Virtual Reality Experience

Hello!

Virtual reality (VR) can be divided into 2. First type of VR requires the use of computer where you act with an avatar. Second Life is an example for that. Second type of VR requires tools and is more realistic since you act with your own body and control things with your body movements, like turning your head to see other side in artificial world.

In our instructional technologies and material design class, we were able to experience VR with the use of several VR headsets, or basically goggles.

Using VR in language courses, in our case English teaching, gives us an opportunity to have 'authentic' material for sure.

It is obvious that the use of VR is really suitable for vocabulary teaching such as object names, animals, building names or parts of a house.

An appropriate example would be, lets say, apartment VR. With the use of apartment VR, it wouldn't be difficult to teach the parts of a house and the objects that belong to every room.

Also, it is clear that instead of looking at a standart map in a textbook and talking about it, using VR is much more authentic and fun!

Lastly, I have to mention negative aspects of using VR and VR goggles.

As we discussed in class, we realized some issues and tried to focus on how to overcome them.

I'll start with the economical issue. The goggles of some certain brands are expensive but there are various alternative and cheaper versions to use in the classrooms, so the economical issue is actually easy to manage.

Second problem is not having enough tools for each individual. The lack of tools shouldn't be considered as a problem because this situation leads to 'group works' which is really useful especially in language learning as the group work acitivities directly focus on 'communication'. 

Third problem was stated by my friend Gül. She had trouble with the VR goggles as she wears glasses and without her glasses she sees everthing blurry.

Last problem we talked about is 'the lack of interaction'. Everyone would agree with the idea that interaction is an essential for language learning. Even though interaction while using VR seems difficult VR chat would be a solution for it.

Below are my photos while I was experiencing VR:

To conclude everything, I want to say that integrating VR is a really good source for language classes and I really enjoyed my own trial.

A Short Story

Storybird is a website that lets you to create your own story. 

It provides hundreds of pictures for your stories and you can choose the ones that are suitable for your stories.

Please check my short story which is in the form of a picture book and a good choice for children!

AR Use in Education.

(Click the logo to access the website.)

Flipgrid is a website that gives teacher a chance to create an online-forum.

By creating a grid and several topics and sharing codes/links with your students, you let them to submit their homeworks or participate in the discussions with their answers that are recorded as a video.

Here is my flipgrid if you want to check and support the topic by adding your answers,

Speaking Characters for Education

I find Voki really helpful and fun!

As a teacher, you can use Voki or ask your students to use it.

Using Voki, you choose an avatar and voice it. You can record your own voice or choose one of the voices that are given by the Voki itself.

I prepared an activity for middle school students and I used Voki as an example/introduction to the 'Describing Physical Appearance'. You can check it by clicking the picture below:

Also, another picture below show the reasons why Voki is really useful and by clicking it you will access the Voki website.

Second Life

Second Life is a really popular game that is based on virtual reality. I was informed about it by my teacher Tuncer Can.

The game became more fun when I realized my avatar was able to not only run but also fly. 
Here is my avatar:

Second Life lets you to socialize with other people in the game and it is easy to communicate with people over text or voice chat.

Second Life can be used in education.
First of all, using second life would be a really authentic material since everyone's experience with it is personal and shaping in a different way.
Secondly, Second Life would probably draw students' attention even without you showing any effort.
Lastly, it is obvious that it can be used as a tool to improve language skills as it gives the players the opportunity to chat with people.

Our teacher Tuncer Can shared with us the example of simulation classes to show how to use Second Life as an educational tool. All the students attend the class with their avatars and this situation makes everything much more practical. The lessons become more fun and stress-free for students.

(Do not forget to check Second Life by clicking the logo.)

Comparatives

Hello again,

I created an animation using Powtoon to show some rules and basic examples of comparatives. I think that this video would be useful as an introduction to the topic.

I hope you'll find it helpful!

(you can create your own animation videos with powtoon by clicking the logo.)

Augmented Reality (AR) for Vocabulary Teaching

Hi everyone,

In one of our Instructional Technologies and Material Design classes, we studied the app HP Reveal.

Thanks to Cemil Gökhan Karaca, we were informed about Augmented Reality (AR) and how to adopt the use of AR in education, especially in language teaching. Also, the advantages and the disadvantages of HP Reveal and the use of AR in classroom environment were discussed.

Here is a photo of me and my friends while practising the use of HP Reveal which is taken by our lecturer Tuncer Can.

In the video below, I showed some of the examples of AR I created with the use of HP Reveal.

The last one is my favorite! :)

I believe that the use of Aurasma would be really helpful in vocabulary learning and for young learners, as the things that are created are really attention getting.

"Where is ... ?"

Hi.

I prepared an activity with Seesaw. 

My activity is for 3rd grade English learners and it is based on asking and answering questions about the map. I simplified the content of the activity, as the learners' language proficiency is not high. I hope that this activity will be helpful for young learners to understand the basic structures with the use of the map.

You can check my activity: Where is ... ?

(You can have a look at the Seesaw website by clicking the logo.)

Seesaw is an application that gives the teachers an opportunity to create a class online and prepare and share activities with their students.

It makes tracking the responses of the students easier for the teacher as the students can submit their 'homeworks' by recording their voices or writing them in the same platform.

Also, the teacher is able to comment on and edit the responses that are submitted by the students easily.

The Characters of Wuthering Heights

Hello!

I prepared a detailed review of the characters of Wuthering Heights using padlet. There might be some spoilers about the story yet I believe that it would be really helpful for understanding whole of the novel.

Please go check my padlet:
The Characters of Wuthering Heights

(You can have a look at the Padlet website by clicking the logo.)

Padlet is an application which lets you create interactional boards and concept maps. 
It is really useful in education field since it makes easier for teachers to share the documents/class materials with the students.

The Use of Literature in Language Classes

Hi there!

I uploaded a video to my channel. The video is about the use of literature in language classes.

Thanks for watching!

3 Apps Recommendations for Language Learning

Hello again!
I recommended 3 different apps for language learning and hope that you'll find them useful.



The apps I mentioned in this podcast, you can have a look at them easily by clicking the icons: