Schemely: A bit of good platform but not so good enough

In this week's ICT class, we have discussed digital literacies and AI and Nicky introduced several forms of AI. We have learned the definition of digital literacies that the social and cognitive abilities required to efficiently manage meaning in a time of digitally networked, frequently blended communication are known as digital literacies. Moreover, Nicky introduced the creation of highly realistic and often deceptive artificial media (videos, images, audio recordings) using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, "deepfakes." 

Honestly, her speech helps a lot because it gives me a new angle toward the application of AI in my daily learning and teaching. has the potential to revolutionize language learning and teaching. However, in order to guarantee that AI technology is used responsibly and ethically in educational settings, it is critical to overcome its limits.

Using artificial intelligence (AI) in learning language and teaching offers several advantages and drawbacks:

Advantages:

1. Personalized Learning: AI is able to adjust to each language learner's unique learning requirements and preferences, offering individualized instruction based on their skill level, desired learning style, and learning pace.

2. Immediate Feedback: AI-driven language learning systems can give students immediate performance feedback, enabling them to identify their areas of weakness and get corrective instruction right away.

3. Language Analysis: Large-scale language data can be analyzed by AI algorithms to find patterns, trends, and linguistic elements. This allows for the creation of a curriculum and effective language instruction.

   
   

   Drawbacks:

1. Bias and Inaccuracy: The use of AI algorithms in language learning materials and evaluations may contribute to the spread of stereotypes, cultural insensitivity, and misrepresentations by reinforcing biases and mistakes found in language data.

2. Digital Divide: The availability of AI-powered language learning materials could make educational disparities worse since students from underprivileged backgrounds or places with poor internet connectivity might not be able to take advantage of these resources.

   
   

   Then we searched a platform "schemely" and use AI to design a lesson in terms of "using present perfect tense to compare Chinese New Year and Christmas." Our group found that Schemely has the limited function for it can only generate lesson plans (btw, the platform is not free so we can only use it once a month.)

   
   In the given picture, we can see the key advantage of using Schemely in lesson planning is its ability to visualize learning objectives and outcomes in a clear and concise manner. Teachers can use Schemely to create visual representations of learning goals, instructional sequences, and assessment criteria, helping students understand the purpose and expectations of each lesson. Besides, Schemely empowers educators to design lesson plans that accommodate diverse learning needs and preferences. For example, we can choose which age group of students we want to teach; Schemely can also provide teachers with lecture slides and the designed structure of games.
   

   While Schemely offers numerous benefits and advantages for educators and students, like any platform, it also has its limitations and potential drawbacks. The content of the given slides is not specific and there is no time control in the lesson plan. Even more ridiculous is the recommended YouTube link is not relevant to the content of the lesson plan.

   

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      Besides, these disadvantages of using AI should also be considered when giving a lesson.

      
      

      Learning Curve: Schemely may still have a learning curve for some users even with its user-friendly design, especially for those who are not as experienced with technology or visual diagramming tools. It could take some time and effort for teachers and students to become adept at using the platform's capabilities and navigating it.

   2. Dependency on Technology: Teachers might have trouble using Schemely's features or gaining access to the platform, which would make it more difficult for them to incorporate Schemely into their lesson plans.

   3. Privacy and Data Security Concerns: Like any online platform, Schemely raises concerns about data privacy and security. Educators and students may be hesitant to use the platform due to concerns about data breaches, unauthorized access to information, or the collection of personal data for marketing purposes. Ensuring robust data protection measures and transparency in data handling practices is essential to address these concerns.

      
      

      Conclusion:

      
      

      The way teachers create, carry out, and evaluate lesson plans is changing dramatically thanks to technologies like Schemely as education continues to change in the digital age. AI provides us with the necessary tools to improve student outcomes and instructional practices by facilitating differentiated instruction, visualizing learning objectives, encouraging collaborative planning, and streamlining the creation of lesson plans. Teachers can discover new opportunities for creativity, innovation, and efficiency in their teaching and learning by incorporating AI into their lesson plans.

      
      

Amazing Experience: Using Twiddla for group collaboration

In today's digital age, effective collaboration is essential for every aspect of life, especially language teaching and earning. With the rise of remote work and online learning, finding tools that facilitate cooperation has become increasingly important. One such tool that promises to streamline collaborative efforts is Twiddla. In ICT lecture, I have learned how to use Twiddla, and I will share my experience and comments of using Twiddle in terms of collaboration.

What is Twiddla?

Twiddla is a web-based collaborative platform that allows users to mark up websites, pictures, and documents in real-time. It provides an interactive whiteboard where users can type their ideas, highlight key words, and add text to shared content, making it ideal for brainstorming sessions, virtual meetings, and collaborative projects. Overall, Twiddla aims to simplify collaboration by offering a user-friendly interface and a range of features designed to enhance teamwork.

User Experience

One of the most notable aspects of Twiddla is its intuitive interface, which makes it easy for users to get started with minimal learning curve. Upon logging in, users can see a clean and straightforward layout, with tools neatly organized for easy access. The platform supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same canvas simultaneously. Whether you're brainstorming ideas with colleagues or providing feedback on a design mockup, Twiddla facilitates seamless communication and collaboration.

Key Features

Twiddla offers a range of features designed to enhance collaboration:

1. Interactive Whiteboard: The interactive whiteboard serves as the central workspace where users can draw, type, and share ideas in real-time. It provides different tools for drawing shapes, adding text, and highlighting important points.

2. Document Upload: Users can upload documents, images, and websites directly to Twiddla pages, allowing for easy markup and annotation. This feature is particularly useful for reviewing documents, presentations, and design mockups.

3. Screen Sharing: Twiddla supports screen sharing, allowing users to share their screen with collaborators during meetings and presentations. This feature facilitates seamless communication and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

4. Chat and Voice Notes: The platform includes built-in chat functionality, allowing users to communicate via text in real-time. Additionally, users can leave voice notes on the canvas, providing an alternative means of communication.

5. Access Control: With the extensive access control features provided by Twiddla, users may manage who can see and edit the canvas. This feature makes sure that private data is safe and that teamwork stays concentrated and effective.

Weakness

While Twiddla offers several useful features, it also has some weaknesses, including:

1. Limited Features: Twiddla's feature set may be limited compared to other collaborative tools, particularly those designed specifically for education. It may lack certain functionalities like integrated video conferencing, document sharing, or real-time collaboration on documents, which are crucial for effective online teaching and collaboration.

2. User Interface Complexity: First-time users may find Twiddla's user interface complex or unintuitive. Its popularity may be hampered by the learning curve involved in navigating through its many capabilities and possibilities, especially in educational contexts where usability and simplicity are crucial.

3. Dependence on Browser Compatibility: Twiddla relies on browser compatibility, which means its performance and features may vary depending on the web browser being used. A fragmented user experience may result from browser compatibility problems that users confront, such as slowness, limited functionality, or even total incompatibility with specific browsers.

   Limited Mobile Support: While Twiddla is accessible through web browsers, its mobile support may be limited. Users may encounter difficulties accessing or using Twiddla on mobile devices, which can restrict flexibility and accessibility, especially for students or collaborators who prefer mobile devices.

Overall, Twiddla can still be a useful tool for online learning and collaboration despite these drawbacks, especially for anyone searching for an easy-to-use whiteboard platform. If you're looking for a versatile and intuitive collaboration tool, Twiddla is definitely worth exploring.However, consumers should carefully consider its advantages and disadvantages before deciding if it fulfills their unique demands. Twiddla enables teams to work together smoothly in real-time, whether you're exchanging ideas, reviewing documents, or giving presentations.

"Duolingo" in English learning and teaching

Hey! Welcome to my blog!

Last week we learned to use different APPs to learn Language. Honestly, the reason why I chose "Duolingo" is not because I am interested in it, but because I'm familiar with it. I used to use "Duolingo" to learn Spanish for three month and the way of learning Spanish is similar to the way of learning English.

Pros and Cons

As a language learning website, I think "Duolingo" has several designs that are worth mentioning. First of all, it covers a wide range of languages. Not only can we learn those prestigious languages, but we can also learn some minor languages (By the way, I'm so surprised that "Duolinguo" can teach Latin). 

Here is a screenshot about those prestigious languages that we can learn. 

Here is a screenshot about those minor languages that we can learn.

Letting users test their language level is another advantage that may help learners to find which level they should start learning. Therefore, instead of starting from scratch, learners can choose a suitable course for their studies. Finally, I believe the design of course is like a game. There are several toll gates, once you finish one station, you can move on to the next station, which can inspire learners a sense of interest and challenge.

However, the process of learning a second language should cover the skills of reading, learning, writing as well as speaking. "Duolingo" is not very good at these aspects, for example, there will be a few individual example sentences in the learning process, and "Duolingo" lacks a learning background based on dialogue or story, which makes it difficult for learners to have contextual communication experience.

Here is a screenshot of the ranking of the precess of learning that learners can check others' achievement.

Using "Duolinguo" in teaching

I think "Duolingo" is suitable for the practice process because it can add more interactive activities in class. For me, personally, I may divide my students into some groups and let each group compete with each other. "Duolingo" can provide me with well-designed games and tests that "push" students to memorize what they have learned in class.

That's the ideas I got.

Thanks for browsing!

Those screenshots are from: https://www.duolingo.com/leaderboard

Triptico in English Learning: pros and cons

 POLARIS ZHANG

2024/2/2

Last week, I had an amazing class called ICT (btw the reason why I haven't posted this blog is because I asked for a sick leave for a whole week, so this class is my first class in ICT ). In this class, we have learned several tools that help teachers in teaching, such as playing games on related language knowledge, dividing students into groups as well as using some special websites that can help students get involved in language learning.

In the giving websites, I am particularly interested in Triptico. Triptico is a platform where teachers can choose a variety of tools for language teaching. After class, I tried to create my own link relating to an and I think that would help to increase interaction in helping my students in memorizing English words in the future. Besides, I also test some bonus resources on the website below. 

Here, I have already compared all the bonus resources. It has timers that can help you control the time and I must say that if you open the background sound, it will create a tense atmosphere that allows students to react quickly to the word corresponding to the picture. To be more specific, I think adding a timer will facilitate students in memorizing new words to some extent. Moreover, the "random number" can help me to pick a student randomly and let them be involved in the designed activity. Finally, I find two "scoreboards" are of great use in assisting me in dividing students into groups because group members are not in order.

Here is a link to the game that I have designed. If you are interested in it, you can have a try. I chose some pictures that include the color I want to teach in English. https://www.tripticoplus.com/media/resources/create.html?save=87775

In the process of designing the game and exploring several tools on this website, I gradually find Triptico can help students set up motivation in learning language by providing students with opportunities to interact with the teacher and add interest through activities. However, it still has some limitations.

pros

1. The interesting activities allow students to interact with their teacher, so this way of teaching offers students output practice. The combination of input and output is necessary for language learning.

2. The setting of the timer can create a tense atmosphere that will facilitate students to create their motivation in memorizing new words. 

3. It has numerous modes that assist teachers in putting what they want to teach into activities and the instruction is simple. Thus, it can help teachers in saving time.

cons

1. It may not be suitable for teachers who are not good at computer operations.

2. It does not offer pronunciation and writing activities, so it is hard to test whether students fully manage the usage of knowledge that has been taught in class.

Here are some points I want to mention in my blog and I hope you get some new inspirations.BTW, whoever reads my blog is free to ask questions and raise different opinions. Cheers! 

All three screenshots are from this link below. https://www.tripticoplus.com/media/tryTriptico.html