CloudWriter - a collaborative writing app for MFL
We have been working hard over the last few weeks on perfecting CloudWriter and now that it is being used every day in over 30 schools, we are proud to announce a general release to the public.
CloudWriter is the best way for students to practise writing, rapidly reducing the number of errors they make while simultaneously reducing teachers' workload.
Visit schoolshape.com/cloudwriter to view our short introductory video, or try it for yourself at schoolshape.com/write.
CloudWriter adds automated grammar checking
CloudWriter has recently added a slew of new features to help students improve their writing skills, including:
- automated real-time grammar hints to help students think about structuring sentences
- checking of feedback given by exchange partners and native speakers for errors
- improved notifications for students and teachers - a question-asking and dialogue system
CloudWriter is now in open Beta, so please visit schoolshape.com/cloudwriter for more information, or schoolshape.com/write to try it for yourself.
New CloudWriter service announced
Following on from the success of the Online Examinations System and the Language Lab, Schoolshape is today announcing a third online service.
Named CloudWriter, the new software will focus on writing skills, supporting students in improving spelling and grammar in modern foreign language learning and literacy skills at primary school level. Students will be able to hone their writing skills in a collaborative environment with native speakers, while teachers can monitor and structure their learning experience.
We are now inviting a schools to participate as alpha testers, please contact us to take part.
Common Entrance Speaking Tests 2015
The number of junior schools submitting their oral exams via Schoolshape increased again from 88 in 2014 to 91 in 2015.
A total of 141 senior schools elected to moderate the exams in Schoolshape - up from 138 in 2014.
Oral examinations successfully submitted via Schoolshape in May 2015:
CE French Exam L1: 104
CE French Exam L2: 1831
CE German Exam: 8
CE Spanish Exam L1: 65
CE Spanish Exam L2: 166
Total no. of exams: 2174
Total no. of recording hours: 220.6
4AllBrazil at Papplewick School
Caio de Almeida Cunha of the Sao Paulo language school, 4AllBrazil, visited Papplewick on Friday 24th October to exchange ideas for the design of a new classroom suite they are building in Sao Paulo. Mr de Ameida Cunha and Ms Sarita Andrea, 4AllBrazil’s language lab coordinator, observed some lessons in the language lab and met up with teachers from Papplewick.
Since 2009, the Papplewick Modern Languages Department has been using the Schoolshape Language Laboratory to encourage boys to practise their French skills. Using the lab, Maimouna Cissé, Head of MFL, and teachers Laetitia Langue and Jeremy Ward use the IT Tool to differentiate language tasks for all learners, thus ensuring that each pupil has personal attention, learns at the right level and at his own pace.
4AllBrazil hope that their initiative will be a shining example of language education for the Brazilian people, who urgently need to learn foreign languages in order to trade abroad and boost their economy.
Caio Cunha, director of 4AllBrazill, said of their visit: “It was really fantastic to see your experience in class using Schoolshape. You really gave us an excellent view of Schoolshape in full use. We expect to replicate something very similar in Brazil. Congratulations for the beautiful school and classes you lead. We look forward to maintaining further contact to exchange experiences in language learning as well as Schoolshape solutions”.
