Tag: technology

Technology Tips & Vocaroo

Posted on by robert@uoregon.edu

Technology such as the computer is only a tool. Like any tool, it has possibilities and limitations. What most of us don’t think about is that the typical classroom is filled with technology tools that aid in learning and teaching. Pencils, erasers, OHPs, post-it notes, rulers, ball point pens, and even the chalkboard are all technologies. Each of these technologies have in turn revolutionized what could be done in the classroom when they were first invented and used. Think of how useful it was for a teacher for the first time to be able to write on a large chalkboard at the front of the class so all students could see the same thing, add their ideas and be able to save the board for future reference. Wow! Still, you wouldn’t use the chalkboard to write or copy a book that students were expected to read on their own. The right tool for the right job.

Similarly computers are great tools but they don’t solve all our problems. I hope in this series of blog posts to be suggesting specific tools for specific needs. So lets go.

vocaroo home page

One thing teachers often ask me is “how can I have students practice recording their speaking digitally and send it to me for checking.” While there are many ways to do digital audio, perhaps the easiest way to get started is Vocaroo (http://vocaroo.com/). Simply send your learners to the site and they can “click” to record their voices and listen. I often have my students record several times improving their pronunciation or word choice as they go. Once they are happy with the recording, they can click to save, then send as an email or send a link for sharing. See a screen cast on using Vocaroo here.

For those learning language in the home, Vocaroo can be a great way to send a voice message in your language back to your home when you are away at work or travel. You can even get a response the same way. This would be a great way to extend the language domain of the home to other places when you are not at home.

Easy and simple to use. And best of all its free! Try it yourself if you haven’t yet and let us know what you think. I guess you might like it.

Robert and the NILI team. 

Youth Language Activist and Leadership Program

Posted on by rossa@uoregon.edu

High School youth from the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde in Oregon and the Snoqualmie and Suquamish Tribes in Washington attended NILI’s 2013 Summer Institute for teacher training and language learning. The project will continue throughout the year to include high school youth from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s language programs. They will work with Robert Elliott of NILI to learn how to develop language materials for preschool learning and their own learning using technology. Youth will attend NILI’s 2014 Summer Institute and it is our hope that they will be joined by youth from other tribes. This project is wholly in line with our mission to support Native language teaching, and mentor youth to become leaders in their communities.

The project uses a participatory, project-based research model in which the youth and tribal mentors play a central role in: designing the project; gathering the data to address the issue of language loss; and mentoring leadership skills. By engaging in authentic, meaningful activities participants will build their understanding of language loss, teaching and revitalization, and to develop skills needed to be language mentors. Youth will form hypotheses about what will work as they teach preschoolers and how they can use this opportunity for their own learning as well.

The project is supported by: Wildhorse Foundation; Sociological Initiatives Foundation; Spirit Mountain Community Fund; AMB Foundation; The Susan A. and Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation. We are most grateful to these foundations for supporting a change in the education and lives of Native youth.