Brainshark

Brainshark is a website which allows us to create presentations in a very unique wa, which is by changing our ver own content such as documents, power-point, into voice narrated presentation. It is very easy to be used as the site will guide you step by step in creating a presentation.


Not only just you can create one, you can even share it! Your presentation will be available for viewing once you enable it for online sharing by just clicking on a link provided. The best part is, it is also mobile friendly which allow users to create a presentation while on the move.

Advantages:- 
- Easy to operate, guidance provided along the first time operating the site.
- It is free for basic features, can be upgraded for premium features access.
- Supports variety of types of documents.


Disadvantages:-
- The final product cannot be downloaded, and it needs internet connection even for viewing purposes.
- Needs internet connection. Cannot be operate on offline mode.

Bookr

Bookr  by Pim Pam Pum is a nice tool for exploiting images to enhance your  phrasal verbs lessons.  You can easily create a “book” in minutes by integrating thoughts or ideas with graphics which are obtained directly from flickr, a popular image hosting site. You can design the little booklet according to the theme you want to explore, and then simply dragging them into the pages of the book. You can write a short sentence on each page.  The example below is one I created especially for this post to demonstrate how it can be used. Bookr provides the utility to create a simple photobook and users can also insert some text for description or narration purposes.




Advantages:-
- Provide platform for creativity
- Encourage students to generate target language.
- Free, Easy to handle.
- Incorporation of flickr makes the site more interesting. Students may even use their own photo collections.

Disadvantages:-
- Students may get distracted from the main tasks by the pictures in flickr.
- The search results was not maximised, a bit dissapointed in terms of choices.
- Needs internet connection to view the final product as it is not downloadable.

Listen and Write

Listen and Write promotes listening and writing skills. it provides audio materials for students to listen and writing activity for students to practise their writing skill. It  is a listening/dictation site that allows ESL and ELL students to click on their choice of oral transmissions and then write the words they hear in a box. Clicking the play button will repeat the sentence. There are also choices for hints or a version that provides a separate text box for each word, helping listeners to distinguish and separate the words they hear. When students write the correct sentence, a red "good" appears at the end of the line. Students can submit their own oral recordings as part of the bank of recorded items. Students can also select other languages for dictation: Korean, Basque, Estonian, and Hebrew. Dictations are available at a total of 16 levels. Students must sign in and establish an account in order to save their scores, share and save audios, and collaborate with others on dictations or audio recordings.

Advantages
- It is fun and interactive
- Provides a range of topics for students to choose according to their personal interest.
- Activities ranged from beginner to advance that suits students' level and proficiency.



Disadvantages
- It requires access to the internet which might not available in some location.
- This site offers login through the social site 'Facebook' which might distract students' focus. They could get diverted from this site within just one click.

Dvolver

Dvolver is a site where people can create a very simple movie with standard quality for learning. This site is suitable for learners with age ranged around 10 to 15 years old with intermediate level of English. With this site, teachers can expect students to project or to produce dialogue in English language and intergrate their creativity at the same time.

The site is really easy to use and you just click your way through various screens selecting backgrounds, characters, scenarios, soundtrack and credits. You also type in your own short dialogues. Then when you are ready a single click turns the whole thing into a Flash movie.

You can make short single screen animated movies or longer ones by adding more scenes. You can then email the link to your movie either to yourself or to your students etc.
So, here is the one which I created. Enjoy.





Advantages
- Allows creativity
- A platform to generate target language
- Accessible for students and teachers

- Dvolver is a VERY easy way to do digital storytelling in the classroom.
- Everything is very user friendly. Basically point and click!
- Students have choice when it comes to setting, characters and background music. They can choose how the characters interact on the “screen”.
- Students can also write whatever dialogue they want (see threats).
- The finished movie can be emailed and the creator receives an HTML code to paste into their website or blog.


Disadvantages
- Slightly explicit content of characters and there is no filter system in it.
- Some students might need extra guidance while handling the site
- Needs ICT and internet facilities

- There is not yet a school-friendly, child-safe version. But, the upside is that the creator is working on that version and even asked for input from teachers on the customer service site.
- You can only do three scenes in your movie.
- Does not allow uploading of custom content.