Enhancing Teaching with Educational Technology Tools

1. Educational technology and teaching equipment Coursebooks, pictures, the black/white board, the overhead projector,the cassette recorder,video/DVD, bits & pieces Izabela Jaros

2. Coursebooks • Advantages of using a textbook: • Framework • Syllabus • Ready-made texts and tasks (CDs, CD-ROMs) • Economy • Convenience • Guidance • Autonomy

3. Coursebooks • Disadvantages of using a coursebook: • Inadequacy • Irrelevance, lack of interest • Homogeneity • Over-easiness

4. Pictures 1 • Flashcards • Large wall pictures • Cue cards • Photographs • Illustrations

5. Pictures 2 Pictures of all kinds can be used in the following ways: • drills (cue-response drills) • games • understanding • prediction • discussion

6. The black/white board 1 • Write clearly and in large enough letters for everything to be legible from all parts of the class. • Don’t jot words and phrases down at random all over the board. • Avoid speaking at length while you are writing on the board with your back to the class. • If you ask the students to copy sth you have written, stand or sit well away from the board and wait quietly for them to do so. • Don’t use colours which don’t show up well on the board.

7. The black/white board 2 Boards can be used for a variety of different purposes, including: • explanation aid • note pad • picture frame • public workbook • game board • notice board

8. The overhead projector (OHP) 1 Advantages: • there is no chalk-dust to put up with • while you write you are facing the class • material can be prepared in advance • material can be kept & used in later lessons • you can cover part of what is on the OHP transparency with a piece of paper, and present the information as you want it • you can go back any number of times to sth already used

9. The overhead projector (OHP) 2 To produce good transparences: - don’t write within 3 cm of the edges - put a piece of lined paper under the transparency to guide your writing - your handwriting need to be about twice ‘normal’ size - use different coloured pens to distinguish points - don’t overfill your ‘page’

10. The cassette recorder • Is the recording really clear for use in a large classroom? • Is it at the right level for the pupils? • Is it easy to use – with clear divisions between exercises and sections, so that you can find the part you want easily? • Are the links between the recorded material and the related printed material straightforward? • Does it generate good language work? • Is the content suitable? Are the subjects dealt with ‘right’ for the pupils? • Is it culturally appropriate? • Is it interesting? Will the students find it motivating?

11. Video/DVD • Video types: • off-air programmes, • real-world video, • language learning video • Why use video: • seeing language in use, • cross-cultural awareness, • motivation

12. Video/DVD • Video problems: • Poor quality tapes and discs, • Poor viewing conditions • The ‘nothing new’ syndrome • Stop and start • The length of extracts

13. Video/DVD • Guidelines: • Keep it short • Exploit the material (preview, viewing and follow-up) • Switch the TV off when the learners don’t have to look at it • Find your place before the lesson (if possible)

14. Computers • Teaching & testing programs • Reference • E-mail exchange • Web sites • The word processor

15. Bits & pieces • Realia • Language cards • Cuisenaire rods