Stylized computer

Improving Speaking Skills in IEPs using Computer Tools

TESOL 2008 InterSection Session

By Deborah Healey


Basic premises

Learning needs drive tech use, not vice-versa
Movement toward “normalization” of CALL

Seven technology uses

1. Facilitator for discussion

Simulations

Tom Snyder Productions Decisions, Decisions 5.0
SimCity and its variations for collaborative, project-based work
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego
Quandary (http://www.halfbakedsoftware.com/quandary/version_2/examples/landlady.htm)

Collaboration at the computer

2. Text-based speaking practice (texted speech)

Text-based practice without a live audience

Movie maker: http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html . See a sample.
Comic strip maker: http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
Practice with Quandary based on appropriate response to a prompt (Evil Landlady - see above)

Text-based practice with a live audience

Chat (many versions online) and Messenger (through MSN, Yahoo, others)
MOOs – TappedIn (http://www.tappedin.org), SchMOOze (schmooze.hunter.cuny.edu)
Second Life (http://secondlife.com)
Other typed interaction tools

3. Direct conversation with a live partner at a distance

Audio and video conversation tools

Skype (www.skype.com), Messenger, other audio conversation tools
Yahoo Messenger with video/video Skype/other video conversation tools

Finding class partners

ePals Classroom Exchange: http://www.epals.com/
IECC: http://www.iecc.org/
Good list of many resources: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/ATALL/Interaction/Finding_Language_Exchange_(eTandem)_Partners

4. Presentation tools for a face-to-face audience

Presentation software

OpenOffice ( www.openoffice.org ) - free
MS PowerPoint ( www.microsoft.com ) – training video: http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC011298761033
Templates in PowerPoint for specific types of oral presentations - http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx

5. Environment for creating recorded speech

Podcasts, video blogs, video storage site

Podomatic: http://podomatic.com
iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview/
Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com
YouTube video clips – https://www.youtube.com

Audio/video creation tools

Audacity to record - http://audacity.sourceforge.net
Video/movie making software (iMovie for Macintosh, Windows MovieMaker for Windows) - both are free

Digital audio recorders and digital video recorders

6. Means of responding to student work

Audacity to add teacher comment tracks to digital audio files from students

Voice comments in Word (see http://oregonstate.edu/~healeyd/tesol2008/voicecomments.html for instructions about inserting voice comments)

Audio blogs with audio responses

7. Pronunciation work

Pronunciation software - see some pronunciation links for one of my classes and a list of software and references

Speech recognition software

Microsoft Speech SDK ( http://www.microsoft.com/speech/speech2007/default.mspx )
Dragon Naturally Speaking ( http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/ )

Teacher role

Selecting the tool

Guiding use – roles, language, expectations

Integrating learning => normalized CALL



http://oregonstate.edu/~healeyd/tesol2008/iep_speaking.html
Compiled by Deborah Healey. Updated 30 March 2008.