Synchronous(Scribblar) and Asynchronous(Video Dropbox) CMC Tools

Blog Post #3: Synchronous and Asynchronous CMC Tools

▶ Brief descriptions of the tools and links to their websites

- Scribblar (Synchronous CMC Tool): http://www.scribblar.com/
It is a tool for chatting and sharing ideas on the internet and it is actually very easy to create the room for your needs. You can have some interesting tools such as drawing and having a vote.

 <<--- Try it now!


- Video Dropbox(Asynchronous CMC Tool): http://clear.msu.edu/teaching/online/ria/videoDropbox/
It is a tool for collecting videos from yourself and others as well. You can easily access and record the video clips with typing your name in the blank and  pressing "Begin" button. Then, you can enter, record and submit the video clips.

 <<--- Try it now!

▶ My thoughts about how the Synchronous CMC tool and the Asynchronous CMC tool could support learning and the development of language skills. 

Are there any similarities and differences in how they could support language learning? 

In my opinion, they are very good tools for outside of class to practice that they learn from class of the day. To have improvement in learning language, it is essential to be consistent and repeated. Thus, if students can keep using this sort of tools after school, I am sure that they will improve a lot comparing before.

※Scribblar and Video Dropbox

-Similarities: You can use these tools through the internet which means you need to be more independent. Also you need to be aware of these tools before you actually use it.

-Differences: You can see the result straight away with Scribblar, but you need to wait until you get the result with Video Dropbox. Also Video Dropbox can be more private. Thus, people might feel more comfortable than Scribblar.

▶ Ideas of possible activities and ways that the tools could be used in a language class to supplement in-class content and instruction. 

※ Using Scribblar

- Following the instruction to teacher: Listening practice

e.g. Teacher can give students to draw a house with very specific details. 

※ Using Video Dropbox

- Reading a newspaper aloud: Fixing pronunciation and improving listening skills

e.g. In my personal experience, listening to the news and repeating after that helps to improve pronunciation and listening skills as well.