Podomatic

I was not sure what to think of this podcasting site. I understood that I could probably use the FTP client to help me upload media onto my page, but since I didn't do the last part of the project until after I got out of class, I had no way of testing to see if the uploads would work or check to see if it would be simple enough to teach students how to do it. My main concern is not about whether or not students will be able to upload media on their Podomatic site (it looks pretty straight forward with only three steps) but rather it is about the difficulty of using a sound recording from Audacity and then transferring it to web. Based on what I learned in class, all I could teach my students is how to post already made recordings onto their site, unless I can provide a webcam or microphones for my students and record directly onto Podomatic. But even though I have the knowledge to teach my students how to use these programs, I find little use in the activity. I think this knowledge more benefits me when it comes to making online activities with sound...etc. But I am not sure if knowing how to post recordings on the web is helpful for an ESL class. Besides, even I had trouble getting through the activity without encountering little details that through off the entire process. It would be a lot to demand of ESL students to learn how to work these programs.

Hot Potatoes!!!

I just finished creating an activity online through the HotPotatoes program and actually enjoyed it. I like how easy it is to create activities without having to the lay the groundwork because HotPotatoes already has a structure for me to follow and all I have to do is fill in the blanks. The only thing I thought that could be improved would be to have more room to personalize these activities, dress them up a bit to make them pretty and interesting. Also, the tutorials were a little cumbersome. I think it would have been easier to go through a simulation where I fill in the information as I go rather than read what I have to do and then create an activity based off of what I remember from the tutorial.

I am most confident about the simple, straightforward availability of HotPotatoes. It will not be hard for me to create multiple activities. However, I am least confident about having to use Dreamweaver, a program I still am unsure about, and how to unite all these separate links to a homepage.

If I can figure out a homepage that takes students to these links where they can practice activities, I think this program can be very helpful. The only thing is that if I want to invent a different kind of activity, there is no way for me to do it. I can only use the activities provided by HotPotatoes.