Integrating ICT into the MFL classroom:: Adam Sutcliffe on blogging, podcasting and digital video work

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking to Adam Sutcliffe French and German teacher at The Gordon Schools in Huntly, Aberdeenshire who has been busy this year creating blogs, podcasts and a wiki to help his pupils in their language learning. Adam attended Communicate.06 a MFL conference for Scottish teachers organised by Ewan McIntosh in March 2006 at Stirling University and was inspired to take advantage of the ICT tools he had at hand

To date, Adam's four blogs include:

For me, the most impressive blog of the quartet, is TGS MFL Homework Blog where Adam has recorded and uploaded a selection of vocab guide podcasts for his pupils to download and listen to on their mp3 players and mobile phones. The idea is to give them extra listening practice and improve their pronunciation in their own time away from school. These vocab guides are supported by written grammar notes and exercise booklets which have been created departmentally and which are based on the Metro course.

Adam's attitude to using technology in the classroom is very practical and hands-on. He likes his pupils to be happy and learn by taking part in fun projects like creating videos and radio shows. They are clearly benefitting from his philosophy as shown in their speaking/written work and the comments they regularly leave on his various blogs.

If this wasn't enough, Adam also runs his own teacher reflection blog aptly titled So Much to Learn ... So Little Time (I know how he feels!).

I think we could all learn something from Adam's innovations and be reassured that with just a little bit of kit, we can make engaging resources to promote language learning in our own schools. We don't have to have the latest interactive whiteboard or computer suite to embed ICT into the curriculum. With a laptop, microphone and sound editing software like GarageBand or Audacity, can we not replicate Adam's ideas and create our own vocab guide podcasts? You could post them on a school website or blog and see what your pupils think of them. The Gordon Schools have proven their success. Can't we do the same?

In the interview, Adam gives the following advice to any MFL teacher interested in integrating blogs, podcasts and digital video into their lessons, namely:

"Know what you want to get out of it and keep things simple"

To hear more of Adam's wise words, click on the link below:

Download interview_with_adam_sutcliffe.mp3

For those who can't wait, here is a summary of our conversation:

Adam's teaching background (Barnsley, Cameroun, Yell, Huntly)
The type of school where Adam works and its ethos to language learning
How languages are promoted in the MFL department
The ongoing project 'Languages Work' and winning an award
Primary school links and learning from the Scottish experience
Technology at the school and podcasting with a Mac
Communicate.06 and using web 2.0 tools in the classroom
Getting started with blog no.1
Creating vocabulary guides as podcasts and the TGS MFL Homework blog
Pupil and staff reaction to the free audio recordings, grammar notes and exercise booklets
Motivation and raising attainment
Embedding the idea
Preparation time for an average podcast
Podcasting kit and the ease of using GarageBand
Structuring the vocab guides as a listening resource and aid to pronunciation
Distance learning in practice
Choosing what to blog about first (cultural event, school trip, multimedia tourist guides)
Editing and adding subtitles with iMovie
Starting the Rate my Mates blog based on the Two Stars and a Wish principle where pupils leave comments saying two good things about a piece of work and one aspect that can be improved as an example of assessment is for learning (Scottish term) or assessment for learning (English term)
Providing for pupils who don't have internet access at home
Using mobile phones to record audio in class
Setting up an internet radio show and choosing relevant content in English
Creating radio shows in French and German as an engaging form of assessment
Differentiation and autonomy
Keeping to the scheme of work
The language learning philosophy at The Gordon Schools
Using ICT creatively to let pupils communicate their ideas in concrete terms
Defining the term Web 2.0
Investigating Wikis
The benefits of being a hands-on learner
Realistic and practical advice on how to get started
Setting up blogs with a clear purpose and organising resources
Being asked to speak at Communicate.07 and getting prepared
Reasons behind the successes of MFL blogging in Scotland
Ewan McIntosh's influence and support
Strategies to raise the awareness of the learning benefits of blogging
The effect of political intervention on language learning policy in England and the morale of MFL teachers as a result
Teachers' workload and the expectation of using technology in the classroom
Being creative with limited resources
Future plans