Yesterday morning I had an interesting Skype chat with Canadian born MFL PGCE student Quentin Young from the University of Bangor who contacted me last week looking for a quote or two to finish off his special study on using ICT in the languages classroom.
An edtech enthusiast, Quentin is keen to persuade more of his colleagues to take advantage of the possible learning and motivational benefits of using ICT in the classroom and is frustrated by the negative attitudes of some towards new technologies such as blogs and podcasts.
Unsurprisingly, I was sympathetic to many of his views and was more than happy to answer the questions he had prepared for his assignment. To make life easier, I suggested we record the conversation so that he could play sections back to the MFL department he is currently working with as well as make it available here so others could contribute too.
Questions included:
- What got you interested in using ICT in the MFL classroom?
- What technologies have you found to be the most effective for pupil engagement, motivation and learning?
- What technologies best support assessment for learning?
- What are the best ways of bringing new technologies into the classroom?
Download Interview_with_Quentin_Young.mp3
Summary
- coming from a language teacher background
- comparing the use of technology amongst British and Canadian teachers
- looking for the best ways of integrating ICT into the MFL classroom
- the importance of MFL teachers sharing good practice and networking
- getting started with using technology (word-processing, websites, self-authoring, interactive activities, PowerPoint, Web 2.0)
- coping with the 'knowledge gap' and persuading others of the real benefits of using distance learning tools as blogs and podcasts
- overcoming negative attitudes from other colleagues concerned with security issues and internet safety
- Virtual learning environments v teacher/departmental blogs (Who takes control?)
- suggesting running a blog for a trial basis and the importance of establishing blog rules
- ideas on ways of engaging pupils effectively with technology
- balancing rigorous practice (teacher-centred) v creative (pupil centred) technology
- teaching pupils on how to use technology responsibly so they are engaged, motivated and independent in their learning (3 prong process)
- using the internet to bring in different voices into the classroom and seeing the reaction
- using audio and video to break down the classroom walls in the 21st century and share similar interests and differences
- embedding technology into the scheme of work to support assessment for learning (blogs, digital voice recorders, Vokis)
- nurturing the school community to leave comments on a blog
- taking the time to learn how to use new technologies to save time in the future
- having your pupils' resources at your fingertips
- pupils being motivated to leave Voki comments from home
- suggesting that more conference talks are recorded so colleagues can catch up with sessions they miss
- raising awareness of good practice and making it easier for less techno-savvy teachers to find information
- being patient and not expecting an overnight grassroots revolution from individual teachers
- the need for national strategies and governmental support
- living in exciting times for education
- ideas on introducing technologies into a languages department
- not being too ambitious to begin with and sticking to the 'no more than two blog posts rule a week'
- building on the willingness of colleagues to share their resources
- starting off with a blog as a way of publishing your pupils' work
- giving your pupils the incentive to access resources
- gauging the reaction of your pupils and involving them in how the blog evolves
- dealing with issues of the digital divide and overcoming barriers sensitively
- recommending software to get started
- comparing different blogging platforms
- creating multiple student blogs with Edublogs and moderating through a mother blog
- recommending ways to get started with podcasting and playing around with audio
- installing the Lame encoder and exporting as mp3
- adding podsafe music
- using The Levelator to balance your podcast's volume levels
- seeing Podium at The Education Show
- explaining the background of the interview and the reason for getting in contact
- writing a special study on issues surrounding 'getting ICT into the Modern Language classroom' for the PGCE
- wanting to play snippets of the interview to departmental colleagues
- encouraging Quentin to share more of his ideas to 'spread the gospel'
- the importance of meeting colleagues face to face
- writing future articles
- being involved with two video case studies
- meeting and greeting at Language World
Show Notes
Alex Blagona on moblogging in St Etienne
Jess McCulloch and her Friday VoxPop on Dropping Rubbish
Kathleen Holton on getting the most out of digital voice recorders
Argoed in Compact Schools Project DVD
creating multiple student blogs with Edublogs
Installing the LAME encoder and exporting as mp3
You're right Quentin - that is a funky hat :o)
Posted by: Lisa | 07/04/2008 at 16:51
Great interview! A lot of fantastic information to motivate teachers, and some really good points made - particularly on how Web 2.0 really lends itself to assessment. I loved how you both talk about students recording their voices and being able to immediately upload it and create something from it as well as assess each other. My kids love doing that - even though they pretend they hate listening to their own voices!
One of the most important messages we need to get out there is to get teachers to have a go at using new technologies - for them to realise that it is MOST DEFINITELY within their abilities, and that there is plenty of support and ideas out there.
It was great listening in to you both. Keep up the brilliant work!
Posted by: Jess McCulloch | 10/04/2008 at 12:38