Reflections on Creating an English Teaching Material with Pixabay and TED-Ed
Creating engaging and effective teaching materials is always a rewarding challenge. In week 7, I developed an English learning resource focused on the topic of ‘How to Make Fortune Cookies,’ using Pixabay for images and TED-Ed for video-based content. This experience offered valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of these tools, shaping my approach to material development.
If you want to look at the material, here is the link: https://ed.ted.com/on/nauokak6
Using Pixabay: A Treasure Trove of Visual Resources
Pixabay proved to be an excellent resource for sourcing high-quality, copyright-free images. Since the topic revolved around making fortune cookies, I needed images that accurately depicted ingredients, the baking process, and the final product. Pixabay’s extensive library made it easy to find relevant and visually appealing photos, which helped illustrate key vocabulary words and enhance students’ understanding.
One major advantage of Pixabay is its user-friendly interface. Searching for specific images using keywords like ‘fortune cookie’ and ‘baking’ yielded a variety of options. The platform also provides high-resolution images without requiring attribution, which is especially useful for educational purposes.
However, one limitation I encountered was that while Pixabay offers an impressive collection, it sometimes lacks highly specific or step-by-step instructional images. For instance, finding a clear sequence of images demonstrating the folding process of a fortune cookie required sifting through many unrelated photos. In such cases, supplementing Pixabay’s images with self-created visuals or screenshots from videos might be necessary.
(The images here need to be carefully sifted)
Creating with TED-Ed: A Structured Approach to Video-Based Learning
TED-Ed was instrumental in structuring the lesson around an engaging TED Talk video. TED-Ed allows educators to customize video lessons by adding multiple-choice and open-ended questions, discussion prompts, and additional resources. This interactivity made it a perfect tool for promoting comprehension and critical thinking.
The TED Talk I selected introduced the cultural background and history of fortune cookies before explaining the steps involved in making them （https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6CgCL2HqI0&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fed.ted.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fed.ted.com&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&themeRefresh=1）. TED-Ed’s platform enabled me to break down the video into digestible sections, adding interactive elements to reinforce learning. Students could answer comprehension questions directly on the platform, which provided immediate feedback and encouraged active participation.
One of TED-Ed’s strongest features is its ability to foster discussion. By integrating open-ended questions, I encouraged students to share their thoughts on cultural aspects of fortune cookies and their experiences with similar traditions in their own cultures. This not only enhanced language skills but also deepened cross-cultural awareness.
(Open questions in TED-Ed can help students interact with each other)
However, TED-Ed does have some limitations. While the platform works well for structured video-based learning, its customization options for visuals are somewhat limited. Unlike tools that allow full lesson design flexibility, TED-Ed confines educators to the video format, which may not suit all teaching styles. Additionally, the effectiveness of the lesson heavily depends on the chosen video’s clarity, pacing, and suitability for the learners’ proficiency level.
Key Takeaways
Overall, combining Pixabay and TED-Ed offered a dynamic and visually enriched learning experience. Pixabay’s vast image collection helped support vocabulary development, while TED-Ed’s structured approach to video-based learning engaged students in interactive discussions and comprehension exercises. However, both tools require careful selection and, at times, supplementation to ensure they fully meet instructional goals.
In future projects, I plan to integrate additional visual aids or self-created images when Pixabay’s offerings are insufficient and consider pairing TED-Ed videos with hands-on activities to provide a more balanced learning experience. Despite their limitations, these tools significantly enhanced the lesson’s effectiveness, making language learning more engaging and culturally insightful.
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ReplyDeleteHi lovely girl. How are you?
ReplyDeleteYour blog is really clear and interesting!
I really liked how you explained the use of Pixabay and TED-Ed for your lesson. The screenshots helped a lo, but you could make it even better by using bold headings, bullet points and maybe turning the link into clickable button or text? would look more nicer.
Overall, it is a great post, just few small adjustment.
Hi Carly! I enjoyed reading your blog. It shows your experience with Pixabay and TED Ed in a clear and practical way. I also liked that you pointed out both the good sides and the challenges. For example, it is helpful to know that Pixabay sometimes lacks step by step images. You also honestly mentioned that TED Ed does not offer much freedom in design.
ReplyDeleteIf I may suggest one thing, you could briefly mention what you would do when the tools are not enough. For example, using your own pictures or adding extra class activities. This would make your reflection more complete.
I've had to worry about finding stock images before, and Pixabay really is a great resource to use. Your blog is very helpful for me and I really learnt something new! 😉
I really liked Roxy’s idea about using your own pictures or adding extra class activities. I also suggest that you add some ideas for your targeted audience to use in their classroom.
DeleteThe blog discusses the experience of using the Pixabay website to build learning resources related to the topic of ‘making fortune biscuits’. The article is richly illustrated and captures the reader's attention. In addition, you share your own creative process in details, suggesting that Pixabay, while offering a wide variety of images, does not work well for your need for specific images for each step. The text mentions the experience of creating learning resources with Ted video and suggests that interactive questions can be designed to help improve student learning. Perhaps consider showing examples of questions in the text? It would be easier for readers to better understand the specifics of producing topic-appropriate videos on this site. In addition, I agree with other team members that if you could insert appropriate pictures into some of the narratives, it might make the text clearer and more persuasive.
ReplyDelete