Connecting Classroom With MailVU

The term connected classroom refers to wireless classroom which focuses on the idea of connection between classroom activities and homework (Stannard, 2011). The invention of innovative technological tools such as MailVU has allowed students to build a strong connection between what they do in the classroom and what they do at home. This post will introduce you with MailVU as a tool for language learning.

Link: http://mailvu.com/

Genaral Description

MailVU is a web tool that allows the users to record video messages and send them as email to a person or a group of people. Users can record the video messages up to 10minutes long, and the users can track who has seen the video. MailVU videos can be stored for up to 365 days on the website, and users do not need an account or special software to use it. Nevertheless, to be able to manage the video emails, it is suggested that users create a free account. To get started, simply go to the website, and click on ‘record’ and start recording the video message. Once it is done, the video message can now be emailed to anyone that users want to. In relation to the connected classroom, MailVU video messaging service has opened a wide range of activities that students can do outside the classroom.

Level and Age

MailVU can be used by students at primary and secondary schools (9-17 years old) at all levels of English proficiency. This is due to its feature that is user-friendly, and users are not controlled by the content as they have to construct the content by themselves. Besides, this tool can also be applied for adult learners.

How To Use MailVU For Teaching English?

In connected classroom approach, it is important for teachers to introduce students with vocabulary, grammar, and do some practice before they proceed with the recording task so that they can be well prepared for making the video recording at home (Stannard, 2011). MailVU is mostly suitable to be utilized as a tool for students to practice speaking at home. Here are some speaking activities that can be applied for students:

1. Sharing thoughts and experiences: Students can be asked to record about the important dates in their lives. For classroom activity, teacher might draw his timeline coupled with several important dates on it, and then share about what happen during the timeline while students asking about it. After that, in pairs, students will draw their own timelines and ask each other about what happen during the dates. As homework, students will have to record a video of themselves describing their own timeline using MailVU and email it to teacher. 
2. Promoting items: For classroom activity, teachers might introduce students with key vocabulary and language used in a context to persuade people. As a practice, teacher can get students to find something surrounding them that they would like to sell, for example a pen. Then, in groups of three, one student need to promote the pen to two other students, and finally see if they are able to sell it. As homework, students will record a video using MailVU to promote any items that they would love to sell, and then send the video message to teachers and other students. On the next lesson, each student will give a comment whether they want to buy or not. Finally, teacher will show students one or two outstanding videos and give feedback.
3. Interview: Teacher can get students to work in pairs and record an interview, for example about personal matters. In the classroom, teacher and students can brainstorm some ideas that can be asked about someone’s personal matters. Then, students will create a few questionnaires based on the ideas and practice it in pairs. After that, students will be paired up with another student for homework. Finally, at home, students will take turn to record the interview using MailVU and send it to the teacher.

Evaluation

Advantages:

1. It offers a platform for students to connect the classroom activities and homework. This gives a variety in the activities that students can do for practicing the language at home. 
2. It lowers students’ affective filter. The opportunity to practice speaking at home may reduce the anxiety to speak in the target language. Besides, students are passive in the classroom might have a chance to communicate their ideas away from other student’s attention.
3. MailVU provides interactive and collaborative learning environments for students. These environments give students a real communication which requires students to use the language in context.
4. It creates audience for students which help them to build a purpose to talk.
5. MailVU supports personalisation in learning as students can share their ideas and experience with others in virtual environment. 
6. It appeals to students differences in learning styles, especially those students who learn well by doing. This can motivate students to learn the language and engage with the activity.
7. It develops students’ speaking skills as they record the video.
8. It gives students privacy as they can control who can view their video messages.

Disadvantages:

1.        MailVU cannot either be downloaded or embedded onto the blog (only for business account users).

Reference:

Stannard, R. (2011). MailVU and The Connected Classroom. [online] Available at: http://blog.mailvu.com/blog/mailvu-and-the-connected-classroom/> [Accessed 1 Dicember 2011].