Tech Tools & Pedagogy I – ReadtheWords, Voki & xtranormal
Comparing the three applications
Readthewords synthesized voices only |
Voki |
Voki |
syntesized voices only |
|
| Restrictions to free accounts | 30 second recordings |
Approx 60 seconds |
Approx 60 seconds |
Not sure; no info but at least 5 mins maybe more |
| Quality of Avatar Voice | Flat and monotonous robotic voice |
Flat and monotonous robotic voice |
Depends on who records, teacher, students |
Same as for other pre-recorded |
| Avatars | Some variety; male avatars look rather odd; can change clothes; hairstyles
All avatars adults |
Can play with avatar looks; a lot more variety of looks, clothes, hair, glasses
Includes cartoon characters suitable for children Includes animal characters suited to children |
Can play with avatar looks; a lot more variety of looks, clothes, hair, glasses
Includes cartoon characters suitable for children Includes animal charactes suited to children |
Reasonable range of avatar looks; adults and younger people; teenagers
Includes playmobil like characters and other fun types. |
| Additional featuresand issues | - Speaker speed can be adjusted
- Advice given on how to deal with mispronounced terms - Can insert longer pauses - Video is saved on the application server but can also be downloaded and brought to class in a flash stick or CD |
- Can choose from a limited number of male/female voices and accents
- Video is saved on the application server but can also be downloaded and brought to class in a flash stick or CD |
- Microphone can be external or internal
- Can have two voices recording a dialogue too (though only one avatar) - The message can also be sent by phone. - Sometimes start of recording gets chopped off |
- Two characters can be used who interact
- Variety of backgrounds/ settings - Camera anges (10) - Characters can be given additional movements and expressions - Cues to all these tools are visual - online video tutorial available |
| Online tutorials |
Video tutorial Available
Additional tips also available |
No video tutorial but instructions quite clear | No video tutorial but instructions quite clear | Video tutorial available |
| Pronunciation | Minimal sound linking
Wrong rhythm & stress Unnatural pauses/wrong chunking Flat android intonation |
Minimal sound linking
Wrong rhythm & stress Unnatural pauses/wrong chunking Flat monotonous intonation |
Very good if teacher recorded
Can be excellent motivation for student reading aloud challenges with a focus on good pronunciation |
Minimal sound linking
Wrong rhythm & stress Unnatural pauses/wrong chunking Flat android intonation |
| Ease of Use for teachers | Relatively easy to use; need to know how to embed but also possible to send link by email | Relatively easy to use; need to know how to embed but also possible to send link by email | Relatively easy to use; need to know how to embed but also possible to send link by email | More complicated as there are camera angles to choose from – can easily confuse someone not used to dealing with such applications |
| Ease of use for students | Instructions in tutorial may be too complicated for lower level students but the visual element helps | Instructions have to be read but the application runs alongside them and it is not too difficult to see what to do. | Instructions have to be read but the application runs alongside them and it is not too difficult to see what to do. | Instructions in tutorial may be too complicated for lower level students but the visual element helps |
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Comment by Grace Gorman on November 20, 2010 at 2:51pm
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I use VOki with 4 th grade ESL students to improve their pronunciation. It records for 90 seconds. They do short book reports or oral reports. They listen and if it's not clear they an erase it and practice till it is good.
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Comment by Marisa Constantinides on November 20, 2010 at 2:57pm
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Thanks for sharing that - will try to correct my post
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