Technology in the Language Classroom

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TESL 0150
Resources Development and Integration

 In the final unit of this course, we explored the use of technology in education. We were asked to consider the advantages and disadvantages of using technology. What follow is my post regarding this topic.
Technology is increasingly becoming a regular part of language education. There are both advantages and disadvantages to its use in an ESL classroom. 
Some of the advantages include:
  • it can be very engaging/interesting for students
  • it can be interactive
  • it can increase student participation 
  • it can provide variety to a lesson
  • it can meet the needs of different learning styles
  • there are a wide variety of resources/technologies available
  • it can help to develop technological literacy
  • it can save paper :)
  • it is usually up to date, whereas texts may be outdated
Some of the disadvantages include:
  • it requires instruction/learning in how to use it, for teachers and students
  • teachers need to stay up to date on the latest technology
  • it sometimes malfunctions or the internet connection is not good (if needed)
  • it may break down and require servicing
  • it can become obsolete and need replacing
  • it costs money and can be expensive to maintain and keep up to date
  • it can be a distraction for some students and actually decrease engagement
  • there is a lot of poor quality or inappropriate material out there
  • it may take time to sift through in order to find something of good quality that is useful/applicable
  • there is a lack of human connection
It is important to consider all of the pros and cons when deciding whether or not to use technology in the classroom. I think the most important thing to consider is whether it will help this particular group of students  in this teaching context reach the objectives of the lesson today. You, as the teacher, need to make the best choice for your learners. 

We also selected a technological tool that could be used in the classroom and reviewed it, I chose to review Screencast-O-Matic.
Screencast-O-Matic: This screen recording tool allows you to create a video recording of your screen, webcam, or both. It is a great digital tool for capturing and sharing video content. The basic version is free and it is extremely easy to use. There are tutorials on the website as well as multiple YouTube videos available.
Benefits:
  • Students can hear you and see what you are doing simultaneously.
  • Students who are absent can see and hear what they missed.
  • Videos can easily be saved to your computer as a .mp4 file, saved to Google Drive or uploaded to YouTube.
  • Some editing tools are included in the free version. With the paid version additional editing tools are available for only $15/year.
  • Can include multimedia components.
  • Students can watch the video any time.
  • Students can watch the video multiple times.
  • Students can start and stop the video.
Drawbacks:
  • It is not interactive.
  • It can take a long time to create and edit.
  • Requires an internet connection.
  • May not match the learning style of some students.
Here are some examples of how it could be used in the classroom:
  • Instructional/how-to/process videos
  • Student video projects
  • Centers (create a screencast at home, students watch for a center)
  • Description/discussion of a picture, story, or article
  • Providing feedback on student assignments
  • Narration of a PowerPoint
I used this video recording tool in a previous TESL course and found it to be very user-friendly. I have only used the free version, but I can see that it may be advantageous to purchase the full version for the additional editing tools.
I have attached a screencast that I recorded for a previous course. In this video I explain a website that I have used to find ESL teaching materials. Hope you enjoy it!


References:
Brown, D. & Lee, H. (2015). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy (4th ed). White Plains, NY: Pearson Education.
Hall, N. (2016). Mobile Ready without the Ap: 10 Web Apps that Work with All Devices. Retrieved from https://nathanghall.wordpress.com/
Tomlinson, B. (Ed.). (2014). Developing materials for language teaching. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN-13: 978-1441186836

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