Teacher Training:my brainshark

1. Introduction With Phil Longwell

phil.longwell@btinternet.com

Each lesson is one hour long.

We shall be in this room all day this week Monday – Saturday (inclusive) time: tbc

Aim: to introduce a digital cloud-based software tool to use with students on the International Foundation Course @ CAFA

Requirement: BYOD (Bring your own device)

Outline of this induction training

中央美术学院

An asynchronous, cloud-based software tool.

What does that mean?

What do you think it can do?

Here’s an example: My Timeline

What is my brainshark?

An asynchronous, cloud-based software tool which allows you to: Upload different kinds of content to share

online. e.g. a document, PPP, photo album or video. You can add a voice-over or narration. It also allows podcast to be produced. It allows sharing and embedding (+ tracking).

What does my brainshark do?

Multimedia digital presentations It’s free for individual users.

Features of my brainshark:

Quick four minute tour of ‘my Brainshark’:

Quick Tour

There are thousands of presentations already uploaded. Authentic listening practice.

They are mostly created by sales and marketing teams to sell their products.

However, we could still use them with our students.

Features of my brainshark:

Do you know of some other software which is similar to my brainshark? Discuss..

What about other similar tools?

Images used under terms of ‘fair use’ policy

1. Getting started + Introduction 2. Uploading content and recording audio 3. Working with photos or video 4. Working with a PPP or PDF 5. Being creative + constructive alignment 6. Sharing and Storing +Further Ideas +

Review

Outline of this induction course

So why use my brainshark?

Discuss possible uses with another person.

Some reasons for using my Brainshark:

It helps students to practice and perfect their speaking skills It helps students to improve pronunciation (with classroom

feedback) It is based on a communicative and situated pedagogy It potentially overcome issues over face-loss and weaker speakers It encourages autonomous learning (already happening on the art

side) It is useful to watch other Brainshark presentations for authentic listening practice

It encourages reflective practice It creates space for classroom feedback and other connected

activities It allows students to create, practice and present their work It allows students to build up a digital portfolio of their art work

Skills Pyramid taken from Hampel and Stickler, 2005, Open University. Skills for Online Language Tutors.

Technical Skills Required?

Basic ICT competence

Facilitating communicative

competence

Dealing with constraints and

possibilities of the medium

Online socialization

Creativity and choice

Specific technical competence for the software

Ownstyle

Discuss and draw up a list of ways that the tool could be used:

(a) in the classroom (b) away from the classroom

How could the tool help with the objectives of:

(a) the teachers? (b) the students?

What problems do you envisage?

Questions about my brainshark?

So what do we think about using this tool?

What about the other presentation toolsmentioned today?

Screencast videos are available at:http://www.screencast.com/users/teacherphili

The website for this tool is at:

http://www.brainshark.com/mybrainsharkSign up with an email and a password and try it for yourself.

Next time: Uploading content and recording audio.

Summary中央美术学院