Sandra Tapia Guajardo

Teaching with Technology in the Language Classroom

Teaching with Technology in the Language Classroom

Project Report


1. Background

Learners Students from an 8
th
grade with a low level of
English.

Setting Public elementary school.


Course goals
To introduce a new software into the
class.
To enhance meaningful English
learning to students.
To develop more proficiency of
technology.

Student needs
Motivation to learn
More participation in the classes
Team work

Relevant information related with the
course
The students go to the lab once a week.
The curriculum program is going to be
divided into 3 units: My daily
routine, free time and hobbies, and
getting ready for my vacations

2. Issue or problem to be addressed that technology can help with

It is now known that English classes in Chile are a true martyrdom, due to the lack of
motivation of the students and the few tools that teachers have as the social context of the
school.
However, it is possible to take advantage of the myriad of materials and activities
that internet offers to students and teachers.
This report will discuss the implementation of the "Prezi" program in the teaching
of English, covering the 4 disciplines: reading, writing, speaking and listening, with the
purpose of promoting meaningful student learning.








3. Possible solution to try
Sandra Tapia Guajardo
Teaching with Technology in the Language Classroom


What will you do?

Within 10 weeks, students will develop different activities using the software under study;
in order to learn to use Prezi (http://prezi.com/) parallel and acquire the second language.
All activities will be related to the reality of each student and applied in a ladder: Every
activity made will serve as the basis for the next one. The methodological and evaluative
objective will be to deliver an e-portfolio at the end of 10 weeks with the collection of
tasks.

When will you do it?

The idea is to start the academic year with the implementation of this methodology.


Where will you do it?

In the classroom
In the computer lab
Activities to be done outside the classroom (students houses, parks, etc)



4. Expected student response

How do you think students will respond?

Importantly, the main objective of this project is to promote meaningful learning of
English to students with very low level of it; through the implementation of a new
computer program: Prezi.
So I hope the response from students is positive because all activities are designed to
motivate them to learn this new language.
The idea is to develop teamwork, work outdoors and their digital skills.

Why do you think so?

I think the students will enjoy this project, because it lets out the parameters to which
they are accustomed: working with photocopies, filling the gaps, etc.
In this case, they will have to make use of different computational tools to create
videos, audios, presentations, and so on. Consequently, removing them from learning a
routine will bring many benefits for both, students and teacher.




5. Resources
Sandra Tapia Guajardo
Teaching with Technology in the Language Classroom



Articles that helped you come up with this plan, or that support your ideas

https://sites.google.com/site/teachingtechniquesproject/literature-review
http://www.theoryfundamentals.com/ausubel.htm
http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/UsingPreziInEducation.a
spx


Resources you plan to use in your class

http://prezi.com/
http://www.pixton.com/
http://blabberize.com/
Audiovisual materials students should create for their tasks.



6. Timeline


Week 1 The teacher will introduce the new thematic of work to students, the goals
they hope to accomplish and how they will be evaluated.
At the same time, the teacher will show the program they will use: Prezi,
discussing their advantages for learning. (See 5 reasons to convince you
that Prezi should be used in education
http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/UsingPreziInEd
ucation.aspx )

Week 2 The first activity will be done in the computer lab. Students will have to enter
the main page of Prezi and create an account.
After that, they will have 30 minutes to address the first part of the unit "My
daily routine". Using www.google.com/images students will have to download
10 images that represent their activities of daily life. and create a Word
document with the explanation of each of the images in sequence (like telling
a story).
When they are finished, students will have 15 minutes to give some design to
the Prezi and to add the Word document they have created.
Week 3 Continuing the unit "My daily routine", this time the students will have the
opportunity to work with a new tool.
They must enter http://blabberize.com/ download a personal photo and record
descriptions of the images worked the previous week.
This activity is good to work the use of the present simple and in turn, practice
pronunciation.
Week 4-5 Within 2 weeks, students will have to prepare a visual representation in
Sandra Tapia Guajardo
Teaching with Technology in the Language Classroom

groups, showing the people and places they frequent, their activities, etc. class
time will be used for groups to order their materials.
At the end of week 5, each group will have to upload the videos of the unit.
This will be an evaluation.
Week 6 This week we will begin the unit "Free time and hobbies." We will delve into
the simple present and will add the use of the present continuous.
Students should collect visual material to illustrate their hobbies and upload it
to the main Prezi document.

Week 7 This week we will have an activity done in class, which will be evaluated.
The students should use the next page to create a comic
http://www.pixton.com/ describing hobbies and activities they enjoy doing in
their spare time. They will have the entire class to do it. It can be done in pairs
or individually. Thus, we finish the second unit.
Week 8-9 The last unit "Getting ready for my vacations" aims to work grammatical
forms "will" and "going to"
For that, students should create a plan for their next vacation. It will be the
final project of the semester and will be done as a group.
The planning vacations can be delivered in print, or in digital format. Anyway
it must be attached to the main Prezi.
Week 10 To this point, students should be able to use various computer tools to enhance
their learning. Besides knowing the functions and mode of working Prezi.
This week each student will have to deliver the final Prezi with the collection
of all the activities of the semester, in addition to their thoughts, opinions and
useful data to demonstrate their learning.