Resources for Digital Learning at the Secondary Level

Shelfari

Today’s Food for Thought

busuu

busuu.com is an online learning community for language learning. You can connect with native speakers to learn a new lanugage.

Users have access to more than 150  audio-visual learning units covering a wide range of day-to-day topics. The language material is currently available in French, Spanish, English and German but further languages will be added soon. Additionally, the users can improve their language skills with other native speakers of the community, via an integrated video-chat

Launched in May 2008, Busuu currently has more than 80,000 users from all over the world.

In their own words,

• Learn from native speakers: Learn directly from native speakers of the busuu.com community via our integrated video-chat application! By doing so you can practice your language skills in a live conversation.
• Learn with our material: We have prepared over 150 learning units covering diverse topic areas and grammar units covering the most important grammar points! The content is image and sound-based.
• Learn for free: busuu.com can be used completely for free! However, you have the option to pay a minimal monthly fee to become a Premium Member. With that Premium Membership you gain access to additional functionalities and more material.

BBC - Languages

BBC - Languages site has many free resources for foreign language learners.  There are audio and video courses for beginners and intermediates in 36 languages.  Steps in 12 offers French, Spanish, German and Italian short courses for beginners that last 12 weeks.  Quick Fix offers essential phrases in 36 languages with audio.  There are also online crossword puzzles that offer clues in the language of choice with audio.  This is a great resource!

langoLAB

langoLAB supports language immersion through online video and text.  It features authentic televison, music, videos and news articles.  Most videos and text come with tools to enable comprehension including one-click dictionary look up, flash cards and notes on idioms and phrases.

langoLAB is a site that is designed to help people learn foreign languages. The site endeavors to expose learners to authentic cultural media from the internet in the foreign language they’re learning, and it provides tools to allow them to comprehend the media as quickly as possible. langoLAB is constructed around the hypothesis that people will learn a foreign language more quickly when they’re immersed in it through media and live interactions in which they can quickly perceive prelinguistic meaning and regularities.

Lang-8

Once you register for Lang-8 you can write an entry in the language you are studying and native speakers of the language will correct your entry.  It is a form of social networking designed to help improve your writing skills in another language.  You can also edit entries written in your native language.

Livemocha

Livemocha is a first of its kind web based language learning solution integrating online instructional content with a global community of language learners. It uses a social networking interface to connect native speakers to individuals learning a new language. There is a nice flashcard tool for learning vocabulary in just about any language.

Livemocha also has full courses available for a fee in English, Spanish, French, Hindi, German, and Mandarin Chinese.  There are also crash courses for travelers.

President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address

Video and transcript of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address

Click here for the text of his inaugural speech.

Inauguration Live Streaming

With the historic Presidential Inauguration coming up next week I have searched for some good sources for live streaming.  Here’s the list:

Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies This is the official Inaugural Committee responsible for all of the activities. The video will be closed captioned and you will need the Flash plug-in.

C-SPAN Live Stream You can use Windows media or Real media players to view this stream.  Right click to make it full screen.

MSNBC This site also provides an option for viewing full-screen.

CNN.com/Live You can use either the Flash player or Windows Media Player to view the stream here.  You can also view it full-screen.

FOX News Live Stream You can use Adobe AIR player or view through your browser.  You can view it full-screen.

To listen to the Inauguration in real time go to iTunes, then Radio and look for the NPR Public Stream.  NPR is broadcasting the events live.

Digital Storytelling Tools

I have found two different web based creation tools that ELA and Social Studies teachers may find useful.  They have potential for really enhancing your curriculum while engaging your students.  The first one is the Historic Tales Construction Kit.  It is based on the tapestry of Bayeaux, a masterpiece of the Middles Ages.  The second one is Myths and Legends Story Creator.  Storytellers get ten pages to share their stories and may select among a library of characters (some animated), sound effects, backgrounds, and objects, or they may upload their own images. They may scale, rotate, and move objects in front of or behind others. They may narrate by recording audio. They may add text  bubbles and comic bursts. Students will enjoy the impressive sound and image galleries.  The site also offers a library of supporting content. A how-to section supplies both dramatic and technical advice. What are myths, legends and folktales? offers valuable background relating to story genres. A Myth Map locates stories geographically. Professionally told stories serve as models for young storytellers and may be also used for classroom sharing. Text and related images are also provided for these classic tales.