tom mcnamee post

BP6_2009102_Web2.0_Review_epals

I have been looking for a website in which my students can communicate with other students, whether that be another city, state or country. The obvious issue is safety; I needed a site that I wouldn’t have to monitor 24/7. The site epals.com fit my needs.

The site is designed with the classroom in mind. It is divided into content sections as well as having areas in which you can search for the type of connection you want to make. It is very interesting to search through the classroom descriptions and read about classrooms around the world.

I would use this site as a means to improve my students’ communications skills. By leveraging blogs and forums, I would be able to get students to really take audience into consideration. My action research project is actually on this very topic, and I will most likely use this application in some form to further my findings.

Using social networks to improve writing is crucial, especially for students whose first language is not English. One tool that the epals site uses is the ability to translate languages. Currently, the site can translate in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean and Spanish. What’s nice is that students will also be improving their foreign language skills at the same time, so the site lends itself with cross-curriculum lessons.

Ultimately, the site’s greatest attribute is the fact that it can connect students to other students and make their voices relevant. Too often, students are mandated to simply write to the teacher and then receive limited feedback (of which is mostly negative). By allowing students the opportunity to participate in a social networking community like this it gives students validation that others support their ideas. It also gives them feedback from a source other than the teacher and is something different and fun. Whenever a lesson can be viewed as unique in students’ eyes, they will more than often, try harder because it isn’t the same old thing.

Visit epals at: http://www.epals.com/

The video below is a brief introduction to the website.