Technology SeminarJo & Anita31st May, 2013

Online learning tools should be primarily used for homework and self-study. not only!

• They are great tools for homework and self-study

• BUT! there are several ways you can use the tools in the classroom or for lesson planning this is what we are going to show you today

• you can even use these tools if you haven’t got access to internet there are several offline applications e.g. youtube downloader, printing quizlet cards, etc.

Opinion dictation – our opinion

Lessons that use technology require more prep-time. at first: maybe, but then: NO!

• You should have a plan B

• You might need a bit longer time for prep in your first lessons, but as you do more of it, you can use the same things over and over again won’t be lost like a piece of paper you copy from a resource book

Opinion dictation – our opinion

I feel confident when I use gadgets in the classroom. you can!

• Did you feel 100% confident on your first grammar or functions lesson? this is also just a trick of the trade you can learn, and it will get easier and easier

• If you have a class of teenagers or tech people, feel free to ask for their help kids will be able to solve whatever problem you have with pleasure

Opinion dictation – our opinion

I use technology more often for lesson planning than for actual teaching.

• If you have never used technology for teaching, lesson planning can be a safe and easy way to start it you have ‘unlimited’ time and you can plan everything

Opinion dictation – our opinion

It’s only a good idea to use internet-based materials with higher levels, lower levels can’t benefit from them.

• You will be amazed by the amount of material online! Enthusiatic teachers all around the world prepare lesson plans and materials for all levels. There are many sites where you can find elementary podcasts for instance.

Opinion dictation – our opinion

LISTENINGPodcast vs. Course book recording

1) Which could provide more relevant material for a particular class or student?Recordings in a textbook are thematically linked to the topic of each unitBut sometimes you want to work with something more relevant to the studentsPodcasts:Offer a variety of topics that can be easily adjusted They may even come with a written transcript or other additional materials.

2) Which type of text (and task) resembles more real-life situations?Textbook recordings have quite unrealistic interviews or conversations sometimesPodcasts can range from 100% authentic up-to-date radio talk shows, mini lectures or interviews to more or less authentic ones aimed at language learnersAuthenticity can train students to be more ambiguity tolerant Pay attention to the students' level - a podcast may provide more relevant and interesting material but if it's too challenging to understand, it may backfire.

Comparing classical and technology-based tools for teaching

READINGRecent online article vs. Course book article

1) Which could provide more relevant material for a particular class or student?A course usually has a pre-designed course plan with the accompanying textbook that comes with its own selection of readings. If you want something different, online articles can be better because:they may be more relevant to your chosen topicthey are more recent

2) Apart from the text, what else is there that you can exploit?The reading sections in course books usually follow a predictable patternOnline materials can integrate other skills:writing when they are replying to an article in the comment sectionlistening if there is an attached video that expands the storyBy following embedded links, students can read more on a topic that interests themIn case of unfamiliar expressions, they can turn to an online dictionary.

Comparing classical and technology-based tools for teaching

VOCABULARYHandwritten flashcards vs. Web-based flashcard generator (e.g., Quizlet)

1) What can you do with actual flashcards that you can't do online?Since most online flashcard generators enable you to print your flashcards, there is no such thing :)

2) What can you do online that you can't do with actual flashcards?Web-based flashcard generators will store your sets online You can search for a particular collectionSelf-study is made more enjoyable by playing different games, such as a space race :) You can listen to the pronunciation of each itemOr insert a picture instead of a long definition if that works better for youKeeping track of your progress is easier because the website records the sets you have completed and the sets you still have ahead of you

Comparing classical and technology-based tools for teaching

WRITINGHandwritten assignment vs. Assignment via email

1)When is one better than the other?

Online:Readable, searchablestays there forever (unless you or the student deletes it :)Handwritten:can be useful in exam prep courses where the students have to pay attention to time constraints, legible handwriting, enough pen supplies, etc. However, the question arises: how long is the reign of paper-based exams going to be? :)

Comparing classical and technology-based tools for teaching

WRITINGHandwritten assignment vs. Assignment via email

2) What options are available for marking each text/assignment type?Handwritten:underline and correct each mistake, just underline them and ask the student to correct them on their own, or only focus on content and add your relevant commentsbut students hardly ever go through their written assignments after all this hard work :(Online:start a chain of emails where you could track their progress with "track changes" you can give more personalized comments from time to timeit makes written reformulation much easier too because you can just simply copy the text and rewrite it in your word processoryou can also set up an online portfolio from their written works by the end of the courseand by using Google Docs you can get students to collaboratively create, peer evaluate and peer correct texts

Comparing classical and technology-based tools for teaching

One laptop is not enough for a bigger group to use, I think technology is hard to implement in large classes.

• Use the TVs to have a bigger screen that everyone can see• you can use videos, games, etc. as an input for pairwork or group speaking activities• Divide the class into two or more smaller groups and design the tasks in such a way that there is always one group that uses the computer and the others are doing other tasks (follow-ups). • some services/applications are specifically designed for groupwork and collaboration (e.g. quizlet, googledocs, etc.)• Russel’s idea of the living projector: only some students can watch the video and they have to act it out for the others.

Your problems from the needs analysis – some possible solutions

My laptop is too heavy, I do not want to carry it around.

• Many times (especially in business courses) students have laptops that you can borrow and use. When you prepare, you just have to use GoogleDocs, Dropbox or just email yourself the links and open them from there. This way, you don’t have to use the same computer that you used for lesson prep.

• More and more students have smartphones, too - the majority of the websites can be accessed using those.

Your problems from the needs analysis – some possible solutions

The wireless internet is unreliable in the school/the venue where I teach.

•You can use a lot of offline applications, e.g. Youtube downloader, printing quizlet cards, saving the article in a pdf/doc format

•You can ask your students with smartphones to share their network as a portable hotspot. Don’t worry if you don’t know what that means, your students definitely will!

Your problems from the needs analysis – some possible solutions

I’m afraid that using technology takes away from face-to-face teaching.

• Start with baby steps and see how it can actually add to face-to-face teaching

• Mix technology-based tasks and classical offline tasks

• Start with assigning homework based on technology, so that students can familiarize themselves with the technical learning environment

Your problems from the needs analysis – some possible solutions

My students are not open to technical advances.

• This is often the case when the students don’t use technology in their everyday life and they don’t feel confident about it. It is advisable to start with very easy services/websites/applications, that give a student a sense of achievement.

• If they are not open because they think using technology isn’t an efficient way of learning, show them some everyday examples, e.g. podcasts, news and demonstrate how you can learn everyday, real-life English using those.

Your problems from the needs analysis – some possible solutions

What is the right approach if some students are enthusiastic but others aren’t?

•Give the students different tasks. If for example you are making an online video, some less enthusiastic students can write the script while more enthusiastic ones can work on the actual creation of the movie.

Your problems from the needs analysis – some possible solutions

http://en.akinator.com/

The web genius - he can find out basically any famous person you can think of :) Great for practising question formation

Websites we looked at: Akinator

http://lyricstraining.com/

A great page for practicising listening and gap fill tasks with loads of songs.

Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL-hBYOW0HU

Websites we looked at: LyricsTraining

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/

A website full of up-to-date news articles and reading tasks designed for them.

Tutorial:http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/breakingNewsEnglish/

Since the creation of the tutorial, there has been a lot of new functions and options added to the site, check them out! :)

Websites we looked at: Breaking News English

http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.hu/

An amazing collection of grammar areas and movie segments that can be used to teach/practise them. Be careful - it's addictive! :)The creator of the page has another (similarly useful) page:http://warmupsfollowups.blogspot.hu/

Websites we looked at: Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals

https://goo.gl/hZXjO

Feel free to add more webpages of the categories:READINGLISTENINGGRAMMAR&FUNCTIONVOCABULARYMISCELLANEOUS

The next step: IH Budapest Collection of Educational Websites

Thank you for your attention!