Great News - Using Photostory to Create Podcasts

Great news everyone. While listening to the KidCast Podcast, which covers podcasting in K-12 education, I learned how PhotoStory can be used to create Podcasts! The trick is coverting the Photostory file (WMA) into a format recognized by iTunes (MP4). The answer is a simple and free program called the iPod Video Converter from Jodix: http://www.ipod-video-converter.org/. I'll make arrangements to get this installed on all the lab computers. But if you've already downloaded PhotoStory for use at home, I encourage you download this program too.

So, if you'd rather do a video podcast than an audio-only podcast, but don't want to hassle with a digital video camera and Windows Movie Maker, just gather or take some photos digital photos to go along with your audio, and you're good to go. Just put your photos in the order you want them, and record your audio directly into PhotoStory. You can create title slides by creating each one separately in PowerPoint, and then save them as .jpg files. I have digital cameras available for checkout if you need one.

Of course, audio-only or regular video podcasts are still an option.

Reading Prompt #10

EGBERT Ch. 10. Teacher Development
RICHARDSON Ch. 7. Fun with Flickr: Creating, Publishing, and Using Images Online

We've talked a lot in class about how technology can be used to help ELLs learn English. The internet is also an excellent resource for teacher professional development. Describe ways you have used internet resources for your own professional development as a language teacher. If you haven't already done this, describe some of the resources in the Egbert chapter you would be interested in trying.

Next, briefly describe how images such as those from Flickr and other free photo sharing sites can be used in ESL classrooms.

China Photos

I've uploaded my photos from China to my Yahoo Photo page. If you're bored, take a look:

http://photos.yahoo.com/wayneewright@sbcglobal.net (note: I took a lot of photos!)

Reading Prompt #9

Sorry everyone for the delay in posting this week's reading prompt. I'll keep it simple:

EGBERT Ch. 9. Limitations, Caveats, and Challenge

Which of the limitations, caveats, and challenges with regards to computer assisted language learning apply to your current (or future) classrooms? How could these be overcome?

Reading Prompt #8

CUMMINS Ch. 3. Assessment
EGBERT Ch. 8. Assessment

What is the difference between traditional standardized testing and authentic assessment? Describe how computers can be used for both. Which do you feel is a better use of computers? Describe examples from the readings or from your own experiences how comptures can be used effectively for assessment, and/or how to effectively assess the work students do via the computer.

Reminders and Clarifications

First off, thank you everyone for getting small gifts for your ePenPals in China. And a big thank you to Marysol for bringing the postcards! I'll try to add a few postings to this blog from my trip to China, including some photos of your ePenPals.

Here are some reminders and clarifications:

1. Class Wiki: There are still 3 students who have not yet posted their "embarassing language learning moment story." There is also a new section where we can post and share links to cool sites. Please add to it. Also, feel free to go in and edit your classmates' postings if you see any errors or ways to make their stories better.

2. Kidspiration Story Map: There has been some confusion about this assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to make a story map for your group's podcast. If you have a grade that says "redo" then it looked to like your Kidspiration project posted to your web was not a storymap for your podcast. Please also note, this assignment is not due until April 17. This will give you time to meet with your group and plan out your podcast.

3. Reading Reflections - It looks like many students were late in posting responses to classmates for Reading Reflection #6. I did not go back and look for those, so if you only have 1 point for Reading Reflection #6, e-mail me and let me know who you responded to.

4. Quickshares: Some of you have done quickshares, but have not yet posted them on your blog. You need to do so to get full credit. Also, your quickshare should be a posting labeled "Quickshare," rather than as a link on the sidebar.

That's it. Have fun playing with Audacity. And have a great Spring Break!!!

ESL 6973 Podcast - Episode 1 Welcome and Overview

Here's my first attempt at a podcast. This will be episode #1 and you guys will create the other episodes. Once we have some episodes together, we'll work on getting them on iTunes and other podcast directories!

http://streamer.utsa.edu/ramgen/2007/Spring/FS/ESL6973.901.Wright/Episode1.overview.mp3

Where is Egbert Ch. 7?

I've gotten a few e-mails from students asking where Egbert Ch. 7 is. It is in the same file as Egbert Ch. 1 on Web-CT. TESOL provided these two free chapters on their website in the same file, which is why they are together.

Sorry for the confusion!

Audacity Download

We'll be working with Audacity this week in class. It is a free program for recording and editing digital audio, and one of the main programs people use to create podcasts.

I recommend you download and install this program on your own computer or laptop. You can download it from:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/ (download the Stable 1.2.6 version on the left)

After you download and install Audacity, you will need to download and install program called LAME MP3 Encoder. This program works with Audacity, and allows you to export your recordings into .mp3 format (the format required for podcasting). Instructions and links to the free dowloads are here:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&i=lame-mp3

Note, once you install the LAME MP3 Encoder, you'll need to hook it up to Audacity. Just follow the instructions, it's fairly easy and only needs to be done once.

If you have a Mac, see if you have Garage Band installed. If so, great! This is the most widely used program on the Mac to record podcasts and is fairly easy to learn to use (so I'm told).

Remember Gifts for Chinese ePen-Pals

Hi everyone,

Just a reminder, please remember to bring you gift to class this Tuesday for your ePenPal in China. Please, just small (literally small) gifts of no more than $5.

Here's a photo of some of the students at Xi'an International Studies University, though I don't know if any of these will actually be our ePen-Pals.