Leadership, Organizational Learning and the Successful Intergration of Information and Communication Technology in Teaching and Learning discusses schools that are innovative, moderately innovative, and static when using Information and Communication Technology (ICT). What seemed to be key about these schools is that the most successive schools are collaborative and supportive (Sheppard 5), while static schools are described as “traditional and hierarchical” (Sheppard, 13). These static schools can be held back by administration or by teachers who are uninterested in changing the way that they present curriculum units. Sheppard describes that in static schools there may be a couple teachers who look to use ICT in their teaching “but they have not been able to provide the kind of stimulus required to share their new knowledge with others” (Sheppard 13). What can a teacher, or a pair of teachers, do to create a change and move their school from a static school into a moderately innovative school? We learned in the previous module that an innovation pushed or implemented by administration will most likely be successful, so what happens when the innovation is wanted from ‘the bottom’, but the superiors resist?
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES Going to the MALL: Mobile Assisted Language Learning is an interesting article, and even though it focuses on post-secondary aged learners, the challenges listed on page 54 are applicable to all levels of learners. I especially agree with the statement that “output is quickly moving from verbal to visual”, as learners will view a lot of information, but it is difficult for an iPad app to assess the quality of a learner’s spoken language; they are best for written output learning and practice. Further, the article did not answer the question I had before reading: regarding Mobile Learning, or M-learning, is there an age where it has been most effective? Or is there an age where M-learning has been found to be ineffective? Overall, I liked the discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of MALL resources and I think that technology, and its ability to reach many people, is something that ELL program leaders should always keep in mind as an additional resource to what classroom and support teachers can provide.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES Going to the MALL: Mobile Assisted Language Learning is an interesting article, and even though it focuses on post-secondary aged learners, the challenges listed on page 54 are applicable to all levels of learners. I especially agree with the statement that “output is quickly moving from verbal to visual”, as learners will view a lot of information, but it is difficult for an iPad app to assess the quality of a learner’s spoken language; they are best for written output learning and practice. Further, the article did not answer the question I had before reading: regarding Mobile Learning, or M-learning, is there an age where it has been most effective? Or is there an age where M-learning has been found to be ineffective? Overall, I liked the discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of MALL resources and I think that technology, and its ability to reach many people, is something that ELL program leaders should always keep in mind as an additional resource to what classroom and support teachers can provide.
Professional Development Workshop
I have created a Professional Development Workshop on the developments in ESL Education for an ESL Specialist to present to a group of teachers. The goal of the workshop is to remind teachers the goals of ESL education and how it is administered in BC. Further, it looks to provide them with new technology that aids ESL education (Computer Assisted Language Learning [CALL] and Mobile Assisted Learning [MALL]) and how it can be used in schools and classrooms. The outline for the workshop is available below.
Further Resources:
New Trends in Using Technology in the Language Curriculum by Robert J. Blake. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, Vol 27, March 2007, 76-97 Kukulska-Hulme, A. & Shield, L. (2007).
An Overview of Mobile Assisted Language Learning: Can Mobile Devices Support Collaborative Practice in Speaking and Listening? Chinnery, G. (2006).
Emerging Technologies. Going to the MALL: Mobile Assisted Language Learning.
Sheppard, B. (2003). Leadership, Organizational Learning and the Successful Integration of Information and Communication Technology in Teaching and Learning. The International Electronic Journal For Leadership in Learning, 7 (14).
Network-based Language Teaching, Kern, Ware and Warschauer (2008) Encyclopedia of English language Education
An Overview of Mobile Assisted Language Learning: Can Mobile Devices Support Collaborative Practice in Speaking and Listening? Chinnery, G. (2006).
Emerging Technologies. Going to the MALL: Mobile Assisted Language Learning.
Sheppard, B. (2003). Leadership, Organizational Learning and the Successful Integration of Information and Communication Technology in Teaching and Learning. The International Electronic Journal For Leadership in Learning, 7 (14).
Network-based Language Teaching, Kern, Ware and Warschauer (2008) Encyclopedia of English language Education