motivating new generations of learners through learner autonomy and handheld learning michael...
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Motivating new generations of learners through learner autonomy and handheld learning
Michael Carrier
British Council
Slovenia, Feb 2011
Language learning is important
“If you talk to a man in a
language he understands, that
goes to his head. If you talk to
him in his language, that goes
to his heart. “
Nelson Mandela
“If I’m selling to you, I speak your language. If I’m buying, dann müssen Sie Deutsch sprechen!”
Willy Brandt
“Kolik jazyků znáš, tolikrát jsi člověkem”
[As many languages you speak, as many people you are]
Old Czech proverb
“Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß nichts von der eigenen.
[Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own!]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
English underpins Cultural Relations…
•English changes lives
•English opens doors
•English forges wider communities
•English creates opportunities
Key drivers for English demand
• RelevanceEnglish has a unique role to play in the world. It is different from most other languages in its reach, relevance and impact
• Educationincreasing demand for English-medium schools, widening access to higher education, incorporation of English training in vocational education
• EmploymentEnglish is the language of commerce and ensuring any nation’s workforce can communicate in English is vital
• Social mobilityEnglish is seen as an access route to the middle classes and social/geographical mobility
• SocietysEnglish is a tool for international communication and intercultural understanding
The impact of English on lives....
Alvaro Uribe, President of Colombia
• My experience as the winner of the Simon Bolivar scholarship was excellent. I used it as a Senior Associate member of Saint Anthony’s College in Oxford University. I was able to advance my knowledge of the world, Latin America and my understanding of my own country. I simply could not have had this experience without a knowledge of the English language. I am permanently grateful to the UK.
Professor BK Chandrashekar, former Minister of Education Karnataka State
• My childhood desire was to study legal education in the UK. I had the good fortune of being introduced to the University of Leeds where I studied and went on to study in Oxford .
• I take pride and satisfaction for having introduced the learning of English in Karnataka’s Primary Schools when I served as Education Minister. This proved to be a landmark decision, acclaimed today by parents, teachers and students alike. It is widely recognized in India that English is the language of the future, the language that will bring prosperity to the country.
Multilingualism
“Multilingualism is the normal human condition - speaking 2 or more languages is the natural way of life for three-quarters of the human race” David Crystal
“Languages improve the quality of your life and your understanding of how other people live and think” CILT
“Intercultural awareness and language skills are among the top priorities in developing and executing business in international markets” Sir John Parker
What do we mean by language teaching?
• what do we want from it?
• who it is for?
• how it is organised?
• what languages do we teach and what do learners want them for?
• what social benefits it can bring? Social integration of migrants
Contact with neighbouring countries
Educational mobility
Business and trade
Family structure
Personal interest
Educational achievement
Motivation through new approaches….
• With the growth of social media and technology, do we need to re-define teaching and learning approaches?
• After 48 years of communicative teaching, is the methodology debate over?
• Is it the Dogme road or the IWB road?
• Should we re-focus on:
Learner-centred approach
personalisation for learners
English for life
Disintermediation of learning – any time, any place
Best use of technology
Student motivation - what do they want from English?
• English with a purpose
• English for EducationESP, EAP, EMI
• English for WorkVocational, Professional, Business
• English Plus………experience, adventure, skills
• We need:
• ....a broader understanding of aspirations
• ....a broader range of achievement assessment/certification
• ….a broader understanding of how people learn
Changing learning environment....
The main language teaching modalities
Generational Learning
• Baby boomers: born 1946 - 1964
• Generation X: born 1965 - 1982 (lower birth rates)
• Generation Y: born 1978 - 1994 (increased birth rates)
• Millennials: born 1995 - now into a post-internet world
• Gen X – less formal learning
• Gen Y – peer-learning, action learning
• Millennials – screen-oriented learning, lower attention span
Ashridge Business School – Gen Y Learning Styles
1. Doing is more important than knowing
2. A need for immediacy
3. Trial and error approach to problem-solving
4. Low boredom threshold
5. Multitasking and parallel processing
6. Visual, nonlinear and virtual learning
7. Collaborative learning
8. Constructivist approach
Millennial learning styles - Digital Natives
Digital Native Digital ImmigrantPrefer receiving informationquickly from multiple multimediasources.
Prefer slow and controlled releaseof information from limitedsources.
Prefer parallel processing andmultitasking.
Prefer singular processing andsingle or limited tasking.
Prefer processing pictures,sounds and video before text.
Prefer to provide text beforepictures, sounds and video.
Prefer random access tohyperlinked multimediainformation.
Prefer to provide informationlinearly, logically andsequentially.
Prefer to interact/networksimultaneously with many others.
Prefer students to workindependently rather thannetwork and interact.
Prefer to learn “just-in-time.” Prefer to teach “just-in-case” (it’son the exam).
Prefer instant gratification andinstant rewards.
Prefer deferred gratification anddeferred rewards.
Prefer learning that is relevant, instantly useful and fun
Prefer to teach to the curriculum guide and standardized tests.
New learning modes
• Online learning
• Self-paced learning
• 1-to-1 learning
• Handheld learning
• Mobile learning
• Collaborative learning
• Time-shifted learning – anytime, anyplace
• Synchronous / asynchronous learning
• Blended learning
Collaborative learning
I know what the group knows
I increase what the group knows
I know
Intel Classmates
•2 million Classmates in India, Macedonia, Portugal, Venezuela•Classroom management•Teacher screen control•ICT pairwork
• Mobile Application to help students maintain and revise vocabulary
• Uses vocabulary flashcards in 8 languages. Includes: definition, sound, translation, image
My Word Book
Handheld learning
Handheld Learning:''this movement holds the seeds of a more sophisticated, more effective, more modern way of teaching, training and preparing our youth for a new world'' Robert Safran, Fast Company, April 2010
Audio Soap - Big City Small World
My WordBook
Sounds Right!
Pathways
reachintegration
learningcutting edge
LearnEnglish Mobile
Blackberry Business Apps
iTunesU
intercultural dialogue
learningfeedback
LearnEnglish Social Media
Broadcast Media
Web-based LearningSocial Media
User Generated Content UGC)
Mobile Learning
Social Media & Digital Engagement in English
LearnEnglish Second Life
The new classroom
• Built-in Projector
• HHL / Netbook class set
• Handheld responders
• Digital audio/video from teacher PC/laptop
• Wall-mounted speakers
• Wi-fi across school
• External support: website portal, Twitter, Facebook school communities
Remote teacher – VC & Telepresence
learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org
Self-directed English
• Fifty-hour (20 unit) self-study course aimed at adult/young adult learners of English at an A2 / B1 level
• Develops learners’ language awareness and skills for the workplace
• Includes common IT-based tasks based on real-life situations encountered in the workplace.
• Developed using Moodle VLE.
English for Life & Work
English for IT
Instructional language is provided in the learners’ L1
Use of video, animation or other forms of visual presentation
Lexical input in written and spoken form
English for Tourism
English for Life & Work
Helping teachers to innovate - Teachers’ Tech Toolkit
• VOIP – Skype, WebEx, MS Lync
• VLEs – Moodle, Fronter
• Virtual Classroom - Lancelot
• FlipCams
• Mobiles
• App stores
• LectureCapture
• Wikis
• Blogs
• Slideshare
• Box.net
• Zoho
• Prezi
• Mahara
Innovation in.......Teaching & Lifelong CPD
For teachers of EnglishTeaching English – Learning Technologies
New media for teachers
Reaching the audience
• A whole career offer
• Development pathways for all teachers
• A training offer for all stages
• Digital resources
• Global networks and communities
• Innovative ways to reach out to all teachers
1 Starting Learning the principles
2 Newly-qualified
Putting principles into practice
3 Developing Building confidence and skills
4 Proficient Demonstrating confidence, experience and reflection
5 Advanced Exemplifying good practice
6 Specialist Leading and advising
Min. English level needed (CEFR)
1 Starting TKT Essentials A1+
2 Newly-qualified Classroom language A2 +
3 Developing English for Teaching
Primary Essentials
Learning Technologies 1
Certificate in Secondary School Teaching 1
A2 +
4 Proficient Learning Technologies 2
Certificate in Secondary School Teaching 2
B2 / C1
5 Advanced Trainer development course
Emoderator course
C1 +
6 Specialist ELT Management C1 +
Global Framework & British Council courses
CEFR core curriculum inventory
Conclusion
• Innovation & Technology - the servant of the teacher
• Technology - an invisible support like electricity
• HandHeld Learning - any time, any place, learner-centred, learner-driven
• CPD – lifelong learning support for trainers
Contacts
• British Council sites: www.LearnEnglish.org.uk
www.TeachingEnglish.org.uk
• Journals with ICT/tech content: Modern English Teacher
ETP
ELTJ
Language Learning & technology (free)