Storybird Time!

Reach for the Star on Storybird
Have you ever heard of Storybird?  Storybird is a service that uses collaborative storytelling to connect friends, teachers-students and also families. Two (or more) people create a Storybird in a round robin fashion by writing own text and inserting pictures that they select. After that. they have the option of sharing their Storybird privately or publicly on the network. The final product can be printed, watched on screen, embed to a blog, or shared through a worldwide library.

How does it work?
Someone starts a Storybird by writing a few words (for title and then the stories) and grabbing a few images. For the images, a few options of arts is available to choose from. All of the pictures are interesting and colourful. Students can choose images to fit their storyline.  Then the other person takes a turn, adding more words and pictures. They can do it sitting side-by-side or across places.

1. Working in pairs, students have to collaborate and write a story. It can be any genre of story. 
2. They then publish and embed the story to class's blog where everyone can read. 

Strength?
1. It promotes imagination, literacy, and self-confidence in students. According to the website itself, 'children who play with words and pictures early in life tend to score higher in cognitive and aptitude tests later on. They read and draw more, and are better able to understand concepts and ideas. Plus, they become comfortable with the act of creation: turning nothing into something. In an idea-based society, that’s a key advantage' (Storybird.com).

2. Students are encouraged to write more in an enjoyable way. The task is not demanding as they can work in pairs. 

3. Develops a sense of ownership.

4. Teachers can assess students' writing skills and teach them on the frequent errors made. 

Weakness?
-Not that I know of- :)

p/s: Above is an example of the story I made with my partner: Nuras. Enjoy!

Week 5: Vocaroo

Online recording software >>

Effective communicative language learning may not take place without practicing to use the language. Typical problem faced by students in rural secondary schools in Malaysia is to speak using the second language; English. Basing from my personal experience, most of my English teachers only focused on how to teach us to write well. This happens because language teachers are struggling to prepare students to face the exam-oriented system in Malaysia due to washback; the effects of language testing on teaching and learning. Hence, speaking skills are less emphasized in classroom teaching. As a student, I felt demotivated to speak in English as there is no encouragement and motivation for me to speak the language in class. 

And for this week, Russel has introduced us to a very useful website, Vocaroo!

What is it?

 Vocaroo is a simple and super easy way to record your voice and create podcast. When you click on the link of the website, it will straight away bring you to "Click to record" button. Isn't it the simplest? You do not have to sign up or anything to record your voice.

How can it be used in class?

First of all, there are two options that you can do after you're done recording your podcast:

1. You can send it to your friend/teacher/lecturer (through email)

2. You can post on the Internet and embed it to your blog. 

Teachers can use Vocaroo to teach and assess students' speaking skills weekly. 

1. Teachers assign students to podcast their journal voice recording. Students are free to talk about anything that they want.

2. They are required to send it to their teacher and then embed it to the class blog.

3. Teachers will respond to the podcast with another podcast, by teachers themselves.

4. Comments on strength, weakness and how to improve is made in the recording.

5. Basing from the frequent language errors made by students, teachers will teach in class and revise, as well as show the students how to use the language well next time. 

Strength?

1. Formative assessment to assess students' speaking skills

2. Encourage students to speak outside the classroom

3. Students may have a platform to impress teachers and friends with their topic and way of speaking. 

4. Students have the opportunity to speak outside of the classroom setting (where some students may perform well outside the class as in the classroom setting they will feel nervous)

Weakness?

1. Internet connection may be hard to get in rural areas

p/s: Above is my example of podcast. Enjoy! :)