WEBQUESTS AND PODCASTS

This session was long and intensive. We started by skimming through a lot of useful information about types of search tools, search engines, some web bibliographies and some advice on how to search websites. We learnt about the meta-search engine, used to search for information in different search engines at the same time. This was something very relevant for our future activities as all the necessary information can be easily got without spending too much time using the different engines separately. From the list suggested we tried one which had an interesting layout.

1- WEBQUESTS

The information on webquests, structures that bring different pieces together and combine them to perform a task or project, seemed very interesting. They are projects that use the web for information under the teachers’ instructions about relevant websites and follow a standard frame (Introduction, Task, Process, Evaluation and Conclusion).  Nevertheless it's a topic that requires much extra and demanding work, which we'll have to develop later after this training course has finished.  Besides the reference about the WebQuest’s father, Bernie Dodge,  we were given a list of webquests with interesting materials for our lessons, such as this one about aboriginal studies. For anyone who wants to create a webquest visit this site.

2- PODCASTS FOR ELT

The Word podcast comes from the words i-Pod and broadcast. Podcasts are digital media files (audio or video) we can download for free, after a simple free subscription process and use in class for different types of lessons or activities. We can even create our own podcasts. We skimmed through the Russell Stannard’s website. If you want to get tips on the use of technology and videos in ETL click here. 

Software like Audioboo, iTunes   and PodOmatic was explored. We learnt about creating and messaging up to 10 minutes’ private videos by using mailvu. If we want to record any audio material we can also use Vocaroo. Audacity, free software we can record with, was also searched and analysed and we came to the conclusion that it is very professional and interesting.

From the examples of Podcasts it was given emphasis to the BBC Podcasts and the BBC and British Council Audio Bank,  source of both podcasts and downloadable activities which can be very useful and usable.

There were examples of directories for the English language learning like this one.

The final activity involved skimming through some podcasts by students such as this one.

All subjects along this training course were followed by useful bibliography and sitography.