CLEAR: Center for Language Education and Research

This center, which is based at Michigan State University, offers a wealth of materials and products in addition to professional development opportunities for language teachers. There are many, many resources to explore at this site, so be sure to give it some of your time and attention.

Article: The power of social media in language acquisition

This article lists some of the different social media sources that could be used with ELLs. Do you use social media with your students? If so, which tool do you use? How do you use it?

Voki

Educreations

Today I saw a neat presentation of a learning resource that had been created using Educreations. According to the product's site, this free app allows you to create and share video lessons with your iPad or browser. It looked so clean and easy to use. The instructor who demonstrated it was from the math discipline, but I can see its application in any discipline. Check it out!

Flipping the Classroom

Today I was introduced to a great series of videos by a middle school teacher who has "flipped" her classroom. She answers common questions about the concept and her experience implementing it with her math students. I found it very useful and recommend it for anyone who is curious about this new concept in teaching and learning.

Grammar Matters! Ain't That the Truth!?!

OK, so this is not an article related to educational technology, but it is relevant to language teaching, whether it's teaching the native language, a second language or a foreign language. The article emphasizes the importance of explicitly teaching grammar and offers ideas on how to do it in a way that has a real impact on the learner's language use ... both in writing and speaking. The author of the article is addressing teachers of native English-speaking children, but I think the message can apply to learners of all ages and of all languages, be they first, second, third, etc.

Google's Free LMS

I just read about a free LMS that Google is developing. Check it out!