Tools that we find make language objectives engaging. There are definitely other applications.
Language
Write a "choose your own adventure" story. Students use a "Go Pro" camera or something similar to go through a setting of their choice. Once they view the footage, they write a descriptive paragraph, focusing particular attention to their word choice. The ability to watch the action unfold, helps inspire cool writing and the words come from describing what is seen. Use Google Slides to embed the links. Here is our example. The Adventures of Marvin
Another option would be to use cardboard camera This allows you to make 360 degree video which you could then "walk through" using google cardboard or viewmaster. After students "experience" the adventure, they could write about it.
QuiverVision - provides colouring pages that can be brought to life! Using augmented reality, your actual colouring sheet becomes 3D. Students were engaged in an activity that required them to see an incident from two different points of view. The technology enhanced their final sharing with one another and overall, put everyone in a good mood. Put Yourself In My Shoes
Hallowe'en Podcast with Pumpkin
Vocabulary Word Wall - help develop word choice for writing. Using a Livescribe Pen, students record the words used in sentences. They are categorized on the wall using the Five Senses. As the year progresses, students add words they find in other contexts. Referencing the vocabulary word wall takes writing to the next level. Vocabulary Wall
Create a private Youtube video. Copy the link for the video into a QR code generator such as this one Link
Print and scan using any QR scan app
Add A QR Code To Your
Poster! Below are the movies that will come up when you scan the posters hanging in our school. We did a campaign for popcorn sales Tuesdays in October
CoSpaces - Build in 3D any concept (characters from a story retell, themes in a s summary, key points from news articles, represent research information, build a gallery to display art critiques, recreate graphs etc.) You can then upload an accompanying sound file. This can be music, or in our case, we put in audio files (made on Twisted Wave or Audacity) explaining our thinking or reading our stories etc.
Interacting with the computer is cool but take it to the next level. Using your smartphone you can actually walk through your own creation!!!! This site is compatible with virtual reality devices like Google Cardboard or Viewmaster.
Powtoons - very simple website to use to create effective media presentations.
Language skills in Minecraft
We had students brainstorm synonyms for the word "said". Once they thought of something, they hid it in a Minecraft maze. Screen cast-o-matic allowed students to be captured as the completed the task, so their participation and understanding could be marked later. In the background of the movie you can hear them using an ipad to spell words correctly.
In this second example, same concepts apply - students are reviewing vowel combinations. Second example
Real life applications for reading and writing while making Global connections