Creating TTS dialogues

 There are now dozens of AI-powered apps for turning text to speech, and the resulting speech is usually a monologue. When you start, the app will usually ask you to choose a voice. The other day, I started to wonder whether these apps could also create a dialogue consisting of 2 voices. If the answer was yes, that would be a great bonus to language teachers. 

I then did an online search, and found a few apps which claimed to be able to do that. I then headed to Narakeet, which I had used before to convert a PPT with speaker notes to a narrated video. It turned out it was actually quite easy. After pasting in your dialogue text, just insert some 'stage directions' indicating which voice (among those provided) to use for which segment of the dialogue. Below is a TTS conversation which I have generated from a dialogue in Ch 1 of Open English I (an open-source textbook project). (Yes, it's very short, because you have to pay in order to get a longer dialogue audio.)

This edtech development is good news to language teachers, but bad news to those people who work as voice artists. 

https://youtu.be/UX2-hy5M8Ug

Chatting with ChatGPT vs Chatting with a Human

 So I asked ChatGPT to generate a poem for me. It not only gave me a poem in 5 seconds; it asked me what I thought of his poem. I gave him a thumbs--up. He then thanked me and told me he actually enjoyed writing poems, and asked me if I would want another one. 

That's why ChatGPT can be addictive;  it can be even more interactive, rewarding,, and heartwarming than voice/text chatting with a human!

Classkick, or Classcake

 Classkick 是一個eLearning app 的名字，但不知為甚麼每次在課堂介紹這app時， 我都會不期然說了Classcake！是因為我的課大多在晚間進行，有點餓，還是我渴望和學員一同吃蛋糕?

https://classkick.com/

Bridge is also a sport!

 先前我詫異gaming也是運動，原來更靜態的橋牌也是亞運項目。當然我在某次運動展看過下棋也包含在內。這也好，令我坐著玩新eLearning app時也覺得自己在做運動。

Jamboard sunsetting in late 2024

It's a pity that Google will be sunsetting Jamboard in late 2024. Jamboard is an app that I use from time to time for my students to work on simple graphic organizer tasks. It's easy to use, and excellent for collaborative work. And, it's always free!

https://www.engadget.com/google-is-sunsetting-its-collaborative-jamboard-app-101658315.html

My review of 9 AI-powered apps for generating Reading Comprehension questions

 When teaching and assessing Reading Comprehension, ESL teachers used to write their own comprehension questions to go with a reading passage. Thanks to generative AI, this task can now be taken up by AI-powered question-generator apps. 

There are now dozens of such apps. Below is my quick review of the free plans of 9 more wellknown ones. The common features include: 

- There is a text box for users to paste in their passage. Many of them also allow users to upload a WORD/PDF file. 

- The common question types that can be generated are: MC; blank-filling; open question; T/F; and matching. 

- There are 3 levels of difficulty to choose from. 

- The question set generated can be copied, or exported as a text document, or pdf. 

At the some time, some of them have certain unique features. Examples: 

- Some of the apps (e.g., Conker.ai; OpenExams) allow users to start with just a topic (instead of a passage). Type in a topic, and the app will first generate a passage, then a question set, for you. 

- Most of the apps will generate a question set consisting of one question type (e.g., MC), but Conker.ai can generate a mixed bag of question types in one set. 

- Quizbot.ai can even generate a question set from a Youtube video! (...making use of the Youtube transcript, I think.)

- Some, like Quizgecko, can start with a URL. Just type in a URL (a webpage; a newspaper article), and they will generate a question set for you. 

- Quiz Wizard can even generate a question set from an audio/video file that you upload!

- Questgen can generate questions that correspond to the 6 levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. You can ask for (a) one quiz containing all 6 levels, or (b) one quiz with all questions on one particular level.

My own observation is that at the moment, these apps are good at creating questions that ask for specific information. They are still not very good at generating higher-order-thinking questions. (So we ESL teachers still have an important role to play in teaching Reading.)

MY REVIEW: 

https://wakelet.com/wake/c4BvKKoqhQDPQAgDH9nWP

Classpoint for making a PPT presentation more interactive

 https://www.classpoint.io/  is a PPT add-on for inserting interactive activities into a PPT. Works like PPT and Pear Deck, except that you can use your existing PPT immediately. (No need to upload your PPT to Nearpod or Google Drive first.) The free plan has fewer interactive types, and can accommodate a maximum class size of 25. It has fewer interactive types than Nearpod, though. 

The paid plan (class size of 200 students; more interactive types) costs about HKD50 per month. 

Obtained Wakelet Certified Educator badge

 

Received the MIE Expert 23-24 badge

 這其實是2023/24 學年取得的第一個eLearning  badge(第二個是Microsoft Educator Trainer 2024), 但今年不知為甚麼等到10月Microsoft 才正式發出。Anyway, better late than never. 而且很榮幸是香港高等教育界唯一擁有這eLearning badge 的educator。

GoFullPage: Chrome extension

 GoFullPage is quite a useful Chrome extension. It can save a webpage as an image, or a PDF, even if the webpage scans several pages. So sometimes this can be useful if I want to share a PDF with others to show them what a webpage, or parts of a webpage is like. 

What is meant by gaming?

 昨晚的computer assisted language learning一科談到gamification意念在製作interactive task中愈來愈流行，例如Blooket ，Gimkit, 和Minecraft，原因是"Kids, especially boys, love gaming"。但這樣說gaming (指playing computer games)，總覺得不自然，因為最初認識gaming 一詞是在澳門，是指到賭場賭錢耍樂!

eShare: a very useful tool

 以前到校做workshop, 由於我喜歡用自己的laptop, 總要提早抵達處理用線接駁(例如HDMI)至場地投影系統的問題。但這兩年發現愈來愈多學校在課室裝了ESHARE, 我抵達後只須登入學校的wifi,  連接入課室的eShare, 乾手淨腳，有聲有畫面，我甚至可以把laptop 放在課室任何角落去present, 或從我的tablet 去present， 這真是一項德政。有趣的是，間中發現學校老師原來不知道課室已有這設施！(那天有老師問我大學學室的設置如何。我只能說，大學不少課室的設置，仍然很二十世紀。)

The second badge I've obtained in 2023-24

 

Classkick vs Jamboard for dragging items into a diagram

 Yesterday, I talked about for using Classkick for creating a drag-items-into-diagram task. Actually, Jamboard can also do that. Below is one that I have created: 

https://jamboard.google.com/d/1Jere35FeYdkHh1o-PpeCjw8ZzACcRh2j_i9AVrASLVU/edit?usp=sharing

Overall, logistically it's more convenient to use Jamboard for creating a drag-and-drop task. But of course Classkick has other functions like 'Assign' and Audio Response. 

Drag sentences into a custom-made diagram

 So far, apps like Wordwall and Learningapps.org will only allow you to drag sentences (or pictures) into pre-determined groups. But you cannot drag items into a custom-made diagram, such as a partial mindmap. 

A moment ago, I realised that Classkick can do that. In one slide, you can first upload an image of your custom-made diagram. Then click on 'Add manipulative'. You will then upload an image from your computer; you can then resize it or just clip one portion of the image. 

Continue this process until you have all the items (pictures) you need for the diagram. 

Of course, Classkick will not be able to 'mark' students' answers. Hence, one way to use this function is to do it as a teacher-fronted and teacher-led activity, engaging the whole class. If you have a smartboard, so much the better. 

Below is one such example which I have created. Students drag the 7 sentences into an incomplete mindmap. 

Wordwall: Flash Cards

 Just found that Wordwall has a similar function for creating a deck of flash cards for self study. 

Here is one which I have just created: 

https://wordwall.net/resource/61016482

For those cards you have marked as 'Wrong' during the self-study phase, they will reappear after the original last card. 

Two apps for creating Flash Cards for Mastery Learning: Brainscape and Bookwidgets

Brainscape is mainly a flash-card creation app. Bookwidgets has one function for creating flash cards. However, there are some differences between the workings of the two apps. 

Working through decks of flash cards has been a popular activity for mastery learning. On one side of a flash card is a concept, a question, etc.. On the other side is the answer, or what has to be learnt. Students work through a deck of flash cards with the aim of getting all the answers correct. 

With Brainscape, when students have tried one card and looked at the answer, they assess how difficult they have found the question on a 5-point scale: 

For example, if they have found a question difficult, they can rate their mastery level as "Not at all". 

When they have finished studying a deck, then when they start again, those cards for which their mastery levels have been rated low will appear more frequently in the new attempt. 

This may be followed by a third round of study, and so on. The longer-term aim is to completely master the cards in a deck. 

Bookwidgets works slightly differently. Like Brainscape, students work through a deck of flash cards. They look at the prompt, or question on each card, attempt to give an answer, and flip over the card to check their answer. Then they tap 'Correct' or 'Wrong' to indicate their attempt. When they are done with the whole deck, their overall result will be shown. Then, they can click on 'Try missed questions.' Then only the cards they got wrong will reappear. 

In fact, Quizlet (also an app for creating Flash Cards) also has a similar Mastery design, but for the "Learn", and "Play" modes, students will be given MC questions, the distractors of which are from other cards in a deck. In other words, they choose from the given distractors, instead of challenging their memory. 

Popboardz and alternatives

 Popboardz is an IOS app that I like for making tip-tile presentations. You create a collage with the app consisting of several pictures. When you present, you tap on one of the pictures, it will pop up and occupy the main screen. When you close it, it returns to the collage. (The collage is automatically created from the pictures you have uploaded.)

If you tap on the tiles randomly, this is a good way to build suspense and capture the audience's attention. But the catch is that Popboardz is an IOS app. To use it in a class session, you need to cast it to the classroom screen. 

I've been exploring ways to do something similar from a Windows laptop. Bookwidgets has a Tip-Tile function, but the expanded picture will always be tilted to one side, and this is something I don't like. 

I went online to search for an app that could allow me to do that, but to no avail so far. 

Then I turned to Thinglink and Genial.ly again. Below is my comparison. 

Thinglink: 

- You can't modify the size of the pop-up picture, but you can use the large pop-up function so that it will appear bigger (but still not very big).

- You can insert a second picture for each pop-up. 

Genial.ly

- You can adjust the size of the pop-up image so that it occupies almost the full screen. 

- You can't incoporate a second picture in each interactive like you can with Thinglink. 

Bottom Line

If you need a very large pop-up picture, then Genial.ly will do a better job. But with Thinglink, you can insert a template with both Text description and an Image. 

MIE Expert 23/24

 

Receiving the print MIEE certificate again

 (Sept 19, 2023)

4年前第一次取得Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 資格時，證書由Microsoft美國以速遞寄來，之後每年renew申請成功，便只得到該年的digital badge。今年適逢Microsoft HK 儀式，,於是再次收到實體證書，並有機會参觀Microsoft HK總部。

Being fired up by teachers

今天 (Sept 19, 2023)Microsoft Partners in Learning 5.0 Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony的儀式中有英華書院和元朗商會中學老師分享STEAM projects, 儀式後又参觀了香港教育大學賽馬會小學的STEAM project展覽，深深體會到有創意的老師如何激發學生的創意，而學生又真的可以創意無限。雖然我是STEAM的門外漢，但聽完老師和學生的分享，令我也覺得充滿幹勁，思考這中間English Language education 可以有甚麼角色。

宜家可離線使用

 在Google Drive 把一個檔案set 作「可離線使用」，按掣後，弹出pop up message, 說「檔案宜家可離線使用」。宜家連google 都改用粤語出notification！

All reactions:

15Teresa Wang, Anna Hung and 13 others

A very special experience: Co-teaching with a former Education student

 相信很少人有我這樣的經驗： ⑴和30年前的Education student仍有聯络，⑵今早和她及她的一位同事co-teach了一課。Monica 今天已經是滿懷教學經驗和創意的教師，我和她co-teach，已經不是師徒，而是peer educators, 大家充滿默契。況且她的學生這麼好教，今早的一課是既enjoyable 又rewarding。

Gaming in eLearning vs Gaming in Macau's casinos

 昨晚的computer assisted language learning一科談到gamification意念在製作interactive task中愈來愈流行，例如Blooket ，Gimkit, 和Minecraft，原因是"Kids, especially boys, love gaming"。但這樣說gaming (指playing computer games)，總覺得不自然，因為最初認識gaming 一詞是在澳門，是指到賭場賭錢耍樂!

A Wakelet Collection with a very interesting design

 Just ran into a Wakelet collection with an interesting design. Wakelet has 5 default page designs (mood board; columns; etc.). I still don't know how the author came up with this design: 

https://wakelet.com/@katrinamelo#alTp8-F9SRYcBjSVDdI6j

It looks like a Wakelet collection has the potential of appearing in many special formats, as long as you're creative enough. 

Getting a clip from a Youtube video

 There was a time when people could set the start-playing time for a Youtube video. If they clicked on 'Share', a 'Start at' option would pop up. They would get a URL and when they played this URL, the video would start at the pre-set time. For teachers, this was a useful function as they didn't have to search for the right starting-time during a lesson. 

Starting from about 2 years ago (?), Youtube added a 'Clip' function. Once you click on 'Clip', you can set the start-playing time and stop-playing time. You would then get a link for that particular segment. This is also useful, especially if you're sharing this segment with others. But the downside is that the maximum length of this clip is only 1 minute. 

Some people have found a workaround to get segments of more than 1 minute, as shown in this video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxQLmXGRlKs

But of course, you can also use a Youtube segmenting app like Vibby. The bottom line is that give your purpose, which strategy is the fastest for you.

Baamboozle: How it compares with other Game Apps

 Baamboozle is a bit different from the other game apps, like Kahoot and Quizizz. 

While Kahoot, Quizizz, Wordwall, Learningapps.org, etc. are mainly for students taking part as individuals, Baamboozle is better played as a team game: The teacher puts the students into teams (groups), and asks the groups to take turns to respond to the questions. 

This also means that Baamboozle is primarily for teacher-paced games. Students do not join from their devices and with a Join Code. Instead, they simply follow the teacher's pace. 

This might look traditional, but it also gives the teacher more opportunities to interact with the students during the game, give feedback, or discuss things with the students. 

Another feature is its potential for self-regulated learning. The teacher can give students the Share Link. Students then work through the questions on their own: They look at each question, think about the answer, and then click 'check'. If they get an answer correct, the question card will disappear. If they get it wrong, it will stay there, and will reappear later for the students to re-try. 

The platform has a bank of teacher-made games which can be used immediately, without signing in!

https://www.baamboozle.com/games

Visiting the Microsoft HK Headquarters

 4年前第一次取得Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 資格時，證書由Microsoft美國以速遞寄來，之後每年renew申請成功，便只得到該年的digital badge。今年適逢Microsoft HK 和EDB簽約儀式，,於是再次收到實體證書，並有機會参觀Microsoft HK總部。

STEAM education and students' creativity

 今天Microsoft Partners in Learning 5.0 Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony的儀式中有英華書院和元朗商會中學老師分享STEAM projects, 儀式後又参觀了香港教育大學賽馬會小學的STEAM project展覽，深深體會到有創意的老師如何激發學生的創意，而學生又真的可以創意無限。雖然我是STEAM的門外漢，但聽完老師和學生的分享，令我也覺得充滿幹勁，思考這中間English Language education 可以有甚麼角色。

Saying goodbye to Schoology

 2016年開始實行flipped learning, 要找一個適用的LMS，最後選了SCHOOLOGY。多年下來，已熟習了它的運作。

不過由今年10月1日開始，再不能用它的free plan, 連肯付費也不行，因為它將會只做enterprise plan。

於是我便要把多年在Schoology 內製作或儲存的教材遷走，這是頗大又沒趣的工程。

但這也好，迫我重新檢視和update 先前的教材。

AI-generated talking-head video

 This is a typical video which is AI-generated from a script that you input. To be honest, the effect is not bad. The facial expression is quite natural. The intonation is not artificial (unlike the early days of text-to-speech functionality). Even the lip movements seem to correlate with the pronunciations. 

https://email.d-id.com/share/hubspotvideo/78600586230?utm_campaign=Sep%20Blitz%20Campaign&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=76207517&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8VpweN_MXWbDnXGB-PNCXHVXgch12bUjT6jAW8g3tb4K2mgfxElkdShEsAOZ9qB3qP-zOEkGl79wKQhKyvfBnxHaQF_Q&utm_content=76207517&utm_source=hs_email

But the problem is: Why would I need this technology in teaching? Such videos have to be short; otherwise students will lose attention. Then, if I have the script already, why don't I just video-record my presentation myself? 

Two apps for creating AI videos from a script

 Below are 2 apps which can generate a video from a script or a webpage URL that you enter. 

Invideo

https://studio.invideo.io/

Lumen5

https://lumen5.com/

I have had a go with both apps. In a way, they are both very similar in that: 

- On the left-hand page, you write, or paste in, a script. Each section (can be one sentence, or a short paragraph) separated from another one by space. 

- Alternatively, you can enter a webpage URL. The app will generate a series of sections for you. Even if the webpage is long, the app will break it down into short sections, so that each section contains text that can comfortably appear in one scene. 

- Background music will be inserted automatically. 

- When you are happy with the sectioning (which is editable), you can generate the video. In the video, each section will appear in one scene, which is by default 5 seconds in length (but you can adject the duration of each scene). 

- From my tryouts, the sectioning ability is not bad. 

- But the visuals are mainly decorative, and most of the time have little to do with the content of the section text, though Lumen5 seems to do a little bit better in this regard (ie, the visual has more relationship with the section content). 

- Nevertheless, Lumen5 allows you to get a share link immediately, or download the video. However, InVideo requires a paid plan in order to give you a share link (though you can just play the video from the dashboard; just that you can't share it with others). 

BOTTOM LINE

1. Lumen5 is slightly better than InVideo. 

2. Don't expect the visuals will closely relate to the text content. 

3. Do not go for a long video, since the video is simply text after text (with accompanying visuals). It's simply like Reading, in a different format. 

4. Use your own text if possible, rather than use a webpage. 

SECTIONS in Padlet

 https://padlet.help/l/en/article/4hhcm0aujp-sections#:~:text=structure%20with%20sections.-,How%20sections%20work,a%20stream%20padlet%20with%20sections.

Recently, Padlet has added a new function: Sections. We can add Sections to a Padlet in order to make the cards and content more organised. 

Comparing 2 apps for creating video from text: InVideo and Animaker

In my previous post, I compared 4 apps for converting a collecton of photos to video.

Sometimes, I need to quickly create a video containing text with background music and text. Here are two such apps. 

https://studio.invideo.io/

On the left-hand pane, you just type in your text, line by line. Click create, and then you will get a video with background music that contains several slides. Each slide contains one of the sentences that you entered in the left-hand pane. The background of each slide is a picture. 

The good thing about this app is that you just type in your main text sentences in the left-hand pane, e.g., the main stages of a lesson; the main points from a lecture. 

Creating such a video is very fast. 

https://www.animaker.com/

Animaker, unlike Invideo which makes use of real-life photos, uses cartoon animations. It is less convenient than Invideo in that you have to type in your captions slide by slide, after choosing an entire video template (which contains the individual slide templates). 

BOTTOM LINE

- Invideo is faster, but if you want cartoon animation effects, then choose Animaker. 

- Neither has a video duration limit. 

- InVideo does not give you a share link, but you can just play your video from the Dashboard. 

Comparing 4 apps for creating quick video from a collection of photos

 There are now many video creation apps which can provide very elaborate editing functions. But very often, all I want is to quickly create a video using pictures that I have taken. I'm not someone who likes to spend time on elaborate video editing, so what I need is an app that can do the job turning a collection of photos into video with the lease fuss. Below I compare 4 such apps. 

Canva

With Canva, you upload all your photos, and drag them into the timeline. This process does not take up a lot of time, and then you can get a share link quickly. But Canva does not have a built-in stock of background music files. You need to upload your own background music MP3 files to Canva to use as background music. 

Animoto

Animoto is the simplest app to use given my purpose. Moreover, the resulting video will contain some animation effects and background music. But there's a catch. The free plan only gives you videos of 30 seconds in duration. That is about 10 photos only, and you can't upload more photos for a longer video unless you upgrade. 

Adobe Express 

In a way, Adobe Express works like Canva. It trumps Canva in that it contains a stock of background music which you can choose from. There is no length limit. You can also do some editing on the timeline. Hence, Adobe Express is a good choice if you're creating a video of longer duration, with more pictures. 

Powtoon

Powtoon is a little bit like Animoto in terms of the dashboard design. But though it is not as simple to use as Animoto,  Powtoon trumps Animoto as: 

- you can go longer than 30 seconds; 

- on top of your own photos, you can insert the give template somewhere in the timeline (e.g., a template with a headline and taglines), and these inserted templates have animation; 

- and of course it also has built-in background music files. 

Bottom Line

As of this moment, Powtoon is my app to go to, for turning a collection of photos into a video with backgrounnd music quickly. 

MIE EXPERT 23-24

 This year will be fantastic. So excited to be selected as an MIE Expert for 2023-2024 

#MicrosoftEdu #MIEExpert #elearningps

This year's enrollment on the Master's degree course on Computer Assisted Language Learning

 這Master's degree的Computer Assisted Language Learning 一科，由最初offer時的三十多學員選修，逐步躍升到今學年的63位學員選修，真是既擔憂又興奮，擔憂是到學期完後要在短時間內改大量的term paper, 興奮的是看見這一科那麼受歡迎。

Apps in the Google Classroom App Hub work with my personal Google Classroom

 I've just tried one the apps (Kahoot) included in  The Google Classroom App Hub I mentioned two days ago. I'm only using a personal Google Classroom. Anyhow, I went to Kahoot, and created a self-paced Kahoot assignment. When asked how I would like to share this Kahoot assignment, I chose 'Google Classroom', which was one of the destinations. 

Voila, in no time, this Kahoot Game appeared in my Google Classroom! So, it means I don't have to copy the Assign share link and post it somewhere as long as I use Google Classroom regularly. 

Puzzel.org

 Puzzel.org is like Wordwall and Learningapps.org, and is for creating interactive games. The images of the various puzzle types look interesting. But the free plan only allows for 2 puzzles. So there is no way I can tell how overall it compares with Wordwall and Learningapps.org. 

https://puzzel.org/

Becoming MIE Expert 2023-24

 新學年收到的最好的禮物，尤其是今年等申請結果等得

特別久。

The Google Classroom App Hub

https://edu.google.com/get-started/apps/ 

This webpage lists the apps that are integrated with Google Classroom.

I can see that many of these apps are popular and often used by teachers (and me). 

Unfortunately, the university does not subscribe to Google Classroom, so I cannot see with my own eyes how the app integration works within Google Classroom. 

Slides with Friends

SLIDES WITH FRIENDS is an app for creating presentations that contain interactive tasks, such as polling, quizzes. 

What distinguishes it from similar apps such as Mentimeter, Pear Deck, and Quizizz Lesson is that it has 2 additional special response options: (1) Pass the microphone, and (2) Share your photo. 

A standalone stack of cards with Sway

 We can create a standalone stack of cards with Sway. Ss will then scroll through the cards to find out something. The content of each card can be either Text, or Image. 

The resulting Sway link can be inserted into a Nearpod lesson. 

Thinglink Scenario Builder: My first taste

 This is a function within Thinglink which allows you to create a branching learning unit. I have yet to learn the nitty gritties, and to look for ideas to turn into a learning scenario. So far, I have noticed that: 

- each branched block can contain Text, an external URL, and a previous Thinglink image/tour; 

- you can insert MC questions and Open-ended questions into different points in the journey; 

- at any block, you can take the learner to any other block; 

- you can award points for accomplishing something. 

+++++++++++++++++++

This reminds me of two other strategies that I have tried: 

1. Padlet (not really reactive to learner's decisions or answers; no inserted questions); 

2. Symbaloo Learning Path. 

Thinglink 360 Image vs Thinglink Guided Tour

 Thinglink Guided Tour is a new function in Thinglink. In the former 360 image, viewers have to move the image around, and click on the tag to see the 'Knowledge Card'. The Knowledge Card can consist of Text Description, an explanatory Image, or an external link. 

With Thinglink Guided Tour, when you create the tour, you add 'focal points' to the 360 image. For each Focal Point, you add a text description (text description only). You can add as many focal points to a 360 image as you like. 

Then when viewers view the Guided Tour, they can: 

Either

drag the image around, and when they reach a previously focal point, the corresponding explanatory text will pop up near the bottom;

Or

there is a 'previous - next' button near the bottom of the screen. Click on 'next', and the image will revolve to the next focal point, togther with the text explanation. And so on. Hence, unlike the traditional viewing mode, this mode of viewing is sequential. (Hence, 'guided'.)

Google Forms vs Microsoft Forms: Converting a poll to a quiz

 With Google Forms, you can convert an existing Poll to a Quiz. 

With Microsoft Forms, this can't be done. To create a quiz, you always have to start from scratch. 

Obtained ScreenPal Certified Educator badge

 Completed the ScreenPal online course and obtained the ScreenPal Certified Educator badge.

ScreenPal: the new version of Screencast-o-matic

 Screencast-o-matic was the first app that I used for screen-recording. Later, Screencastify and Loom came about, and as they were Chrome extensions, they were more convenient to use. I then abandoned Screencast-o-matic in favour of Loom and Screencastify. 

Yesterday, I happened to discover that Screencast-o-matic had become ScreenPal. I tried ScreenPal, and found three important pluses which would take me back to the improved version of Screencast-o-matic: ScreenPal: 

1. I like the clear small yellow circle which accompanies the cursor movement. Screencastify has a similar function but the effect is not good. 

2. ScreenPal will give me a public share link as soon as I have finished a round of screen-recording. Screencastify allows users to export the screen-recorded video to Youtube, but the process takes too long. 

3. The free plan of Loom and Screencastify has a recording time limit of 5 minutes only, and a limit on the number of videos that can be produced. Screenpal's recording time is 15 minutes, and there is no limit on the number of videos you can make. 

https://screenpal.com/home

Google Earth Voyager

 Google Earth Voyager are like Google Earth projects, but they are exemplary curated (also created?) collections by Google. The project are presented under a few themes, such as 'Education', and 'Culture'. 

Creating a Google Earth Project

 To create a new placemark: 

1. You can of course just click on a named place on the Google Earth map, and then click on 'Add to Project' on the right. 

2. But if it is not a place which is already named on the map, then you can do 'Capture this view', or click 'Add placemark', both appearing at the bottom left corner of the map itself. The left-hand pane will then ask you to 'Name this place'. After that, it will be included as a 'Feature' in the project.

3. The 'known/named' places on the Google Map will, by default, come with a Knowledge Card (top right corner). To use your own description or images, click 'Replace' on the left-hand pane. You can then use your own description and images. 

 

One difference between Loom and Screencastify

 Loom has a more generous (25 videos) quota under the free plan, while Screencastify allows for 10 free videos only. 

But with Screencastify, you can export the screen-recorded video directly to Youtube, while with Loom you have to download it to your computer first. 

Taking a photo sphere image with my mobile phone and viewing it in Ricoh Theta

 I'm using the mobile app 'Go Street-view Camera' to take 360 photo spheres with my mobile phone.Ｉcan then open it for viewing with the app Ricoh-Theta, a desktop app as well as a mobile app. 

The result is not bad even though I'm only use a mobile app, not a 360 camera like Ricoh Theta. 

Gearing up for the 33rd, or 37th, year

 是時候收拾心情，開展在中大教育學院第33年的教學。(如果加上先前在羅富國教育學院的4年，這便是第37年從事教師教育。)能夠這麼長期從事自己喜愛的工作，這工作又可以讓我不斷學習和不斷進步，我真的非常非常幸運啊。

Padlet's 2023 summer release

 This summer, Padlet has released some new functions. The following seem particularly useful to me: 

1. Create a poll on a Padlet wall which viewers can respond to. 

2. AI-generated images. (To me, I'm not sure whether the images are really AI-generated. Do they already exist on the Web?)

3. I can create Sections in all templates (except Canvas). 

4. I can embed a Padlet slideshow in another app. 

5. I tried the 'Export slideshow as PDF' function. The resulting PDF does not look great. Maybe OK if I just want to keep a record. 

I have also rediscovered that I can present a Padlet wall as a slideshow. 

https://padlet.blog/the-2023-summer-release/

The most rewarding compliment

 The most rewarding compliment a teacher educator can ever receive from a former teacher student.

教學是一個很獨特的行業

 昨天和當年初為人師時教過的學生午膳敍舊，她們有快將退休的，有甚至已經提早退休的。

感嘆歲月流逝之餘，也覺得教學是一個很獨特的行業；其他人對人的專業，例如醫生，社工，臨床心理學家，服務完結後便不能，或不宜，和服務對象繼續有接觸；但當教師，分分鐘可以和舊學生保持數十年的聯繫！

Thinglink add-in for Powerpoint

 Just realised that Powerpoint has the Thinglink add-in. After inserting the Thinglink add-in, while creating a PPT, just paste in the link to the Thinglink you want to show in the PPT. All the interactivity will appear in the PPT. 

Jigsaw Planet for creating free jigsaw puzzles

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/  is a free app for creating jigsaw puzzles. Just upload a picture, tell the app how many pieces you want to break it down into, and click 'create'. The resulting puzzle can be shared with students via a share link. 

Thinglink, 360 image, Escape Room

 In an Escape Room game, players are expected to explore the different parts of a place (on their own). It follows that these different parts should not appear in a linear fashion. 

The objects of exploration may provide the clues to the over-riding question, or sub-questions during the game. 

The above make Thinglink a suitable app for creating an Escape Room: 

1. the starting point can be the image (flat or 360) of the inside of a room; 

2. interactives are inserted into different parts of the room for students to explore. These interactives may provide information, or clues to certain questions. 

How students present their answers to the questions embedded: 

In the following example, the teacher puts (a) the Thinglink 360 image, and (b) a Google Form on one Google site. 

https://www.thinglink.com/blog/escape-rooms/

(I think the Google Form can also be inserted into the Thinglink image for students to download?)

Students explore the image to find the answers, and provide answers on the Google Form. When they are done, they submit the Google Form. 

In sum, Escape Rooms with Thinglink have the potentials of: 

1. gamifying a series of quizzes; 

2. promoting multimodal reading (the information inserted can be multimodal);

3. nurturing students as self-directed learners (as self-paced learning units). 

=========

One challenge for the interested teacher, on top of the technical skills and the time needed, is to think of a storyline to make the Escape Room feel 'real'. 

Converting a panorama pic taken with my mobile phone to a 360 image

 Just learnt that: 

1. I can convert a pano(rama) pic I've taken with my mobile phone to a 360 image using the Thinglink link: https://www.thinglink.com/pano-to-360

2. When viewed using a 360 image viewer app (such as Ricoh Theta), I can view the panorama pic in a full circle. But then of course because the original pic was not taken with a 360 camera, the top and bottom parts of this 360 image will be just blurred shades. 

Downloading a street view image from Google Maps

 Just found out that: 

1. I can download an app for downloading and saving a street view 360 image from Google Maps to my computer. The one I've downloaded is called Street View Download 360. 

2. I can also download an app for viewing 360 images saved. The one I've installed is Ricoh Theta. 

3. With downloaded 360 images, I can go ahead to find out how to create interactive 360 tours within Thinglink. 

How to download a Google Map for offline use

 Just learnt that we can download a Google Map for offline use. This is useful to me as, when I go to Macau and return on the same day, I may not want to buy foreign data connection to use in Macau just for navigating my ways around. 

How: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-ADQIzc5a4

Where to find the downloaded map on one's mobile phone: 

Open the Google Maps app. Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap “Offline Maps.” Tap “Select Your Own Map.”

What should we beware of?

 Yes, fruit drops can be dangerous. But seeds?

星加坡 vs 新加坡

 剛才電視新聞報導新加坡旅遊業復甦，字幕是「新加坡」，但報導員由始至終都是讀「星加坡」。

香港人習慣說「星加坡」，但Singapore 正式的中文國名是「新加坡」，不知要再過多久，香港人才會改口說「新加坡」。

至於我，說formal speech 時說新加坡，說informal speech 時說星加坡。

(至於為甚麼「加」讀做「架」，要請教研究方言的歷史學家了。).

「灣」vs「環」

 前天談到小時候，香港人用第四聲說「銅鑼灣」的「灣」(音環)，到後來才變為用第一聲(音彎)，當時還舉了另一個「灣」讀「環」的例：長沙灣。

今天又想到另一個例：土瓜灣。

如果有三個例存在，這「灣」讀「環」應該不是巧合，問題只是甚麼原因有這變調。.

Seeing my books at the 2013 Book Fair

 很高興在今年書展中，仍然看見自己的名字出現在4本展出的書本上。(其餘的兩本應該沒有再印製了。) 驀然回首：

2022，<喜歡上學的野孩子>，收錄於《香港百人童年》，香港兒童文藝協會出版。青田教育中心印製。

2019，《芵語本色: 翻轉港式英語發音》，牛津大學出版社出版。

2015.  VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE: Narratives of Nonnative Speaking English Teachers. Co-authored with Prof Icy Lee. Published by The Chinese University Press. 

2015，《英文秘道: 踏上學習英文的成功路》，牛津大學出版社出版。

2012，《中英大不同2:錯了就爆的語法問題》，與歐陽偉豪合著，青桐社出版。

2011，《中英大不同:語法解密》，與歐陽偉豪合著，青桐社出版。

Technology and the ability to write in Chinese

 不要說青少年，連我也發覺自己寫中文字時愈來愈記不起筆劃，用手機或手寫板書寫時，會彈出幾個筆劃相近的字供選擇，於是令我更不在意正確的寫法。到今天有時候還要依賴google 的語音輸入才記起原來的筆劃!

https://news.mingpao.com/pns/%e7%a4%be%e8%a9%95/article/20230718/s00003/1689617302475/%e7%a4%be%e8%a9%95-%e6%9b%b8%e5%af%ab%e6%96%87%e5%ad%97%e5%8a%9f%e8%83%bd%e6%bc%b8%e5%87%8b%e9%9b%b6-%e6%96%87%e5%8c%96%e5%82%b3%e6%89%bf%e5%8a%9f%e8%83%bd%e9%a0%97%e5%a0%aa%e6%86%82

A school that highly values good teaching and learning

 今早因著賽馬會Blended Learning Project, 再次到香港道教聯合會圓玄學院第二中學觀課，再次被該校對學與教的重視，和老師們的教學熱誠所感動。他們有很有組織的同儕觀課計劃，今早觀課時有多位老師一同觀課，包括非英語科教師和負責SEN的教師，連校長也為了表示支持，兩節不同的課也全程参與觀課。授課的老師也習慣了同儕觀課，課室中坐了7位觀課者也揮灑自如。至於學生，"more able" class 固然主動積極回應，"less able" class也專注和投入。課後的debriefing, 老師們的認真程度令人敬佩。

這樣的精神，對我也是一種激勵呢!