Best of Technology Fair

Presenter

Title and Description

Dave Laurence

Ohio University

Linguistics MA Candidate

Gong

Gong is a voice board - similar to forums or discussion boards many people are familiar with in software like Blackboard. The difference is that messages aren't typed, but spoken; users can leave spoken messages, which others can then listen to and respond to, and nobody necessarily needs any special software, and it's all completely free. For the language classroom, it basically gives teachers all the functions of a traditional language lab, and then some, without the actual lab - students can record speech samples, which the teacher can listen to and comment on with speech and text. The teacher can record a listening exercise for students to comment on. Students can listen to and have discussions with each other - and all from the comfort of wherever they use a computer.

http://gong.ust.hk/

http://gong.ust.hk/features_desc.html

http://Ohioenglish.com/

Ana Calle

Ohio University

Linguistics MA Candidate

Moodle

Moodle is a Course Management system based on the principles of constructivism. People learn when they interact with the environment and with others. This leads to collaboration and creation of things for a shared community.

http://moodle.org

http://ohioenglish.com

Isaac Lee

Ohio University

Instructional Technology Ph.D. Candidate

Computer-mediated communication

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) has received considerable attention over past twenty years to enhance second or foreign language teaching and learning. After this session, you will:

1. Understand the meaning of CMC.
2. Different kinds of CMC systems. (Handout)
3. Have a demonstration of "Breeze" system including

•  Teacher side: how to create and manage a training or class. (Handout) •  Learner side: how to log in a training or class and do a task online •  Each panel of Breeze http://www.adobe.com/products/breeze/

http://technology.ohio.edu/whats_new/breeze.html

Mike Dombroski

Ohio University

Linguistics MA Candidate

Podcasts for the Language Classroom

Videocasts Similar but you now upload video

Dani Spies (www.youtube.com) http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=danispies

Student Projects http://caeb2006.podomatic.com/ http://bylpodcasts.blogspot.com/

Broadcast plays, radio dramas.

Students don't have a PAD? No problem, they can now download to their cell phone. http://www.melodeo.com/

Han Xu

Ohio University

Linguistics MA Candidate

Audacity

An open-source (Free) program that allows teachers and students to easily and quickly record and edit high qulity recordings.
You can use audacity to
* Record live audio.
* Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
* Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together (like a Word Processor).
* Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
You can download Audacity for free at: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download

Greg Kessler

Ohio University

Director, Academic Oral Communication Program

The Online Audio Lab

Using a combination of open-source software, the online audio lab not only replaces the traditional language lab, but also adds enhancements. Some of these enhancements include interactive support activities, RSS feeds to authentic listening materials and a java-based synchronous voice & text chat discussion board. Additional features include a sharedknowledge base glossary and streaming video lectures covering strategies for improving spoken English skills. All of these functions are integrated into an open-source course management system. This
integration within a CMS enables teacher management of discussions, archiving, and integration with other selected language learning
experiences. The motivation for creating this online lab and context in which it is used will also be discussed.

Eric Bauer

Ohio University

Linguistics MA Candidate

Hot Potatoes

The software suite includes five applications that allow users to create assessment tools for the World Wide Web.   These assessment tools are familiar, manageable and fun for both instructors and students alike.   Cloze exercises, crossword puzzles, matching exercises, mixers and a basic quiz can all be created with ease, and then combined with a final tool, the masher.   Though it is not freeware, it is free to users who make their pages available on the web.

A further benefit of the Hot Potatoes software is its integration with the course management software, Moodle.   Moodle allows user to quickly and easily incorporate any Hot Potatoes exercises into multiple modules throughout the platform.

This particular demonstration will focus on creating a matching exercise as derived from first time users to the OTESOL conference.   Users will create a list of five words, including their corresponding definitions, and will effectively upload it to a working Moodle module.   Users will be surprised at the ease of transaction, and perhaps disbelieving that they now possess the necessary skills to use each of these tools on their own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Potatoes
http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/halfbaked/

Ongoro Ongito

Ohio University

Instructional Technology Ph.D. Candidate

Multimedia Tools for Foreign Language Instruction: Integrating Audio, Movie and Image files onto your online exercises

Summary

Hot-Potatoes, WebRhubarb and WebSequitur are learning activity tools that can be used to maximize the opportunity for learners to practice their target language. No expertise special expertise in multimedia is required for instructors to use these tools learning materials for their language students. These tools have user-friendly interfaces that facilitate quick creation of learning activities and their presentation in HTML format.