Using Twitter and Prezi for Technical Communication

Irene Lee

English Language Teaching Unit

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Rationale1/2 Why Twitter & Prezi?

Optimal condition for independent learning Web 2.0 tools are available 24/7 Rich ELT resources Free

Rationale 2/2

Why Technical Communication? Course in effective communication in a technical

context Various components of assessment

Class Participation (10%) Mini-Report & Techsite Talk (20%) Technical Specifications (15%) Project Description (10%) Written Report & Project presentation (35%) CEF (10%)

Profile of the TC Students

Purpose for Using Twitter in TC Twitter

Broadcasting tool Diffusion of information, instructions and influence

Writing tool Encourages the 4 ‘C’s in technical writing

Conciseness (140 characters) Clarity (of the message) Correctness (language) Completeness (in fulfilling the task)

Purpose for Using Prezi in TC Prezi

Powerful Presentation tool Zooming editor for stunning presentations Bridges the gap between “show” and “tell”

Group collaboration Allows members in the group project to work and edit

online

Taken from Aberle 2010

Process 1/3

1. Preparation Request for computer labs (time-tabling team) Registration and demonstration

Unique userid (name + class)

Rubrics to measure participation Clarity Conciseness Correctness Completeness Frequency and Freshness

Process2/3

2. Pedagogy Twitter

Grammar Tenses (example 1) Relative clause to show subordination (example 2)

Reading and Vocabulary (example 3) Listening and Summary (example 4)

Process3/3

2. Pedagogy Prezi

Use it for a common topic presentation in class Students learn the difference between “show” and “tell” Samples of Students’ work:

Group 1 – showing the innovative solution I Group 2 – showing the innovative solution II Group 3 – showing the innovative solution III Group 4 – animation can be incorporated seamlessly

into the same presentation canvas

Problems/Challenges

Twitter Circumventing the grade system of using Twitter and Prezi Continue to use after TC? Cut and paste job of tweets?

Prezi Practice is the key but how much time do students devote to

actually practising their presentation? Old habits die hard

Question & Answer