This document discusses using technology to enhance language learning and teaching. It provides an overview of different technological tools that can be used in language courses, including PowerPoint, video, sound, images, and course websites. It emphasizes that technology alone is not effective, and must be used thoughtfully to support clear pedagogical goals and strategies. Examples are given of free web tools like Google Docs, blogs, and Prezi that can facilitate collaboration and presentation.

1. Technology as an Aid to
Language Learning and Teaching
Chris Clark, Kaneb Center
University of Notre Dame
August 7, 2013
learning.nd.edu/flta
Fulbright FLTA Workshop:

2. Learning Goal
 You will understand more about using technology in
language courses.
= VAGUE!
Clear and observable:
 You will be able to name technological tools
which you would like to try in a language course.

3. Overview
 Pedagogy
 PowerPoint
 Strategies
 Media
 Campus resources
 Free and easy websites

4. Fill in any technology
 _______ alone is not a strategy.
 Use of __________ is inherently
neither effective nor ineffective.
 When used thoughtfully, ______
can enhance a teaching strategy.
 Used poorly, ____________
can make a teaching strategy LESS effective.
An iPad
PowerPoint
video
the blackboard

5. Follow these steps
Goals
Strategies
Assessment
Technology?

6. Good strategies
Chickering & Gamson’s “Seven Principles”
1. Frequent contact
2. Reciprocity & cooperation
3. Active learning
4. Prompt feedback
5. Time on task
6. High expectations
7. Diverse talents and
ways of learning

7. What technology does well
 Store and retrieve
 Simulate and visualize
 Compose and revise
 Communicate and disseminate
 Calculate and manipulate

8. What’s wrong here?
 Animated graphics or text
 Clip art and sound effects
 Screen transitions and color schemes
 Fancy fonts – for titles only
 Conservative, conventional, simple
 Left to right and top to bottom
 Logical flow of information

9. Effective PowerPoint

10. PowerPoint
 Text, graphics, sound, video, links
 Relatively simple
 Easy to update
 Hand out or post for outside of class
 Not necessarily linear
 Any tool can be used poorly …

11. Stem-changing: cerrar
cierro cerramos
cierras cerráis
cierra cierran

12. We’re going to Chicago
Certainty - indicative
Estoy seguro que
Doubt - subjunctive
Dudo que
vamos a Chicago.
vayamos a Chicago.

13. What did they do?
John and Mary drove to
the store yesterday
and bought three apples.
Later they went home
and ate the fruit.

14. Where’s the box?

15. An excellent book!
By Garr Reynolds
2nd edition

16. Video / Sound / Images

17. Video
 Content
 TV series: drama, game, reality, etc.
 Movie
 News
 Music video
 Source
 Library or rental DVD
 Internet: YouTube, live stream
 TV: Cable, Scola

19. … or film your own

20. Sound
 Live or Recorded
 Portable or Internet
 Music or Voice
 iTunes – music and podcasts
 Blackboard Collaborate Voice Authoring [Wimba]
 Audacity sound editor

23. … or record your own

24. Images
 Internet search
http://images.google.com

25. Art: Artcyclopedia

26. Photographs: Flickr

27. Satellite Images: Google Maps

28. … or make your own

30. Course Website
These help create complex, interactive sites:
Blackboard / Sakai / Desire2Learn / Moodle
 Content – documents, web pages, media
Popular: distribute files
 Assessment – quiz, survey
Popular: pre-class quiz
 Communication – discussion, chat
Popular: discussion
 Management – grades, tracking, groups
Popular: grade distribution

31. Classroom technology
Some (or all) of the following may be available:
 Computer – or laptop connection
 Projector and screen
 Clicker / pointer / air mouse
 DVD/CD player
 Document camera
 Smart board
 Cable TV
 Taping – audio or video

32. Other resources
 Technology help desk
 Class email list
 Training classes
 Library – videos, CDs
 Free web tools – see website, examples follow

33. Free web tools 1: Google Docs
 Collaborative editing in real time
 Doc – word processing
 Form – gathering data, opinions
 Also presentation, drawing, spreadsheet
 How they might be used
 Write a TV show script
 Create a series of images to narrate
 Annotate a work of art
See: http://goo.gl/pHpON | http://goo.gl/JUlACP

36. Free web tools 2: Blogs
 Blog = you write messages, other people comment
 Posts – announcements, news, ideas, etc.
 Pages – info that changes less frequently
 Important! -- Include images, videos, and links
 Recommended tool – WordPress.Com
 How it might be used
 Course website - mainly pages
 Journal, group reports
 Example – http://nd0910.blogspot.com/

38. Free web tools 3: Prezi
 Presentation
 Canvas, rather than slide show
 Zoom in, move from object to object
 How it might be used
 Break from PowerPoint
 Concept map
 Example – http://goo.gl/uJzaD