Enhancing Language Learning with Technology

1. Enhancing Language Learning with Technology Dr. Michael Rost michael.rost@latcomm.com www.latcomm.com/blog

2. Some images of new technology • memory techniques • collaborative learning • mind-body training • interactive scaffolding • adaptive instruction • speech recognition • multimedia access • connectivity • networking

3. The plan… • Explore our own orientations toward language learning and technology • Identify areas for enhancement • Give a quick review of “Best in Show” prototypes • Review keys to successful implementation • Entertain Q & A

4. Personal Orientations

5. Personal Orientations Task: What are 3 tools that are essential in your teaching? Explain reasons for your choices.

6. MR’s Backstory: Incorporating technology Michael Rost 2011

7. Personal Orientations Looking at theories of using technology in language learning Task: • What are the learners doing in each scenario? (Use a POV student perspective.) • What technology (instructional or electronic) is being used? • What is the “learning value” in each scenario?

8. Example 1:

9. Example 2:

10. Example 3:

11. Differences lie in… • Degree of learner action &/ participation • Type of task, length of task, type of outcome • Instructional “world” = “learning culture”, “position of teacher”, “position of co-learners” Michael Rost 2011

12. What does the research suggest? • Classroom only > Distance (TD) only • Hybrid (Classroom + TD) > Classroom only • Hybrid > Classroom only > Distance (TD) only

13. The upshot: • TD learning alone is generally not as effective as classroom learning alone => Attempt to have appropriate balance of classroom to TD. • TD learning + Classroom learning is almost always more effective than classroom learning alone. => Find ways of supplementing classroom learning with TD learning.

14. Differences in effect are due to: • teacher involvement • learner strategy training • accountability of Ss (record keeping) • choice (and variety) of online tools • choice (and variety) of content Michael Rost 2011

15. The Challenge! Limited Time to achieve: - Intermediate language proficiency in 4 skills - Readiness for academic study in the L2 - 21st Century learningskills

16. What kinds of enhancements are needed? Goal 1: Language Acquisition • Reading = increase in speed/quantity, comprehension, semantic depth, strategy development • Listening = increase in speed/quantity, comprehension, semantic depth, strategy development • Conversation=increase in accuracy, depth, participation strategies, presentation quality • Writing= increase in accuracy, semantic depth, appropriateness

17. Aside: How long does it take to learn a L2?

18. What kind of enhancements are needed? Goal 2: Academic Readiness • Massive Vocabulary Growth • Comprehension of Lectures • Participation in Discussions • Self Management of Tasks and Goals

19. Aside: What strategies lead to readiness?

20. What kind of enhancements are needed? Goal 3: 21st Century Skills • Connection • Communication • Collaborations • Critical Thinking • Creative Expression

21. Aside: What are 21st Century Skills

22. Best in Show • Language Acquisition • Academic Preparation • 21st Century Skills

23. Power of Five

24. Best in Class: Teacher Blogs • English with Jennifer http://englishwithjennifer.wordpress.com/ • English Raven http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ • ELT from A to Z http://scottthornbury.wordpress.com/ • That’s Life http://slife.dudeney.com • TEFL Matters http://www.facebook.com/Marisa.Constantinides • Critical mass elt http://sjhannam.edublogs.org

25. Best in Class: Learning Management Systems Wordress www.wordpress.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWYi4_COZMU Blackboard http://www.blackboard.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwpvBy7tx3A Drupal www.drupal.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q2aPi9ZEgs Joomla www.joomla.com http://people.joomla.org/videos/video/380-joomla -example-sites.html?groupid=567 Moodle www.moodle.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o1fMQsfzoQ

26. Best in Class: Grammar • Grammarly “World’s most accurate grammar checker” – checks written texts http://www.grammarly.com • Azar Grammar Teacher-created worksheets on discrete grammar points www.azargrammar.com • Many Things Simple interactively scored activities, organized topically http://www.manythings.org/ • Activities for ESL Range of self-scoring quizzes http://a4esl.org • Listen and Write Dictation practice, lots of dictation practice http://www.listen-and-write.com/

27. Best in Class: Listening • Broadcasts from the BBC A range of audio and video broadcasts available for online streaming. www.bbc.co/uk/worldservice/BBC_English/progs.htm • YouTube Selection Selected YouTube videos, subtitled by members http://yappr.com • Free TV Watch your favorite TV shows. Anytime. For free. http://www.hulu.com/ • English Language Listening Lounge Massive number of interesting interviews, tasks, vocabulary and cultural notes www.elllo.org • Awesome Stories “The story place of the web” Tell yours, listen to others’. www.awesomestories.com

28. Best in Class: Conversation • Google Voice Free phone voice messages, transcribed automatically (80%), feedback mechanism https://www.google.com/voice/ • ESL Gold includes situations, conversation topics, speaking tasks www.eslgold.com/speaking.html • Chatterbox Challenge – variety of controlled conversations with chatterbots www.chatterboxchallenge.com • Voice Thread – Group conversations (asynchronous) around images, documents and video clips www.voicethread.com • English Baby – Forums and chat rooms for conversation www.englishbaby.com

29. Best in class: Vocabulary • Vocabahead – short videos to illustrate vocab for standardized tests http://www.vocabahead.com • Word a Day – receive a new word each day http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/list/ • Visual Thesaurus – Visualize word webs http://www.visualthesaurus.com • Corpus Based Learning – Use large database of spoken English to learn collocations and contexts http://corpus.byu.edu/coca/ • Listen to English Focuses on short pedagogic podcasts and vocabulary building www.listen-to-english.com

30. Best in Class: Academic Prep • Khan Academy Learn almost anything (mostly about science) http://www.khanacademy.org/ • Academic Earth Online courses from the world's top scholars. www.academicearth.org • Brain Pop animated, curriculum-based content that engages students http://www.brainpop.co.uk/ • Wikiversity – Audio and Text-based courses, “set learning free” http://wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity • Literacy Net Graded and supported readings on a range of topics, with skill building exercises http://www.literacynet.org

31. Best in Class: Connection and Collaboration • The Common Language Project Inform each other on “crucial human issues of our time.” http://clpmag.org/about.php • Language Exchange Meet other international students and communicate via Skype http://www.language-exchanges.org • Livemocha “Welcome to the world’s largest language learning community.” www.livemocha.com • Social Networks Connect with others, locally and internationally, promote yourself and your interests; pre-fab communities www.facebook.com, www.orkut.com • Online Communities Connect with others for specific purposes http://mashable.com/?s=online+communities

32. Best in Class: Critical Thinking • TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Leading innovators, short illustrated talks www.ted.com • Survey Monkey Inquire about people’s opinions, analyze results (with e.g. Compelling Conversations) www.surveymonkey.com • Critical Thinking Course Students learn about claims, arguments, validity, conclusions www.criticalthinkingcourse.com • Qualia Soup A YouTube channel discussing controversial topics and arguments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h9XntsSEro&feature=relmfu • Journal Writing Prompts 300 prompts for reflective journal writing http://creativewritingprompts.com

33. Best in Class: Communication (Self-Expression) • Write and record your own story www.storycorps.org • Direct and post your own videos www.vimeo.com • Assemble and narrate multimedia shows slideshows www.smilebox.comwww.animoto.com • Share your own presentations www.slideshare.com • Design original multimedia presentations http://prezi.com/

34. Best in Class: Learning Games • The Experiential Learning Group Offers listening games oriented for adults. www.experiential-learning-games.com/listeninggames.html • ESL Games World Flash-based games for lower levels http://www.eslgamesworld.com/http://topwordgames.com/ • Multiplayer Games (MMOG) Interact with other players around the world http://www.novelgames.com/multiplayerflashgames/ • English Wizz A Jeopardy style board game on over 300 world topics www.englishwizz.com • Free Thinking Games A variety of critical thinking games www.freethinkinggames.com

35. Best in Class: Free Tools • Skype (+ Ecamm) - record your conversations www.skype.com, www.ecamm.com • Google Docs - use spreadsheets to track students’ tasks http://docs.google.com • Facebook - create a class page www.facebook.com • Drop Box keep a portfolio of student work https://www.dropbox.com • i-Tunes Post and access audio, video, learning apps www.apple.com/itunes

36. Keys to Successful Use of New Technologies • Compelling Content • State of the art navigation **** • Injecting Learning Strategy Instruction • Keeping Learner at Center: Presentations and Peer Teaching • Adding Evaluation (+/-, Performance Scales ) • Valuing Learner Feedback (Likert Scales, “Yelp!” suggestions) *** • Integrating technology with sound teaching approach • Monitoring, Coaching, Supplementing, Personalizing • Keeping Records of learner performance • Teacher Commitment, Confidence, and Passion Michael Rost 2011

37. Thank you for your participation… Michael Rost michael.rost@latcomm.com • latcomm.com/blog Please contact me with feedback–and let me know your own “Best in Class” ideas!

38. Some References • Healy, D. et al. (2011_ TESOL Technology Standards. TESOL. • Horizon Project http://horizon.wiki.nmc.org/About+The+Horizon+Project • MSU Michigan State's Confucius Institute and MMOG for Chinese: http://b2e.nitle.org/index.php/2007/01/26/massively_multiplayer_online_learning • Thorne, S. L. (2009). 'Community', Semiotic Flows, and Mediated Contribution to Activity. Language Teaching, 42(1): 81-94. • Thorne, S. L. & Reinhardt, J. (2008). “Bridging Activities,” New Media Literacies and Advanced Foreign Language Proficiency. CALICO Journal, 25(3): 558-572. • Wesch, Michael (2011) The Machine is Us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE&eurl=

39. Some (advance organizer) aphorisms • No ______to lose • 3000 _____________a day • all learning is __________learning • acquisition is initiated by “_________” •  best teaching is through “_________”