Learning re-envisioned

This post showcases slides from a remote presentation to PIGATE on Saturday, March 11th.

Comments and questions about the slides or the actual presentation are welcome on this post.

Motivation matters!

Image source: YouTube, Education Week (2019.12.19)

Education Week recently showcased a series of four videos of Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski explaining ways for teachers to foster learner motivation:

•  What Teachers Can Do to Boost Student Motivation (2019.12.09).

The short videos covered "four specific ways to nurture a sense of intrinsic motivation in students" (¶1), namely:

1. Granting students autonomy,
2. Applauding effort rather than ability;
3. Cultivating interpersonal relationships, and
4. Helping students discover the relevance of learning activities.

A list of further readings followed the videos on the Education Week article, and Larry Ferlazzo linked to additional resources in a follow-up in an Education Week Teacher blog post.

• Everything You Wanted to Know About Student Motivation, But Were Afraid to Ask (2019.12.11).

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Revisiting communicative competencies (YouTube recording)

This hour-long recording by Dr. Kate Reynolds of Central Washington University's College of Education and Professional Studies[, Chairperson of the Department of Education, Development, Teaching and Learning,] came out about a year ago. It was from a TESOL Teacher Education Interest Section (TEIS) webinar on evolving theories and potential applications of a communicative competence framework for language teaching.

Frames and Reframing:

Recent Discussions on Communicative Competencies 

In that webinar, Dr. Reynolds surveyed "recent developments on the model of communicative competencies and [began to] facilitate an interactive conversation on how teacher educators can use this information" (Abstract, 2018.06.26). Though the webinar chat is invisible in the recording, live discussion opened about 33 minutes in. Dr. Reynolds read and summarized chat entries aloud. She then reflected on contributions and issues that arose, and asked clarification and follow-up questions.

At the end of the webinar, Dr. Reynolds highlighted one of over a dozen selected references for further reading. She also offered to share her PowerPoint slides, and expressed desire to continue discussion in audience-initiated TEIS discussion list posts. That's a TESOL members-only venue, so I (Paul) would be happy to see comments from PIGATE reviewers here [on this post].

Reference

• Reynolds, K. M. (2018, June 26). Frames and reframing: Recent discussions on communicative competencies [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs1aRTjnwAY

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Differentiating instruction? Let's learn the ropes!

Ever wonder how to handle individual differences within a single class?

In the first of these EdWeek videos, "[v]eteran teachers Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Synieski offer [a few] quick tips...."

Differentiating Instruction: A Guide for Teaching English-Language Learners

Education Week, 2019.02.06, 2:48

In the second, Larry offers more ideas for differentiating instruction by adjusting content, processes, and products to suit learners' abilities, interests, and needs.

Differentiating Instruction: It’s Not as Hard as You Think

Education Week, 2018.09.11, 4:27

If there are other simple strategies that you enjoy using, please feel free to explain them in brief comments on this post.

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A brilliant talk about TED talks

In this eight-minute talk, Anderson ... clearly [and concisely] spilled the beans about public speaking.

Reference

• Anderson, Chris. (2016, March). TED's secret to great public speaking [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_anderson_teds_secret_to_great_public_speaking 

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Blended Learning and Technology Integration: What's the diff.?!?

In this seven and a half minute, video Jen Jonson (2014) explained and illustrated crucial characteristics of blended learning environments. If her delivery is too fast to follow, toggling on the auto-generated transcripts at YouTube, by clicking on "..." at the foot of the display frame, and reading along may help.

• Jonson, Jen. (2014.01.20). Blended learning and technology integration [YouTube video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/KD8AUfGsCKg

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You'll know it when you see it!

Here's an interesting presentation on a language we all know.

• Niemann, Christoph. (2018 April).  You are fluent in this language (and don't even know it) [TED Talk]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/christoph_niemann_you_are_fluent_in_this_language_and_don_t_even_know_it

Vimeo video about what a blog is (Kelly, 2018)

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? START YOUR BLOG! 

from Berwick Lodge Primary School on Vimeo.

A short kinetic typography video that explains what a blog is. 

Please use. Full Creative Commons License. 

Written and Produced by Rob Kelly, 2018

Reference

Kelly,  Rob. (2018). What are you waiting for? Start your blog! Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/258904090

Clicky Wishes You a Happy Safer Internet Day 2018

A couple days late, but still worth sharing!

Source: https://youtu.be/4hTapDlrP5g (ConnectSafely.org, 2018.02.02)

6 Tips for Going Gradeless (Sackstein, 2018)

Can we do some or all of this?

Sackstein, Starr. (2018.01.30). Six tips for going gradeless. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/F56hTKUk8j4

Sesame Street: Alphabet Songs Compilation | Learn the ABCs!

At our gathering last Saturday, questions arose regarding how and when to help young English learners recognize, recall, and write letters of the alphabet.

For example, with regard to a presentation on dyslexia, participants wondered where the small letter D came from, and why it was so different from the big D.

Though I'll leave reporting details of the session to others who attended or presented, I would like to share a clue to the origin of the letter D:

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

https://goo.gl/cG7rVN

I'd also like to point out a new video from Sesame Street (2017.09.08) offering musical alternatives to traditional ABC songs. Like most songs of this ilk, it focuses on capital letters.

What impressed me the most was the searchable transcript (lyrics) that you can display from the menu under the "..." button below the lower right corner of the YouTube video on site.

Select, "Open transcript," in the pop-up menu, then choose, "English - CC (English)," at the foot of the transcript window, for closed captions (rather than the auto-generated transcript).

Video source: Sesame Street's Back to School playlist

https://youtu.be/XWZ-iA3HMOU

Below are a couple of snapshots of the transcript display with the timecode toggled either ON (at 00.01) or OFF (at 03:29 of 12:50). If you click on the images below, you can see details.

Alphabet Songs Compilation [+ transcript {00.01/12.50}]

Alphabet Songs Compilation [+ transcript {03.29/12.50}]

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Three helpful Google Docs features for new users (Byrne, 2017.08.28)

In the following demonstration video, Richard Byrne pointed out Google Doc interfaces for:

1. Adjusting document layouts,
2. Counting words and characters, &
3. Sharing documents selectively online.

His blog is loaded with other resources and tips for educators:

• Free Technology for Teachers: About the Author [Richard Byrne].

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2-Minute Tips: Smart Passwords (ConnectSafely.org)

ConnectSafely.org. (2016, October 25). 2-minute tips: Smart passwords [YouTube video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/e0ENHKyqRNY

Skidamarink: Super Simple Songs & Wee Sing YouTube videos

Skidamarink is one of the songs for young learners that Mr. Takaki introduced during the PIGATE gathering on ... [May] 13. Here are a couple videos of the song from the Super Simple Songs and Wee Sing YouTube channels.

Source: https://youtu.be/ug1pI-Ephns

Source: https://youtu.be/vG9HM-1R7sk

If you use songs and gestures like that with young children or older learners, please shout out in comments on this post to let us know what your favorites are and how you use them.

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Gems from Jemma's presentation, 2017.03.11

This post showcases a couple of videos that Jemma Gallagher played or mentioned in her presentation on mindfulness in education to the PIGATE gathering on March 11, 2017. Afterwards, she also shared links to a couple of related resources.

Mindfulness Story (English vers.) 

Source: Jonathan Haggard (YouTube, 2015) 

https://youtu.be/T2D1SsIZDx0

Mindfulness Story (Japanese vers.)

Source: Jonathan Haggard (YouTube, 2015) 

https://youtu.be/KQlLSPzfCFc

Shunkoin's website

• Shunkoin Temple, Kyoto, JP
• http://shunkoin.com/ 

Experimental Buddhism (Nelson, 2013)

Jemma also pointed out John Nelson's book Experimental Buddhism (2013), in which he wrote about that temple and its head priest (http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/p-9072-9780824838980.aspx). Perhaps once she settles into her new job and postgraduate studies, she will agree to write a brief review of his book for a PIGATE newsletter.

Animal sounds galore!

Adaptation of Markham's Lexi the Poodle by pab (2016.03.02)
Some rights reserved (CC BY-SA 4.0)

A professor in Adelaide, Australia, Derek Abbott, has begun studying animal sounds as they would appear in comic strip speech balloons, according to posts in The Guardian and on the Mother Nature Network:

• Why do pigs oink in English, boo boo in Japanese, and nöff-nöff in Swedish?
• Gary Nunn, The Guardian  (2014.11.17)

• Why do languages have different sounds for the same animals?
• Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network (MNN) (2016.02.23)

Both posts point to a website displaying Abbott's rather comprehensive collection of Animal Sounds, some transliterated into English from native language scripts. The MNN post also points to the video below featuring native speakers [of various languages] producing animal sounds.

Bow Wow Meow - Animal Sounds in Different Languages from Ke Nguyen on Vimeo.

Can you or, better yet, the learners you teach name all of the countries represented by flags in Nguyen's video?

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April PIGATE meeting

by Joe Tomei.  Another great PIGATE meeting!

First was Nicole Gallagher speaking on her recently completed masters dissertation and her upcoming JALT PanSIG presentation on teacher beliefs and the new Course of Study.

Next up as Fumi Ogata from Kikuyo JHS, talking about using the speech of Malala Yousafzai, the recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the youngest recipient of the prize. A link to the speech is here.

If you are interested in the topic, you can watch Malala's speech on EnglishCentral.com. It is free to join, and if you join, you can access 2 videos a month, but if you become a member, you can watch and record yourself repeating as many videos as you would like. I have some free one-month memberships, so put your name and email address in the comments, or write to me directly at tomeiter@gmail.com.

Another great meeting, looking forward to seeing all of you next month!

Joe Tomei

Muppets Treasure Island - Cabin Fever

The Cabin Fever song from a 1996 Muppet movie is based on a classic adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson (Wikipedia, 2015, ¶1). The song has been burning inside my head for the past several days. So I decided to find a video clip that I could share here.

Source: http://youtu.be/CHNJPsCDSqo (Tchailenov, 2010)

This song has been memorable not only because I love the Muppets, but also because the ship-board setting for the song in the video (Baker, 1996) contrasted so vividly with a snow-bound mountain cabin image that I've held from childhood adventures–including reading!

That is, my image related to the second definition of the noun (n.) cabin in WordNet 3.1, and the Muppet movie scene represented the first. As far as collocations go, "cabin fever" may not occur very frequently outside this song. Nevertheless, you may find it catching.

Doing a bit more browsing around the topic of cabin fever, I think I may have found a remedy, namely getting out and communing with nature (Berman, Jonides & Kaplan, 2008). Perhaps that's what I should be doing now, instead of planning another post!

References

Baker, Martin G., & Henson, Brian (Producers), & Henson, Brian (Director). (1996). Muppet treasure island [Motion picture]. United States: Jim Henson Productions.

Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting with Nature. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207–1212. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x

Wikipedia. (2015, February 11). Muppet Cabin Fever. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppet_Treasure_Island

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