Woices.com Evaluation

Purpose/Brief Description
Interactive site. This site allows users to create audio commentaries, called “echoes,” keyed to a particular geographic location. A collection of echoes in a location is called a “walk.” These echoes can be created by anyone who has a connection to the location. The connection could range from a passing interest in the location to a lifelong resident. Other users can log into the site and search for any echoes or walks in a given location.

Learner Fit
In certain contexts, this site could be a good fit for all levels of ELLs: if a resident of the location creates an echo, this becomes an authentic record, complete with any local accents or other linguistic peculiarities; if a visitor from a student’s native country creates an echo in English, that becomes a record that can be used for comparison of pronunciation and syntax.

The site meets some of the Conditions for Optimal Language Learning Environments, as listed in Figure 1-2. The student is exposed to varied and creative language used in the various echoes. In turn, students can use these entries as templates or starting points for their own echoes. Because students control when and to what extent they create echoes, the level of stress or anxiety should be comfortable. Learner autonomy in this application is pretty much complete: the student can simply browse and listen or, if so motivated, create his/her own echoes or respond to existing echoes.

Teacher Fit
In certain contexts, this site could be good fit for teachers. The site lacks any specific controls or features for instructors. Because the creators of the echoes are commenting, for the most part, on some aspect of the location, additional instruction related to geography, history, or culture could easily be woven into lessons.

How Can It Be Used?
By its nature, the site lends itself to the teaching of the listening and speaking modalities. For example, a teacher could devise a lesson or lessons around creating a walk regarding a specific landmark or building in a city or commenting on an existing walk. After students enter their echoes, the teacher could assess for any number of criteria: vocabulary, syntax, verb tense, etc. Additionally, the teacher could create related echoes that nudge the students in a different direction in their responses.

Likes/Dislikes
Likes:
The design of the interface makes the site very easy to use. Users can browse a map that shows the locations with echoes or walks or they can browse a directory categorized by world region and country. Moreover, students can also download individual echoes as standalone mp3 files for playback in Windows Media Player or portable devices. Users can also form groups and communities based on common interests.

Dislikes:
Given the open nature of the site, a user can easily post an echo that has content inappropriate for an educational setting. A listener can flag an echo as inappropriate but there is no formal oversight or moderation. For this reason, an instructor would have to closely monitor for any echoes originating from outside a class-related group and report them accordingly.