New technology in language

teaching: controversies, challenges and

the way forward

Pete SharmaMarch 2012

Oxford

Who are you?

Multiple perspectivesTeacher /

Lecturer

Language student

Teacher Trainer

DOS / Academic manager

Schoolmanager

PublisherAuthor

Designer / Developer

Researcher

Schoolinspector

Who are you?

Knowledge – Skills - Attitude

K S

A3 numbers

Who are you?

Plenary aims

• To update on developments in educational technology

• To provide a forum to discuss controversies

Overview

1) What’s going on?2) Controversies3) Small-group discussion4) The way forward

Task feedback posted towww.psa.eu.comComments on blogHandout - references

f2f

Online

Range of course types

In-class plus on-line• 100% f2f• 80 / 20• 50/50• 20 / 80• 100% online

Learning English in a Virtual world

Innovative trends

• Rise in learning platforms

PublishersAuthenticTeacher-produced

Range of publisher-produced software

Increase in m-learning and appsDictionary apps

Real-world apps

ELT apps

The flipped classroom

Learner voting devices Touch screen IWBs

Four controversial areas

(1) ELT materials(2) IWBs(3) M-learning(4) VLEs

From content to micro-contentHow tenable is the linear structure of course books and workbooks. Will courses become more bespoke and fluid?

(1) The future of ELT materials?

(2) Interactive whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards

Upside Downside• Memorable presentations• Better review – flipcharts• ‘Saveability’• ‘Heads-up’• Select answer

• ‘cost’• Promotion of teacher-

centred approach?• Pedagogical value?

(3) M-learning

“learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_learning

On the moveIn-class

PullPush

Scales / dimensions

Class-set Own devices

Rich content Discrete content

Resource tool One-off

Hardware

• Mobile-phone / Smart-phone• iPod / iPod touch / mp3 player• Laptop / Notebook - Netbook• Tablet PC / iPad / Samsung Galaxy• E-book readers• Learner response devices• Electronic translator

Software plus

Dictionaries Grammar practice Services ELT material Apps

M-learning

Upside Downside• buzz-term• add value• ‘just enough, just in time,

just for me’• exciting apps

• Range of interpretations• Over-reference to ‘apps’• ELT or authentic?

Virtual Learning Environments

Upside Downside• information on demand• appropriacy e.g. critical

thinking• pre / post course tasks

• time-consuming to learn• empty at first• ‘blended courses’ pleasing

no-one

Focus on appropriacy

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Four controversies

• Will ELT course books disappear?• Should schools buy an IWB?• Should students turn off their smartphones in class?• Should classroom learners be supported with VLE’s?

More controversies

• Can teachers use YouTube clips?• Can schools upload mp3 files from a course book to

their VLE? • Should teachers befriend their students on

Facebook?• Should students use electronic translators in class?• ……………?

Key things to bear in mind

Importance of attitude

CALL is ‘situation-specific’

• What is it?• So what?• How to use it?

Centralicity of pedagogy

Blended Learning - updates

Stay as up to date as much as possible

Involve all stake-holders

Considerations

• The ‘two year’ rule• There’s ‘never’ a good time to buy!• TLC

– www.psa.eu.com– References– Task feedback