Mybrainshark

 

As well as Vocaroo, Mybrainshark is one of learner-centred speaking tool. It is a free web-based application which can convert the data, videos, photographs or educational resources into voice-enriched interactive materials and enable you to add voice to power point/documents/photo albums with background music. In addition, you can upload a video, produce podcasts, share your contents on social media sites, and receive responses from the world. The procedures are very simple and easy even for a technophobic teacher, like me.

On the details, please refer to a quick tour of Mybrainshark provided on their homepage.   http://www.brainshark.com/mybrainshark

 

Since Mybrainshark includes potential resources for e-learning, you can use it to provide any aural and visual information or materials such as vocabulary/grammar instructions to students during pre/in/after class activities upon having created a classroom log-in account.  You can gain feedback from them and also track who have viewed your contents and how they responded to it.

In addition, you can use it as a presentation tool for individual/pair/group works. Students can upload PowerPoint, photographs or files on the Mybrainshark and enrich the data with voice and some editorial options. Since Mybrainshark is a cloud basis, they can edit the data as many times as they wish, and simulate the presentation anywhere such as a classroom or house while watching visual images and texts without any time limitation.

 

This video presentation will surely contribute to reduce anxiety of quieter students who are shy or afraid of losing faces. Furthermore, through peer observations, students will find individual strength and weakness, and benefits of collaborating learning under such constructivism.

There are some advantages and limitations of Mybrainshark.

Advantages:

-       A combination of visual, oral and aural effects will deepen engaging approach and provide more impact than a single effect

-       Easy manipulation

-       Teachers and students can create their own multimedia materials such as a video presentation/personal profile et cetera, which will enhance one’s creativity, interpersonal, communicative, and presentation skills.

-       Producing video materials will promote technical skills of a computer operation.

-       Easy distribution/timeless

-       Teachers can verify students’ participation by their log-in traces.

-       There is no limited time for recording and revision.

-       Security environment is protected by providing an individual account for logging-in.

Limitations:

-       It needs a voice recording equipment and a suitable environment for operating a computer

-       Presenters cannot see any human response/feedback from their audiences such as nodding, arguing or applauding behaviour to their presentation.

 

 

This is a sample presentation titled 'My City Kobe/Japan' using Mybrainshark.

 

                   

Texts of my sample vide

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am going to tell you about my home city, Kobe.   

Kobe is located almost at the center of Japan.  Due to such a rich location, it is easily accessible from any domestic areas or overseas countries through a comprehensive transportation network of air, sea and land routes. The city is regarded as one of the international cities in Japan and it has established sister and friendship city affiliations with eight cities around the world.  They are Seattle (U.S.A), Marseilles (France),

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Riga (Latvia), Brisbane (Australia), Barcelona (Spain) and Incheon (South Korea). 

 

Ports of Kobe have a long history of trading since the 12th century, and it was opened to the world in 1868.  After the opening of the port, many foreigners immigrated to Kobe, and a Foreign Settlement that formed near the port became the doorway by which foreign cultures entered Japan. This settlement also played an important role in bringing a stylish and modern atmosphere to our city. 

 

Kobe is rich with a natural environment, surrounded by the Seto Inland Sea to the south, and Mt. Rokko to the north.  The temperature of mid all year round is generally 16.8 centigrade and an annual rainfall is about 1624 mm as of 2011.It is easy to enjoy seasonal pastimes from hiking and skiing on Mt. Rokko, strolling and bathing in Suma or Maiko beach. Compared with larger cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, Kobe provides a much more comfortable living environment.  While have sufficient urban functions, Kobe is full of suburban benefits such as beautiful mountain views, less crowded traffic and commuter trains, and an overall safer environment.  

 

Various industries began taking shape at the Port of Kobe.  The worldly well-known industries in Kobe such as shipbuilding and the iron and steel industries, trading, shoes, clothes, and IT industries have developed around the port as the core and supported the city.  There are two man-made islands such as Port Island and Rokko Island.  Their container ports are ones of the best in the world, and distribution facilities and usable land are located near the airport, providing smooth and speedy linkage by air, sea and land.

The city is surrounded by an enormous concentration of the Kansai markets including Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Nara and Wakayama, and therefore, the population of Kobe is huge, which is approximately 1.55 million including about forty-four thousand registered foreign residents as of 2012.  

 

Those populations contribute to create a picturesque night views of the city and it attracts tourists’ interests.

Kobe has been one of the biggest tourist destinations in Japan, with around eighteen million and five hundred thousand visitors annually. There are many attractive sightseeing spots in the city including Mt. Rokko covered with magnificent greenery, the magnificent Akashi Kaikyou Bridge which connects Kobe to the Awaji island and Shikoku island, the Suma coast for sun bathing and fishing, the port for boating, Arima Hot Springs for its natural hot springs, and cultural and historical sites.  Tourists can also visit one of the World Heritage, an elegant Himeji castle just by an hour train ride from Kobe city.

In addition, a wide variety of shopping and eating establishments are available in Kobe. This fashionable city is famous all over the country not only among Japanese but also with non-Japanese as well. The mineral water springs out from the Rokko mountains is also famous due to its good taste and pureness.

 

There are many restaurants in the downtown, China town, and other locations and it serve exquisite cuisine from all over the world. Kobe is also proud of its Kobe beef, sake, wine, sweets and many other distinctive tastes.

 

Various events are held in Kobe throughout the year including the fabulous "Kobe Luminarie" that lights up the street with illuminated arches as far as the eye can see, "Kobe Festival" that includes a parade through town, annual fireworks festival in August, and the Chinese New Year Festival held in China Town.

Furthermore, just by 15 minutes car ride from the city center, - feeling a sea breeze - you can find different tranquil scenery in my living area, Suma.

It’s really worth visiting Kobe!