I can use Skpe for the interview activity and role play activity. Students can play certain characters such as a movie star, president,a reporter, etc. Using Skype, they can interview these peoples. The interview will be recorded and be watched in the classroom together. It would be very exciting and motivating activity because they also can see the interview on the screen.
About podcasts, I thought it was easy when I learned it in the classroom. However, when I tried to make it again at home, it was different. It was challenging not only because I had different computer settings at home but also because I did not organize my ideas for the recording.
I realized that contents are essential for any kinds of activities using technology including podcasting activity. We need to plan ahead and have a completed script to make a good podcast. It seems very basic knowledge. However, when we learn a new technology, we are often obsessed with learning it and trying out using the different tools.
Last time,I planned the news shows in the classroom using podcasts. After I learn about the podcast program in the class, I found several concerns. Most of all, I realized, to do the activity in my classroom, I need to carefully guide students to focus on developing their literacy than learning only technology. For the fairness, I will also need to give enough time and information for all students to learn the tool.
While I am concerned about guiding students to plan well before using a podcast, I also think we can use it without planning ahead for the purpose of checking their common errors in their speech. Because when we say things in a second language, we often make lots of errors in our statement. Then, we listen to what we have recorded, we can find errors in our speech. I think we can use a podcast for the purpose of feedback to oneself and maybe to others. For the same purpose, I think recording Skype also seems useful tool. I can record conversations between two students to give feedback on their language.
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I like all of your assignment ideas here! Interviewing people using Skype, and having those people play certain roles. Then watching it and discussing it in class.
I made the same mistake with my podcast. I got too caught up in learning the technology that I didn't plan my "script" until after I had tried to do it once without a script. And I think my students would make the same mistake. So, we need to "scaffold" the assignment for our students. Introduce podcasting, but then take a "side trip" to plan and write the script, and do a peer review, and maybe even submit the script for grading, BEFORE returning to podcasting and learning the technology. Then they'll have the script all ready to go when the time comes.
I also like your idea of "spontaneous podcasting" conversations and speech to record and then study for errors.
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