This session features two CALL-based presentations.
Microblogging in the classroom
Paul Collett will demonstrate some easy ways to work with the Twitter stream, bringing this rich authentic language source into the classroom in a controlled way. He will also consider the possibilities Twitter (or microblogging) offers to teachers and students. Finally, solutions to create a personalized microblogging service to provide community-building possibilities for your learners will be presented.
Social networking as a language learning activity
Social networking websites, such as Facebook and Mixi, have proliferated in recent years, but their use in the classroom is limited because of their sheer breadth of scale. In this presentation, Malcolm Swanson will introduce Elgg, an open source networking solution that is perfect for use with small groups. Swanson will explain how to install and set up the software, and how it can be used within language classroom settings. Attendees will be able to "play" in an Elgg installation in the week following the presentation.
Paul Collett teaches at Shimonoseki City University, and is the administrator of JALT's internet services.Malcolm Swanson is teaching in the English Department of Seinan Jo Gakuin University. He is also heavily involved in JALT's various publications.
