Hello Bubblr!

Again! A simple and easy way of learning English language.

Bubblr is a tool to create presentation by adapting Flickr.com photos! Just search any related images that you want to put on your slides and add bubbles to them. Then, just type on anything to describe the pictures and press go! As simple as that. This tool also will save your work into the archive, only after you are done with the slides and save them. If you happen to leave the page, you can just pay archive a visit and re-search your own slides. Like Dvolver, Bubblr can directly be emailed to yourself and anyone and be embedded into blog. So, your work will not end on Bubblr only, it can be spread to and shared with all people around the world!

How to use it in class?

Teacher could ask students to do the task individually. Give freedom to students to choose their own topic according to their own interests and preferences as this could motivate students to be more anticipated with what they are doing. Then, teacher could ask students to present it to the rest of the class which means this can be some sort of oral test or preparation for public speaking to the students. Perhaps, teacher could ask students to post it on blog and vote for the best video.

It can also be used in pre writing stage where the students can brainstorm or make mind map in the version of slides. This is to encourage students to write better on the following draft as they have already outlined some ideas before writing.

Advantages

1. An easy and quick way to do a simple slides presentation. It is undoubtedly FREE!

2. There are plenty of beautiful and fascinating pictures to be put on the slides. There are three different bubbles that can be embedded on the slides to describe the pictures or add dialogue into them.

3.  It can be shared with others through email or on blogs.

Disadvantages

1. The slides cannot be rearranged. Once they are set up accordingly, they cannot be moved alternately.

2. The shapes of the bubbles are limited.

3. The bubbles can be enlarged by in a limited size that the description of the pictures cannot be too long.

4. The saved slides emailed sometimes does not turn out as the same as the original one.

5. No animation or slide transition and sound effects.

I personally think that Bubblr is just useful to get students to start writing. It is suitable as warming up stage or brainstorming ideas. This is because there is nothing much that the students can do to show their state of language, which means there is not much performance of students that teacher can use as evidences to assess the students work especially in terms of writing skills. However, it can be employed for speaking tasks that the students can utilise Bubblr to make a quick presentation to be presented to the class.

Dvolver

Dvolver is a website that can be used to make animated videos. It provides a number of characters for the students to choose and make dialogue between the two characters. It also enables some types of animation for the characters to move.There are also some background musics available for the students to select on to make their dialogues alive and interesting. As the movie making is done, users can email the movie to themselves or to other people such as teachers or friends.  Dvolver can be used as a platform for the students to be a beginner-script writer as they are to choose the title for their own videos and  acknowledge their names as directors.

What is good about Dvolver?

Free of charge! It can be used in unlimited times. 

It is fun and motivating as the students are given the chances to create their own dialogue by choosing their preferred characters and script.

It enhances students creativity and imagination for it allows students to create a title for their videos and produce their own scripts.

It can be interactive if the students are making the videos in pairs. They can brainstorm and discuss what will be presented in the video, especially the content of the dialogues.

What is not good about Dvolver? 

The characters are quite limited. The possibility for the students to use similar character for different videos is high. Students might use the same characters because not all characters are attractive and appropriate for some context.

There may be some possibilities for the students to use too informal language or 'trendy' language such as short forms and acronym.

 

How to teach in class?

Example of lesson: Asking for and giving advice.

Teacher may give the students a situation for the students to solve.Individually, the students are required to produce their own dialogue regarding the problem provided by the teacher. The teacher can then ask the students to email to the teacher or post it on blog. The teacher may share all students' works to the class. From here, the teacher can ask the students to watch and comment on each others' videos.

Why is it good to post it on blog?

1. It acts as motivation and instil ownership. Knowing that there are people who are going to watch their video, the students would feel encouraged to do the animated movie,

2. Teacher can monitor and assess the students usage of language. From that, the teacher can provide feedback for the students on the students' presentation and language.

What Dvolver offers you!

Oh, myBrainshark!

Turning your existing presentations and marketing materials into powerful, voice-enriched, trackable video in seconds?

myBrainshark has the solution for you!

It is a free online video presentation. It enables you and you, the users to upload your Powerpoint presentation and add voice into it. myBrainshark makes podcasting easy. Add audio to your blog and build a following using myBrainshark and a telephone or computer mic. Your video links can be shared with contacts & social networks via email, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and more. Your website or blog could be now enhanced with an embedded video using myBrainshark. It is as easy as cutting and pasting! Also, post myBrainshark videos to YouTube with just one click of your fingertip. 

Advantages

1. It is free- it can be used by all users.

2. It is good to practise before presenting.

3. It is good for students to keep their presentation and see how they can develop their presentation. teachers can give feedback too. From the feedback, students can improve and make amendments on their presentation to make a better presentation. 

Disadvantages

1. It is one-to-one communication. Knowing that the teacher will not be able to look at the students face-to-face, the students may not be spontaneous. They may prepare their own texts and just read directly from the texts.

2. Virtual audience reduces the students' nervousness of public speaking, It does not really prepare students for a real presentation.

2. Body language, gestures and facial expression are not available. This hinders the connection between the audience and presenter.