http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iatefl23 Recent years have seen a growth in both online teaching and technology use in language education, with an impact on the needs of trainee teachers. This talk will address what trainee teachers need to know, drawing on content from the new edition of 'The CELTA Course' trainee and trainer books, which I have co-authored with Peter Watkins and Scott Thornbury.

1. EdTech and The
CELTA Course
What trainees need to know
IATEFL Harrogate 2023
Sandy Millin
Freelance trainer, editor and methodology writer

2. Introducing today’s speaker
2
Co-author of:
The CELTA Course Second Edition Trainee Book
The CELTA Course Second Edition Trainer’s Manual
Blogger:
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iatefl23
Sandy Millin
Freelance trainer, editor and methodology writer

3. What we’ll be covering today
3
• Differences between 2007 and 2023
• Key differences (related to EdTech) between
The CELTA Course and
The CELTA Course Second Edition
• An in-depth look at two units from
The CELTA Course Second Edition

4. 4
2007 v. 2023

5. 5
2007

6. 6
• First iPhone released
• 1.29 billion people are using the internet (DataReportal,
2023)
• Facebook had recently become open to all
• 6 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute
(Statista.com)
2007

7. 7
• Part-time, face-to-face
• Chalk blackboards + screen for OHTs
• Paper handouts only
• Paper lesson plans for tutors
• Paper portfolio / CELTA 5
• Phone calls / Emails for contact
• One tech-related input:
‘Alternative methods: Rods, Realia,
the internet’
2007-2008: My CELTA!

8. 8
2023

9. 9
• 68% of the global population use mobile phones
• 64.4% use the internet (5.16 billion people)
• 55 countries have internet adoption of 90+%
• 59.4% of the global population actively use social media
• 23.8% of internet users accessed a site for education in the month
before data was published (these statistics from DataReportal 2023)
• 500 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute (Statista.com)
• Creative AI (e.g. ChatGPT) now available to all
• Post(?)-COVID world
2023

10. 10
• Part-time, face-to-face
• Projector + whiteboard
• Paper handouts for students + some QR codes / links
• Digital lesson plans for tutors
• Digital portfolio / CELTA 5
• WhatsApp group / Emails for contact
• Two tech-related inputs: ‘Teaching online’ and ‘Using Quizlet’
+ many tech tips: projector, slides, Google Drive, AI plagiarism, etc.
+ comparisons between face-to-face / online classrooms
2023: The most recent CELTA course I trained on

11. 11
EdTech and
changes to
The CELTA Course
Trainee Book and
Trainer’s Manual

12. 12
• Scott Thornbury and Peter Watkins
• Default = face-to-face classroom
• No mention of online teaching
• No units specifically about technology
• ‘Technology and aids’ section of ‘Choosing and using
teaching resources’ unit covering 1.5 pages = only specific
reference to technology
First edition (2007)

13. 13
• Peter Watkins, Scott Thornbury and Sandy Millin
• Relevant to face-to-face and online teaching
• Two units specifically about technology:
• Unit 29: The online classroom v the face-to-face classroom
• Unit 32: Using educational technology
• Activities which can be run easily in face-to-face / online courses
OR
• Tips for trainers in the Trainer Manual showing how to adapt
activities for face-to-face / online course delivery
Second edition (2023)

14. 14
Unit 29:
The online
classroom v the
face-to-face
classroom

15. 15
The CELTA Course Trainee Book Second Edition, p138

16. 16
With a partner, decide whether the activities below would work best
in an online classroom, a face-to-face classroom, or equally well in
both. Say why.
• Collaborative writing
• Error correction through the use of gestures
• Class surveys
• Etc.
Different classroom, different activities?

17. 17
• What are at least three possible advantages for teachers and
learners working in this type of classroom?
• How do learners benefit from these?
• How can teachers exploit them?
• What are at least three possible challenges for teachers and
learners working in this type of classroom?
• How can you work around these challenges?
Possible opportunities and challenges

18. 18
Think back to a previous TP. Imagine you are teaching it again, but in
a different type of classroom. For example, if you taught an online
lesson, you are going to teach it in a face-to-face classroom.
• Can you use the same activities in your alternative classroom? If
yes, how would you need to adapt them? If not, what activities
could you use to achieve the same aim?
• Can you use the same teaching techniques? Do you need to adapt
them for your new classroom? If not, which techniques could you
use instead but with a similar outcome?
• Etc.
Adapting a lesson

19. 19
The CELTA Course Trainee Book Second Edition, p139-140

20. 20
Key features of Unit 29:
The online classroom v. the face-to-face classroom
• Both classroom types are equal:
• Neither is inferior / superior
• Both have pros and cons
• Same input session regardless of course delivery mode
• Not specific to one type of tech / one platform
• Equip trainees with practical ideas
• Help trainees develop confidence to teach in either mode
• Teaching-centred, not tech-centred

21. 21
Unit 32: Using
educational
technology

22. 22
A summary of activities from Unit 32
The CELTA Course Trainer’s Manual Second Edition, p160

23. 23
A new feature: embedded quotes from other authors
The CELTA Course Trainer’s Manual Second Edition, p160

24. 24
• Not specific to one type of tech
• Not specific to one mode of delivery
• Reminds trainees to put learners first, not
technology
• Encourages trainees to consider a range
of factors which might influence tech use
• Prompts trainees to justify their use of
tech
• Gives trainees ideas about where to learn
more
Key features of Unit 32:
Using educational technology

25. 25
• How to move between online and face-to-
face classrooms:
• Adapting activities / Choosing new ones
• Choosing appropriate teaching techniques
• How to identify the knowledge and skills
they need to use tech successfully
• How to support learners with technology
• How to adapt as it changes!
> All facilitated by units in
The CELTA Course Second Edition!
So what do trainees need to
know about EdTech?

26. References and useful links
26
DataReportal (2023) ‘Digital 2023 global overview report’
https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-global-
overview-report
Statista.com (2023) ‘Hours of video uploaded to YouTube
every minute as of February 2022’
https://www.statista.com/statistics/259477/hours-of-video-
uploaded-to-youtube-every-minute/
(both accessed 10th April 2023)

27. Let’s stay in touch!
27
Sandy Millin
sandymillin@gmail.com
Blog: http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iatefl23
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandymillin/
Twitter: @sandymillin

28. Any questions?
Thank you
28

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