[View the story "Sharing apps #ELTchat" on Storify]
“So many great apps out there, & I don't use any explicit language learning apps”
“Some of the best apps for language learning weren't made for language”
And so to another #eltchat summary. On 07.03.2012 possibly inspied the launch of the new ipad the evening topic was Share useful Apps and tips for using iPads in the ELT classroom.
There was a previous discussion on the topic earlier this year, which you can read here.
Advantages of using an Ipad
There are two big advantages 1) Touch screen is very intuitive 2) Speed - very quick to access what you want. Buying a class set is also cheaper than some IWBs. They are small, lightweight, easily handled by all ages, can do almost everything a laptop can. This makes them good for small group collaboration and puts learning into the students' hands.
App mentioned during #eltchat:
iTooch – an app for TOFEL prep
Fetch it – a vocab app for young learners
Animoto – using photos to make videos with music and text
Comic puppets - an app to make comic strips, puppets etc, and here’s a video about it
Twig –touch dictionary – a visual dictionary
Instagram – Social photo sharing
My Sketch – for drawing
Posterous – a blogging app, syts can blog and share by email (if you moderate it, there is less spam)
Madpad – good for creating group storyboards
strip design
Peek (goes with evernote and you need an ipad cover) – good for vocabulary revision and self-testing
Soundcloud – and a blog post about using it
Talking hippo and Smacktalk - popular with kids & adults - animal photos rather than cartoons repeat your words back to you
Puppet pals – make animated movies
Get across – a free app for practicing phrasal verbs
Apps for teachers:
Evernote – the multipurpose app that can be used for lesson planning, notes and so on. Skitch is an annotating photo app that goes with it.
Dropbox – the app that allows you to access your own cloud in the classroom.
Showme, screenchomp, and educreations are all recordable whiteboard apps
Pronunciation chart - from the British Council
It was also noted that an ipad can be good for ones own development I.e. twitter, read it later etc
QR codes
Give the learners questions, and they have to find answers from QRCodes. Kind of treasure hunt
Some advice on creating QR codes, and some more here
A QR code Xmas treasure hunt
Some other ideas:
1. iPad can be used with video to create commercials, digital stories, act as a news reporter, music videos and so on. In one project -students created videos to define words and upload ed hem to Posterous.
2. Every wk sts can get the #ELTPics theme & take pics as hmwk to support theme. Reinforces voc & learning outside classrm #eltchat
3. The weather apps are great for learning city names in English, Fahrenheit temps, and weather vocab.
4. Tip: use web based apps that are also apps in case sharing devices! Ex. Edmodo, Posterous, Animoto, Voicethread, Fotobabble, Diigo
5. Use iPad and Evernote for student e-portfolios. No more piles of paperwork.
6. Get sts take/find several images, import into iMovie app then upload with YouTube. Set a project, text2 images.
7. Get sts to do an App demo presentation in class.
8. My adult students use podcasts from financial newspaper apps
Further Reading:
Teacher reboot camp – 20+ apps for that Promote Student Centered Learning & Literacy
Apps for education – a facebook group
@ElindaGjondedaj teaching with apps blog
Will Ipad 3 change your language learning?
Effective Mobile Learning – 50 Tips ebook
@ELTexperiences lesson plan incorporating an app.
Create your own textbooks for your ipad
Many teachers dont have ipads but you might consider that sts might have access so it's good to know ones to recommend to them.
And finally....go for generic apps that stimulate creativity rather than specific apps that only perform 1 task.