June 23rd, 2012 – Click here for synopsis and photos.

AKITA: June 2012 – Using Social Learning Technology in the Classroom: An Introduction – Renaud Davies. The presenter is the Program Advisor for Akita JETs, and he explained some of the tech tools he uses in his classrooms and for training new JET ALTs. Using Prezi, a free, non-linear alternative to PowerPoint and Keynote, he demonstrated an array of social networking and presentation tools to help enhance classroom instruction. Some of the social-networking tools he covered were ‘Glogster’, ‘Linoit’, ‘Wallwisher’, ‘Voicetread’ and ‘Speakpipe’. The second half of the presentation was a hands-on demonstration of how to hack a Wii remote handset and IR laser pointer to make an interactive whiteboard. This presentation proved to be highly informative, even for the CALL specialists in the audience.

Reported by Stephen Shucart