About it:
- A site similar to Brainshark.com in the sense that students get to record themselves and send the file to the teacher or post it on a blog.
- However, what I really like about Vocaroo.com is that it doesn't require much work from the students.
- In Brainshark.com students would have to upload power point presentations, videos, written documents or pictures in order to be able to add sound to them. This might be time consuming.
- However, with Vocaroo.com students might be assigned a homework where they just have to talk about something, this is where Vocaroo.com works superbly.
- Brainshark.com is great for projects, collages, reports etc. While Vocaroo.com is quite great when students have lots of homework they would just have to record their audio.
Significance:
- Since Vocaroo.com allows students to record themselves then this gives them opportunity to communicate in the target language even if they are at home.
- Speaking skills are developed, pronunciation skills are also developed and a somehow "connected classroom" is achieved.
- It is revolutionary in some parts of the world to allow students to record their homework and email them to the teacher instead of the traditional homework.
- Teachers could try different activities and note if students language skills are actually improving.
Suggestions:
In Classroom:
- Teachers could record a couple of audios at home, bring them to class and have students do tons of activities with them.
- For example, direction activities will be a great way to teach the imperative form and have fun at the same time.
- Get the students in groups and instruct them to listen to audios with directions and carry out the directions. Teachers could move around and check if the students are on the right track.
- Audios could also be used as a source that can engage groups of students to form quizzes and and test each other.
- An easier task would be to distribute audios of different sections of a story, documentary, letter, interview etc. have students listen to each audio, then move around from one group to another and try to sort out the material in chronological order.
- This kind of activity would allow lots of interaction between the whole class.
- Another creative task would be to have students listen to audios of stories, interviews, documentaries etc. and try to visualize what the speaker might be wearing, what is the situation they are in, what kind of face expressions they might have etc. After visualizing and noting down their predictions they can discuss in groups and form a final, agreed upon vision of the audio.
Outside Classroom:
- So many activities can be done outside classroom using Vocaroo.com.
- Homework could sometimes (not always) be assigned to using vocaroo.com.
- Students could answer their homework questions by recording, revising and sending them as an email to the teacher.
- To develop speaking skills, teachers could assign everyday topics, themes or mere questions and have students think over the task at home and record their answers.
- Students could prepare quizzes at home, bring them to class, exchange them with students and try to solve the questions.
- It gets students to interact, it motivates them and it allows them to be the leaders and to be creative.
Shortcomings:
- I can't think of any limitations. I believe that audios can sometimes be more helpful than videos.
- They require less time, less effort and provide great amount of practice.
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