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6 Storytelling Apps That Get English Language Learners Talking

6 Storytelling Apps That Get English Language Learners Talking
For English language learners (ELLs) in the classroom, speaking English in front of others — particularly native speakers — can cause tremendous anxiety. In fact, the dread of speaking can actually interfere with students’ ability to learn. Even with the most well-planned, immersive, real-world learning opportunities, the brains of students with high anxiety won’t be receptive to learning, according to Stephen Krashen’s “Affective Filter Hypothesis” (and the brain research that supports it). So how can we design speaking activities that don’t make our students’ hearts race and palms sweat? Digital storytelling can be an effective way for ELLs to practice speaking English without the stress of being “on stage.” Here are a few digital storytelling tools to help get your ELLs talking. Kid in Story Book Maker(Elementary)Kids use green screen-like technology to put photos of themselves (or others) into a story template, then add text and voice recording. Related:  Apps IIApps

8 Useful Apps for Visually Impaired Students August 30, 2015 We received a few requests in the past from teachers inquiring about apps for the visually impaired. Below are some of the popular apps we would recommend for teachers. We have also included a list of some useful resources where you can access a wide variety of other apps to use with the blind and the visually impaired. Check them out at the end of this post. 1- ViA- By Braille Institute ‘Braille Institute is proud to introduce ViA (Visually Impaired Apps), a fully accessible app for iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. 2- Be My Eyes- Helping Blind See ‘Be the eyes for a blind person in need of help remotely through a live video connection if you are sighted or be assisted by the network of sighted users if you are blind. 3- TapTapSee - Blind & Visually Impaired Camera 4- Talking Calculator ‘A comprehensively featured calculator that has become a favorite among adults and primary schools around the world. 5- SayText ‘SayText reads out loud the text in the image. 6- AccessNote

Les apps preferides de Puigdemont, Núria Picas, Màrius Serra, Agnès Marquès, Roger Coma, Marta Rojals… És gairebé impossible de calcular quantes aplicacions de mòbil hi ha, entre els sistemes d’iPhone i Android. Cada dia se’n creen desenes. L’oferta és inabastable. Cadascú en selecciona unes quantes: algunes d’útils, que serveixen per a la feina, algunes altres per a informar-se o simplement per a entretenir-se. Carles Puigdemont (president de la Generalitat de Catalunya) El president de la Generalitat explica que per a ell és imprescindible de portar diverses aplicacions de ràdio. Pau Garcia-Milà (empresari informàtic) UberEATS. Alto’s Adventure. Agnès Marquès (periodista) Rain Alarm. Jordi Calvís (il·lustrador) Slack. VectorSNAP. Quim Morales (periodista) TheRichest. Voice Plus. Marta Rovira (política) Pages. Marta Rojals (escriptora) MSQRD. Meme Generator. Màrius Serra (escriptor i periodista) DIEC2. ApparkB. Gina Tost (experta en comunicació sobre tecnologia i ‘gaming’) Zenly. Triller. Quimi Portet (músic) Guitar Toolkit. Núria Picas (esportista) Shazam. Goles Messenger. Office Lens. S Health.

Five Ideas for Using Padlet in the Classroom Padlet is a web tool that works like a collaborative piece of virtual paper, and each paper is called a Padlet Wall. Users can add text, photos, videos, links, or even documents from their devices if they simply have the link to Padlet Wall. With the addition of an ios app this month, Padlet can be accessed on virtually any device. By default, Padlet Walls are public, but the owner of a Padlet Wall can restrict access to invited collaborators only, add a password to a wall, or simply make it public yet hidden from public searches. For added security in the classroom, Padlet users can turn on the moderation option to require approval for posts before they are added. With all of these security features and no login required, Padlet is a wonderful tool for the classroom with so many possibilities! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. How have you used Padlet in the classroom?

5 Apps to Transform Teaching and Personalize Learning Transformation requires a journey for teachers toward great educational rewards for students. Knowing how to craft learning experiences that meld technology with the curriculum is key to crafting digital-age lessons. As digital tools are integrated seamlessly with sound pedagogical practice, a new classroom culture emerges. This is a culture focused on student-centered, personalized learning and shifting away from traditional teacher-centered classrooms. The digitally-rich lesson format below has evolved as technology has been infused into these lesson components: Whole-group instruction Guided practice Independent practice Reflection 1. Whole-group instruction has traditionally been delivered in lecture format: the teacher stands in front of the class and presents the same lesson to everyone at the same time. Nearpod is a free presentation tool available for all computers, tablets, and phones. 2. Research shows that timely and immediate feedback has a significant impact on learning. 3.

How to get started with the Writing Reviser Add-on for Google Docs - Pathfinders The Writing Reviser add-on in Google Docs. I’m sure most students would agree that writing well—especially writing well for a variety of purposes—is not easy. On any given school day, a student might be asked to analyze a poem by Emily Dickinson, to construct a lab report following a science experiment, or to explain the historical importance of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Here’s the good news: SAS Curriculum Pathways now offers a free add-on that Google Docs users can install to help them revise and edit their writing. There’s more good news: it’s easy to use. If you have not already done so, install the SAS Writing Reviser add-on from Google Docs. Of course, the SAS Writing Reviser add-on will not analyze the poem for the student, and it certainly won’t conduct the science experiment or evaluate Lincoln’s speech.

DnA - Resources | Howjsay Howjsay is a talking dictionary of English pronunciation. It allows you to easily check how words sound without learning any phonemic symbols. It uses audio of real speakers! Key Features Over 150,000 entries with approximately 250,000 spoken pronunciations One-click access to fast, clear sounds All pronunciations are carefully researched before inclusion British English pronunciation with World English alternatives British and American spellings History feature allows you to browse previous entries All sounds are authentic - no synthetic sounds are used Same database as the world's leading English pronunciation website, www.howjsay.com, with regular updates and addition of new topical words Many foreign words, names of places, foods, people, etc. How to Use It Online version (free) Enter the word on the website. (The page also shows links to google definitions and translation, using a new pop up window.) Browser plugins for IE9, Chrome, Firefox (free) Why I Love Howjsay Quick Tip

Campanion app surging in popularity Tens of thousands of people around the world are now using a free personal-safety mobile app that allows friends to virtually walk you home at night. The Companion app, created by five students from the University of Michigan, enables users to request a friend or family member to keep them company virtually and track their journey home via GPS on an online map. Although they can do so, the friend or family member does not need to have the Companion app installed, which is available for both Android and iOS. The user can send out several requests to different phone contacts in case people are not available to be a companion or not with their phones at the time. Those contacted then receive an SMS text message with a hyperlink in it that sends them to a web page with an interactive map showing the user walking to their destination. If the user is fine, they press a button on the app to confirm within 15 seconds. Contacting university campus police Working out where people feel most unsafe

The Seven Best Video Website for ELT Students - Kieran Donaghy As part of the launch of the website I’m organising a prize draw for my new book Film in Action. Everybody who subscribes to the website in the months of February and March will be entered into the draw. The Internet now offers students the opportunity to improve their lexical, listening and speaking skills through watching short film clips, videos and short films. Here are my seven favourite sites. English Central Possibly the best website for students to improve their vocabulary, listening, speaking and pronunciation. English Attack A aimed specifically at young students which uses clips from movies and TV series; music videos, themed visual glossaries; learning games and social networking to help language learners improve their English. Learn English Teens Film UK A British Council website which gives students the opportunity to watch innovative short films made by young people, and do a variety of activities designed around the films. Go Animate Zimmer Twins Bombay TV Clip Flair

A Good Google Drive Tool for Real-time Collaborative Diagramming August 27, 2015 Cacoo is a web application that allows you to create and collaborate on diagrams. It offers some powerful drawing tools to use for drawing all kinds of diagrams including site maps, wire frames, flowcharts, network charts and many more. The great thing about Cacoo is that it supports real-time collaboration allowing you to work on the same diagram with various collaborators simultaneously. Multiple collaborators can edit a diagram in real-time. There is also a chat functionality integrated into Cacoo editor that enables users to get direct feedback from their team. Creating diagrams in Cacoo is only a matter of drag and drop from the stencil panel to the canvas. Cacoo is also integrated with Google Drive meaning that you can design and save your diagrams right into your Drive and access them across different devices. Watch the video below to learn more about Cacoo

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