Vacaroo

A platform for students to talk about anything they like. They can record their voices and send it to teachers for feedbacks.This tool could develop students speaking skills and build confidence in speaking.

What is special about Vacaroo?

• Free and easily accessible.
• The recording procedure is simple and easy.
• The recorded voice is clear.
• Record voices, send them to teachers for assessment or feedbacks
• Used to practise speaking skills

Limitations of it?

• Dependant on internet connection. No internet, no Vacaroo.
• Limited for 5 minutes recording. Any recording more than 5 minutes should be done many times.

How it can be used in class?

I would suggest that teachers ask students to Vacaroo everyday and listen to their own recordings and their friend's recordings too to build their confidence in speaking.
Teachers could set a topic for the students to speak on or ask the students to make daily recorded journal.

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.