We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars

Posts

Online test with Google Forms

May 19, 2020

In this entry, I am going to show you how to use Google Forms for creating tests. I think that its a great free tool that allows us to collect information efficiently. As you can see on my example, the form can also be set up as a quiz, so that responses can be graded as we give an answer. It's great because less time can be spent on marking. As an example, I brought a German language test created by myself for my students. It is made as an addition to the digital material I created. (Also, I am thinking about testing my students this way next week, to see what they can remember of a week later.) It's for learners who are at least on an A2 level and who would like to practise grammar. It can be used as a warming up exercise as well as a test at the end of the lesson or when the student gets towards the end of the material provided. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2HevbxcrZ1wPsEuSxP-Es8N3N1jQKmwwSTA4UEilLRqYrSQ/viewform?usp=sf_link Loading…

Digital learning material

May 19, 2020

Hi there! I created a digital learning material for students of German language. The topic of the material is the German Passive. The material serves as a revision as well as to acquire a completely new material. It starts with somewhat easier tasks and it gets more complicated towards the end. This is a material primarly for such students, who are at least on an A2 level in German who would like to take a final exam or a language exam in German. You can see my narrated ppt if you click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JfVmshgxOFdg20lHZYaWSru-BmBRa9tL/view?usp=sharing Before you watch it, there is a kahoot quiz that I created to serve as a jump-start, so you can recollect your former knowledge about the subject. https://play.kahoot.it/v2/?quizId=0da32990-847f-424e-80af-d65b1ac8f351 And after you are done with watching the narrated ppt and solving the tasks attached in it, here you can find the answers to them: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PD-H_wZT...

Learningapps

May 19, 2020

In today's post, I'm going to introduce you the webpage called Learningapps.org. I created a video on youtube, which serves as a tutorial for creating a learning app on this webpage. It is quite simple to add pictures or other kind of multimedial educational materials to each apps. Once we are done with the task created, we can share them with a link or with a QR code.

Introducting Google Jamboard

May 19, 2020

In this entry, I am going to introduce Google Jamboard, with the focus on its use during language classes. What is Google Jamboard? Jamboard is an interactive whiteboard developed by Google. It has got a 4K touch display you can use for meetings or presentation purposes. If we turn it on, we can draw on it. Users are able to directly access and edit Docs, Sheets, Slides, and photos stored in Drive. It is a free application, where you can browse, view and share Jams created by you and your teammates. In the following illustration, you can see a Jam Sample, where the body parts are written in French. We can use it during foreign language classes for example in this way: or, we can use it for telling a story creatively: (The illustrations are from https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/ ) Jamboard is a great way to boost student collaboration. Those students, who have a tablet f.e. can access a suite of rich editing tools to collaborate w...

Digital Competence

May 19, 2020

As all the schools are closed due to the epidemic, I think it is quite relevant to talk about digital competence in general and also in the context of teaching and learning. How do we define digital skills? Digital skills involve the knowledge and ability to determine information needs from digital technology sources, and to appropriately use digital tools and facilities to input, access, organize, integrate and assess digital resources as well as to construct new knowledge, create media expressions and communicate with others. Digital skills include both technical skills associated with understanding and using digital systems, tools, and applications, as well as information processing skills, which are the cognitive underpinnings of digital proficiency. (source: http://www.rewired4technology.com/286/ ) Why do digital skills matter? Take a look at David Timis, who explains in a brilliant TED talk, why digital skills are so important in our life. In thi...

21th century skills and the school of the future

April 07, 2020

Hi there!In this post I will be writing about 21th century skills and how to develop them in the context of language learning.But first of all, what are 21th century skills?According to the definition (from the glossary of education reform, link: https://www.edglossary.org/21st-century-skills/ ), the term 21th century skills refers to a broad set of knowledge, skills and work habits and character traits that are believed to be important in today's world - especially at a workplace. For me personally, as a teacher of German and of English language, I consider this task quite important, especially because of the fact that we don't know what kind of jobs are going to disappear in the next 15 years and neither do we know what kind of jobs are going to exist in the future, but one thing is sure; these skills which I am going to list below are indispensable for a successful career in the future. According to Bri Stauffer (you can find her blog under this link: https://www.aeseduca...