Blended learningin the classroomPete Sharma, English UK,

Reading - March 2010

Who are you?

Aims

To update you on new developments in technology

To explore Blended learning in context of UK classrooms

To exchange practical teaching ideas

Blended learning in the classroomOVERVIEW

1) Background – four thoughts2) Technology – what’s new?3) Explore Blended learning4) New pedagogies5) Benefits and constraints

(1)Background – four thoughts(i) Computers have changed our lives as teachers forever

Corpus linguisticsWord frequencyCourse book authenticityNeologisms

((ii) “CALL is situation specific” (Levy & Stockwell)

Computer-aided language learning

Solution in situation A has no impact on situation B

Classrooms - online

((iii) New era

Digital natives / digital immigrants (Prensky)

Publishers no longer sole ‘owners’

Web 2.0: User-generated content /collaborative

(iv) Technology – driven world

• Innovators – early adapters - early majority

• Pedagogy playing ‘catch-up’

• Pedagogy is crucial for language teaching

(2) Technology – what’s new?

Five areas of innovations: growth of….. M-Learning

Digital materials delivered over a LMS / CMS

Interactive whiteboards

Web 2.0 tools

E-book readers

Materials over LMS / CMS

IWB – 4 approaches

Digital blank canvas

Web 2.0 tools

Nik Peachey

Kindle

SonyE-book

iPad

E-book readers

(3.1) Definitions

Combination of.....

work + training(f2f) classroom + onlinepedagogical approaches

[transmissive + constructivist / PPP + TBL]

different technologies

TASK 2

Real world + In world

Natural – range of definitions

A practical definition

Blended learning refers to a language course which combines a F2F (face-to-face) classroom component with an appropriate use of technology

(Sharma / Barrett)

3.2 Dimensions - three

Broad – “nothing new”Narrow – restrictive?

Connotation + / -

Cultural

3 approaches to e-learning

F2F Tech F2F 

Tech 

     

Dual track

Integrated

F2F 

Blended approaches – 3 terms

In the classroom

Embedded

(3) Contexts: Presentation skills

f2f

Blended: CD-ROM

Distance

Blended learning in action: Writing f2f

Blended: wiki