Notes for Thursday, March 18, class

Today we're going to explore the pros and frustrating cons of collaborative learning in general and in terms of language instruction.

First, you'll need to add the following link to your own wiki in wikispaces.com. You may want to also post it in your blog for quick reference:

http://ling487.wikispaces.com/

This is a group wiki with permission for everyone to add and edit any content on it. I have started an outline of what the entire class will develop on this wiki, but groups are free to change the headings and (slightly) change the focus of each heading. The point is to work towards consensus on each area of the wiki.

To start with, you will work with the group that shares your area of interest to combine and post on each of your individual wikis the links you all agree are most useful for your topic. Each person in the group should have the same list on their personal wiki when you're through.

Next, your group will pick one of the main headings in the class wiki (http://ling487.wikispaces.com/) and brainstorm what you want to put there. Ideally,
this will be completed in class. Before you do this, discuss how you want to approach this as a group activity. Who types? How do you settle disputes?

Most likely this will be all we'll be able to accomplish in today's class. One last thing you'll need to do is add links to your individual wikis to the bottom of the class page. Do this in your group. Type a heading for the subject of the links your group collected and include the links to each member's page.

Grammar and Constructivist Learning

Notes for 3/2/10 class

• Your beliefs about grammar acquisition?
• Participation metaphor vs acquisition metaphor for SLA
• a priori vs emergent grammar/ langue vs parole
• organic dynamism (micro change --> macro change)
• creative construction hypothesis
• "noticing" input/Inductive strategies
• consciousness raising
• metalinguistic knowledge
• discovering rules/negotiated meaning

Explore one or more of the following online grammar activities to determine if and to what extent they are constructivist. Tweet your findings.


http://a4esl.org/q/f/x/xz38mvt.htm

http://www.marks-english-school.com/games/g_presperf.html

Links to CALL 487 wiki's

Erin http://ecrofford1.wikispaces.com/
Kristen http://kristen01.wikispaces.com/
Bailey http://blschmid.wikispaces.com/
Nicholas http://hynso.wikispaces.com/
Jeffrey http://jeffreycall.wikispaces.com/
Bill http://billtesol.wikispaces.com/
Lisa http://esldepot.wikispaces.com/
Christine http://christinemarieanderson.wikispaces.com/
Jessina http://jmbranyan.wikispaces.com/
Jesse http://heylookatme.wikispaces.com/
Christina http://cindovina.wikispaces.com/
Maria http://mariacall2010.wikispaces.com/
Hanan http://callhanan.wikispaces.com/
Aja http://badandworse.wikispaces.com/
Sabah http://sktesol.wikispaces.com/

Missing wikis
Jay
Deena
Kazuaki
Miglena


More examples of wikis courtesy of Ryan Hunter
http://depaulelanovel01.wikispaces.com/
http://depaulelanovel02.wikispaces.com/
http://depaulelanovel03.wikispaces.com/

Notes on Thursday, 2/25, class

Discussion of blog assignments requirements

• make sure you have a blog roll
• need reader-friendly format/fonts
• add tags for all postings!

Discussion of wiki use for writing feedback/collaboration
wikispaces demo

• http://collegecomp.wikispaces.com/
• http://introtolit.wikispaces.com/
• http://techproject.wikispaces.com/

Pbwiki demo

• https://eps4151200910016grpa.pbworks.com/
• https://hre47012008910013.pbworks.com/
• https://epsy40812008910007.pbworks.com/

In-class and homework activities

• Sign up for free account in wikispaces at http://www.wikispaces.com/
• Give your new wiki a name, click "edit" tab to start adding content
• On main (home) page of your wiki, write a short "about me" text, followed by a bullet point list of your main areas of interest in CALL
• Tweet the link to your wiki with the tags #MATESOL #wiki
• Start in class and finish at home--> Find who else in class shares your interests and post a comment under the Discussion tab introducing yourself on their wikispaces page. You'll need to read everyone's wiki to do this, but you only need to post on the wiki's that describe areas of interest that you share.
  

Notes on Tuesday, 2/23, class lecture

Using CALL to teach ESL Writing -- Computer Mediated Feedback

• focus on form vs content
• social relationships/dynamics
• writing vs typing
• grammar feedback/brute practice
• embedded concordance links
• teaching how to fish
• email/discussion board feedback
  

Some additional tools and sites:
Digital Storytelling Tools for Instructors--free handbook
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/digital-storytelling-tools-for-educators/6257307

Format for your podcast blog post

Begin with the title of your podcast

Follow with "show notes" Find tips on show notes here Your show notes should include:

• Brief introduction, including the purpose and audience for the podcast and any instructions for what you want them to do as they listen.
• If relevant, a vocabulary list
• link to the podcast on podbean
• Any follow up activities, exercises or recommendations for how to use the info on the podcast
• Any related or useful web links, including a list of references if relevant (especially in a teacher to teacher podcast).

If you are working in teams, each team member should post the same show notes and podcast link in their blog.

Info on fair use of copyrighted music in a podcast:
http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Podcasting_Legal_Guide#Fair_Use_Under_Copyright_Law_And_Its_Application_To_Podcasts.

Tips on composing and publishing your podcast

To be an effective instructional tool, a podcast needs to be well-crafted. The use of "show notes" goes a long way towards this end. You can read more about designing and using Show Notes at http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/27-writing-podcast-show-notes.htm

For each of your podcast assignments in LING 487, you must post both a link to your recording on Podbean and a description of your podcast in your blog (Blog post #6). Use the Show Notes format to create a blog entry that is both appealing and useful for your intended podcast audience.

You'll find additional tips here http://www.feedforall.com/effective-podcast-tips.htm