INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR INSTRUCTION HMLT 5303 PROJECT

1. INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR INSTRUCTIONHMLT 5303 PROJECT TOPIC A PROPOSAL TO USE THE IPOD TOUCH AS AN INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONALTOOL FOR ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES BY JANE NKOSI 20 December 2010

2. Presentation outline Background Introduction Who are the Millennials? Characteristics of the Millennials How to teach Millennials Educational Features of the iPod Touch The iPod Touch in an EAP Classroom Conclusion References

3. BACKGROUND Integratingtechnology in teaching and learning is fast changing the education landscape. New technologies empower learners and give them access to a variety of tools to use as learning centres and forums for communicating and sharing information.

4. BACKGROUND A major change in this landscape is the use of cell phones and other hand held technological gadgets for teaching and learning. This new trend does not confine learning to the classroom but allows it to occur anywhere and at any time. Hence the idea of mobile learning. The iPod Touch in particular is becoming an essential learning aid for students in this new approach.

5. Introduction This project proposes the integration of the iPod Touch as an innovative learning tool for millennial students. The target audience is university students taking English for Academic Purposes. First let us define Millinnial students.

6. Who are the Millennials ? These are people born in or after the year 1982. They show diverse characteristics and learning styles. They value their independence. One significant feature is that the millennials rely heavily on technology and therefore expect immediacy and variety in what they do. These are well provided by web 2.0 tools such as the internet, the mobile phone including the iPod Touch .

7. Characteristics of the Millennials They like to multitask and such that they could be simultaneously like listening to music, sending text messages  and chatting on the phone. (Jackson 2009). It is therefore, important that teachers and instructional designers understand this.

8. Characteristics of the Millennials For them computers and cell phones are ubiquitous and familiar. That is why they are called digital natives who need real-time connectivity. They operate in a Networked Culture and in public with media like: YouTube, Facebook, social bookmarking. They remix and transform content. (Oxenden etal n.d.)

9. Characteristics of the Millennials They prefer experiential, interactive, and authentic learning and are bored with a lecture tradition. They also like learning environments which accommodate their ‘on the move’ lifestyle but enhance collaboration and team work.

10. Experiential Learning According to Horkoff et al (2008), this process involves setting goals, thinking, planning, experimentation, reflection, observation, and review. By engaging in these activities, learners construct meaning in a way unique to themselves.

11. How to teach the Millennial Some of the pedagogical approaches to teaching the Millennials include • tossing information at students and allowing them to work with the information to meet their learning needs. • raising challenges to enhance problem solving strategies (i.e. making them the pitchers ) which is easy to achieve with cell phones.

12. How to teach the Millennials To develop relevant and effective instructional strategies, the instructional designer should ensure that: • Learning activities are varied and experiential rather than linear • Learning materials incorporate teamwork and hands on experiences; • Learners are given opportunities for sharing • The learners get regular feedback

13. Educational Features of the iPod Touch The iPod Touch is an easy to use device which can provide learning any where and at any time. • Its use is not only restricted to music and audio files. It can be used to play video, to view images and write text. • Learners and teachers using iPod touch can move information between applications. • It can display slide presentations and other files. The following site has useful details on use of the iPod Touch in the classroom www.steveyoung.net

14. Educational Features of the iPod Touch The iPod Touch has a built in Wi-Fi- and Safari Web browser giving ease of access to the internet. This also makes it easy for learners to take notes, communicate vial email and blog. It is also a good tool to plan and organize one,s events.

15. Educational Features of the iPod Touch The iPod touch allows a multimedia approach to learning and thus promotes the use of different learning styles, e.g. Visual learners can benefit from instruction with animation and pictures while the auditory learners activities through the Mp3. It enhances hands on exploration and experimentation with tools.

16. Educational Features of the iPod Touch With the iPod Touch learners are encouraged to collaborate by using the media board. They can work together or individually to gather information and send it to the media board for discussion.

17. Educational Features of the iPod Touch The iPod touch makes it easy to personalize instruction either by tailoring it towards particular learners or by allowing individual learners to Personalize content. It enables learning on the go and exposes learners to information rich sources.

18. The iPod Touch in an EAP classroom Learning outcomes Using the iPod Touch, learners should be able to : • Locate relevant information for their programme of study. • Take an make notes on relevant information. • Read academic text presented in different formats. • Write essays and reports and post on the forum. • Communicate and collaborate with other learners on issues of EAP. • Demonstrate critical and analytic thinking.

19. The iPod Touch in an EAP Classroom Learning Content The program focuses on English for Academic Purposes and covers the following content areas: • Learning How to Learn • Basic concepts of online learning • Exploring using the internet with a focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing

20. The iPod Touch in an EAP Classroom Learning Content 2. Communication resources for language learning • Chats • Newsroom • Discussion forums

21. The iPod Touch in an EAP Classroom Learning Activities / Methodology EAP is a skills based course with special emphasis on practice. Learners will be expected to contribute to the course through networking and communicating with the instructor and other learners. This will be facilitated through the following activities:

22. The iPod Touch in an EAP Classroom 1. Learners will choose and evaluate different resources using the internet. 2. Learners will read different academic texts using various reading strategies 3. They will analyze different texts for grammar and other textual features. 4. They will use social networking tools on the iPod Touch to publish their findings and to communicate with the instructor and other course participants.

23. The iPod Touch in an EAP Classroom Assessment 1. Assessment will be in the form of quizzes and short answers. 2. Learners will be expected to write short summaries of their understanding of various aspects of the course. 3. At the end of the course learners will submit a project testing their understanding of how to use various aspects of the iPod Touch to develop relevant academic skills. 4. Learners will also be expected to submit a portfolio of their reflections on the course.

24. Conclusion The aim of this write up was to propose the integration of the iPod Touch in learning and teaching English for Academic Purposes. The iPod Touch has many useful features which do not only respond to the need of the learner in the 21st century but are ideal for learning essential academic skills for a university student. With the introduction of such innovative technologies as iPod Touch learners become motivated participants in their own learning.

25. References Horkoff, H., Hank,K & Jonathan, M. (2008). Language Learning by iPod: an Emerging Model. Jackson, P.T. (2009). Learning Styles. AACP Teachers Seminar. Accessed from kitten boo.com. Oxendine, C., Robinson, J. & Wilson, W. Experiential Learning from an Emerging Perspective on Learning and Technology. The iPod Touch in the Classroom. www.steveyoung.net