In this month's article we look at two web tools that have been developed over recent years and are now commonly used in the language teaching classroom.
The two tools are called wikis and blogs. Read on to find out what they are, how they can be used in the classroom and why so many educators are getting excited by the possibilities they offer.
Read on to find out what they are and how we can use them.
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
What is a wiki?
A wiki is a website that allows its visitors to write content collaboratively.
The users of the site can edit the content, making changes to what has previously been written by other readers.
There can be several pages of content connected by hyperlinks. As the content is editable there is a history of changes to enable users to revert back to earlier versions.
The most famous example of a wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopaedia written by its readers. The English version, which can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org, has nearly two billion articles. The Cantonese version is located at http://zh.wikipedia.org.
The users of the site can edit the content, making changes to what has previously been written by other readers.
There can be several pages of content connected by hyperlinks. As the content is editable there is a history of changes to enable users to revert back to earlier versions.
The most famous example of a wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopaedia written by its readers. The English version, which can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org, has nearly two billion articles. The Cantonese version is located at http://zh.wikipedia.org.
What is a blog?
A blog (or web log) is a website written by an individual or individuals which acts as a kind of online diary. Entries are posted chronologically, with the most recent at the top, and provide commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local events.
A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.
The ability for readers to leave their comments on the content is an important part of many blogs.
An example of a blog can be found at http://hkeltnetwork.blogspot.com/. As you may notice, the content of this blog is the same as this article. You can post comments on what you think about blogs and wikis and add any comments you have about the ELT Network.
A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.
The ability for readers to leave their comments on the content is an important part of many blogs.
An example of a blog can be found at http://hkeltnetwork.blogspot.com/. As you may notice, the content of this blog is the same as this article. You can post comments on what you think about blogs and wikis and add any comments you have about the ELT Network.
Why use wikis and blogs?
The key to this question is that the content on both types of website can be written by the user. Therefore, teachers and students can generate their own content.
One of the main reasons why these tools have become popular as classroom tools is their motivational aspect. Students can now see their work published live on the internet. As they control and publish it themselves, there is a high level of motivation to work hard. This often leads to higher quality content than would have been generated in similar paper-based activities.
Because it is published on the internet, material can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection (in Hong Kong that's pretty much everywhere). Students can show their friends and parents what they are working on and they may also be able to add to it outside class time, thus increasing involvement and not restricting their participation to the classroom.
Most of us are fortunate enough to have access to the internet in the classroom and have a dedicated computer room where students can do work. What better way to practice writing than on a something that publishes, stores and shares a student's work?
As well as these benefits, wikis and blogs are very easy to use and their application in the classroom is only limited by our imagination.
One of the main reasons why these tools have become popular as classroom tools is their motivational aspect. Students can now see their work published live on the internet. As they control and publish it themselves, there is a high level of motivation to work hard. This often leads to higher quality content than would have been generated in similar paper-based activities.
Because it is published on the internet, material can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection (in Hong Kong that's pretty much everywhere). Students can show their friends and parents what they are working on and they may also be able to add to it outside class time, thus increasing involvement and not restricting their participation to the classroom.
Most of us are fortunate enough to have access to the internet in the classroom and have a dedicated computer room where students can do work. What better way to practice writing than on a something that publishes, stores and shares a student's work?
As well as these benefits, wikis and blogs are very easy to use and their application in the classroom is only limited by our imagination.
Some uses of wikis in the classroom
Writing Reviews for Pop Videos
In this month’s lesson plan we look at how you can set up your own wiki for use by your students. In this example, the teacher has embedded a number of music videos into a wiki and the students collaboratively write reviews of the videos.
This wiki is produced using a website called http://www.wikispaces.com/. You can view an example of the exercise by going to the wikispaces website and signing in (top right corner) using the following details:
username: eltn-user
password: english
Download the lesson plan and follow the instructions. To create your own version for use with your students, we have produced a step by step guide. Download it from our website.
This exercise fits nicely with the English through Pop Culture elective in the new secondary syllabus.
Another similar exercise which would fit in with the electives would be based on writing film trailers. It would be easy, following the steps in the tutorial we have developed, to develop pages with embedded movie trailers where your students can write the reviews of recently released movies.
The website http://www.youtube.com/ offers a large number of trailers for movies. Just type the word trailer and the name of a film into the search.
Process writing
An old collaborative writing exercise involves writing the start of a story and passing it on to another student for them to add another sentence and so on and so forth. This simple activity type lends itself perfectly to wikis.
You can find an example of one that we started here using a wiki called writeboard by clicking on this link:
http://writeboard.com/027a99fe410a26f09
Just click on the address and type in the password english. Click Edit this page and then enter the next line of the story or edit what has already been written. Don’t forget to leave an unfinished sentence for the next ELT Network member to complete.
It took less than a minute to set this up. In a classroom setting, you would need to set up a number of different writeboards, one for each computer, ideally with a different name for each one. However, even if you needed to create as many as 20, it would still only take about 20 minutes preparation. Don’t forget to provide your students with the links to the website.
Exam essay writing practice
Another use, based on writeboard, would be for examination questions. Create a number of writeboards, each with a different essay title. Students can then write their answers collaboratively and share their results with their peers. After getting feedback on their efforts they can edit what they have written. It would provide you, the teacher, with a good record of their work and provide their parents with a good opportunity to see how their children are getting on at school.
Some uses of blogs in the classroom
As we mentioned previously, blogs are more often used for online journals than collaborative writing. However, one feature of blogs which can be exploited in the language classroom is the ability to add comments and join discussions.
Discussion Forums
We can use blogs as forums of discussion for our students.
Have a look at a blog we have set up at http://hkeltnactivities.blogspot.com/ and have a look at the activity at the bottom entitled Virtual Art Gallery. In this exercise students practice language for describing artwork and would be asked to view the pictures on the blog and write their feelings towards them in the Comments section.
You may wish to change the settings so that only registered users can post comments. Try and leave a comment on this blog by using the following details:
Username: HKELT.Network@gmail.com
Password: Engl1sh (watch out for the 1 instead of i)
My Personal Diary
We’re coming to the end of one school year and before we know it, another will be starting. If you are a class teacher, you will see your students develop over the year but will you have a record of it? For that matter, will they have a record of it?
Blogs offer an excellent platform for students to keep reflective diaries on their school year. Students could keep one going for the whole year, contributing to it on a weekly basis.
Alternatively a group of students could set up a blog for a particular project.
A popular website that allows you to create blogs is with www.blogger.com. With Blogger it is possible to restrict who can view blogs so it is only open to your class.
Of course, students are required to write in English so what better way is there of practicing the language?
Other uses of wikis and blogs for learning professionals
As we mentioned earlier blogs are often online journals. Have you ever thought of keeping a journal of your continuing professional development? By maintaining a blog of your personal development you will be able to monitor how you have developed and share your experiences with other ELT professionals.
The blog service on the new English Online webpage (see previous month’s article and this month’s audiobite) will be an ideal place for this kind of blog.
Discussion Forums
We can use blogs as forums of discussion for our students.
Have a look at a blog we have set up at http://hkeltnactivities.blogspot.com/ and have a look at the activity at the bottom entitled Virtual Art Gallery. In this exercise students practice language for describing artwork and would be asked to view the pictures on the blog and write their feelings towards them in the Comments section.
You may wish to change the settings so that only registered users can post comments. Try and leave a comment on this blog by using the following details:
Username: HKELT.Network@gmail.com
Password: Engl1sh (watch out for the 1 instead of i)
My Personal Diary
We’re coming to the end of one school year and before we know it, another will be starting. If you are a class teacher, you will see your students develop over the year but will you have a record of it? For that matter, will they have a record of it?
Blogs offer an excellent platform for students to keep reflective diaries on their school year. Students could keep one going for the whole year, contributing to it on a weekly basis.
Alternatively a group of students could set up a blog for a particular project.
A popular website that allows you to create blogs is with www.blogger.com. With Blogger it is possible to restrict who can view blogs so it is only open to your class.
Of course, students are required to write in English so what better way is there of practicing the language?
Other uses of wikis and blogs for learning professionals
As we mentioned earlier blogs are often online journals. Have you ever thought of keeping a journal of your continuing professional development? By maintaining a blog of your personal development you will be able to monitor how you have developed and share your experiences with other ELT professionals.
The blog service on the new English Online webpage (see previous month’s article and this month’s audiobite) will be an ideal place for this kind of blog.
Issues and solutions
Below are a number of issues that you will need to consider before using any of these ideas:
- Does your school filter internet content?
Many schools do, so you will need to check if the websites you want to use are accessible in your school. A sound pedagogical use for that website will often convince your IT administrator to unblock the site. - Some basic user training may be needed.
Although all the sites listed above are simple to use, some learner training may be needed the first time you attempt these activities in class. Instructions can be written into the activities like in the wikispaces example in this month’s lesson idea. - Monitoring is essential.
As in any activity is essential to monitor the content your students are producing. It is advisable to get your students to accept a code of conduct before using computers. - Beware of copyright infringement.
However, music videos and trailers are often posted on www.YouTube.com by the producers themselves and using these in class would not break any copyright laws. The artwork used in the blog activity is from wikipedia. Each photo in wikipedia contains copyright information so it is possible to check before copying the pictures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
