BOOK-R

What is the link?
http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/

Bookr is an online scrapbook/photobook website that works very similar to Bubblr. Similar to Bookr, users can use either their own Flickr photos or use the sites archive by typing a keyword on the tag box (seen on the bottom left corner of the screen). A slideshow of photographs can be seen at the bottom of the page. Afterwards, users can combine images and text to make great photobooks.  The pages can also be turned to create a "realistic" aspect to one's photobook.  This website is quite easy to use. 

• Write a title and drag a photo for the cover page of book.
• Once the cover page has been created, users can then add more pictures and text as seen below.

When a photobook has been completed, it can be emailed to friends or embeded in a blog.

Below is a tutorial video on how to use Bookr.

How can Bookr be integrated into the classroom?

There are various ways Bookr can be integrated into as a classroom:

• It can be use as a vocabulary tool by correlating images and vocabulary (text) on the pages.
• Students can create a story using photographs and afterwards present it in class; it’s a way to focus on communication and written skills.
• Specific images can be assigned and students must write a descriptive sentence about the images.
• A teacher can assign a particular theme and have his/her students use a newly learned vocabulary word for a couple of their captions.
• A teacher can have his/her students edit or comment on each others photobooks
• Bookr can also be used for students to talk about their culture or travels

Below is my very own photobook.

Advantages:

Since there’s a wide range of activities that can be done using Bookr, this website is quite purposeful in an ESL classroom. It focuses on a whole range of skills such as vocabulary, descriptive writing, grammar usage, and communication. Bookr caters to various English levels. The website is fun and interactive, thus triggering the students’ motivation to learn. The photobooks can be recycled and the captions can be edited so students can continuously improve their writing skills. Finally, Bookr allows learners to be autonomous and the finish product can easily be shared with friends or presented in class.

Disadvantages:

I only found a few minor disadvantages to Bookr. First, it might be difficult for beginners or students who aren’t techno-savvy to use this website at first, however since there are tutorial videos for Bookr this problem is easily remedied. And second, only a limited amount of sentences can be written on the text box. Nevertheless, I still believe Bookr is a great tool for language learning.