The sound recorder
I think that one of the easiest ICT resources to use with pupils in school is the sound recorder. You can use it in many of the subjects in school, for example learning English orally or practising oral presentations in other subjects.
The sound recorder is a program that is installed originally on the computer. It is easy to find and use. To record sounds you also need to have access to a microphone, easiest is to use a headset with its microphone.
The steps to go for make it work:
- first you make a click at the start button on the computer
- then you choose all programs
- then you choose accessories
- then you choose entertainment
- at last you choose the sound recorder
The sound recorder will then apply on the computer screen.
The steps to go to use it:
- put on the headset
- stick the contact for the headset and the microphone in the computer
- start the recording, click on the red button at the sound recorder
- to stop recording, press the rectangular stop button
- you will also find the back and forth buttons on the sound recorder
Don't forget to save the file after each recording. You do it on archive and then save as, the normal way of saving files/documents on the computer.
How can the sound recorder be used by teachers and pupils?
The answer to the above questions is, on many ways. First the teachers need to have clear purposes and goals for using the sound recorder in the education, both for themselves and the pupils. For example in oral English; it may sometimes be difficult as a teacher to find time to listen to all the students orally in the classroom. One way might be to allow students to record oral assignments by using a sound recorder. By doing this several times from the beginning of a semester it will be possible to see the students' development.
Most of the students have a computer at home and are probably already familiar with it. It is possible to work with tasks to record both in school and at home. Most of the pupils like to use technology so they will probably be more motivated. It is also well known that pupils often are very nervous when they are going to speak at school. Often they only practise by taking the time of their speech and they can’t listen to what they have said afterwards. Therefore using a sound recorder is a very helpful resource for the pupils. They get the opportunity to practice their pronunciation and it will help them become more secure when they talk in front of others.
Other considerations when using a sound recorder:
- how many computers are possible to use in your school
- how do you solve the work practically in school
- you need to educate all the pupils in how to use/work with the sound recorder
- clear purposes and goals for using the sound recorder in the education
- it is important to tell the pupils when their work is just practicing and when they will be exam
I think the greatest impact of using sound recorder in teaching is the possibility to follow the pupils' oral development, and getting motivated and safer pupils.
Is this something for you?
Pia Johansson
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI work with the “Europeisk språkportfolio”, ESP, it is an educational tool that helps students become aware of their own learning and language development. It has three parts, called “Språkpasset,” “Språkbiografin” and “Dossier”. In the part “Dossier” pupils collect a selection of his/hers work. It may be, for example, pictures, essays, written, spoken or filmed reports. Almost like a portfolio. Here the sound recorder could really be a useful toy and also help teachers have a clear goal for why they are using the sound recorder. And, as you say by doing this several times of a semester it will be possible to follow how the pupils are improving. ESP is designed to encourage and increase motivation for language learning. Maybe this is a good way of doing it.
Unfortunately I couldn´t get my sound recorder to work on my own computer. I find it and I can record myself. When I have recorded myself I have to save it and then I can only open it in Windows Media Player. And do nothing. I didn´t use an extended microphone since I got one built in my computer. I don’t know if it makes any difference? I have used Audacity earlier (can be downloaded from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/) and that is a good and easy program to use. Of course there are others too.
I think that the pupils could teach each other and that way you don’t have to teach them all. Or maybe you could use a projector connected to your computer and show them that way how it works. I agree with you, that using sound recorder gives both the teacher and the pupil the possibility to follow their own oral development.
Thanks for sharing the Sound Recorder with us! / Gunilla
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of get the students to record oral assignments and save it as a usual file. How easily and I haven´t thought about it before!
It is, as you wrote, difficult to find time to listen to everybody. An extension would be to ask the students to mail the file to the teacher and in this way the teacher can listen even when the students has left for the day. Your last punctual consideration is important: clarify when it is practicing and when it is an exam.
I have tried it on my own computer with a headset and it worked fine.
Yes, this is definitely something for me!
/Eleonor
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the sound recorder is a good tool to be used, however as you described there are some drawbacks. In the schools I have worked in, they have only had limited access to computers, this would make it difficult to allow all the students the same access.
Something that I also thought about is that this is good tool for students to be able to listen to their own voices. I think that if the students are able to hear their own voices, the will get an instant feedback on their pronunciation and be able to correct themselves. Because like you said, as a teacher’s it´s hard when your students have a reading homework, you can’t hear everyone every time.
This tool could be made into an exercise when reading from books or singing lyrics, making the pronunciation more fluent. If you have a sound recorder, an fun tasks for the students would be too produce their own radio show in groups, and present it to the class.
I think that the sound recorder has many positive sides and that the teacher can be help by this tool.
/Malin Karlsson