Talk It Up Creating a portfolio of speech samples TESL Canada
2014 Sheri Rhodes
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What brings you here? A.Tools B.Tasks C.Portfolio D.Other Talk
it up
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The instructional objective Support our students in their
efforts to improve their skills in speaking Why: "the process of
building and sharing meaning through the use of verbal and
non-verbal symbols, in a variety of contexts"
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Skill of speaking includes: Producing the English speech sounds
and sound patterns Using word and sentence stress, intonation
patterns and the rhythm of the second language. Selecting
appropriate words and sentences according to the proper social
setting, audience, situation and subject matter. Organizing
thoughts in a meaningful and logical sequence. Using language as a
means of expressing values and judgments. Using the language
quickly and confidently with few unnatural pauses (fluency). Nunan,
2003
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Functions of a Portfolio 1.Plan educational programs;
2.Document knowledge, skills, abilities, and learning; 3.Track
development within a program; 4.Find a job; 5.Evaluate a course;
and 6.Monitor and evaluate performance. Lorenzo and Ittelson,
2005
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Portfolio contents Definition: A collection of artifacts,
including demonstrations, resources and accomplishments that
represent an individual. Writing portfolios Artifacts are printed
text. Speaking portfolios What evidence can we provide of someones
speaking ability?
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Feedback without audio capture Who: instructor, peers, student
Form: *Face to face individual feedback immediate or delayed *Group
feedback immediate or delayed Checklist use Rubric use Evaluation
grids use Task reflections Written comments
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Capturing the Production Advantages for the Instructor: Hear
Assess Advantages for the Learner: Hear and Compare Notice Improve
Reflect Engage Graham Stanley, 2013
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Then to Now
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Solution not the tool Technological innovation is driven by
many factors, but not one of them concerns a pedagogical
imperative. Diane Laurillard Dont fall in love with technology.
Fall in love with solutions. Ron Sparks
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Where can we create content?
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In Class Mobile devices Provided by the institution Provided by
the instructor BYOD
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In a Computer Lab Dedicated recording tools Audacity /
Garageband Web-based tools Podcasting sites Others Features of
other software PowerPoint narration
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Outside of class time Student owned devices In the home Mobile
Accessed at school, in community
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Ways to capture
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Using tools in new ways Telephones Voicethread Tumblr Cameras
On phones Stand alone Home computers Audio tools included
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Best Practices Limit tool variety Use it frequently Model the
use Start with an orientation task LTA Clear instructions / text
based and visual guide Use what others have shared
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Applications Voicethread (web and mobile) Soundcloud (web and
mobile) Voxopop (web only)
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Devices Digital Voice Recorders Smart Phones Computers Home
Phones
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Where can the portfolio live? Web-based tool Website/wiki/blog
CMS Cloud based storage Portable storage
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Tasks Discrete skills Pronunciation Grammar application
Integrative skills Meaningful communication Pragmatics use
http://student1portfolio.wikispaces.com/
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Sample Task Soundcloud mobile app Pronunciation Feature Task
Advantage: Comment feature, easy to use mobile app, embeds easily,
private Disadvantage: instructor account or students need own
application and account
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Have you used Soundcloud? (pronunciation)
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Record directly on the site; Upload an existing audio file; or
Use the very simple mobile app on your smartphone or tablet.
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Download the file with an.m4a file extension.
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Sample Task Voicethread Phone application Accurate language use
How often do you ? Advantage: visually prompted, shared with
others, everyone can use, embeds easily, private Disadvantage:
limit to free access
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Have you used Voicethread? (oral accuracy)
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Sample Task Voxopop Add to a discussion thread class survey
Advantage: easy for students to initiate discussion, asynchronous,
private group Disadvantage: prepared, less authentic
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Have you used Voxopop? (discussion threads)
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Sample Task Digital Voice Recorder Role play language exchange
with a partner Decide on a tourist attraction to research Advantage
User friendly, minimally intrusive for interaction, not reliant on
web access, synchronous which is more authentic Disadvantage post
recording process to share, cant view interaction between
participants
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Have you used a Digital Voice Recorder? (partner work)
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Where do I start? Current practice? Where would students
benefit most from review, reflection, additional models? Select the
tool that fits the task Create a model and task instructions Try it
out (colleague family member willing student) Tweak and pilot
Review and share!
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Build the portfolio tasks Move from only text based documents
to collection of sample files, links or embedded tools that
showcase speaking tasks throughout your program. Start with initial
and final tasks of similar format and using the same audio capture.
Practice between with repeated use of the tool but not requiring
every sample to go into the portfolio Or Let students decide which
samples to share such as post 4 of the 10 weekly activities
recorded in the term.
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Where can I get support? Tutorials on the site Tutorials posted
on YouTube At local workshops Watch a webinar Take a course
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Thank you! [email protected] Twitter: whistlepunch
Presentation will be posted at: http://srhodes.wikispaces.com