Tech Review: Voice Memo and Adobe Spark
There are two pieces of tech that I wanted to review:
1) The Voice Memo app on Mac technology (phone, iPad). Some android phones also have a voice recording app.
I first saw this used to record a speaking assessment by a teacher and it worked very well. She was helping another teacher with the assessments. She recorded the session, and saved it under the student's name. It was used along with a paper assessment, but the other teacher could then review it after. She could also email the assessment to the other teacher and also to the student if they wished.
This app is extremely easy to use. Just push the record button to start and stop. You can then add a file name, and email, text, save, etc. very easily. This is one of the reasons I like it!
I could also see this being used to record the teachers pronunciation of words that students are having difficulty with, to practice at home, or during another part of a lesson. Students could also record themselves to see how they can improve. There are whole range of other possible uses suggested by Erin Walton (https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/teacherzone/12548-2/) such as recordings for memo reminders for yourself, podcasts, brainstorming, practicing speeches, narrations for powerpoint, voice overs for images, homework reminders, to do lists, practice in transcribing, storytelling, self-evaluations and portfolios.
One of the issues that you might have to consider is that some students may not like being recorded, especially if the material will be shared online. Or if you have a student with a speech impediment, they might feel self conscious with a recording. You may also have to set some guidelines about them recording you, ie. are you OK with it, do they need your permission, or do you not want to be recorded. I've had International students record my lectures because sometimes they don't catch all that I say, but I always preferred to be asked permission first.
2) The second tech is Adobe Spark (www.spark.adobe.com) that I just recently used for part of Assignment 3 and was demonstrated by Galina on last week's online meeting.
It looked so easy to use, and wanted to try it, so I've created a short video for my assignment. I hope to post it later in the week, when I've edited it a bit more.
Adobe Spark allows you to create short (suggested 25 'pages') videos, webpages, or social media content by selecting photos from ones the app has available or from your own library or online. Using the video you can also add a voice over and background music and themes. You can also easily edit the sequence of the slides. It then converts the whole thing into an mp4 file which can be downloaded and saved or shared in various ways. So what you end up with is similar to a powerpoint movie.
I loved using it because it's so easy. The icons for editing are fairly straight forward, however, it can be a bit limiting as there are not too many choices for moving things around and editing etc. But if you want to do something quick (and time also seems to be a factor in creating lessons) it seems like a great app.
I can see many uses for it besides creating your own little teaching movies. Students could easily learn to use it and create their own movies/presentations, blogs, webpages and social media content. It's fun and you don't need a lot of tech experience. You could also use it for many of the same things as the Voice Memo above, but add images as well. Here's a nice explanation of it with a very heartwarming example story of its use by An Huynh (https://www.empoweringells.com/adobe-spark/). He suggests that it also promotes critical thinking and increases content engagement. I can see it really bringing out the creativity in yourself and your students and making presentations fun. It's much easier to use than Powerpoint, so students with low tech experience would find it easier.
Here's a video on how to use it: using adobe spark video
The two disadvantages are the limited editing tools, and some students with no tech experience might initially find it difficult, but with encouragement could easily learn to use it.
Hope you get a chance to try them both.
Here are some other websites that had some good tech information:
Maureen
References:
Byrne, R. How to use Adobe Spark. Retrieved from
Huynh, A. (2017, Nov) Sparking Speaking Skills with Adobe Spark. Retrieved from https://www.empoweringells.com/adobe-spark/
Walton, E. 13 Ways to Use a Voice Recorder in Class. Retrieved from https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/teacherzone/12548-2/
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