Whatsapp as a learning tool

Whatsapp is a free application for smartphones which uses the internet to send messages, images, audio or videos. It can also be used on various platforms such as iPhone and Windows smartphones, and Mac or Windows PCs.

Despite WhatsApp is an application which is for our everyday life, it can also be used in the Education field. If teachers take advantage of this application, it can perform an important role as a learning tool. According to this, teachers might use WhatsApp in their classes so as to improve students' speaking skills.

 An oral presentation can be asses through this application. In this way, students who do not like speaking in front of the class can overcome their anxiety by being able to prepare an audio file on their own and send it to the teacher when they feel comfortable about it. It can also be very useful for teachers because, in the case of large classrooms, they can offer opportunities for personal assessment through their audio files, being a good way of keeping track of students' progress.

In terms of limitations, Whatsapp as a speaking tool cannot measure all the areas of an oral presentation such as body language or visual contact. Another limitation is the establishment's policy regarding the use of cell phones during classes. 

At least in Chilean classrooms, it is common to see that the use of technological devices is not allowed. In addition, it can not be assumed that all the students possess a cellphone because although that is very common to have technological devices nowadays, there are still a number of people who do not possess smart devices, due to economic or personal reasons. Finally, the teachers' privacy and a bad connection to the internet could interfere in the correct implementation of this tool.

Video: "Whatsapp in Education"
Channel: Izyani Hj Mistar 

www.whatsapp.com  

News in level

News in Levels is an online news site specially made for English students. In this webpage, each article is written in three levels, from basic to advanced so the same news can be read in different words, allowing students to work with texts appropriate to their current skill. It also provides a video of the news where the reader can listen to it and key vocabulary explanation. 

The implementation of this tool in the class can be very important and useful because of the different levels that contain. According to the Chilean context, in most of the schools, the majority of students have a low level of English and only a few of them dominate the language. In this way, teachers when using this tool can differentiate the class without having to change the texts. Students can read the same news according to their own level. The idea is to encourage students from level 1 to read more advanced versions of texts over time. 

News in levels not only fosters the language learning in students learning new vocabulary but also develop reflection. As a class teacher and students can discuss and give opinions about current world issues, improving their critical thinking. This would make the activity more meaningful.

The use of News in level should be complemented with other activities made by the teacher. For example; the teacher can show images related to the news in order to let students predict what the text will be about. Or they can listen to the video without reading the text so as to distinguish what they can understand of it and after this, they would read the text having a general idea.  

In terms of limitations, there are not much. Mainly, bad internet connection and not having enough computers for every student is the only thing that might prevent the correct use of this tool in the classroom. 

Here is a video about the listening part of the news (level 1)

Video:Car watches out for kangaroos - level 1,2 and 3

Channel:NewsinLevel

www.newsinlevel.com

Plickers for learning new vocabulary

Plickers is a free application for teachers to conduct surveys and implement assessment. What makes this tool different is that students do not need any sort of device to participate. They simply hold up a special card with a code and the educator uses their phone to capture the code of their cards. The program is able to read the cards and give you instant results. This application was made by a teacher who was looking for a quick and easy way to check students understanding.

Plickers is relevant to language learning because teachers can asses reading comprehension, true or false items, grammar or the acquisition of new vocabulary in an easy and fun way. This is essential in the field of language learning because we as prospective teachers know that when students learn in a context in which they are having fun, they learn better.

Personally, I have used this tool in my previous practicum and the implementation of it was successful. In this way, I might use it in my actual practicum in order to foster language learning. I would do an exercise in which they have to find the synonymous of an English word, in order to improve their vocabulary. In addition, they are students from an 8th-grade level and most of them are very shy. Hence, they will want to participate and stay engage due to the simplicity of plickers. Besides, their answers are completely anonymous, which is motivational for them to answer without feeling ashamed or shy.

In terms of limitations, there are not much. However, educators who do not know how to use technology, internet or do not have access to smart smart devices might be marginalized in the application of this tool.

Finally, plickers is not only useful and fun for students, but also for teachers. This assessment tool let teachers check the students' answers in a simple and quick way. In addition, teachers do not need paper and pencil so as to do formative assessments. 


Here is a video about how is implemented in the classroom

• Video:Plickers in the classroom
• Channel:Jennifer Zurawski

www.plickers.com