Animoto

 What is Animoto?

 You can create videos within minutes by using Animoto. You can combine photos and videos with texts to make a video on whatever subject you like. It can be a really useful site to use when you are presenting a topic as a student or motive your students as a teacher.

 Here is the video that I created using Animoto on animals:



link here if you want to see it on the site

Quizlet

 What is Quizlet?

 Quizlet is a mobile and web-based study application that allows students to study information via learning tools and games. It is really fun to use and it can help students and teachers. It has got a user-friendly interface that you can easily get used to.

 I have prepared a quizlet on household items but I was not able to add more than 8 items through the site as it wants a premium subscription. But Here is the link if you want to see it.

Canva

 What is Canva?

Canva is a website that let's you create presentations. It gives you a wide range of props to use in your presentation. They also have paid elements to use but probably you will not need them as it has a lot of stuff that is free. Also it is very easy to use and I did a basic presentation on "sports" using Canva.
 This is the link if you want to see it.

VOKI

 What is VOKI?

 Voki is an educational tool that allows users to create their very own talking character. Voki is created by Oddcast and is located in New York City.

Voki characters can be customized to look like historical figures, cartoons, animals, and even yourself! Give your Voki a voice by recording with a microphone, using our dial-in number, or uploading an audio file. Voki characters can be emailed, shared on social media, and embedded on websites.

Credit: voki.com

 I've created my own character on VOKI. Click here if you want to see it.

Thinglink

 What is thinglink?

 Thinglink is a free and user friendly digital tool that provides users with the ability to turn any image into an interactive graphic. Create multiple “hot spots” on specific parts of an image and turn that image into a multimedia launcher.  Include video, record audio or provide a link to any website with the click of a button. Easily embed an interactive ThingLink graphic into any blog or website. ThingLink is a truly amazing tool that allows users to pack a lot of content into a small space.

credit: gettingsmart.com

 I've created a interactive graphic using "thinglink" on the movie The Breakfast Club. Click here to see it.

Mindmeister

What is mindmeister?
 MindMeister is an online mind mapping application that allows its users to visualize, share and present their thoughts. It can be useful for both young learners with vocabulary and advanced level learners with their confusing grammar topics.

 I did a simple mind map for vehicles here.

Kahoot

What is Kahoot?

 Kahoot! is a tool for using technology to administer quizzes, discussions or surveys. It is a game based classroom response system played by the whole class in real time. Multiple-choice questions are projected on the screen. Students answer the questions with their smartphone, tablet or computer.

credit: www.vcsu.edu

 I made a little quiz to test the site out. Here is the link.

Video Games and Learning English

 I would say that video games can have great advantages on learning English. Obviously there are games that are created for this purpose and they help students acquire the English language. But at the same time, most video games are made for entertainment purposes. With their big budgets, some games can even reach the quality of a big blockbuster movie. So the effects of the video games should not be underestimated. For my case, as I was playing games I would check the words and what they meant online. This helped me enlargen my vocabulary and also learn about new grammar rules.

 All together, these days online games are much more popular. Online games connects group of people around the world and let them interact with each other. Since English is seen as the "common language", these people must use English to communicate. These kind of situtations show that video games are really effective and they are not necessarily a waste of time.

Udemy & My Certificate

 Udemy is an online learning platform. The website lets the users create their courses. I joined a course and I was able to get a certificate from that course.

Here is the link to Udemy.

And here is my certificate:

Virtual Reality and Language Courses

What is Virtual Reality?

 Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds. By simulating as many senses as possible, such as vision, hearing, touch, the computer is transformed into a gatekeeper to this artificial world. The only limits to near-real VR experiences are the availability of content and cheap computing power.

credit: marxentlabs.com

 Virtual Reality can also be a great tool for teachers and learners. In our class we had the chance to try out VR with headsets. After the experience it can easily be said that VR can provide classes with authentic material for learners.

 For example VR has great performance in vocabulary teaching. It can provide the environment and the new words about that environment for the students as simulated. This way learning vocabulary would become easy and way more fun for especially young learners. Even though the equipments can be expensive, students can still use cheaper ones as an alternative. Finally, VR is for sure a great and fun way to teach and learn and it will be way more popular in the future.  

Podcast: Broca's Aphasia & Wernicke's Aphasia

Hi everyone,

I did a quick podcast on Broca's and Wernicke's Aphasia.  Here is the link if you want to check it out.

Second Life

 Second Life is an online virtual world where players create their avatars and interact with places, objects and other people as well. This game can create big opportunities for teachers when it is used as a tool for teaching. Our instructor Tuncer Can and his team have made great contribution with their work in this area. You can look it up if you are interested in this topic. Here's a screenshot of me and my friend when we were in the game.




                                       

Powtoon

 PowToon is Web-based animation software that allows you to quickly and easily create animated presentations with your students by manipulating pre-created objects, imported images, provided music and user created voice-overs. PowToon is used by businesses to create engaging, creative presentations that capture attention, and can be similarly used for educational assessment and content delivery. There is a free version available, as well as paid subscription that allows for more features.

Credit: /www.techlearning.com

I have prepared a presentation on Conditional Tenses using Powtoon. Click here to see it.

Augmented Reality (AR)

 Augmented Reality (AR) is a type of interactive, reality-based display environment that takes the capabilities of computer generated display, sound, text and effects to enhance the user's real-world experience.
Augmented reality combines real and computer-based scenes and images to deliver a unified but enhanced view of the world.
 Credit: www.techopedia.com

To see my exaple of an AR task click the link.

Seesaw

 Seesaw is a platform for student engagement. Teachers can empower students to create, reflect, share, and collaborate. Students “show what they know” using photos, videos, drawings, text, PDFs, and links. It’s simple to get student work in one place and share with families, and nothing is shared without teacher approval.

 I've prepared an activity using this site. Click the link to see it.

Padlet

What is Padlet?

 Padlet is an app that lets you create an online bulletin that you can use to share information for any topic.You can add images, links, videos, and more. The app is free and easy to use. It can be used to collaborate in collecting ideas, brainstorming, and more in the classroom.

 I've created a bulletin about Alexander Pope as an example. To see it click here .