The LTD Project Blog

This is a micro-edited cross-post from a Learning with Computers message that [had] yet to appear on-list:

In learningwithcomputers@yahoogroups.com (message 3808), “Gladys Baya” <gladysbaya@…> points out a Camtasia-produced video demostration of Russell Stannard['s] giving screenplay + audio feedback on a short essay in English by a student from China:

http://www.russellstannard.com/king/king.html

Gladys asks: “Have you ever tried something like this in your own teaching practice?” In a follow-on, she suggests that “we are bound to differ in the way we go about giving feedback… [and] can profit from reflecting about this simple approach to discuss student-generated writing on screen.

A short answer would be, “No, I haven’t tried anything like that”, for one reason because I haven’t got Camtasia, though apparently older versions are available for free (Windows only). Nevertheless, I agree that Stannard['s] video demo. of one-to-one, tutor (teacher) to tutee (student) feedback deserves a good close look. What follow are some reflections.

We may notice that the student’s names and hometown feature prominently in the two paragraph self-introduction. We also may realize that Stannard… has made a widely-accessible public display of the work, spot-lighting and highlighting mistakes in it. His markings are monochromatic (yellow).

Though his feedback begins by focusing on a mistake, it includes a modicum of praise midway on (towards the end of the first paragraph - spotlighted, but left unmarked), and then more mistakes. Stannard… concludes with more positive observations about the communicativeness of the student’s piece, and suggestions for reviewing the video repeatedly and revising the essay.

Although in the essay the student claims better writing skills than speaking skills, in the feedback, which as Gladys points out is under three minutes, I would hardly call Stannard['s] speaking speed slow. He uses lots of teacher-talk, for example: “participle”, and “perfective” (if I caught those words right after two listenings). So I wonder whether the student will get it working alone, or even with near-peers.

I’d like to hear what catches the attention of other teachers of writing as they watch Stannard['s] video feedback demo:

http://www.russellstannard.com/king/king.html

(Beaufait, Learning with Computers,

Re: Video on teaching writing with computers [feedback demo.], message [3863],

November 30, 2007 [JST])

I’m posting a clipping here to spotlight a site gleaned from Gladys Baya (Group founder - Thanks!) on the Learning with Computers group mailing list. About video resources for teachers, Larry Ferlazzo writes:

I’ve ”re-learned” about a great resource for Teacher Training Videos that show how to utilize technology in the classroom. They’re from Russell Stannard, and he even has quite a few that are specifically oriented towards teaching ESL/EFL.

I just read about them in Nik Peachey’s blog (which also has an excellent post, and tutorials, about online video games and English Language learning). They looked great, and I was excited to put the link on my Teacher’s Page.

(Ferlazzo, Websites of the Day for

Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL,

November 14, 2007)