As we have noticed during these 3 previous workshops, we have approached the basic things of what technology is about,how to use and take advantage of it through internet like chats, e-mails, wikis and podcast; and how to teach through Project/Internet-Based Learning like webquests.
For this coming workshop, we are reaching the top of the book by taking into account some useful tools for both sides, teachers and students. Translators, encyclopedias and dictionaries, CD Roms, DVDs, interactive whiteboards and what called my attention best: electronic portfolios ,are examples of these excellent tools we must know about well in order to foster a good environment in the English class with the assurance that students are going to learn, motivated by the things they like best.
On the other hand, it is almost mandatory to know how to produce our own electronic material to personalize the acitivities according to our students' culture so that they feel identified with their previous knowledge and become critical thinkers about their real world.
It has been not only interesting and motivating but of a great support having those tools in order to plan differently and from a distinct point of view in which our way of thinking makes us be aware of how important is to update our knowledge as teachers and encourage students' needs and interests through the kindness of the technology.
Web 2.0 has brought a lot advantages for teachers and students as well. Through the video below, it is possible to see the difference between web 1.0 and web 2.0.
The technology demonstrations were very interesting. My partners talk about different tools in which they can use technology 2.0 such as voki to improve listening skills, prezi to foster book reading, key pal projects to improve writing and social skills, hot potatoes to design quizes, blogs to be in contact with your children's parents in order for them to have an idea how to study with them and provide information about the topic being studied, chats to reinforce a topic and their interests, useful websites with good materials on line.
I would like to share this video I created about xtranormal tool. It talks about how and why to use this vodcast.
