Online Conference with Experts
To be able to interview teachers who are known for their reasonable application of New Media in their English lessons, our instructor organized 2 online web conferences for us. These conferences took place on the third and fifth of February 2011. Our instructor, Anna Maria Schäfer, was our host and Matthias Heil was our main interview partner. Other expert chat participants were Reinhard Donath, Jochen Hooss and Frauke Intemann. The conference lasted about an hour.
Preparation
A week before our instructor demonstrated how to use the online conference tool, called "Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro". It is an online conference tool similar to the well known instant messenger Skype, but with additional possibilities and gadget. For example, it is possible to share locally saved Power-Point-Presentations on screen or share the own screen with every conference participant.
Furthermore it provides all the other benefits you already know from Skype: Audible communication over microphones and speakers and a small window for chat communication.
Additionally it is possible to change your own online status into "Agree" or "Disagree" and many more. This is especially useful if you have a question. The host passes the speaking rights to you and you are able to ask your question.
In order to have sufficient questions to ask our experts, the group prepared a own titan-pad document. You can access it here.
Furthermore it provides all the other benefits you already know from Skype: Audible communication over microphones and speakers and a small window for chat communication.
Additionally it is possible to change your own online status into "Agree" or "Disagree" and many more. This is especially useful if you have a question. The host passes the speaking rights to you and you are able to ask your question.
In order to have sufficient questions to ask our experts, the group prepared a own titan-pad document. You can access it here.
Conference
In the conference Mr Heil mainly talked about projects he and his pupils conducted over the last months with the help of online tools. In the meantime we were encouraged to ask questions. Mr. Heil was very open to every question and answered them quite competent.
The first project he presented was a "google-docs" document concerning Nick Hornby's novel About a Boy. In this document every student had to fill in several aspects about certain chapters in the novel. Every conference participant was able to see to which extend the online document was filled and Mr. Heil informed us that every participating pupil was encouraged to fill in additional information because as long as this document was not filled out completely the pupils were not able to use it for their upcoming exam preparation.
Afterwards Mr. heil showed us a Prezi about "Digital Storytelling". Coincidentally this was very important for my work group because this was exactly the topic we had been dealing with. To demonstrate the possibilities of digital storytelling, Mr. Heil showed us several homepages which were completely unknown to us.
Unfortunately there was not enough time to ask every question the group had prepared for the conference. That is why Mr Heil focussed on the internet security and data protection issue. He said that he has to censor a lot of the pupil work before he puts it online and additionally he is not allowed to check the surfing history of the pupils meaning that he can not check how much time every pupil spent with a certain task and project. Grading seems to be highly difficult.
As already pointed out Mr Heil recommended some online tool which were completely unknown to us. Unfortunately there was not enough time for Mr. heil to present, elaborate and evalluted every homepage. Nevertheless I want to list these pages here:
http://photopeach.com/
http://animoto.com/
http://storybird.com/ (for further information: Page 24 in our booklet)
http://www.sumopaint.com
The first project he presented was a "google-docs" document concerning Nick Hornby's novel About a Boy. In this document every student had to fill in several aspects about certain chapters in the novel. Every conference participant was able to see to which extend the online document was filled and Mr. Heil informed us that every participating pupil was encouraged to fill in additional information because as long as this document was not filled out completely the pupils were not able to use it for their upcoming exam preparation.
Afterwards Mr. heil showed us a Prezi about "Digital Storytelling". Coincidentally this was very important for my work group because this was exactly the topic we had been dealing with. To demonstrate the possibilities of digital storytelling, Mr. Heil showed us several homepages which were completely unknown to us.
Unfortunately there was not enough time to ask every question the group had prepared for the conference. That is why Mr Heil focussed on the internet security and data protection issue. He said that he has to censor a lot of the pupil work before he puts it online and additionally he is not allowed to check the surfing history of the pupils meaning that he can not check how much time every pupil spent with a certain task and project. Grading seems to be highly difficult.
As already pointed out Mr Heil recommended some online tool which were completely unknown to us. Unfortunately there was not enough time for Mr. heil to present, elaborate and evalluted every homepage. Nevertheless I want to list these pages here:
http://photopeach.com/
http://animoto.com/
http://storybird.com/ (for further information: Page 24 in our booklet)
http://www.sumopaint.com
Conclusion
Even during the conference I thought of Mr. Heil as a very enthusiastic teacher who knows quite well how to implement New Media into his English lessons. He on the other hand stated that it is not wise to "overdo" it. There is not an ideal online tool for every topic or exercise, but with time you get a hand for it and know how, to which extend and why use certain tools when needed.
Mr. Heil, our instructor and every student participant was prepared very well. A very informative and encouraging online conference was the outcome. To see in which way the internet enables us to upgrade the variety of teaching didactics and methods was fascinating and according to Mr. Heil the work with these online tools is very appreciated by the pupils. In my opinion this appreciation is one of the main aspects which makes you pursue the implementation of New Media in upcoming lessons.
Mr. Heil, our instructor and every student participant was prepared very well. A very informative and encouraging online conference was the outcome. To see in which way the internet enables us to upgrade the variety of teaching didactics and methods was fascinating and according to Mr. Heil the work with these online tools is very appreciated by the pupils. In my opinion this appreciation is one of the main aspects which makes you pursue the implementation of New Media in upcoming lessons.
