Tag: classroom

image labelling game

Michael ChalkLeave a commentadult literacy, classroom, innovation

An interesting idea from Google: they want to improve the quality of their knowledge about online images, so they create a game, the "Image Labeler". Could be difficult to play when people have serious spelling issues, but could be fun for others .. Essentially the program matches you up with another person (you may play as a guest), and you both add words to describe each image, until you come up with a match. This gives the search engine more information about the pictures it has found. Matching two strangers Read More …

Video interviews on the beach, for ESL learners

Michael ChalkLeave a commentclassroom

Great to see this guy from an English school in France interviewing people on the street, and then adding captions to the video. This one is part of a series focussing on homeless people, on the beach in Miami. Interesting to compare the two women’s opinions here. Here’s the first in the series, with interviews of Santa Claus, whose residence is South Miami Beach. From (Real English MPG.)

Web-based resources in the classroom?

Michael Chalk2 Commentsclassroom, research

I’ve been thinking about this: How do people use web-based resources in their classroom? I’m sure the answer is “plenty of different ways”, eg.: Blended Learning: group activities involving discussion around a theme or text, followed up by a link to a web site. Blended Learning: in a face-to-face class, use a digital projector to engage a whole group with web-based learning activities … Ask learners to search for resources and share links (either in a face-to-face group, or in an online course). Provide links in a self-access, or independent Read More …

e-literacy basics

Michael ChalkLeave a commentclassroom, e-learning

Thanks to the very diligent and useful NZ Literacy Portal, another couple of terrific resources coming our way: "Computers in Action", from 'tech.worlded.org', is a primer in the basics of using the personal computer, with lesson plans structured in a way that includes the language functions. This isn't a resource for students, but rather a set of strategies for teaching. Eg, Window to the Soul is about  Minimizing / Maximizing Windows, and involves Writing, reading, conversation.

Lesson Plan for Media Literacy – good site for ideas

Michael ChalkLeave a commentadult literacy, classroom

Trawling the web for interesting ideas for our Literacy and Multimedia course, and came upon this lesson plan from Read Write Think (.org) (We're looking at advertising and publicity.) Looks to be a terrific resource in general, although this lesson plan is too complicated for the learners we have at the moment.  What i like about this lesson plan is the way it includes pre-reading for the teacher who wants to gain some theoretical background, as well as clear steps for introducing the topic through discussion. 

New Game: "Keyboard Crazy"

Michael ChalkLeave a commentadult literacy, classroom, e-learning

Here’s an example of the world of technology emerging into the classroom. The BBC reports on a new game called “Keyboard Crazy”, which is a physical, on-the-table game, instructing people in the position of letters on a computer keyboard. Educators in Britain seem to be impressed by this commercial product, judging from a review from the Basic Skills Agency. One teacher claims it helps people learn “mental literacy” (as distinct from your physical, instinctive literacy?).

Play the Game

Michael ChalkLeave a commentadult literacy, classroom, professional development, research

This year (’05) at PRACE, we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to research computer games in a learning environment. Our group of adults studying literacies with Margery seemed to enjoy playing games in their computer session, so we went off to discover what other games might be useful in a literacy-learning environment. My favourite game was AddemUp, from Blue Bug Games – a number game that really challenged people in the group. We found using the data projector very useful, for making this into a group activity. You Read More …

free imagery for learning

Michael ChalkLeave a commentclassroom

Found a terrific set of basic images, at a Japanese language teaching site. Basic vocabulary type images – could be useful for low-level classroom. There are so many places online where you can find free images these days. (We've got some more in the AL-T Treasure Trove of Links.) Teachers are sometimes concerned about copyright – and if you're thinking of re-publishing, then it's an essential concern. (You can read up more on this issue at the Au. Flexible Learning Framework, or at the new "Copyright Kitchen", on the