Lesson 3: Social Media Learning Tools for the Foreign Language Classroom
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What is Social Media
Social Media consist of interactive forms of media that allow users to interact with and publish to each other, generally by means of the internet. Social Media Language Learning (SMLL)links interactive social media channels to language learning. This enables students to develop communication and language skills.
How does social media help language learning?
- Social media provides the learner with the possibility of participating in actual, real-time, relevant conversations taking place online,and practicing the target language with or without the help of an experienced teacher by his or her side.
- Perfect grammar and pronunciation are not essential to the process, rather setting the focus on the communicative competence ofthe student and the ability to understand and make him/herself understood.
- Importance of live and actual communication in the target language through interaction and updated content comprehension and production based on Social Media channels.
- Students’ personal experience and interests play adefining role in learning, enabling relevant usage oflanguage during and between classes with activeparticipation of teacher and virtual community.
- Fostering of social media communication skills at the same time as the language learning is taking place, in terms of editing, strategy, conceptualization and business insight.
There are many types of social media available. You will learn about three types of social media which are easy to start in your classroom
- EdModo
- EPals
Social Media and the 5C's of Foreign Language Learning
In 1999, ACTFL determined that the content of world language-learning courses should contain instruction based on five standards, known as the five Cs. These standards describe the "what" (content) of world languages learning and form the core of standards-based instruction in the world languages.
- Communication
- Cultures
- Connections
- Comparisons
- Communities
EdModo
Edmodo is a "social learning platform" website for teachers, students, and parents. It is marketed as the Facebook for schools Current uses of Edmodo include posting assignments, creating polls for student responses, embedding video clips, create learning groups, posting a quizzes for students to take, and creating a calendar of events and assignments. Students can also turn in assignments or upload assignments for their teachers to view and grade. Teachers can annotate the assignments directly in Edmodo to provide instant feedback
Click here to watch the video on Edmodo in the classroom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiiJWnqEMO4
- Sign up for a free account at https://www.edmodo.com/
- Fill out your profile
- Browse or watch tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpsi8wvo5hQ
What are the benefits of Edmodo for teachers and students?
- Using Edmodo can help capture student’s attention and create an exciting atmosphere. It also has the crucial benefit for teachers of less paperwork and easy organization at their fingertips, and even eliminates the possibility of students misplacing their homework. Using Edmodo also disolves the need to waste paper by printing out assignments.
- There is the option of a parental account for teachers to communicate and update them on their child’s progress. This allows parents to feel connected with their child’s academics.
- Edmodo also allows students to interact and become familiar with technology. It is easy to use because it is designed like Facebook, which most students frequently use.
What are some ways to use Edmodo in the classroom?
- Create a group where students can post articles or blogs about a current event in the news. Have students comment and discuss their students discoveries.
- Create a pen pal group in which students can write to students from another class and collaboratively complete assignments and activities.
- Use Edmodo as an online book club and discuss the literature with other classes
ACTIVITY
EPALS
- EPALS connects 4.5 million students and teachers in 191 countries for teacher-designed cross-cultural and interactive projects. Classrooms use monitored email, language translation, discussion boards, maps and more to work and learn together. Find a partner classroom and collaborate on school projects, practice foreign language skills and establish international friendships.
- Teacher's control epals for their class so its a very secure site.
- You can connect with another classroom in another country who is looking to partner with you to be penpals to practice the language or you can partner with another class looking to connect with you on a project. This is a great opportunity to bring authentic learning experiences into your classroom.
- Watch Video: epals cultural exchange video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxOPX0CblFM
- click here to browse epals select a country http://www.epals.com/find-classroom.php#age_range=0&collaboration%5B%5D=1&country=&language=2&num_students%5B%5D=2&p=1®ion%5B%5D=9&search_text=
- EPALS is free. Sign on to http://www.epals.com/#!/main
- learn Epals the Basics - 5 minute overview of epals at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edt3K30bL1A
Review
- You have learned about a few easy tools which can help you integrate technology into your classroom and will engage and motivate your students
- You have analyzed each of the tools and learned how to apply them to address the 4 modalities of foreign language learning: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
- You have reviewed the 5c's of language instruction.
Now lets put all the information together in a chart. For this activity you need to:
- go to the following file and print out a copy and fill it out. File:Chartrwlsfinal.pdf
- Each tool we reviewed is on the chart.
- Fill out what each tool is and does, how does it address the 4 modalities and how does it fit into the 5c's.
- give a brief idea on a lesson plan you can create integrating any of these tools
Assessment
ACTIVITY 1
- Select one of the tools and create a lesson plan integrating the tool into your instruction
ACTIVITY 2
- Write a reflection on your thoughts about integrating technology in the foreign language classroom after taking the mini-course.
- Compare your responses to the responses you provided before you took the course. Discuss your findings. post them on padlet http://padlet.com/rruenes48/bam57zmaplqi
References
http://friendshipthrougheducation.org/epals.htm
http://thejournal.com/Articles/2011/01/25/Social-Networking-Keeping-It-Clean.aspx?Page=3
http://www.appappeal.com/app/edmodo/
http://blog.edmodo.com/2010/09/02/small-groups-help-students-collaborate/
