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Onenote a Free Solution to Create e-Portfolios

    I have been hesitating which tool to choose to make my e-portfolio. I've tried different tools made for the purpose but I was not convinced, either because of a user interface not visually attractive, or by their complexity. And I tried OneNote, a microsoft desktop app also availabe  as an online app.





"EUREKA" That's it... That's the tool I was looking for to create the e-portfolio, as if it was tailored to my need. I wanted to make something simple but at the same time that looks beautiful and tidy. As I was short of time (I had to respect a deadline) I couldn't afford to learn how to use a new software. Easily customizable, with OneNote,   I could easily create my e-portfolio thanks to an intuitive user-friendly interface. I created sections, pages, and uploaded my content. I much appreciated the fact that the content is placed in canvas that are resizable and draggable to optimise the user experience. I shared my work to OneDrive. Of course, that's not everything about OneNote. Something that particularly caught my attention as a teacher is the fact that it is possible to collaborate with other people and the list of the tool assets is not exhaustive. I'll have the opportunity to expand on it in other occasions.

While writing this post I discovered that I could embed my Onenote Notebook through OneDrive. That way anyone who reads my blog post could  have access to my e-portfolio without signing in.

Collaborate Online via Voicethread

         

    Voicethread is an interactive collaboration and sharing tool that enables users to add images, documents, and videos, and to which other users can add voice, text, audio file, or videos, or video comments. The following is a speaking activity. Students leave their answers in comments. Student A asks his/her classmate about his/best friend by leaving a comment. Student B describes his/her friend in a comment. And, they swap roles.

Mind mapping

   Neuroscientists tell us that the brain connects and organizes information in networks and maps. Visual thinking and mapping tools, especially, mind mapping, help us manage information and transform it into knowledge in ways similar to that used by our brain.


                                                  Mind mapping and Neuroscience



What follows is how I used mind mapping in my lessons and how students used it.

Students have to complete this mind map from a text they read . The text is a story. One of the objective of the lesson is reporting. By completing the mind map in the handouts I distribute, the students will have a visual structure of the story that helps them to retell the story easily. Students become better thinkers by analyzing ideas connecting them, synthesizing and simplifying for a better assimilation.

        The following mind map was created by one of my students she shared it in her blog. It was part of a creative writing session.

This is a screenshot from my student's blog
click to read her story   :)

MOOCS For Learners of English

   
      Want to learn or improve your English?  want to work out your speaking, writing or your grammar yet, you don't know where to start? Have you thought of joining language centers but you couldn't afford it?  You can become proficient at English by registering in MOOEC, the massive open online English Courses.

Serious Games For Better English

Combining learning to play, the idea sounds great and appealing to teachers but especially to students!

  There are undoubtedly a bunch of free games on the web that kids and teenagers can play and learn English. I chose Trace Effects a free 3-D adventure game that works on Windows  and MAC platforms. Designed by the the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the game is good for English language learning and social skills. It sharpens the player's communicative and collaborative skills as well as their critical thinking skills.  The game is about Trace,  a university student from 2035 and who accidentally traveled back in time to the present. His mission is to change the future for the better. To be able to do so, he has to help six people accomplish great things and impact the future positively. It's only then that he could get back home. Give it a try!

Trace Effects

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