Brainshark

• Brainshark

Please click the link here: Brainshark or visit the website: http://www.brainshark.com

• What is Brainshark?

Brainshark is an amazing website where you can video, edit and upload your presentation, and share it through email and Youtube. If you are interested in any particular one, you also can download the podcast audio. Presentation maker can see the viewing report, such as number of views, percentage viewed, even the viewers' location.

• How to use Brainshark?

• Why is the content good for language learning?

1. Teachers upload the contents of lecture or presentation to Brainshark. It has three benefits: 1) The video of presentation can be saved and kept for future improvement; 2) The video presentation provides the students a chance to review the contents of class, or can be sent to the students who missed the lecture; 3) After activating the video, teachers can share his ideas to others and also get chances to learn from others. Through the following discussion and communication, two parties would improve;
2. In some activities of the class, students are required to make presentation. But sometimes, time is short and others may have no opportunity to do the task. Those students can upload their presentation into Brainshark and send the link to the teachers, waiting for the feedbacks and marks;
3. Teachers and students can continuously improve their presentation through watch their own video;
4. Parents have a chance to know the learning contents and make appropriate supports or helps to their kids according to the contents of the video.

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Before the lecture, teachers make a video in Brainshark and keep improving it;
2. Before the end of the lecture, the link of the video should be told to students for reviewing and comments;
3. According to the comments and feedbacks from students, teachers improve the presentation for the reflection process;
4. Sometimes requiring students to make a presentation video is necessary.

• Limitations

1. When recording, the good quality microphone would create better video;
2. The internet is required, however, Brainshark has launched new products for other mobile electronic choices, SlideShark, which also supports smart phones and iPad;
3. If users make the presentation in Keynotes, they have to transfer the file into PowerPoint. Users should pay attention to some slight differences between Keynotes and PowerPoint, such as fonts and slide-over effects.