[WK6] Brainshark: No muss, no fuss!

Hi everyone!
Brainshark is 'haunting' for you for this week! A tool that is very easy and simple as ABC! 123!

What is it?
This is a very interesting software to make the presentation interesting as users can transform their online static content such as PowerPoint documents or other types documents into voice-enriched video presentation.With a few clicks, we can easily create a narrated video to be shared with anybody.


How does it work?
# Sign up the account


# Upload the presentation / documents
# Add your voice narration via phone or microphone on your computer
# You can preview the recorded voice. If you are not satisfied with it, just click the 'discard' button and record it once again. Then lastly, click 'save' button to record the narration for the next slide.
# View your presentation! Your Brainshark presentation is e-mailed to you as a link, in which you can also e-mail to others. Whenever someone views your presentation, the viewing reports will be updated.

This is how my account looks like
To get a clear picture of the steps, just log on to online training video: Russell Stannard's great website!

How can it be carried out in the classroom context?
# Suitable to be carried out outside the classroom as a self-study at home or do-it-yourself session
# Teachers preview the entire process through the online training video or hand out
# Teachers ask learners to create a multimedia presentation about certain topics and add the narration to explain them. For example: 
  • Teacher gives a topic based on the learners' favourite places in Malaysia. 
  • Context: By using power point presentation, learners need to act as a promoter of the place and try to persuade people to go there
  • Teacher can suggest the learners to insert some pictures or video (combination of different type of media) based on the scenery, food and activities that can be done there as a part of promotional strategies
  • The learners need to add narration that explains the reason they like the place and share with the class  (kind of digital story-telling)
# Once uploaded, teachers and other learners can view/review the presentations online at anytime.
# Teachers give their feedback on the students presentation

What are the learning styles that involve?
i) Blended learning: 
- combination of traditional face-to-face classroom methods with computer-mediated activities. 
  • In this case, teachers and learners might have discussion in the classroom at the beginning of the class and when it is coming to the activity, learners need to use computers to do the task. Teachers will evaluate the presentation anytime and anywhere as it is produced online and give their feedback in the class.
ii) Gardener's Multiple Intelligences
  • Intrapersonal Intelligence: Learners who prefer to work alone and feel shy to talk in front of the audiences will be beneficial in this task as they can speak in front of their computer or laptop without the presence of anyone.
Who are the learners?
# Secondary school students whose the age range is from 16-17 years old (in Malaysian context)
# This site is also suits all levels, even for the beginners because if they are not confidence enough, they can construct their sentences first before trying to record it. The presentation that can be done in front of their own laptop or computer without the presence of audience also can avoid them from being nervous and this will reduce anxiety and boost their motivation to speak.

This is the example that I have produced on my own:



What are the advantages?
1. A good way of getting students to speak confidently in their target language, especially for the shy one thus improve their speaking skills
2. Turn a simple and kinda boring typical presentation into an interesting and high impact one where it can be beneficial in the future (in careers like business, education etc.)
3. It is free and a lot of basic features is in free packages
4. Better yet, the multimedia presentations can also be viewed on mobile devices including smartphones and iPads.
5. The presentation could involve a combination of different media such as PowerPoint slides, documents, photos, background music and voice narration that can be added via phone or computer microphone from a continent away.
6. Presentation can be shared through email or users can simply post it on a social networking site like Facebook. It is also easy to embed it on our own website or blog, or even publish a copy of it on YouTube.

What are the limitations?
1. Limited capacity of uploading individual content files: Only up to 200 MB for each person
2. Process of discarding the narration that might be repeated many times when learners do mistake in their speaking somehow will make the speaking activity less genuine as it is planned.
3. Limited access: It can only be used plus the presentation can only be viewed if the computers and internet access are available

Further suggestions:
1. Slideshare: SlideShare is another online presentation tool that has both free and paid options. With the free plan your presentations will include ads, but you will get unlimited uploads. Paid plans start at $19 per month and offer additional features like no ads, private uploads, analytics, and buzz tracking to see who is sharing your content on sites like Twitter and Facebook.

2. Slideboom: Slideboom's free account allows to upload up to 100 presentations. You can share presentations, audio, video and animations using Slideboom. Compared to Slideshare, Slideboom allows you to have private PowerPoint sharing within your free account.


~Because English is FUN! :) ~

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