Tutorials

Overview

How to create a Task

Below are tutorials for students on creating accounts and adding contacts. Teachers can find a overview video and tutorials on setting up an account, managing classrooms, and using and creating tasks. Click on the link below to jump to that section on this page.

 

 

TEACHERS

Features

Watch this video to see an introduction to key features of AAPPL Communication Builder.

Features Overview

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Accounts

With a Participant or Full account, you can create original conversation tasks and share them with other users. To do so, you need to have an ACTFL Online account. It's free. This includes instructors, content developers and even students. In the AAPPL Communication Builder, only users identified as teachers on their ACTFL Online account can create classrooms. Users must have their assignment be selected and the Student choice cannot be the selected option. See the Account Comparison page for the differences between the account types.

Teacher accounts

To create an ACTFL Online account:

  1. Go to ACTFL Online account registration page: http://www.actfl.org/user/register
  2. Complete the information as instructed.
  3. If you already have an account with ACTFL (or have had in the past) the system will not allow you to create another. Click on the "Request new password" to recover your password to an existing account.

To set your status as a teacher in your ACTFL Online account:

  1. Go to ACTFL's website, actfl.org, and log in.
  2. Click on MY ACTFL (orange tab in upper right) if not there already
  3. Click on View / Edit Profile (under My ACTFL Links on the left).
  4. Click on Edit (gray button button right).
  5. Click on the Demographics tab.
  6. Select "Current Status".
  7. Click on "Save" button.
  8. If you want to make unlimited original conversation tasks, purchase an AAPPL Communication Builder subscription through the ACTFL Store. A subscription is active for a year. With enough Participation Points, you will receive a discount. You are credited points by rating public tasks and by creating and sharing original tasks.

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Original content

The purpose of a task is to provide prompts for building conversations. AAPPL Communication Builder allows you to create original tasks either within the environment of the website or using external video or audio recorders. It is simply a question of using Communication Builder's recorder or uploading files that you have made in another environment or on a mobile device.

Remember, if uploading files, each speaking turn (e.g. "Hello, my name is ____. What's your name?") needs to be a separate file and so you will need to make them (and later upload them) one at a time.

Tasks

To create a task:

  1. Click on the "My Tasks" tab.
  2. Click on the "Create a New Task" button.
  3. Complete the steps in making a task.
  4. Tasks can be made private or public.

To produce a task with an iOS device:

The following steps are but one way to create and upload tasks--video* or audio.

  1. Point your phone's or tablet's camera so that it is in selfie mode.
  2. Hold it up and record yourself performing that turn.
  3. Review it for quality.
  4. Repeat this for as many speaking turns as you wish (up to 12).
  5. While still on your device, toggle to the website and login.
  6. Click on "Create a New Task".
  7. Upload each file.
  8. Once the files are uploaded continue the process of tagging the task for language, standards, keywords, etc.
  9. *If recording video, use a compression app (for iOS, you could use a simple, free app called "Compress"). Each video file must be less than 3 megabytes.

Public Tasks

Public tasks are shared with all Users. You can search for certain tasks, view them, rate them, and mark them as a favorite.

To mark a public task as a favorite:

  1. Click on the "Tasks" tab.
  2. Click on the "Public Tasks" submenu tab.
  3. Find and click on the public task placard of your preference.
  4. Click on "Task Marked Favorite" button.
  5. Click on "Go Back" button.
  6. A favorite public task will show a highlighted heart in the corner of the task placard. To unmark as favorite, open the public task and click on the yellow "Task Marked Favorite" button.

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Classrooms

The purpose of the classroom is to create a meaningful collection of students to whom you can easily assign tasks.

Classrooms

To create a classroom:

  1. Click on the "My Classrooms" tab.
  2. Click on the "Create a New Classroom" button.
  3. Enter a name for the classroom, such as "French 1st Period"
  4. Click on the "Save" button.

To add students to a classroom:

  1. Click on the "My Classrooms" tab.
  2. Find the desired classroom in the list.
  3. Share the classroom code with your students.

To email the classroom code:

  1. Click on the placard of the desired classroom in the "My Classrooms" list to open the classroom.
  2. Click on the "Copy Code to Clipboard" button next to the classroom code.
  3. In your email message, paste the copied code.

To delete a classroom:

  1. Click on the desired classroom in the "My Classrooms" list.
  2. Click on the TRASH CAN button next.

To assign your own existing task to a classroom:

  1. Click on the "My Classrooms" tab.
  2. Select the desired classroom in the list.
  3. Click on the "Assign an existing task" button.
  4. Select your existing task.
  5. Click on the "Assign Selected" button.

To assign an favorite public task to a classroom:

  1. Click on the "My Classrooms" tab.
  2. Select the desired classroom in the list.
  3. Select the desired classroom in the list.
  4. Click on the "Assign an existing task" button.
  5. Select the favorite public task.
  6. Click on the "Assign Selected" button.
  7. The public task must be previously selected as a favorite task.

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STUDENTS

Accounts

To explore on your own, create a Basic or Learner account. You can preview conversation prompts and practice your conversation skills on your own. However, if you want feedback on how well you are doing, invite others to register accounts on the AAPPL Communication Builder website and practice collaboratively. See the Account Comparison page for the differences between the account types.

Student accounts

To create a Basic account:

  1. Click on the "Get a New Account" button.
  2. Click on the Basic placard.
  3. Enter your first name.
  4. Enter your last name.
  5. Enter a username.
  6. Enter a password.
  7. Enter a password confirmation.
  8. Click on the "Create" button.
  9. If you want to manage your own account and reset your password in case you have forgotten it, then register as a Learner account.

To create a Learner account:

  1. Click on the "Get a New Account" button.
  2. Enter your first name.
  3. Enter your last name.
  4. Enter your email address.
  5. Enter a password.
  6. Enter a password confirmation.
  7. Click on the "Create" button.
  8. If you don't have an email address and have a teacher who can reset your password, then register as a Basic account.

To create a Participant account, create an ACTFL Online account:

    For instructions, see the Teacher section of this page.

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Collaborative Practice

Once you have registered an account and logged into AAPPL Communication Builder, share your account name with others and have them share theirs with you. Add them as a contact. This allows you to assign conversation tasks to others, and for you to ask others for feedback on tasks you have assigned for yourself.

Contacts

To add a contact:

  1. Click on the down chevron by your name.
  2. Click on the "My Profile" option in the drop-down menu.
  3. Click on the "Add Contact" button.
  4. Enter a full email address or username of a registered account and click on the search (magnifying glass) button.
  5. Click on the open box to check the found account.
  6. Click on the "Add" button.

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FORGOT PASSWORD?

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Pro Premium & Pro Account

For those using your ACTFL Online Community account to access Communication Builder use the resource on ACTFL's membership site.

For assistance with a locked account, please contact ACTFL at (703) 894-2900 or membership@actfl.org.

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Learner Plus or Regular Pro Account

If you are using a Communication Builder account created on this site and have registered an email address, use the reset password form below. An email message will be sent to you with instructions on resetting your password.

Learner Account

If you have not registered your email address, ask your teacher to reset your password.

Please check your email.

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