myBrainshark

Hi there,

Today I would like to talk about a great tool that almost all teachers should know about. myBrainshark.
This tool gives its users the opportunity to insert audio (narration) to their work such as powerpoint presentation, word document, video and pictures.

Here is an example of how a finished product of myBrainshark looks like:

How can myBrainshark be used in language classroom??

This powerful tool is suitable for teachers to do a speaking practice for the students. Besides, teachers could ask the students to practice a bit of writing as well. A powerpoint presentation about students life, family as well as others related to syllabus topics could be used for students. 

This task could be carried out in a classroom. However, since this will take some times to produce, the planning of this activity could be carried out in the classroom and then the production can be done as a homework at home.

This tools is suitable for students who have the ability to use technology. The reason being, they need to be IT literate in order to handle the tools. Besides, this tool is suitable for students with intermediate to high level of English.

Moreover, this tools is useful for teachers to give presentation slide to students without doing it in classroom. Slides alone usually are not enough for students to grasp the information in a lesson. By having the addition of the teachers' voice, students may digest the lesson input better.

You can have more insight on using this website by clicking here
A tutorial by Russel Stannard.
  
Advantages of using this TOOL...

• It is free to be used
• Allows students to be creative in making a presentation. (can include video, audio, pictures etc)
• Students could improve multiple skills, (writing and speaking)
• Shy students could learn to speak without having the fear of doing public speaking.

 Disdvantages of using this TOOL...

• It requires internet connection and computer to work with
• It takes time to make a presentation with narration
• Some of the narration might not be authentic since the students may write their script first before presenting the slides.
• The presentation could not be viewed offline.