Making Use of Blogging, Podcasting and Wikis in the

MFL Classroom.

Alex Blagona

Northgate High School

6th December 2007blaggers@hotmail.com

Is this the future?

“Young people’s familiarity with ICT offers a great opportunity to language teachers. It seems to us that a determined commitment to use this world, which is so familiar to young people, is a key to increasing the engagement of young people of all ages with languages. New technologies can facilitate real contacts with schools and young people in other countries. They can also provide stimulus for creative and interactive work.”

(Lord Dearing - Languages Review March

2007)

Using the skills

• Blogging = Reading and Writing

• Podcasting = Listening and Speaking

Can we keep up with the kids?

Using Blogs• Web + log = Blog• Used as an online diary, journal, source of

news, and publishing of students’ work

What did we consider?

• Purpose

• Audience

• Content

Why are we doing this?

Who is going to bother reading it?

What do we put on it?

How can we use a blog?

• Sharing good ideas and resources.• Raising awareness of MFL across the school

(and beyond!)• Online diaries of school trips and exchanges.• Getting students to assess each other’s work.• Broadcasting podcasts and mp3s

“Es war ziemlich gut, aber die Musik war sehr langweilig. Bob, Sam und Alpal war lustig, und ich habe Pizza gegessen.” Callum

“Funky music!!! It was well good. Well done to all the people who did it!!! Oh and I loved Sam, Alex and Robert’s laugh! “Hahaha, Oh Alex!” However some people could have tried to do it in a clear German accent.” Sophie

“Mr Cobbold's class thinks - very good! Jack B. liked the music, Billy said it was funny - but the challenge is now set - can 9BGn1 do better? We will see…”Anonymous

It was very good because everyone took it seriously. The music was really good, but some of the other people could have tried to do it in a German accent! Alex

It was very good and I liked the accents everyone was doing - it made it sound really German. I didn’t like the music and I don't think that it went with the kind of thing that we were talking about so that could be changed and I liked it how everyone was talking really clearly and greeting them and saying goodbye. It was really good and I really want to do another one soon!! Louise

What are the problems?

• Keeping it up to date

• Technology over Teaching?

• Building an audience

• Overcoming fears and concerns

Are the students safe?

I will only use my first name I will never give out my email address I will never give out my home address

I will never give out my telephone number I will respect others

I will not use rude or threatening words I will not use text talk or chat language

I will not copy other people’s work I will be responsible for everything I write

I will check my spelling before posting

Where are we now?

• Audience

• Resource - used by over 100 students a week to download/revise/extend

• Reference - used by schools across the world!

Blog Positives• Promotes creativity and global citizenship• Familiar technology for pupils who use

Bebo/MySpace• Helps subject to be more relevant• Simple to use – one click publishing• Writing for a purpose (real audience) increases

standards at all levels - it’s real communication.• Allows for peer assessment through comments in a

safe environment - electronic form of assessment for learning.

What is podcasting?

• Recording students using the target language

• Using software to edit and add music

• Publishing recorded content to the web

• Attracting listeners through subscription

What is podcasting?

How can I record students?

Logitech USB Desktop Microphone£15 Plugs into a PC/Laptop

iRiver T30£40 Portable, stores 17 hours worth of chat!

How can I put together a podcast?

What are the benefits?

• Students really motivated!• Taking the speaking skill far more seriously!• “Oh wow! I almost sound French!”• Not so self-conscious - less afraid to make a mistake!• Students learn to correct each other - what they say matters!• “If the whole world can hear you…”• Working collaboratively for a purpose• Getting praise from outside of the classroom• MFL suddenly becomes fun again.• Having something they’ve made on their own iPod!

It all looks a bit tricky…

• Imagination

• Planning and Time

• Don’t let the technology scare you

• Stick with it

MFL Podcasts for GCSE / A Level revision practice whenever and wherever your students want to learn

• Stantonbury Campus• St John Fisher• Parkstone Grammar School• Wheatley Park School • Notre Dame Catholic College • Heathfield College• Oldbury College of Sport• Bristnall Hall Technology College• Southend High School for Girls • Northgate High School • Edgehill College• Elliott School• Shireland CLC

Using a wiki to get your students working together

A ‘wiki’ is a simple to use website that allows users to create their own entries, which can then be edited and changed by other users.

In MFL we can use ‘wikis’ to get students to create, share, correct and discuss their work with each other in a secure and personalised environment.

What makes wikis remarkable?

•Anyone can add, edit, or delete a page.

•Users control the design and organisation of the wiki.

•On most wikis, what you write is more important than how it looks.

Useful examples of MFL wikis

edgehill-spanish.wikispaces.com

northgatemfl.wikispaces.com

irsdeutsch.wikispaces.com

langwitch.wikispaces.com

Wiki as a Collaboration tool•Students like the ability to collaborate.•The wiki facilitates, but doesn’t teach collaboration skills - the students need time to get used to the idea!•Students need help organising collaborative writing projects.•Wiki management is ideally controlled by the students, but monitored by the teachers.•Students need to develop wiki-skills - but it is a great way to aid independent study.•The “history” and “recent changes” tools can help with assessing participation

Wiki as information pool/resource•Students can create learning materials!•Wikis allow a variety of authorship/ownership combinations.•Wikis break down the dynamics of traditional writing assignments.•It is very hard to let go of the idea of “ownership” of the text.•Wikis can expand both the audience and the participants in writing projects.•Plagiarism can be an issue.

“What I like best about the Wiki”

• “The chance to be creative was great - and it’s better than just writing it - we could put whatever we wanted on there (pictures, responses, content).”

• “I like to see my classmates’ work. It was also fun to see [their] comments on my work.”

• “Seeing some of the phrases used in people’s essays made me want to make my essay better.”

• “It gives you a chance to feel part of a group - we can learn from the rest of the group - and it makes sure you do your homework.”

• “I liked the flexibility a lot.”

New, corrected text in green, deleted text in red.

Want to start your own blog?

www.blogger.comwww.typepad.comwww.wordpress.comwww.odeo.comwww.jellycast.comwww.podmatic.comwww.wikispaces.comwww.pbwiki.comwww.northgatemfl.co.uk

Want to create a wonderful wiki?Want to publish your podcast?