Teacher Training:my brainshark

2. Uploading content and recording audioWith Phil Longwell

phil.longwell@btinternet.com

Any questions ?

Any new thoughts or problems that have come up in your minds ?

Have you had a look at the website yet and signed up for a free account ?

Reflection on previous lesson

A quick thought about pedagogy…

What kind of learning theory or theories are we drawing on by using a

tool like my brainshark?

…please spend a few minutes discussion this with the person next to you.

my brainshark

The main reason for using this tool is to get the students to work autonomously on their speaking skills.

The tool is not meant to be used for all 4 skills or replace textbooks entirely (at this stage).

Classroom can be a place to do pair-work, group-work, interactive, task-based learning.

We can ‘connect’ the work students do out of class with what they do inside the class.

IELTS : 4 KEY MACRO SKILLS

There are currently around 2,800 presentations already uploaded and active.

You can upload one of the following:

my brainshark - uploading

The main reason for using my brainshark is to talk over an existing file (e.g. PPP, PDF, video).

The most simplest thing to do is to either record your voice from an in-built or plugged-in laptop microphone -> create a podcast.

Or you can upload an existing mp3 file to share:

Podcasting: uploading an mp3

Podcasting is not new and there are many other tools out there that can be used to upload, create and share audio files.

Do you know any?

Podcasting – other sites

If you haven’t already done so, sign in to your ‘mybrainshark’ account. Click here for link.

Chose a word (or similar) document to upload from your device (e.g. netbook, laptop etc.).

Uploading a document

once uploaded…

Spend 5-10 minutes playing around with the document.

What do you notice? What things can you do with it once

uploaded?

mybrainshark automatically formats your document ready for adding audio to each slide.

Uploading a document

Watch this demonstration of adding audio to the document you have uploaded.

Audio Input issues – microphone or headset? Display issues –document not shown.

Click link to tutorials here.

Try it yourself.

Comments and questions?

Adding audio to your document

In what ways could the students use documents?

What other documents can be uploaded?

Further questions or comments?

Using documents

So what do we think about using the tool for podcasts and narrating documents?

Would you use this tool or a different one?

Screencast videos are available at: http://www.screencast.com/users/teacherphili Or direct link to CAFA videos: http

://tinyurl.com/d7prpwp

Next time: working with pictures and videos.

Summary