I’m in love with the new Easi-Speak Digital Microphone from Learning Resources! Everybody knows I’m a technology junkie and when I first laid eyes on this little digital gem it was love at first sight. Before I ever got my hands on it my head was spinning with all the possibilities for using it in the classroom. Keep reading to find out how you can use Easi-Speak in your classroom.
What Does the Easi-Speak Do?
The Easi-Speak is a wireless, digital microphone that records and plays back your voice or your student’s voices with the touch of a button.
How Does the Easi-Speak Work?
Push the red record button and talk into the microphone; listen to your recording by touching the green button. You can also upload the recordings to your computer in MP3 or WAV format by connecting the microphone directly to your computer via the USB located in the base of the microphone.
Features of the Easi-Speak:
- No batteries required, the device is charged in your computer like an iPod
- Can be used on a Mac or a PC
- Includes headphone jack (I’m feeling a karaoke center here!)
- Provides 3 hours of recording or playback time
- 128MB of flash memory
- Color coded buttons for little learners
Ideas for using Easi-Speak in the classroom:
Make Your Own Audio Books
Several years ago I switched my listening center from individual cassette players to iPod shuffles. I used a headphone/microphone set connected to my computer and the free, open source software called Audacity. Using these tools I recorded my own voice reading so I could provide my students with more book and audio selections. The Easi-Speak makes recording your own audio books to use in the classroom a piece of cake.
Record Students Singing
I made this video using audio clips of the students singing in the classroom. I had them sing into the microphone that was attached to the computer. The recording process was kind of awkward because I had to sit at my desk in front of the computer- not something most pre-k teachers do often! The Easi-Speak would make this process much easier and I could travel around the room freely and have students sing into the microphone while they are at centers. (The video was created with permission from HeidiSongs and written consent from each child’s parents)
Supporting Oral Language and Writing with the Easi-Speak
The Easi-Speak supports oral language development and provides motivation during interactive writing by allowing you to record and play back messages from the students. I’m constantly repeating the message as we write it together, but with the Easi-Speak I can just push the play button and the students can listen to the recording made by their classmate.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary Easi-Speak to review, I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions are 100% my own.
