Info/Resources for Teachers Using PhraseBot
Tracking student use of PhraseBot with screenshots
The cumulative total of points scored is shown on the front page of the app, and on the main lists page.
You can set use of the app as homework by having students email you a screenshot showing their current score. Have students follow a set format for their subject line of 'class, name, current points', and you can then autosort into inbox folders to easily get an overview of class progress.
I have required 1500 pts per week, which is roughly 45 minutes use of the app (and many students use it more than required).
A short pdf presentation showing students how to play the game, take a screenshot, and send it by email can be found on the Google Drive.
The cumulative total of points scored is shown on the front page of the app, and on the main lists page.
You can set use of the app as homework by having students email you a screenshot showing their current score. Have students follow a set format for their subject line of 'class, name, current points', and you can then autosort into inbox folders to easily get an overview of class progress.
I have required 1500 pts per week, which is roughly 45 minutes use of the app (and many students use it more than required).
A short pdf presentation showing students how to play the game, take a screenshot, and send it by email can be found on the Google Drive.
Various docs on Google Drive:
- (PhraseBot Flyer (English), Powerpoint pdfs with screenshots and how-to's
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B74A3M5MDMeVeUhMUnEzNDhrOFU
- (PhraseBot Flyer (English), Powerpoint pdfs with screenshots and how-to's
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B74A3M5MDMeVeUhMUnEzNDhrOFU
Online Flash version, useful for demoing in class:
http://www.phrasebotapp.com/flash-version.html
*N.B. Should currently display OK in Chrome, but is not being maintained as Flash is being phased out on the web...
http://www.phrasebotapp.com/flash-version.html
*N.B. Should currently display OK in Chrome, but is not being maintained as Flash is being phased out on the web...
Quizlet sets
Many quality Quizlet sets are under my username PhraseBot (including AWL sets, phrasal verbs, TOEIC/TOEFL, collocations, high school grammar J-E sentences etc)
https://quizlet.com/PhraseBot
Many quality Quizlet sets are under my username PhraseBot (including AWL sets, phrasal verbs, TOEIC/TOEFL, collocations, high school grammar J-E sentences etc)
https://quizlet.com/PhraseBot
Some Advantages of PhraseBot over Quizlet
Quizlet provides a really smooth and solid flashcard service, to which PhraseBot offers various complementary features, especially for language learners:
Some Advantages of PhraseBot over Duolingo
Duolingo's massive popularity has shown that language learners actually do like translation activities (despite a common bias amongst language teachers against use of the L1 and anything resembling grammar translation. However, there are some ways in which PhraseBot kicks Duolingo's ass:
Quizlet provides a really smooth and solid flashcard service, to which PhraseBot offers various complementary features, especially for language learners:
- It tracks progress, with colored star ratings going up or down depending on user responses, giving more practice when needed. *This function is very limited on Quizlet, unless they have a Premium $25/yr membership.
- The combinatorial input system is better that Quizlet for multi-word units (collocations, phrasal verbs etc) - Quizlet only has letter-by-letter or 'whole item' modes
- The modes using single letters and first/last letters require a productive level of knowledge (not recognition), and offer hints to help users get there. *Quizlet offers a typing mode, but you especially do not want to type in sentences on a mobile device - the 'Boggle'-like layout of Phrasebot also helpfully restricts the many possible variants that make translation activities difficult.
- PhraseBot is more game-like, with nice graphics, levels, points, elements of luck, and an input system with flow.
Some Advantages of PhraseBot over Duolingo
Duolingo's massive popularity has shown that language learners actually do like translation activities (despite a common bias amongst language teachers against use of the L1 and anything resembling grammar translation. However, there are some ways in which PhraseBot kicks Duolingo's ass:
- The translation activities in Duolingo provide all the component words in random order, with some distractors. PhraseBot can show them, or you can use the first/last letters mode to challenge users to come up with the answer in their heads before answering - requiring a more authentic productive knowledge.
- Duolingo has set word/phraselists, whereas you can use your own in PhraseBot
- A set of questions is contained within one gameboard, which has more flow than the one-at-a-time questions of Duolingo
