How to train students to use technology appropriately (an #eltchat summary)

Can I just send you a link to my blog? — From: https://consortium.wikispaces.com/Laura+Deisley

This is a summary of the 12pm GMT #eltchat on Twitter from Wednesday 9th February 2011. Find the complete transcript here.

Why bother?

It empowers students.
It allows them to learn beyond the classroom – blogs, wikis, skype, global projects…find out more
SS bring their own technology to class anyway. For example “Students arrive first day with a very expensive electronic dictionary. We have integrated a class on use into the curriculum”
Older kids learn by using tools and making mistakes.
Tech can make language learning more exciting, even if SS can’t access it at home. It can also absorb SS in using the language so much that they forget they are studying.
“Resource, communication, and automated feedback (might include motivation as well)”
Language learning is a tool to learn other things, including technology.
It fits in with many SS lifestyles, adding purpose, engagement and usefulness to the lesson.
“When did Ss have access to so much natural lang in the past 24/7? – A self access at their fingertips”
By showing SS how to deal with tech by themselves, you’re fostering learner autonomy.
Your SS can be immersed in L2 culture. It’s an accessible way to meet and interact with L2 natives.
It’s a great motivator.
Online practice between lessons makes up for a possible lack of face-to-face time – SS progress faster.
SS who are shy in class can be much more willing to participate online.
Tech can do things you can’t, like “a student-created book students can access at home and share”

How to do it

Train learners by demonstration. e.g. with YLs use Triptico word magnets for grammar structures. They want to try it too!
Offer old computers for young learners to play on. With very young learners, show them how to use the mouse and keys to make things happen on screen.
Assign computer-related homework, e.g. making a short powerpoint. SS then talk about it in class.
Use an iPad for audio and video content. Also has a good dictionary app.
Encourage SS to set their phone / PC to English – they know the functions and can learn a lot of language.
Use your iPod / mp3 player for listening in class. Great way for SS to see podcasts in use.
Ask SS to bring in something funny, e.g. a YouTube video, and share it at the end of class.
Encourage SS to use smartphones to look up words / images.
Ask SS to use bluetooth to send short recordings.
Connect to your SS on facebook and ask them to comment on your statuses in English.
On the first day of class, ask all of your SS to get their phones out and send you a text. Make a class list.
Teach Pecha Kucha with young adults – prepare a “half” PK with 10 slides only. / Offline, try it with a series of A3 cards.
Ask SS to record themselves inside and outside class – on computers or mobiles. Example
SS can email you in English.
Use articles, infographics, video listening activities etc to teach learners about tech.
With YLs, ask parents to play online games in English, e.g. Playhouse Disney
Ask SS to take photos of the board with their mobiles.
Encourage SS to listen to podcasts when commuting. Don’t forget to teach SS what podcasts are, as many of them don’t know! Do a listening lesson in class, then send them home with a list of links.
“A great Design For Change project in Taiwan: YLs teach senior citizens to use mobiles & PCs to message & game in English.”
Use class time for training, so that SS can continue their learning at home e.g. how to record voice messages.
Ask SS to take pictures of things they want to learn the words for on their phones, then bring them to class.
Let SS have a go at using something before you train them how to. Get everyone to try a task – the first one to work it out shows all the others.
Let them train each other. Encourage peer discussion.
Show them tutorials and let them play with tech themselves (especially for younger / more tech-savvy SS)
Ask the SS to read a text aloud and record it, then send it to you in class via bluetooth.
Talk about tech with your SS – they’re often very enthusiastic.
Train your SS on how to appropriately convey Internet research through oral presentations.
Teaching tech is like giving instructions – the simpler, the better.
Remove unnecessary obstacles – e.g. create a class sign-in.
Choose the one application needed and explore it together. / Choose a handful of tools and use them regularly and purposefully.
“My best tech moments are when SS create stuff/tell their stories/become stars/cooperate with each other.”
Teach each student something different, and they can pass it on. (Jigsaw reading approach)
With young learners, use tech adapted to them: big buttons, pictures, and no ‘dangerous’ links if they click around randomly
Get more advanced SS to create tutorials for earlier levels.
PaperTwitter: hand out a paper with a space for username and message to each student. They then have a short time to write a message and pass it to whoever they want. It gets silly and fun.
Ask SS to find stimulating texts online and bring them to class.
Show SS how to use Twitter for English self-study, through hashtags such as #twinglish, #eltstudentchat (latter has not yet started) – read about it here
Use Twitter to work on concise writing – the 140 character limit really helps them!
Use Twitter to make school / class announcements.
Even if there is space for every SS to have a computer, consider small groups for collaboration.
Use webquests for homework. / Do collaborative webquests with a time limit – groups present what they have found after this time.
Ask SS to interview each other using mobiles / cameras.

Challenges and suggested solutions

Classes with mixed technology skill levels
Ascertain their tech capabilities as soon as you can, for example by doing a survey of what they know and if they have any expertise. Include a section on tech skills in your needs analysis. Don’t forget you can probably learn a lot from them too.
Availability of technology / resources
Think about what tech you DO have access to.
Your own laptop (if you have one) can go a long way – even one computer offers many opportunities. You can also ask SS to bring in their laptops. Even if you have no net access in the classroom, you can often download things to your computer. Help SS to find alternative places to access technology outside class, such as the local library, friends, family.
Mobile phones are all-pervading – most students have them, and there is lot you can do with them – text, recording, video, photos…
You can also teach technology without it: use ‘paper models’ of things like chat, forums/commenting, even twitter in class before going online.
Training yourself and your colleagues.
If you don’t feel confident, it is difficult to train your students. Play with tools before you use them in class. Share knowledge you have with your colleagues. Encourage them to come to your classroom to see it in action. Blog about your tech use and share. Thread technology suggestions into observation feedback.
SS resist using technology in class.
Teach SS language through Edtech. Go to the tech SS are already using, including local language sites. Start simple – once they see the usefulness, they may not resist as much. Use the knowledge SS have, for example with their mobile phones. Give them links to online dictionaries and exercises to take home. You may be teaching them how not to be afraid of it!
Parents / SS expect printed handouts and coursebooks, not computer-related assignments.
Teach SS language through Edtech. Show them how much more writing they do when it’s online “My parents are thrilled when they see how much WRITING in English their kids do when it’s online.”
SS don’t have email addresses.
Don’t forget that not every student has email! Help them to see the use for it, and try to find ways around it.
Complicated language (slang, abbreviations) on social networking sites.

Don’t forget!

Think about how technology fits in with your overall goals / content. No tech for tech’s sake.
Think about how to insert it into your practice, rather than teaching it as a completely separate skill. Introduce it in small doses so it doesn’t overwhelm language learning. Make it feel like a natural extension of an already existing task.
Are you teaching technology or using it as a tool?
Speak to your SS – they might not be interested in “hyper-connected language learning”, especially if they’re using tech all day outside class. Allow them to choose to avoid alienation.
“Don’t try to use tech to ‘fix’ things that aren’t broke!”
Have a back-up plan just in case!
Be ruthless – don’t drown yourself in technology!

Links shared

@Cybraryman’s Computers in the classroom page (including ideas for the one-computer classroom)
Example of a survey for assessing SS tech abilities – created using GoogleDocs; an another of a tech needs survey
Ideas for tech in low-tech contexts from The Centre for Appropriate Technology
An example of a lesson with a projector and one laptop
ESL and ICT activities
A list of links to introduce you to moodle (by @Cybraryman)
Technology Tips for Classroom Teachers
An infographic on How the Internet Works, with questions
Technology in class and at home
Edmodo – a kind of facebook for education, with each class having their own space (in action)
Glogster – an easy tool, which SS quickly love (good for low-level SS too)
LiveMocha – a social networking site specifically designed for language learners
Lookbook – a site for people to post their fashions – great for teenage girls!
Jing – make simple screencasts to show your SS how to do things
The Hole in the Wall experiment – an example of people teaching themselves tech without teachers
Technology integration for English Language Learners (by @cybraryman)
ESL vocab quizzes for hitting two birds with one stone, & practising mouse control/drag and drop http://bit.ly/a9yXC4
BBC Webwise – a great resource to use with higher level ELLs who are new to tech
English Central – a great site for SS to use at home, including an area for you to track their usage
Triptico – downloadable software with lots of tools, including word magnets and timers (can be used offline) -plus ideas for its use
Kidblog and Voxopop – SS write and speak as they never have before!
Twiducate – a Twitter-like environment, designed for education (read a review)
The Future of Learning – a presentation by Sugata Mitra
Digital Bloom’s Taxonomy