Working with audio

  

Audio material is regularly used when teaching speaking and listening in foreign languages. Therefore the teachers and the students should be able to edit and modify audio as well as texts.
Probably the best freeware available for editing sound is called AUDACITY.


Audacity Basics - you should be able to
- install Audacity and the lame library which enables export to mp3
- open a file in Audacity
- edit the file: cut and paste, fade in/out, change speed, delete, add silence
- create a new file
- combine two files (e.g. speech + background music)
- inserting silence (e.g. as a space for an answer)
- changing the speed or pitch (carefully!)

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The following tasks are optional.

EXAMPLE 1 - TEACHER'S JOB - THE SEARCH

Browse Youtube for videos suitable for teaching adult beginners English.
View, listen and choose; consider the topic, level, speed, quality of language, accent...
Convert the video to mp3 using an online convertor.
Cut out a part of the recording, and publish in your webpage - it is almost the same process as inserting an image.

You can use Free YouTube to MP3 Converter to get audio from youtube easily, or find free online converters. Be careful what you click on, this type of software often brings unwanted installations or even viruses!

EXAMPLE 2 - GOOD TEACHING PRACTICE
Choose an online audio resource - a podcast or TED. Listen, and share the link and your opinion in the comments to this blog entry.

What does the word "podcast" mean? Go to Podomatic, create an account and browse the site. How can we use it in teaching English?

Good examples - Teacher Luke, Splendid Speaking for advances learners
Podcast on podcasting in ELT

More online podcasts and streams
Ted Talks on Education - free online lectures!
Paramind
Oxford University Podcasts

Free text to audio:
http://www.fromtexttospeech.com/

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EXAMPLE 3 - THE PROJECT

Example of instructions of a high-level student project.  

• to be done in groups of max. 4 people
• Product: high quality audiorecording 5-10'. 
• Content: audio dramatisation of a literary scene according to your own choice; may include special sound effects.

Objectives:

• to practise pronunciation, including peer correction; 
• to revise British and American literature and support learning for lit. exams; 
• to master basic sound editing skills in Audacity; 
• to design a system for recording within online communication; 
• to develop cooperation and organisation skills; 
• to list a set of  criteria and evaluate the schoolmates' projects objectively.

Tips:
Communicate online within the group, decide who wil record what.  Using audacity, you can even create a non-real-time dialogue!
Record, listen, re-record, listen, re-record... focus on quality!
Edit the recording in Audacity. Record and add appropriate sounde effects if suitable.
Finalise the file, export it and save as mp3, and add to your personal webpage (each member of the group).

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EXTRAS + FAQs

Sound files extensions:
wav -  Standard audio file container format used mainly in Windows PCs. Commonly used for storing uncompressed (PCM), CD-quality sound files, which means that they can be large in size—around 10 MB per minute. Wave files can also contain data encoded with a variety of (lossy) codecs to reduce the file size (for example the GSM or MP3 formats). Wav files use a RIFF structure

mp3 - compressed, MPEG Layer III Audio. Is the most common sound file format used today

flac - Free Lossless Audio Codec
ape - Monkey's Audio lossless audio compression format
ogg - A free, open source container format supporting a variety of formats, the most popular of which is the audio format Vorbis; compression similar to MP3

webm - Royalty-free format created for HTML5 video
aiff - Standard audio file format used by Apple. It could be considered the Apple equivalent of wav

ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_file_format



Sluchové pole (nebo oblast slyšitelnosti) je rozsah všech zvuků, které dokáže lidské ucho vnímat. Vnímání zvuku je u člověka omezeno slyšitelnými frekvencemi (přibližně 16–20 000 Hz). U každé frekvence je odlišný rozdíl intenzit, jež slyšíme. Lidský sluchový orgán je nejcitlivější v oblasti frekvencí 1–5 kHz.

http://www.wikiskripta.eu/index.php/Pr%C3%A1h_sluchu_a_sluchov%C3%A9_pole

Interactive Board Advanced

 

Focus on Feedback - in HP and in IWB

A good feedback should:

• be positive, not overcritical nor overpraising
• be informative
• bring appropriate language input
• motivate
• prompt
• be true

Check your projects, help each other create suitable feedback. In IWB, use the layers and various tricks to hide the feedback.

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TIPS AND TRICKS:

Hidden content
How it works: if you click on object1, object2 (dis)appears
Go to Actions - find command Hidden/Skryté
Identify the target
Save the changes

Detailed instructions here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGIVaZ4ScWs

USING CONTAINERS
1. Text to be moved:
Identification: Name = Panda
Contain: Return if not contained = True

2. Image or a space where to put the text/answer:
Can Contain = Specific object
Contain Object = (Select Object) Panda
Contain Rule = Completely contained

Česká verze:
1. Text (objekt), s nímž se bude pohybovat:
Identifikace: Název = Panda
Kontejner: Vrátit, pokud není obsaženo = Pravda

2. Objekt (obrázek), kam se text/odpověď přesouvá:
Může obsahovat = Konkrétní objekt
Obsažený objekt = (Vybrat objekt) Panda
Pravidlo pro obsah = Úplně obsaženo



Hiding objects in SMART: online help

To animate object in SMART:

• Select the object.
• If the Properties tab isn’t visible, press Properties .
• Press Object Animation.
• Select options in the Type, Direction, Speed, Occurs and Repeats drop-down lists.

Hiding objects using magic ink in Activ: youtube tutorial

Magic revealer window (Activ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNYwDJ0ghkc

1.    Insert two images
2.    Put one of them to the Top layer
3.    Create a rectangle. Settings:
           a.    Margin (ohraničení) – cca 20
           b.    Výplň – Nic
4.    Activate the magic ink. Fill in the rectangle.
5.    Set the order of the resulting two objects (rectangle will be above the magic ink to make the margins smooth)
6.    Group them together.
7. Check the order of the layers: Object (the rectangle),  Pen (the magic ink) nad the upper image are in the upper layer in the mentioned order, the remaining image is in the middle layer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_hJnZZ6CoA

Examples of inacceptable feedback:

Sorry, try again

Are you serios?

almost THEREEEEE

you should have studied mnore

No way.

You should think before you click.

This is not the right answer.

Interactive Board - Basics

  

No matter what IWB software you use, some basics remain identical - both from the points of view of technology and methodology.

INDIVIDUALLY:

1. Install and explore Activ Inspire and Smart Notebook, try the basic functions, get the feeling of both softwares. For installation, see the instructions below.
2. Follow the list of compulstory items below and practice these basic skills both in Activ and Smart.
3. Explore the site http://www.veskole.cz/, try to identify high-quality materials, and recognise the faulty ones.

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Installation:

1. Download the actual version of Activ Inspire form the Promethean site. Ask the teacher for the key.

(FORMAT-2000-0016-4129-0456-5336-4576-9999)

2. For SMART NOTEBOOK, use the installation files in iso format saved in capsa: Folder IWB Materials, file SW_interactiv.iso. Use the key presented there. Disable actualisation processes.

Both installations are fully legal.

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What can we use the Interactive Board Material for?

1. To identify the purpose of the material:
Intro – topic, aim, target group
Source – textbook
Credits

2. To identify the resources:
References – texts, audio, images resources (last page)
create your own images!

3. To suggest how to use the material:
– create a Teacher’s book (could be in side notes, or in the last page, or hidden within each page)
– instructions to tasks (focus on organization, variability)

4. To enable easy navigation: Insert links
In Activ Inspire - use commands "Another page" and "Open a website"
In Smart - right click at the object, use "Odkaz"

5. To use visual and auditory input: insert images, audio and video
In Active Inspire: go to Resource Browser (the symbol of 2 music notes)
In Smart: go to Gallery (the symbol of a picture)
In both: download an image, and drag it to the chosen page

6. To integrate games and animations into a lesson:
Explore the resourcepacks
Modify Flash animations (Smart)


Interactive Board Project compulsory items:
- teacher book with target group, objectives and instructions on the use of your material
- enough functional and effective visual support (images, graphics, illustrations)
- a listening task (+ audio with tapescript)
- a speaking task
- feedback to all tasks
- links to T's Book from all pages (and links back!)
- active URLs (with tasks)
- a link to a youtube video - focused on the topic, with tasks!
- enough space for the students'work
- a page with all references


You can find examples and instructional files online (try youtube), and also at http://prekladani.capsa.cz

WebQuest

 

A WebQuest is an effective tool for USING English. In the following weeks, you will find out how it works, and we will discuss the design of your first WebQuest.


REMEMBER: A good WebQuest
- uses Internet resources (written in good authentic English)
- requires independent thinking, not mechanic copying from references
- is based on information processing: the students search for facts, evaluate, and come to their your own conclusions



TASK 1 - Order the main characteristics of a webquest according to their importance.
TASK 2 - Suggest a WebQuest topic (incl. defining the target group and final product).

Put both into the comments to this blog entry. 
You can work individually, in pairs or in groups of three.
Do not forget to sign your entries!

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Students projects at https://pcskills-ujep.blogspot.com/2019/12/webquest-presentations.html

WebQuest Home Page

Example: Greece or China?
A tool for making and publishing presentations online


WebQuest characteristic:
• information search
• information processing (THINKING, evaluating, comparing, choosing, combining, analysis, synthesis…)
• creativity
• autonomy
• fun

What is necessary:
• clear instructions
• clear description of the final product
• adequate choice of internet sources, with comments

WebQuest from the T’s point of view:
• choosing topic and task
• TIME – web search, detailing the process, clear and logical instructions
• focus on information processing – prevent plagiarism
• focus on authentic English resources

WebQuest from the Ss point of view:
• TASK
• instructions
• tips + web URLs
• final product
• autonomy + freedom of choice
• creativity


Look at the WebQuest template to learn more about its structure.

Inspiration:
WebQuest - Vaccination
WebQuest - A Trip to Egypt
WebQuest  - A Diary of the Survivor

Scenario

 Scenarios are decision-making games, stories or simulations, which can be used both for fun or for professional traning - e.g. for doctors, nurses, military personnel, drivers, social workers...

The branching enables the reader to decide - and to live through the consequences of his decisions immediately.

In the world of fiction, you might have read a series of fighting-fantasy books by Steve Jackson - for example Khare, Cityport of Traps.

Task 1
Play some of the following scenarios. Which of them would you choose for:
A military personel
B the final year of a vocational school
C 2nd grade of "osmilete gymnazium"

Enter your suggestions into the comments to this blog entry. Include the reasoning!

Examples of scenarios:
Escape
The Perfect Day

Africa

Survival

Fantasy (download required)

While writing the scenario, you should always define the following:
1. Target group - age, proficiency
2. Task - what the class should do, identifying the final outcome and product
3. Aims and objectives: what the class will learn in these fields:
factual knowledge
language (vocabulary, reading skills...)
communicative skills
social skills

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TWINE engine bor making scenarios to download:
Twine homepage

Basic instructions in Twine

Video-Course on Twine
HELP for TWINE

More at
http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2011/07/sample-branching-scenario-cool-tool/
http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2010/05/elearning-example-branching-scenario/
http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2018/04/3-ways-to-help-people-learn-from-mistakes-in-branching-scenarios/