dustbin

This post is the fifth in a lengthy series where I will be sharing the Web 2.0 tools that I’m using with my Beginning English Language Learners, along with explaining how we’re using and sharing student examples of each one.

Previous posts in this series have been:

Web 2.0 Tools For Beginning English Language Learners – “Phrase.It”

Web 2.0 Tools For Beginning English Language Learners – “Padlet”

Web 2.0 Tools For Beginning English Language Learners – “Szoter”

Web 2.0 Tools For Beginning English Language Learners – “Clyp.it”

Today’s post is highlighting Russel Tarr’s online game called Dustbin.

Students can very easily create a game — without registering — that requires players to categorize words. Categorization is a higher-ordering thinking skill, and I’m always on the look-out for interactives that have that requirement.

We’ve been studying the theme “Home” and students created a poster where they categorized words relating to different rooms in a typical home. They then listed the words in four categories in the Dustbin game, copied the link to their creation into a post on our class blog, and then everybody played everyone else’s game. Another excellent feature of Dustbin is that it provides an opportunity for students to first study what words go into which category before going into a timed “game mode.”

Here’s an example one student created in less than fifteen minutes after she had made her paper poster:

Click here for larger version

Though it’s very easy to use, Richard Byrne has also made a “how to” video that’s available on his blog.

If only there were more tools that were this easy to use and provided higher-order thinking opportunities in such a fun and supportive way!