I particularly thank Paramita, my E-Teacher course mate having interest in Web 2.0 tools and I do love sharing it to all my friends. The tool I am sharing is called "Audioboo". I believe some of you already know about it, nevertheless go through it once, I have given detail description of the tool, how to use it and a sample lesson plan to be used in Blended Classroom.
Description
of the Tool
Audioboo is a software developed for mobile
application. The web site for the tool also allows equal usage of the
application, however, recording and sharing is easier in the mobile
application. This tool enables users to record audio and upload images that can
be shared in different websites.
Aduioboo has a very clear and smooth interface and is very easy to use
in the classroom. It can be used to create voice discussions within classroom and
also search knowledge base articles and browse public issues in any area of
discussion. However, it is only by creating an account that one will be able to
post private issues and follow existing issues or discussion in the website,
otherwise the user is limited to recording.
Functions and Affordance
This
simple tool allows teachers and students to communicate ideas and information.
It can be used in classrooms for developing speaking skills and assigning
homework and other tasks. This application allows students to create voice
discussion, and share information with images they want. In classroom it is
best used for interviews, storytelling, making news and voice message or
instructions.
Audioboo
provides the functionality to pause while recording thus giving extra time for
students to think and organize their ideas to present them better. It has recording features that can be
reverted to re-recording if a student thinks something is not worth publishing,
thus enabling a second chance to prepare for better recording. Both these
features greatly help learners to practice speaking and acquire competence over
spoken language. It also boosts students’ confidence and prepares them to be
good speakers. These features completely allow students to make
self-correction, and also make necessary changes to their recording before the
final copy is published. Such repetition of work makes student more reflective
and better performer.
The
second noteworthy functionality is the ability to leave comments over the
recorded files. Comments can be either made by recording voice or text. This
helps to reflect on others’ speaking and contribute to discussion. From the
teacher’s point of view this helps provide suggestions and feedback to
students.
While
publishing the content, this tool allows the functionality to choose and select
a category of the topic of recording. This facilitates search/browsing and easy
retrieving of all published recordings.
One disadvantage is
that audioboo allows only three minutes of recording thus hindering longer
content for discussion and presentation of elaborate activities. Secondly,
recordings are not threaded and comments posted may not be responded to at the
same time-it lacks synchronous discussion.
How
to Use
- Create an account on Audioboo at http://audioboo.fm/ using your e-mail address and real name to make it easier for your friends and teachers to know who you are. You can also use a profile picture.
- On the website, click on the record /upload button, which will open another window where you can start recording or upload recorded file.
- Click on the box that says “get your mic ready?” for a new recording (Note# for the first time, you will be asked to allow access to computer’s recording settings. Click on “Allow”)
- Now you can start recording by clicking on the green start recording button. You can pause recording or end recording by clicking on Pause Recording button. And Preview Recording button will allow you to listen to your recording that will help you to make decision on publishing the recording.
- If you are not happy with the recording, you can delete the recording by clicking on Restart Recording and that will enable you to record new recording again.
- When you are happy with your recording and ready to publish it, click on the green Happy? Add a Title button.
- Now you can give a title and tags to help you and others identify it. You can also add an image and location. When you are finally ready, click on the green Publish button that will appear on another screen.
- Once the file is uploaded, you will get a link to embed, share and email the recording. You can also play it to listen to your recording in the Audioboo website. To save the recording in the website, you need to sign up and log in to your account that will also help you to receive comments.
Sample Task
Topic : News Broadcast
Level : Intermediate
Materials : Computer with net connection, head
phone and microphone.
Objectives : Students will be able to;
-
script the news for recording
-
interview different people
-
create news using Audioboo and share to
class
Introduction
[Teacher can get students to create their own
radio news broadcasts. This could be a regular show that they produce together
in small groups. They could collect the news together, decide what items they
will include in their news broadcast and then script it.]
Activity
-
Teacher
divides students in 4 groups of three members each and assigns different roles
to members like data collector or reporter, editor and news reader. [Data
collector (reporter) collects news and the facts, editor revises, checks and
corrects news to finalize for broadcasting, and the news reader gives a voice
to record news.]
-
Teacher
assigns each groups different news category (e.g. sports, crime, fashion, local
news, etc.) and ask them to prepare draft script of the news. Students can
refer to news bulletin or listen to news in the internet to learn more about
news broadcasting.
-
Students
are asked to carry out their own responsibility and make a first draft of the
news. They are expected to review the draft and make final write up for
recording the news. Students are also reminded to use appropriate language and
grammar.
-
Teacher
asks students to use Audioboo to record their news and publish it in the
website or they can also share it on Facebook group if the class has one.
Closure
Once the news is published, each group is
expected to leave comments on every other group’s output and the teacher might
open a free discussion in the next class.
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I Hope you all liked it. Thanks for reading.
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