When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe
and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and
demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical)
and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The
combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online
learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will
describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction
and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post
we will discuss how Chrome Speak, a web tool extension that can
be added to the Chrome browser which converts text into speech, can be used to
promote instruction in the Judaic Studies and secular classroom.
Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has an interactive white board (i.e. SMART
Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a
computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD
projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access
to their own laptop computers or Ipads. Given parental and school
approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used
to enhance instruction as well.
Note: Although Chrome Speak can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning
classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service
Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that
Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share
an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of
instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want
to join.
What is Chrome Speak?
Chrome Speak is an extension that can be added to the Chrome browser; this extension
converts text to speech.
What is a Chrome extension?
A Chrome extension is software program that can modify
and enhance the functionality of the Chrome browser. For more information on
Chrome extensions click on this link: https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/index.html
Where is Chrome Speak located on the internet?
Where can I find tutorials explaining how to use
Chrome Speak?
- http://www.guidingtech.com/8719/enable-text-to-speech-in-chrome-with-chrome-speak/
- http://www.screencast.com/t/arZHO7gsrSIV
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sshX_xJvu2o
On the next
post we will introduce the Firefox add-on , Text to Voice, which converts text
to speech.