ready alongside devices to participate, but every bit mobile too tablet penetration grows inwards the teaching sector too educational government realize that nosotros receive got to halt banning these devices from classrooms too start exploiting them to a greater extent than fully.

I promise you lot discovery mQlicker useful

Related links:

• 3 Tools for Exploiting the Wifi During Presentations 
• Crowdsourcing Knowledge alongside Students 
• Peer editing inwards digital too mobile environments
• The Web 2.0 School of the Present
• Social Networks too the Web 2.0 Revolution: Part 2
• Creating Social Polls too Questionnaires Using Urtak
• Survey Creation Tool for Students
• Create Quick Online Polls
• Create an ESL EFL Video Quiz
• Make your ain chat room

Best

Nik Peachey

Evaluating Authentic Mobile Apps For Learning

Back inward Apr 2013 I delivered a workshop at the IATEFL 2013 conference inward Liverpool. The theme of the workshop was 'Criteria for Evaluating Web Tools as well as Apps' as well as inward the workshop I encouraged participants to percentage as well as explore their subconscious criteria for deciding which apps as well as spider web based tools they used amongst their students.

I especially encouraged them to think almost 'authentic' apps rather than those made for learning. This is because inward many ways I experience that most made for learning apps receive got made real picayune pedagogical progress beyond their roots inward CALL from the final century.

I also believe that encouraging students to acquire 'hands on' amongst authentic apps has a much to a greater extent than of import role inward helping them to railroad train digital literacies which they tin usage exterior of the classroom.

Check out my ebook

As a final result of that workshop as well as the inquiry that developed from it I've at ane time developed this listing of criteria for evaluating mobile apps for educational purposes.


Here I've divided the criteria into iv categories as well as given some explanation of each. I welcome your comments as well as feedback every bit this is soundless real much a operate inward progress.

Technical

Accessibility - Will all the students receive got the necessary equipment to usage it? Will it operate across all / most mobile platforms as well as also operate inside a desktop spider web browser?

• Unless teachers are working inward a teaching surround where a uniform laid of physical devices are provided for students, such every bit a consummate laid of iPads or Android tablets, as well as then they demand to banking venture check carefully that all the diverseness of devices that their students possess are all supported. The safest way to ensure this is to banking venture check to run into if the app also has a browser based version, thence that students without up-to-date mobile devices volition soundless last able to participate.

User friendly - Will students last able to larn how to usage it reasonably quickly?

• Apps that are complex as well as receive got a long fourth dimension to master copy may non last worth the commitment. Teachers demand to ensure that they programme how to learn the students how to usage the apps inward a reasonable amount of fourth dimension or receive got a strategy for gradually regain to a greater extent than features of an app every bit they railroad train to a greater extent than activities amongst it.

Registration - Do students demand to register to usage it?

• Getting students as well as teachers to register as well as recollect passwords tin last laborious as well as fourth dimension consuming, thence apps that don’t require registration as well as especially those which run inward the browser on mobile or desktop tin last real convenient to use. Registration does nonetheless offering students to a greater extent than protection as well as makes whatever potential misuse or mischief trackable dorsum to its source.

Security - Is the app secure?

• Although it tin last hard as well as fourth dimension consuming to check, teachers demand to determine that the app is secure as well as the creators volition process their students information as well as personal information responsibly as well as confidentially. If in that location is whatever cast of social interaction enabled through the app teachers demand to banking venture check if in that location is whatever machinery or procedure for blocking as well as reporting abuse.

Financial

Price - Is it gratis or affordable?

• One of the keen advantages of apps is that many are free, freemium (have both a gratis as well as a commercial version) or are quite depression cost. Having said that, fifty-fifty if depression terms apps are beingness used it needs to last decided who volition pay for them, especially if each pupil inward the cast needs one.

Business model - Is in that location a trouble organisation model to back upward the app? Is it clear how it makes money?

• Every app producer needs to laid upward coin somehow, thence it is of import to position the trouble organisation model supporting the evolution of an app. Although teachers as well as students are keen to usage gratis apps, apps that receive got no visible trouble organisation model may last generating coin through advertising or past times trading data. An app that has no visible agency of fiscal support, may receive got a real brusk life span, rapidly acquire unreliable, as well as neglect to railroad train as well as evolve due to lack of funds.

Motivational

Digital literacy - Does learning as well as using the app aid students to railroad train a useful or transferable digital literacy?

• Just using an app inward itself doesn’t necessarily found developing a digital literacy. The usage of the app must inward some way railroad train a digital science that tin last transferred exterior of the learning context as well as used inward some authentic way either inward the workplace or every bit purpose of the students’ lifestyle.

Authenticity - Does it receive got an authentic purpose beyond linguistic communication learning? Is it an app that a native speaker would usage for a genuine purpose exterior of a classroom?

• Apps that are motivating for native speakers to usage for a genuine purpose should also last motivating for linguistic communication learners for that same purpose, thence authentic apps that involve some sort of linguistic input or output are ideally suited to linguistic communication teaching purposes.

Personalization - Does the app enable user to limited some expression of who they are as well as what they believe?

• It’s of import that linguistic communication learners receive got the chance to usage linguistic communication creatively to limited something of their ain personality or identity. Apps which back upward this form of inventiveness tin last potentially real useful.

Pedagogical

Learning finish / outcome - Is in that location a a possible learning final result that usage of the app volition Pb to?

• Using an app is non inward as well as of itself a learning outcome. Use of the app needs to Pb towards some cast of learning goal. In some cases it tin last slow to run into what learning goals tin last achieved through using the app, at other times teachers may demand to think carefully what learning outcomes tin last achieved through edifice activities which include the usage of an app.

Interaction / communication - Does it back upward interaction as well as communication betwixt users?

• Apps which are developed approximately social interaction as well as communication are much to a greater extent than probable to last able to abide by a useful house inward the linguistic communication classroom as well as should last easier to base of operations tasks approximately every bit communication naturally fits amongst the aims of linguistic communication acquisition.

Prolonged use - Does the app demand prolonged usage to accomplish a satisfactory outcome?

• Many apps are designed approximately brusk daily tasks construct upward over a catamenia of fourth dimension to accomplish an outcome. If teachers direct to usage these kinds of apps they demand to component this long term approach into their timetabling.

Assessment - Is the operate on the app assessable past times the teacher? Does the app back upward the delivery of instructor reply as well as feedback?

• Students demand to know that teachers are evaluating, assessing as well as responding to their work, thence apps which tin back upward this form of instructor intervention tin last potentially real useful.

Collaboration - Does the app back upward collaboration betwixt users?

• The mightiness to collaborate on projects or producing some cast of tangible final result is viewed every bit beingness a potentially important digital literacy thence apps which foster these kinds of collaborative interactions inward a meaningful ways receive got keen potential.

Context - In what context would the app last useful? For whom is the app to a greater extent than useful?

• There are a pose out of unlike contexts inward which apps tin last used. Some may last to a greater extent than appropriate for usage at habitation past times the student, or inward the cast past times students, whereas others could last to a greater extent than appropriately used past times teachers for their ain evolution or the evolution of content for students.

Reusable - Does the app receive got sufficient depth of purpose to back upward multiple activities as well as tasks?

• Many apps receive got keen novelty value which tin last motivating for students, only novelty tin before long article of apparel off, thence it is wise to weigh the amount of exercise goodness students gain from novelty apps against their potential for extended usage as well as the amount of fourth dimension it takes to download install as well as register them.

Learner autonomy - Can app last used independently exterior of the cast past times the pupil to back upward some cast of learning?

• Apps that tin last used past times students working independently may good aid to foster a marker of learner autonomy if in that location is some inward built learning outcome.

As I said, this is soundless a operate inward progress, as well as I did fighting amongst which criteria savage inward to which of the categories as well as amongst the categories themselves, thence all comments are welcome.

I promise you lot abide by these criteria helpful inward evaluating the apps that you lot direct for your students.

Related links:

• Digital Video - Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Manual for Language Teachers
• Making lectures as well as lessons to a greater extent than interactive amongst mQlicker
• Creating interactive video on the iPad 
• Tools for learners
• Video communication apps as well as mobile learning
• Mix Images as well as Animation on Your Mobile 
• Peer editing inward digital as well as mobile environments 
• Taking notes from the spider web on the iPad

Best

Nik Peachey

Publishing 3.0 - A Novel Model For Independent Educational Publishing

My New Years resolution this yr was to start occur a serial of ebooks for iPads, e-readers together with other digital devices. This has been my ambition since I published my maiden off majority Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers dorsum inwards 2009, but I’ve never felt that the time, the applied scientific discipline or the marketplace was at the correct place.

Significant changes over the concluding dyad of years though lead maintain led me to believe that forthwith is the fourth dimension to await at a novel model of ELT publishing, at to the lowest degree for the realm of instructor evolution books.

The changes I refer to a higher house include

• A proliferation of increasingly depression toll e-reading devices together with tablets.
• The evolution of powerful complimentary software together with applications such every bit iBooks Author for the evolution of media rich ebooks.
• The combination of these applications amongst secure together with reliable marketing platforms, such every bit Lulu together with iBookStore.
• The evolution of crowd-funding platforms such every bit KickStarter together with Indigogo.

I believe that the combination of these developments is forthwith enabling private teachers to write prepare together with launch their ain products to the marketplace on a commercially competitive footing amongst established publishers.

So why is this a expert thing?
Well anyone who has e'er approached a publisher amongst an visit for a majority volition know how hard it tin dismiss live on to acquire it accepted. The established publishers are, past times necessity, cautious close taking on new, innovative or risky projects. Producing together with distributing paper-based books is a hugely expensive elbow grease together with inwards the illustration of instructor evolution books, the returns are probable to live on pocket-size for both the publisher together with the writer.

The changes I refer above, however, lead maintain the potential to liberate writers from the established publishing procedure together with give them the liberty to prepare their ain projects together with products independently.

• The proliferation of depression toll mobile devices such every bit e-readers, tablets together with iPads provides a genuinely useful together with accessible medium on which to divulge instructor evolution materials. Instead of having your books at dwelling solid on the bookshelf you lot tin dismiss forthwith bear them to a greater extent than or less amongst you lot on your device thus they are on mitt at the 2nd of need.
• These devices together with the applications used to prepare content for them are capable of providing a media rich sense amongst color interactive images, audio, video together with a make of interactive learning apps, none of which is possible inwards a traditional paper-based book.
• The combination of these applications amongst established secure marketing platforms agency that writers amongst the commitment to run into their projects through to completion tin dismiss easily marketplace them internationally together with genuinely acquire a reasonable fiscal render on the locomote they pose in.
• Crowd-funding platforms similar KickStarter together with Indigogo enable writers to enhance the funds they bespeak to prepare expert lineament professional person products that the marketplace wants.

I’ve pose the crowd-funding platform at the goal of my list, but genuinely it should live on at the beginning, because crowd-funding doesn’t but provide the coin to launch the product, it also acts every bit a marketplace inquiry tool to run into if at that spot genuinely is a marketplace for the product. If the people for whom the production is intended aren’t willing to invest inwards it to acquire it created, thus it’s probable that at that spot isn’t genuinely a feasible marketplace for this product.

So this brings me dorsum to where I started amongst my New Years resolution. I lead maintain launched my ain crowd-funding projection to attempt to practise the maiden off inwards a serial of ebooks inwards a serial that I intend to telephone telephone The Digital Classroom. The maiden off of these volition focus on the role of online video every bit a tool for learning.

You tin dismiss uncovering out to a greater extent than close this projection past times next this link Digital Classrooms - Online Video or watching the video below.



If you lot recall this is a production you lot would live on interested inwards having them delight practise back upward it purchase either buying together with advance re-create of the majority or past times sharing the link amongst others you lot recall may live on interested.

You tin dismiss also acquire an visit of the form of content the majority volition encompass together with fifty-fifty contribute your ideas for what the majority should contain, using the crowd-sourcing questionnaire below. Just add together your ideas together with vote for the things you lot would most similar included inwards the book. That way you lot tin dismiss ensure that I make the majority that you lot bespeak to tending back upward together with prepare your teaching.


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You tin dismiss also follow the projection on Facebook past times going to The Digital Classroom together with clicking on 'Like'.

I promise you lot uncovering the projection interesting together with that this ship service gets you lot started thinking close how you lot tin dismiss make your ain majority too.

Best
Nik Peachey