This post is about web 2.0 tools and apps I learnt about at IATEFL 2012. Most of them were totally new to me, a few weren't but are worth including!
Russell Stannard's “The Connected Classroom” was a great session about ways of giving feedback and providing opportunities for speaking practice. Russell mentioned these three tools which are very simple and useful!
MailVu
It allows you to use a webcam/voice to record video and send it by email
Here's Russell’s tutorial
Eyejot
It also allows you to use a webcam/voice to record video and send by email. But you can also download the recording or send it by email with notes and attachments. There are desktop and mobile versions
Here's a YouTube tutorial
MyBrainShark
It allows you to upload powerpoint, video, word, pdf, pictures and then record your voice.
It packs the media and sends a link. It is private by default, but you can make it active for other people to see it. Presentations are embeddable. You can mix video, pictures, ppt, etc into one final file.
Here's Russell’s tutorial full of ideas!
Kyle Mawer's “Game On” on the use of digital games was great. But these two tools he mentioned are for general use for any teacher!
Transferr
It is a visual repository to organize your links. You can choose a private or public option.
You can read about other visual social bookmarking options in this post
Class Dojo
It's a behaviour management app. You can add classes, students, choose positive and negative behaviors to assess, award points. There is a mobile app you can use as remote in the actual classroom.
Mike Harrison's “No words: ideas for using sounds and images in the classroom” was a wonderful session. Two very useful tools he mentioned are:
ELTpics
Free to use images on Creative Commons Licence
How it Works? Read this article
Free sounds effects
At the LT SIG Pre Conference Event Paul Sweeney showcased lots of apps. These are my favourite!
Edmodo
Private groups where you can share assignments and resources, organize polls and class schedules. Very easy to manage and lots of potential!
Evernote
Great tool with desktop, web and mobile apps. It allows you to take notes and add photos and sound recordings to them. You can organize your notes in notebooks and email them later.
Dropbox
Perfect solution to keep the files in your desktop pc, laptop and mobile phone synchronized. It also keeps a copy of all the files in the website so you can access it from any other computer.
Hope you found something new!
