One of the benes of being webmaster for Ask a Tech Teacher is I get to review products for tech ed companies. Recently, I was asked to review a digital microphone called Easi-speak USB recorder from Learning digital microphoneResources. I've been looking for an easy-to-use microphone for little ones as young as kindergarten that will inspire them to relax, communicate, and be themselves despite the intimidation of being taped. Easi-speak is an MP3 recorder in the shape of a microphone-a great way to make it user-friendly and intuitive to young children. It says it's appropriate for children age four and up, but I was doubtful. I've read lots of reviews of products that claimed that kid-friendly mantle, but couldn't deliver.Right out of the box, Easy-speak appeared to be that sort of fun-and-easy educational tool that would meet its promises. It is colorful with bright, obvious buttons, the type that intrigue kindergartners and are intuitive enough for the more precocious of my second graders to figure out on their own. (I like guiding rather than lecturing. For me, it's a more effective method of teaching.)
The mic is chubby, easy to hold for young hands, with a bright silver top that makes children want to speak into it. I like that the mic comes with a necklace to hang it around the neck, and the USB port cover is attached to the mic so it won't disappear. It seems Learning Resources understands a child's curiosity and propensity for distraction.
Here's something else I love-the mic requires no batteries. You charge it using the USB port of your computer. The port, though, abuts to the microphone, which means it gets too fat to fit into a USB port if your bank of USB ports are (like mine) chock full of other peripherals (iPad, camera, USB drive, printer, etc.) and thus won't allow the wideness of the mic to fit. Learning Resources solves that by providing an adapter which works wonderfully.
Here are some of the projects we used it on:
Second graders taped themselves talking about their background, dreams, favorites, for the annual About Me Powerpoint slideshow
The Spanish teacher taped students so they could play it back and listen to their pronunciation. It turned into an effective teaching method that was much more affordable than language teaching competitors that offer this service built into their software
Each student taped themselves discussing their roots and uploaded it to Blabberize Me. What fun that was! Their words came out of the mouth of an animal! Unfortunately WP.COM won't play the .swf file, so click here for a WP.ORG version of this article-and the darling Blabberize video
Students in my 8th grade Web 2.0 design class taped themselves and uploaded it to Voki to create a personalized character to introduce their wiki page. All I did was hand them the mic and they figured out the rest. It's that easy.
While my 8th graders had fun with the bright colors and obvious design of this microphone, you might want the more mature Easi-speak Pro for olders.
Overall, this digital microphone proved to be durable, true-to-its-name, and fun. I keep it on my desk where I can reach it easily because I keep coming up with more ideas on how to use it to extend the reach of my teaching.
I highly recommend this product for all elementary classrooms.
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What I like about this recorder is that it looks like a microphone that kids can hold and speak into. It's easy to use. There are no batteries, you just recharge it with your computer through a USB connection. You can save the recordings onto your computer, email them to parents, or save the recording in a child's e-portfolio. Of course, my students loved it because they love to record and listen to their own voices.Ways to use it in a Pre-K classroom:
Record children reciting nursery rhymes or singing songs. These can be shared with parents and saved to e-portfolios.
Record directions for a game or activity you want children to do independently. Great for pre-readers.
Record your own books for the listening center.
Record group discussions about a topic.
Record children answering questions about a story and use this for assessment.
Disclosure: I received an Easi-Speak Recorder from Learning Resources to review, however all opinions/statements are my own.
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Learning Resources sent me an easi-Speak Digital Microphone to review and I absolutely love it! I love that there are no batteries and it has a USB built right in. It's just like a flash drive only it does SO MUCH more than that! This is so portable I can take it anywhere. The simplicity of it is outstanding and makes it so that even my first graders can use it flawlessly. It's a great tool to use to record student fluency progress and then share with students and parents and conferences.I know a lot of really awesome teachers who tell me things like, "I'm no good with technology and computers" or "I'm computer illiterate." Well I've got news for them anyone can use the easi-Speak Digital Microphone! It's easy peasy, lemon squeasy! It really is very simple to use. A LOT more simple than connecting an external microphone and making sure all of the settings are correct. That's really all there is to it to use it in its most basic form.
Now, how can you use this in your classroom?
Record students during oral reading fluency assessments. Use the recordings with students and/or parents at conferences to show progress
Use it after reading a story. Have students pretend to be characters from the book and interview them.
Let students buddy read together using the easi-Speak. Later, you can listen to their recording and make anecdotal records of how students are performing.
Need to scribe for a student? It can be difficult to keep up with them at times. Record them and then use the recording to help you scribe.
Going on a field trip? Take the easi-Speak along and let students record their thoughts and learning.
Know you're going to be out of your classroom? Leave it for a substitute. Record the class a special message for the sub to play. (Alternatively, let the sub record your class!)
Record directions onto the easi-Speak and leave at a center/work station so students can be reminded of directions.
Recording a podcast would be a piece of cake!
The possibilities are endless!
I do wish there were a little plastic storage box for it or maybe a drawstring bag to keep it in.
My full review is on my blog
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The fun, playful, brightly colored microphone just screams "USE ME". Right away I felt that this Easi-Speak recorder would be a fabulous tool to help those students who are reluctant to speak. By looks alone, it simply encourages play. Although there are many uses for the Easi-Speak, I find a lot of value just in the basic fact that it helps kids hear themselves by recording them, allowing for storage and replaying of those audio recordings. AND it looks like a toy!Here are a few other ways I will be using Easi-Speak in my classroom:
*Student sharing... the child holding the Easi-Speak is the ONLY person talking. :D --Way more fun than holding a stuffed animal, rock, etc. PLUS it records what they are saying.
*Digital portfolios... what an awesome way to track reading {and speaking} progress throughout the year.
*Audio input for End of Year DVD... I love the end of the year movies I make for my kids and their families. I also love audio over still photos. I think having the kiddos speak into the mic a few sentences about their first grade year will provide some wonderful recordings to add over their pics in the video. What a keepsake.
*Poetry recordings As part of the kiddos oral language grade, they present a poem every month. I have MANY parents who want to be there when their child presents but I don't allow them to come in because they just make the kids more nervous. What a fabulous way to let the parents hear their little one present to the class. The kiddos can say their poem into the mic, I can upload it into my computer and then email it to their parents! Love it.
*Develop fluency and inflectional reading by recording students while they read, either independently or during running records, then playing it back so they can hear how their reading temperate actually sounds to the listener.
It's a pretty cool little tool. I love that is wireless and doesn't require you to put batteries in it. It charges through the USB port on your computer. It's simple. The kids can easily use it without your help.
Kids really do love to hear themselves... almost as much as they love to SEE themselves. :D
See my full review
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