Techsavvy Tips for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

There are literally hundreds of articles about BYOD in the classroom, so I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring and share my experiences with you. As a paperless educator, BYODs are the common core for my flipped ESL classrooms as they are already common use and practice in the business world both domestic and foreign.  Employees of big companies and adult learners carry their personal devices into the boardroom and the classroom.  BYODs were first shunned from big companies and businesses for the obvious lack of control and security issues, but as more and more companies are taking advantage of secured cloud storage; school systems public and private are beginning to accept the idea that students can be responsible for their own devices and conduct in the classroom. Though the most popular BYOD is the smart phone, laptops and even the handheld gaming console are also popular BYOD devices.

I first employed BYOD when I was expected to deliver quality ESL material to a large group of students with very little or no technology.  During my interview with my first ESL company, they boasted to me about their use of technology in their classrooms. They even showed me a room with a whiteboard and overhead projector; only to find out that was their ONLY room with a whiteboard and projector and you had to reserve the room a week in advance.  I also got tired of standing in long lines to use the crowded copy machine or have my printed documents disappear into thin air after I sent them to the printer.

Though I have successfully managed to flip my classroom by way of BYOD, it doesn't mean that I haven't been met with obstacles along the way.  I have been met with resistance by both administration and my own students when I first implemented using smart phones in class.  I had challenges trying to share information to all students with different devices.  Poor Internet connection always ruined my day. And you can only imagine how I felt when a student just forgot to bring their device to class.  

So if you are thinking about starting your own BYOD classroom, or already have started yours, here are a few tips I would like to share with you from my experience.

1. Slowly impliment BYOD into class. Sure, your excited  about BYOD, but not everyone else is. You'll be suprised to see how your  admin, co workers, and students will show resistance towards BYOD.   You'll definatly want to be ready to answer a bunch of questions and face criticisms. Your best bet is to create a policy for BYOD in your classroom, register your students for a Google account if they don't already have one, and create a classroom circle for your students in your Google Hangouts account for sharing.  
2. Create your own BYOD policy for your classroom. I'm very liberal with the use of BYOD in my classrooms, but establishing a policy for using BYOD, like a class syllabus, makes it clear and cut what is expected/tolerated of the students use of BYOD. If you don't already have one of your own, here is a link to a nice list of sample BYOD policies. 11 Sample Education BYOT Policies To Help You Create Your Own
3. Use cross platform sharing applications. Cross platforms are ideal for sharing links, documents, audios, videos, and messaging. Apps for phones like Viber, Tango and Whatsapp are popular with smart phones, but not compatible with many pads, notebooks, and laptops.  Your best bet is to utilize Google. Not only is its messaging system, "Hangouts" available on Apple and Android products, you do not require your student's personal phone number to register. You simply use their Gmail address.
4. Take advantage of cloud storage accounts. Once again, Google folks! Cloud storage systems like Google (Drive) and Dropbox allow your students to pull their work from any device and free themselves of hefty laptops and those easy to lose jump drives.  
5. Don't be afraid to use social media. Social media outlets like FB, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, and Glide are great tools for creative assignments and finding resources outside of the box. Use blogs as a place to display student writings.  Share or make YouTube videos to help students understand grammar points,  Have your students create a survey with their FB friends. Use Glide for a one-on-one video debate. Use Google Hangouts for a video conversation and then make it a YouTube video on your YouTube page. There are so many ways you can use Social Media in your BYOD classroom. Get creative. Here's a link to my current class blog via Blogger.  EF Atlanta B2.1
6. Be ready for things to go wrong. With technology, things WILL go wrong. Sometimes,  emails won't get delivered. Some devices just won't be compatible no matter what you do.  Internet connection will be slow. And yes, some of your students will spend more time on their own social media sites rather than their classwork. Be prepared by using alternative resources, and if worse comes to worse, there's nothing wrong with making paper copies of resources before class starts if you can foresee the problem ahead of time. 
7. Be consistent.  Start with one aspect of BYOD and stick with it.  The worst thing you can do to your class is start them out with the idea of BYOD and then two weeks later, bring them back to paper and pencil.  Pace yourself and stay consistent. You as the instructor are their key to success. No computer, smart phone, or Mobile device can replace the leadership of an instructor.

Best,

#mrford#techsavvyteacher

APP ALERT! WHATSAPP

     So I was watching some videos on YouTube about mobile learning and someone on one of the videos mentioned Whatsapp and its popularity in Spain partly due to its ability to text for free worldwide.  So, I downloaded the app to my Samsung Note 2 and let it sit there for a week or so. Later that following week I mentioned the app to one of my students and she mentioned that she uses it all the time; even more so than the dominant FB Messenger. I asked her to explain to me how it worked and was kind of disgruntled at first to learn that I had to actually share my personal phone number with my students in order to engage with them. As of up until then, messenger platforms like Google + or FB only required an email address only.  Considering I teach adults and was really curious about this platform, I shared my phone number with my student and she did everything else for me.  She set up a chat group and gave it a name and cover photo.  Within seconds, she sent a text with a photo, and then with a video, and then a voice recording within our group. Considering she had everyone else in the classes phone number, she invited all my other students to the group and within five minutes of a casual conversation with a student, I had (a student) created a class group and had my first experience with Whatsapp!

    The cool part about Whatsapp is that it is a great substitute for an online classroom blog! What a great concept! A platform that is so similar to a blog that is attached to a student's phone, not computer. Students don't think of it as blogging, they think of it as texting (which it really is).

    I post student assignments, homework, photos of class notes, YouTube videos on ESL, important dates, and last minute information making learning more spontaneous and personal, thus more engaging. No wait, no password, no apps to open just to participate.

Best,
#mr.ford

       

                                                                                                     

                                  

A student using Whatsapp to practice ESL.

APP ALERT!! ESL PODCAST

     Are you a student looking for a great way to enhance your ESL/EFL listening skills? Are you an ESL Instructor who needs a quick listening activity to fill that missing gap in your syllabus? Check out my good friends Dr. Jeff and Dr. Lucy out in LA. ESL Podcast is the leader in podcasting for ESL/EFL students and instructors. Their podcasts are among the most popular and readily available online and on NOW your smart phone! 


     A lot of people are unfamiliar with podcasting.  Podcasting is basically a recorded dialogue that is intended to help enhance listening and reading comprehension skills.  They rely on a large variety of topics and many of these podcasts contain videos. A short quiz is usually given or listeners are asked to write a brief summary following the listening to test their comprehension. 

     I currently use this app in my Level 5 course at my institute as an instructor.  After playing the podcast via my phone and speakers, I ususally distibute a self generated worksheet that asks seven to ten questions and a brief summary of the listening.  I also request that my students download the app so that they can read along the second time the podcast is played for revision.

     Go to your Google Play Store and download the app today.  Let me know how it works for you.

                                                         


Best,
#mr.ford

APP ALERT!! NOTE TO GDOCS

     Confession; if you have read a lot of my posts here or on FB, you can tell that I'm not really that great of a typer based upon my spelling. I mean, in H.S. I totally sucked in typing class and to be honest, I still look at the keyboard when I type and still make simple mistakes in spelling. Transferring those skills to a smartphone keyboard is even worse for me.  It blurts my mind to see how some people can use a swipe keyboard or how kids today can text a paragraph on their smartphones with one hand. It makes me yearn for the good old days, when pen met paper, and excellent penmanship was more valuable than typing wpm.

      So with the S Pen for Samsung's Galaxy Note2, writing has returned.  Using it in The Google Search option is perfect for me and anyone else who can scribble twice as fast as they can type for very short messages, searches, or notes.  It also does a great job distinguishing my plain hand and cursive penmanship. The option on Google is very responsive and I usually don't have to write more than three to four letters on the search pad before my correct search request pops up in the search window. 

     But what about jotting down quick notes and storing them? Samsung provides a great note option installed on the Galaxy Note2, and it's very UI friendly! Easy to access as soon as you pull the pen from its port behind the phone, but it's a Samsung note, not really effective for me if I want to use it later on in Google Drive where I can share it with others or print my notes from a cloud.  So for a while, I felt I was stuck in a one sided dilemma until recent app developer, SmokyBob, fixed that for me! (Yes, SmokyBob is his real name.)

     Note to GDocs is fast, simple, and does exactly what it was created for; click, write, and close. I use it for what it is really. I share and print quick notes, lists, or even ideas with my students via Google.  Now remember folks, it is a note app, so don't expect to write a book with this thing or create fancy artwork. Like I said, it does what it is created for, and that's taking down quick notes, lists, or ideas that you can share on the fly with anyone you wish. 
    
     My only hang up with this app is that you can't name your note. It is just based off the date and time.  So if you write a bunch of notes in one day, you have to list through them to find the one you are searching for. 
    
     Download the app today in Google Playstore and see if it works for you!

Best,
#mr.ford

APP ALERT!!! Cloud Print My Gmail

     Want to print from your students' assignments from your Smart phone? Check out Cloud Print My Gmail from Google Play and see how easy it is to print messages and attachments in your Gmail account from your Samsung S3 or Note2. Though there are already a few Cloud Ready to Print printers available, you don't necessarily have to own one to print from your phone. Check the video below and try it yourself! 

Best,
#mr.ford

APP ALERT!!! Quizmo

    












     There are only a hand few of multiple choice Quiz Creating apps in Google Play for tech savvy teachers, and Quizmo is the newest.  Quizmo has only been out for two months, but already has 1000+ downloads in Google Play thanks to its ability to easily incorporate personal photos into your quiz via your camera or image gallery.  Quizmo also lightens you up on having to type all possible answers for your questions as the answers are taken randomly from other questions in the quiz (this saves HELLA time). If you are like me, you use the text to speech option and damn near never have to type a thing except minor mistakes made by Google Voice.

     The ability to create multiple choice quizzes and share them via smartphones is not new, but in the past, it has been very difficult to connect photos to your multiple choice questions without risking the coding when sending them via email to your students. When compared to similar apps like Quiz 'n Poll, Quizmo definitely looks better, but is not as simple to share.  Sending your students a quiz on their phones using Quiz 'n Poll is much simpler and doesn't require you to memorize any codes and enter them. Though the concept seems easy, it is really annoying when having to deliver your quiz in class.   For more on Quizmo, check out my review in Google Play and see if it's right for you.

Best,
#mr.ford

WEBINAR ALERT!! Pearson ELT Jennifer Ledbedev of Youtube February 14, 2013!!

5 Tried and True Tips for Teaching Grammar

Thursday, 14 February 2013, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (GMT) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Learn five basic tips for achieving a successful presentation of any grammar point. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss various challenges in teaching grammar and exchange strategies for overcoming those difficulties.

Jennifer Ledbedev Jennifer Lebedev has taught English as a foreign and second language since 1996. She has been working online as an instructor and content creator since 2007. Her Pearson-sponsored blog won the 2010 EDDIE Award in the category of ESL Website Blog. As JenniferESL on YouTube, she has gained over one hundred thousand subscribers worldwide, and in 2011 her channel was recognized in YouTube's "On the Rise" contest. Jennifer has presented at TESOL independently and by invitation. She is a co-author of the Vocabulary Power series and contributed materials to New Password. Click the link below to register! Best, #mr.ford http://mt204.sabameeting.com/main/Customers/pearson/Registrar/NewRegistration.jsp?event_id=00000002798ffb013c079f17670079b2&source=

APP ALERT!! SimpleMind free mind mapping

     Mind mapping is an essential in any paragraph planning.  SimpleMind free mind mapping is the easiest and most reliable of free mind maps available in Google Play.  Use different colors, borders, and lines to create a very effective brainstorming tool. With easy cut and paste, edit, and sharing options (paid version), this app makes mapping easy to do on your personal mobile device.

Best,
#mr.ford 

APP ALERT!!! Dictionary

     Ok, I think it's pretty safe to say that Dictionary.com is the most popular online dictionary on the net.  Heres, a way I use the app in class to help students practive pronounciation.  We have our set list of vocabulary words that we use from our Real Reading 2 books.  As we review them outloud, I have each student with their smartphone, ipad, or tablet verbally repeat the term in the dictionary.com searchbox using the microphone. If the term comes up correct, then they get it right. If it doesn't come up, I have them type the word in the search box and listen to the voicebox speak the word correctly.  I then have them repeat the word again in the search box using the microphone until the search comes back matching the original word.  This is a cool little trick that students can do in the class, or on the go!

Best,
#mr.ford

TEFL Scams

    

     If you've been in the TEFL game long enough, chances are you've either been scammed or ran across a scam at least once in your career. Truth is, scams for TEFL are just as common as with anyother online industry. 

    So how do you know if your dream job is a scam or not? Well, first of all, if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.  I once had a job offer in England to privately teach an engineer and his family in exchange for free housing, a NICE salary, and a car of my own to drive.  I was so hungry for work, I didn't think things through clearly and almost lost $1,200 in a scam had it not been for my loving cousin who checked the resources of my offer.  Remember, if it sounds to good to be true than it most definatley is.

    Second, if a possible employee asks for any kinds of money up front beware!  Many scamsters will ask for money during your interview process. For me, after sending copies of my passport, visa, and a contract reimbursement document, my interviewer asked for $1,200 that would be given back to me upon arrival to prove to the governemnt that I would not be a 'burden' on it's society if I became jobless.  Remember, you are going there to make money, NOT give it away.


     Thirdly, never trust an employer who only contacts you solely via email.  Some scammers are very shy when confornting their scammees that they refuse to speak via phone.   If you can't even hear a voice, why would you trust them with your financial well being?

    Do your homework on the company and check their website, or Google them.  A great source of  reliable information for legit TEFL companies is available at Daves ESL Cafe. Also, Craigslist is a good source for international jobs, but beware that there are several scam artists lurking in it's corners as well.  Jobs usually posted on Craigslist are for teachers already in that country who already have a working class visa.  Jobs on Craigslist usually don't do visa sponsprships of any kind. I hope this helps.

Best,
#mr.ford

APP ALERT!! Verbal Reasoning Questions

    

 

 

     It seems like everytime I share a newly discovered app with one particular student of mine, she grows tired of it within a week because she either finds the content too easy or she just gets bored of it all together.  With this in mind, I decided to search Google Play for any kind of reasoning apps and came across a few good ones, but one in particular stood out; Verbal Reasoning Questions. VRQ seeks to improve problem solving skills by focusing on logical reasoning questions, because learning ESL is more than just vocabulary flashcards and grammar apps.  Verbal Reasoning Questions puts into test what a student has already or should have already learned in grammar before entering more intermediate levels of ESL.  This app is appropriate for ESL learner levels 4 and up based on its content.

 

     With 15 catergories of Englsih grammar to cover, this app has it all, including; Spotting Errors, Completing Statements, Idioms and Phrases, Spelling, Sentence Correction, Change of Voice (Active to Passive), and Antonyms. I mean, I like this app so much I actually rated it in Google Play!

 

     The only real downsides to this app other than the annoying adds are, one; you do not have the option  to actually choose the correct answer on your phone or tablet. You have to just guess it aloud or write it down.  This kind of takes a little fun out the app.  And two;  if played on your smartphone, you have to scroll up the entire side of your phone to view all the questions because of the large font. So, this is definately better on your tablet.

 

  I personally like the Ordering of Words catergory the best because too often my students ask me a question in the form of a declarative. This helps them see what I am talking about when I correct them in class.  Downlaod and share!

 

Best,

#mr.ford

 



Do you have to speak another language to teach EFL?

      One of the first questions people ask me when I tell them I used to teach EFL is, "So like, do you have to speak any other languages to teach that?" To be honest, I asked myself  the same question when I left for Shanghai, China on New Year's Day back in 2009.  It's a valid question. The awnser is no. I don't speak any other language than English.  To be totally honest, if you do decide to teach abroad, your employers prefer you not to speak the native language in the classroom. Not only that, but the entire interview is in English. Often times youwill  speak better English than your employer.   Along with that, most of your fellow Americans,  international peers and  native coworkers will have a GREAT handle on speaking English.To be blunt, the fact that you American will put you in a higher pay and social bracket of the natives you will teach.  But rest assure that being able to speak another langauge is a BIG plus for you in explaing things to your students to make certain they understand what is being spoken to them. The only handi cap is that the teacher may sometimes rely almost completely on her second language to teach their class because they feel that now they are better connected to the students.   Speaking the right foreign language will also help you navigate through shops, bars, taxis, and police stations (been there a couple of times).

     So how can you get away with teaching students and adults al foreign language when you can't communicate in any other than your own? The truth is that English is the largest language in the world. 90% of all computer programs in in English before translated into a foreign language. English is the 2nd most spoken language on earth, only behind China because it has 3 billion people.  In a large number of countries and continents, EFL is a means out of poverty and into a business market.  In China, students learn Englsih for an hour in school and spend three to four hours after school at a private English Learning Center you may be teaching at.  Since Communism in China recognizes no religion, the people have not a reason to take a day off of work and send thier children to up to nine hours a weekend at the learning center you may be employed at.  All that is to say that a lot of foreign countries are investing in English as a Foreign Language. So to work in EFL or ESL, you need not speak another language. I hope this helps out.


Best,
#mr.ford

APP ALERT!! Hangman Free for Android

     EVERYONE has played hangman in school. It is one of the firsts school games we played in kindergarten, next to duck duck goose.  Do you remember the enthusiasm that shot through your body as your rasied your hand to guess the next letter?  The sounds of, "Ew, ew, ew, ew, pick me, pick me," rang supreme in the classroom.

    Colorful and basic, why ruin a classic?  Some apps have gone as far as having a real noose around the man's neck, but this one doesn't.  It has a TOEFL section that is sure to be a hit with ESL Learners studying for the TOEFL.  Download the app today in Google Play and share it with  others.

Best,
#mr.ford

APP ALERT!! iEbonics Slang Dictionary

      For ESL educators, the subject of slang can indeed be a touchy one, 'fo sho.'  Students seem to not want American idioms and slang so much as they want to learn  "black people slang." So when they come to #mr.ford and ask me to hook then up with a little slang, I tell them, "Sure my nizzles, I got ya'll fo shizzles."

     At first glance, this app can present itself in an offensive manner as the cover boasts an unkept brother with horrible grammar teaching a class of white students, but I firmly believe that is for marketing purposes. Surely, ebonics is looked down upon by many African American intellectuals and scholars of English alike. But the old sambo like rationling of misspelled words that at one time was emberassing to black people has now become the language of choice for social media and text; especially in a younger and more social media active generation.  Hip Hop is taking over in Asia, South Africa, the Middle East, and all of Europe. Names like Eminem, Tupac, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and 50 Cent are most common amongst my incoming students. And all over the world, Ebonics is  becoming more and more popular in texts, merchandise, TV, video, and everday talk.

     The app doesn't have a stop button and this thing is PAINTED with too many adds.  But the terms and definitions are perhaps the most accurate I've seen as of today. I'm not certain yet as to whether or not you are allowed to add terms and definitions, but the developer claims to update the dictionary twice a month. Download it yourself today and see what you think and share.

Best,
#mr.ford

    

QR Codes in the ESL Classroom

     If you're like me, and I'm almost certain you are, you have often stopped and gawked at posters or flyers with that little black and white textiled square in the corner and wondered what the heck it is.  Eventually, you rationalize it to be some kind of mutant barcode, and in fact you're right! QR Codes, or Quick Response Codes, seem to be everywhere and on everything today. So what exactly is a QR Code and why the heck is everyone putting them on everything? Well, compared to a regular barcode you see on merchandise in retail stores, QR Codes posess faster readability and hold more storage space.  What does that mean? Well, in Layman's terms, the barcode at your retail store when read by a scanner only informs the reader of the price and name of the object being scanned while a QR Code when scanned holds a link to a website, photo or video. QR Codes were originally designed for businesses in the form of marketing, hence why you see them all over soda cans, food labels, and all kinds of merchandise. 

     The next question is,"How can I read them?" QR Codes can be read by smartphones and tablets.  There are a lot of free QR Code reading and creating apps available for your mobile device and they are usally all free.  Some of the more popular include, Google Goggles, ScanLife, QR Droid  and Kaywa Reader (a coworker of mine, Chris Johnson hipped me to Kaywa Reader). Simply download the free app via your Google Play Store app on your Droid phone or from your Apple Store on your iphone, and using your phone camera, begin scanning them.  As you will find, the codes link you to websites, photos, or videos instantly. 

 

     So how do these things work in an ESL classroom? Well, many of the same QR Readers available in your app store also allow you to generate you own QR Codes and print them.  This gives you the power to connect students to photos, vidoes, or websites relevant to ESL.  One teacher even had a great idea of forming a scavanger hunt in her ESL institution by placing cut out codes around the hallways that contained instrutions on how to complete the hunt.  Students used their smartphones to deocode the QRs and continue on the ESL scavage. I personally print and paste cut outs of QR Codes via my Quiz and Poll app and let students scan them with their phones to take ESL quizzes or join in class polls. 

 

Students really enjoy scanning QR Codes with their smartphones because it promotes m-Learning.  The results are fun, spontaneous, portable, and personal.  Students are engaged more in learning because they feel a sense of responsibilty being allowed to use their smartphones in class and even more so used as an educational tool. At the end of each of my classes, I actually teach my students how to generate their own QR Codes of photos of themselves and let them hang them on my wall so they can feel free at anytime to check themselves or someone else out.

 

     If you want to know more about QR Codes in your classroom check out the little video below!

 

 

Best,

#mr.ford

 



 



Myths about m-Learning

     So it's no big secret that I support m-Learning. Ask me, and it's the best thing since sliced bread.  But, trying to convince my fellow ESL teachers isn't so easy.  Many ESL educators are reluctant to touch a laptop in their classroom, let alone try sending students a test over their phone.   Recently, I did a presentation to a group of ESL teachers at an ESL institute in Atlanta and found that the educators there were very much against using technology in their classroom.  My mouth dropped to the floor. I just couldn't believe it. m-Learning is AWESOME! After my presntation, however, I soon discovered that there are a few myths going around about m-Learning. 

     Myth #1-If they can learn English on a computer then why would they need us? Especially if they can learn it all form a website.
    Fact: LOL! Sorry, there is NO such website that can teach someone to read, write, listen, and speak English as a Second Language.  If there is, then I'll eat my hat.  As a teacher, you are a facilitator of ESL.  Students look to you for the answers, not  a computer. 

    Myth#2-I don't have time to sit there and sign up for all that computer stuff.
    Fact:  It takes three minutes or less to register for any web based learning and it only takes two minutes to download an app to your smartphone or tablet.  


    Myth #3-If students use their phones in class, then they will be distracted from learning.
    Fact: If a student is not interested in what the teacher is teaching then they will cause distractions. It has been my experience that often the most disruptive students finish their work very fast and get bored easily. If you show students how to use their phones as educational devices, I guarantee that they will be less distracted from learning and more into it.

     Myth#4-It's too difficult to learn how to use m-Learning.
     Fact: There is a plethora of free resources online. Check out youtube videos. That's what I did.

    Myth#5-m-Learning is too expensive.
   Fact: Websites are FREE and so are most apps.
    
     There are manymore myths about m-Learning out there. But no matter what perceptions educators have about m-Learning; one should never be afraid to find new and innovative ways to teach.

Best,
#mr.ford

APP ALERT! WORD SEARCH FOR GOOGLE PLAY

 



     Word Search puzzles have been around since the late sixties and were first designed and published by Norman E. Gabit in his small want add digest, Selenby Digest.  Selenby was a small want-ad digest distributed free at Safeway and other stores in the town. The puzzles became very popular with the community and local teachers realized that this was a fun and engaging way to practice vocabulary.  Soon, a teacher sent copies to their friends and fellow teachers in other states, and before you know it, there grew a large syndication of the mind tickling puzzles.

     Today, teachers still use crossword puzzles as a means of teaching and practicing vocabulary.  Thanks to Google Play, teachers and students can use word search puzzles in and out of the classroom to promote m-Learning. I have introduced this app to both students and teacher alike, and both have agreed that Word Search is just one of many m-Learning apps they can't put down! Go to your Google Play store and download it today.

Best,
#mr.ford

One of the best Word Search games on the market:- Infinite play with dynamic grids
- The grid adjusts automatically to your device
- The grids are filled with words that cross and intersect
- Improved and intelligent touch sensitivity
- Clean look yet colourful
- Best times list
- Special tablet support



Here  are a few quck reviews of Word Search on Google Play...

Danielle - June 14, 2012 - HTC Wildfire S with version 1.14

Convenient

This game is so much fun and convenient! I have a word search book but I finished it yesterday. The good thing about this app is that it doesn't take so much battery and it's never ending

 

Kitty - May 19, 2012 - Version 1.14

Great fun

Nice neat little app, great for filling in the odd few minutes when you don't fancy waiting for other games to load. Exercises the brain a little too ;)

 

Monique - May 19, 2012 - Motorola Droid RAZR with version 1.14

Good App

Fun app. I love word search puzzles, and think that this is one of the best mobile word search puzzles I have ever had. Plus it's free...

 

 

 

Engrade! Check out the Web Tool that teachers can't get enough of.

     In my honest opinion, ENGRADE is the cornerstone of e-Learning.  Those who are familiar with America's number one online gradebook will be happy to know that the app version is now available on your Google Play! It actually has been avaiable for months now, but it's news to me, so. Late last year I discovered this website and since then I have been able to keep my finger on my student's grades, assignments, and class average in one place.  Now I can literally keep my finger on my student's grades, assignments, and class average in one place-that place being my Smartphone.  Engrade is easy to use as a gradebook that keeps track of your students grades, attendance, and quizzes. It offers students the oppourtunity to view their class scores and helps parents keep track of their child's progress.

     Founded in 2003 with a mission to help teachers, Engrade has been used as a tool of transparent accountability by public school systems all over the country and 150 countries in the world.

     I am really excited about EngradePLUS but have not tried it yet.  I have read that it boosts charts, customizations, and advanced reports.

     Check out the video below and find out what millions of educators around the world are calling the greatest tool in e-Learning today! Then go and download the app!

Best,
#mr.ford

Do you really need a Certificate to teach ESL?

Certification IS necessary for an TEFL/ESL contract

     Of course! Well that or a degree in TEFL.  A long time ago, maybe the 1990's, when TEFL was starting to take off, companies from overseas were taking any schmo that spoke English and within reach; Sure, you didn't need a certificate.  Then, as levels of accountability began to raise, each country had to set up some type of certification status for it's educators. 

     Today, as the field of ESL is getting larger at a rapid rate, and more and more Americans are willing to leave their homeland for exotic locations, companies from all over are popping up and producing certification schools both off and online. Courses can be as short as 50 hours to as long as nine months.  Prices can range anywhere from $250 to $1,000 +. Due to the fact that there will be a possbile conflict of interest among my sponsors, (hey, the pay the bills) I am not at will to tell you where I recieved my certification from (at least I can't on my blog). It is important to remember that a certification in TEFL/ESL is NOT the same thing as a degree in the field.  A degree in the field gets you most certainly a higher pay, but  is not necessary to get your foot in the door. With that said, a four year degree is most def. the minimum requirement other than the fact that English is your native tongue.

     So where can you go to EARN your certificate?  Well, that depends on you.  Foreign agancies have already made their way into U.S. colleges and universities by requiring graduating students to take courses in school before they are sent overseas. They are also starting to send their students to local ESL institutions to observe professionals in the field.  For those who have been out of school for a while, online courses seem to be a better alternative to enrolling back into college. Many people often ask me where to start researching information on certification in their area. The answer is simple; the internet. Just enter TEFL certification in your state or city and I'm almost certain there is more than one physical location in your area. If not, there is certainly a hundred online courses offered that have full descriptions of their courses.  Though there are courses that last as short as even two weeks, it is safe to take anything over 100 hours.  People are going to look at the time you have invested in your education and 50 hours doesn't say much.  Whatever you do, make sure that your course is ITAA (Internatinal TESOL Accredidation Authority) certified.  It is also important to do have a good grip on the fundamentals of reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar as you begin your courses.

Best,
#mr.ford 

Good online sources to search for TEFL certification:

1. Dave's ESL Cafe 
2. esl-lounge.com
3. tefllouge.com

#mr.ford's ESL class!

 



Ok, here it is! My first cartoon using Rage Maker for my Android from the Google Play Store. FREE app and after about an hour of playing around with it, I was able to pretty much create my first Rage Comic.  Let me know what you think?#mr.ford