Using Tech Devices with your Classes Hands-on Workshop FAESL Program Capacity Week January 10, 2014 Bob Paysnick
Workshop Objectives Ability to use a laptop or tablet with an LCD projector for a classroom lesson with or without the school s wireless internet connection Exposure to several examples and ways to benefit from using this combination of tools Exposure to potential ways to leverage students own mobile devices for English learning
Using Technology - Disadvantages Sometimes can be a solution looking for a problem where a low tech method is better Usually extra time to prepare and set up especially at the beginning Something can go wrong making the exercise unusable
Using Technology - Advantages Can demonstrate some things in a better way Can do some activities not otherwise possible Can cut down on copies More easily used on successive times Variety You re learning new skills for yourself Modeling the use of tech for students
Devices Laptops Portable full computer powerful, flexible, complicated Runs wide array of software (applications) usually specific for either PC or Mac PC Runs Microsoft Windows (latest version: Windows 8 ) Offered by many companies Mac Runs Mac OS (Latest version: 10.9 Mavericks ) Offered only by Apple Tablets (ipad and others) Touch screen Instant on Tighter environment than laptops Disadvantage less flexibility can t run most powerful applications Advantages easier; less frustrating More suited to consuming/displaying info rather than producing It s all in the apps
Devices LCD Projector Takes what s showing on the screen of the laptop or tablet, and projects that on the large screen Smartphone (iphone, Android, others) Internet access Uses apps like on a tablet Calendar / Email / GPS Camera Video camera Phone calls Text messages
Useful Accessories USB Flash Drive Small storage device used to transfer files from one computer to another Speakers Attach to laptop, tablet, smartphone, ipod Battery-powered / plug-in Wired / Bluetooth
What can you do with an LCD Projector? Project anything that you can display on your laptop or tablet PowerPoint slides and other documents Pictures Videos (including live video streaming and conferencing) Live applications / games Websites
Before you present Best to do a dry run before you try with students Confirm you can make physical and network connections Confirm you can access the website in class and it performs acceptably Component checklist Batteries charged up Devices can let you down have a backup plan for lesson time Back up the work you spend a lot of time on, or anything that s hard to replace
LCD Projector and Windows Laptop Speakers Speaker & headphone symbol VGA Cable Laptop VGA Cable VGA Cable Projector Speaker Cable Laptop Starting 1. Connect cables (including power cables) 2. Power on devices a) Projector First b) Then laptop/speakers 3. What s on laptop screen should display on large screen Finishing 1. Press Projector Power Button to power off 2. Wait for lamp to cool (fan shuts off) before unplugging
LCD Projector and Mac Laptops and ipads Apple Adapter Cable VGA Cable Connect same as Windows Laptop but add adapter between Mac/iPad and VGA cable Adapters vary depending on device
ipad/tablet Tips IOS operating software that controls ipads and iphones. Latest version: IOS 7 Flash - a special computer language, which is not supported on ipads. Many videos (not YouTube) and class exercises on websites require Flash so test out your exercise first. **Photon web browser app gets around this limitation Cables for ipad to projector connection Lightning to VGA Adapter ($49) 30-Pin to VGA Adapter ($29) Create dedicated screen for class-related work Watch out for auto-timeout, where tablet shuts itself off Set timeout to Never (On ipad/iphone this is Settings>General>Auto-Lock)
Connecting to FPS-Staff Wireless On an FPS computer Log on to FPS to activate your username Username is first letter of first name, then last name e.g. bpaysnick Password is identical: bpaysnick You will get a red X saying that you need to change your password right away before continuing On your device View your available wireless networks Add a network manually SSID: FPS-STAFF WPA2: Enterprise User ID: your FPS logon Password : your FPS password
Presentations and Interactive Exercises in Class with LCD Projector Examples Present new material with graphics, pictures Class grammar fill-in exercise Games/Apps (e.g. Jeopardy, Concentration) Demo an exercise you re asking students to try at home or in lab Google search Exercise on some website Mango Sing along to song lyrics Video (YouTube, DVD, teacher/student-created)
Taking Screen Snapshots Useful for Demos show example of what screen should look like Grabbing one frame of a video Saving a point in time Can be edited after the screen capture To take a screenshot: On ipad and iphone, press Home and Power buttons at the same time, for about a second On PC, press the PrintScreen button On Mac, press CMD+Shift+3 More details: www.take-a-screenshot.org
Importing CD Tracks to your Device Imported tracks can be played on laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more Advantages: No CD player needed Keep full set of music/audio tracks for class together in one place No CD swapping/searching Easier to start track at a point other than the beginning, and jump around Potential to edit shorten/merge tracks; play slower/faster To import: On a computer with CD drive, start up software capable of importing ( ripping ) a CD such as itunes, or Windows Media Player Place the CD into the CD drive on the laptop and import all or selected tracks If necessary, transfer the imported tracks to the device you ll use in class Or, you can play the CD itself directly on your laptop and still get some of these benefits
Leveraging Students Mobile Devices Phone e.g. Non face-to-face conversation Text messaging e.g. Role play situation where student needs to communicate with boss/client Camera e.g. Snap something they want to ask about in class Scanner e.g. QR codes Web access and Apps e.g. on-the-go language learning; word games; dictionary; translator; filling out forms; Google Images Music player Video e.g. Record class skit; create mini-video to depict a chosen phrasal verb
QR Codes What is it? A label that can hold a lot of information Now used commercially for product marketing Easily scannable by today s smartphones, via QR code reader app QR Code Options Send you to a web page Compose an email or text message Display text Call a phone number Apps available to create your own QR codes
Google Trends Gauge popularity of something/someone By comparison with something/someone else By location By timeframe Link: http://www.google.com/trends/explore
Automated Test Grading Useful for Small, quick multiple choice tests Immediate results and analysis The app ZipGrade Available for iphone/ipad Coming for Android The process Compose your multiple choice test (up to 50 questions; up to 5 choices each) Create the test in ZipGrade, with the answer key Download student answer form from ZipGrade Administer test with questions, and separate answer form Scan students filled-out answer forms Review test results and analysis Link: http://www.zipgrade.com
In Summary Lots of FAESL tech resources available, along with some assistance in using it Much-improved wireless access in Fuller. Choose FPS-STAFF rather than FPS-PUBLIC. There are countless ways to leverage tech devices with your class including students own devices Using these devices in class has become easier and more reliable But - it s still best to use all this at a comfortable level for your teaching style. It should add more value than stress. No guilt