I have used a lot of new tools this semester. In this post, I will talk about my three favorites, and explain a little more about how I intend to use them in the future.
1. iMovie
I never would have thought it would be so easy to make a movie. I hadn’t used iMovie until we used it in this class a few weeks ago, but I really enjoyed it. You can use video clips, pictures, music, etc., and the process itself is really easy. In the classroom, I think videos are a great way to engage students; who doesn’t like watching a movie? I can see myself using this in the future, either as an assignment for students to make a movie, or as a lesson. In language classes that I’ve been a part of, movies that show various cultural aspects, dialects, or vocabulary are a great way to ensure that the subject matter stays with students.
2. Wordle
This is definitely one of my favorite tools that we have used in class. It is amazingly simple to do, and in my opinion, the finished product looks really cool. In the future, I would love to use Wordle in Spanish vocabulary lessons, as well as a way to get to know my students by having them make their own that talk about their lives and interests.
3. Voicethread
Like most of the other tools that I have used for this class, Voicethread is surprisingly easy to use, given the end result. I love the interactive quality it provides: multiple people can get in on one conversation. It will be a great way to encourage collaboration on students’ projects, practice on pronunciation, or vocabulary use.
