Padlet is an online themed wall.It reminds me of a large canvas or announcement board, where many learners can post pictures and small texts. It is a web-based interactive tool, easy to navigate. Once students are introduced to it, they have the chance to create a wall and elaborate their ideas.I remember when a student asked me what a pudding was and I was trying to explain to him without using the L1( Greek). Finally he understood that was a kind of dessert , but I think it would be better if we could share a wall and link pictures of puddings and the word. It really works when ideas and words are grouped together according to their meaning. Padlet would be one of the tools I would use for mindmapping activities for young learners.
How does it work?
First of all, visit the webpage: https://padlet.com/
Sign up or log in ( for the first time) by using your email and a password.
Then, choose ''Build your wall''.There is freedom to choose the background and the layout according to your title and description. There are two options: Freefrom and Stream.The already existing pictures can motivate both girls and boys.
Teachers have the chance to choose Moderate Post ,so that they can check students materials. It is not necessary for students to create an account.
It is a tool that enhances collaboration and project work. It can be used in a large school classroom or in a class at a private language institution where usually there is a group of ten learners. However, padlet would be more effective if no more than four students are working on it.
Organising a birthday party:
As far as Grammar is concerned, teachers in Greece are asked to teach Grammar in great detail. Unfortunately, if the way of presenting the phenomena is not motivating, children are easily bored and dislike Grammar. Padlet though, is an interesting way to practise the nee forms by working together and actually using them. Thus, the teacher will understand if the theory is understood. What is more, padlet can be used as a homework tool.Students are asked to write their feelings about a class or they can post their questions about Vocabulary or Grammar introduced. So it could be argued that padlet can be used as a tool for formative evaluation. Writing skills can be enhanced as well as speaking and listening skills can be consolidated.It will be a nice way to see assessment differently, especially in the Greek context, where exams are usually the central point of teaching.
(make sure that the pictures added by the children are copyright free.There can be a tutorial on this)
Share!
Further details van be found on Russel Stannard's teacher training videos: http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/e-portfolios-iwbs/how-to-use-padlet.html
Webquests
The web has changed our approach to literacy. Using the internet requires the development of new skills, such as analytical and critical thinking skills.
Webquests are activities that engage learners in searching the web .They can be extended for a course time, six or seven classes.
What is the difference between a document of hyperlinks and a webquest? In my attempt to see if webquests are related to education and more specifically to language learnimg, I realised that there should be clear criteria for the ''webquesting'' process.
Questgarden is an online service, which allows us to create a webquest.
.
It is clearly linked to constructivism theory.
Based on our learners' needs we can introduce a topic, such as Exploring the British Museum.
Visit the webpage and start exploring the potentials of webquests:
How does it work?
First of all, visit the webpage: https://padlet.com/
Sign up or log in ( for the first time) by using your email and a password.
Then, choose ''Build your wall''.There is freedom to choose the background and the layout according to your title and description. There are two options: Freefrom and Stream.The already existing pictures can motivate both girls and boys.
Teachers have the chance to choose Moderate Post ,so that they can check students materials. It is not necessary for students to create an account.
It is a tool that enhances collaboration and project work. It can be used in a large school classroom or in a class at a private language institution where usually there is a group of ten learners. However, padlet would be more effective if no more than four students are working on it.
Organising a birthday party:
Privacy settings
(make sure that the pictures added by the children are copyright free.There can be a tutorial on this)
Another instance would be the translation of the announcement board of the school in English using the padlet canvas. Several students can collaborate until the board is in English.Having the audience in mind, students will be encouraged to work in detail.Children are usually proud of their work when it is published. The task would be successful if students realise that learning together with their pears help, for instance if a learner does not remember a word, her/his classmates will remind her/him the word.
The limitations of the tool may be the misuse of it as a presentation tool and the fact that only one multimedia aspect is accepted each time.
Nevertheless, as can be seen, the affordances of this tool outweigh its disadvantages.I would certainly incorporate padlet in my teaching practice.
Further details van be found on Russel Stannard's teacher training videos: http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/e-portfolios-iwbs/how-to-use-padlet.html
Webquests
The web has changed our approach to literacy. Using the internet requires the development of new skills, such as analytical and critical thinking skills.
Webquests are activities that engage learners in searching the web .They can be extended for a course time, six or seven classes.
What is the difference between a document of hyperlinks and a webquest? In my attempt to see if webquests are related to education and more specifically to language learnimg, I realised that there should be clear criteria for the ''webquesting'' process.
Questgarden is an online service, which allows us to create a webquest.
.
It is clearly linked to constructivism theory.
We are usually concerned on how our students will develop their analytical, thinking and researching skills.The question is also '' how to use the information we have got for a project, Miss?''Webquests combine networking in a communicative way and scaffolded learning. The aim is to activate High Order Thinking Skills. The learners develop research and analytical skills stimulated by questions. If the webquest is carefully designed by us and the tasks are according to our learner needs, the outcomes will
be brilliant. In my opinion, there is an educational need in Greece to research more on the role of webquests and their affordances in education. There are not many teachers who implement webquests into their teaching and second language learning in particular. I see learning language as a way to understand the world, so webquests would be a great tool to initiate searching. We can also guide learners on how to distinguish information and analyse it critically.
Based on our learners' needs we can introduce a topic, such as Exploring the British Museum.
Visit the webpage and start exploring the potentials of webquests:
Concerning cooperati
While formulating our webquest, there are many factors to take into consideration;
Some types of the layout can be boring and not engaging for the learners and especially for the youngest ones. However, questgarden gives us the chance to have a well structured webquest.
One of Questgarden's assets is that it facilitates cooperative learning, as the process of researching takes place in groups. It can be applicable to a mixed- ability class, as it is suitable for multiple intelligences. During the process of learning the language two invaluable skills can be facilitated with the help of webquests: notes taking and summarising. It is difficult even for university students to be good at summarising and thinking critically ( distinguish information). What is more, learners can evaluate their work in the final stages of the webquest. Reflection can act as a springboard to view their progress more critically.
An example:
Learners can connect the knowledge they are constructing together with their past knowlege and former theoretical frameworks. They may have been introduced to vocaboulary about parties and celebretions, but they had not the chance to see how birthdays are celebrated all over the world.
A study that took place in Greece showed that webquest in teh ELT class had positive effects on stress levels, motivation and attitude towards reading( Popota,2014).
The limitation is that it is not free, but it is not very expensive and it does worth the amount of money.
Images : questgarden,com
References
Popota, C.( 2014). Designing and implementing a webquest in an EFL young learner context.
