The Integration of e-Learning into the English Language Curriculum

Curriculum Leadership and Management for English Language Education

25/27 November 2014

English Language Education Section

Curriculum Development Institute

Education Bureau

Objectives

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To discuss the role of English Language curriculum leaders in planning the school-based curriculum in secondary schools, in particular how to integrate e-learning into the curriculum

To provide suggestions on how to lead and manage the English Panel effectively, especially in the implementation of e-learning

To share strategies and experiences in supporting English learning with the use of information technology

Run-down14:00 – 14:05 Registration

14:05 – 14:15 Overview of Policy

14:15 – 14:30 What is e-Learning?

14:30– 15:05 Integrating e-Learning in the English Language Curriculum (Part 1)

15:05– 15:20 Break

15:20 – 16:10 Integrating e-Learning in the English Language Curriculum (Part 2)

16:10 – 16:50 Experience Sharing from Yau Tse Tin Memorial College

16:50 – 17:00 Q & A

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Overview of Policy

The Fourth Strategy on Information Technology in Education (ITE 4)

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Keeping ITE in step with curriculum development

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Key actions for ITE4

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Action 1: Enhancing schools’ IT infrastructure

Providing a WiFi campus for all

Using mobile devices wisely

Action 2: Enhancing the quality of e-learning resources

Developing an e-textbook marketLeveraging global e-learning resourcesSharing of resources by teachers

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Action 4: Building professional leadership, capacity and communities of practice

Enhancing professional development of teachers

Rendering support services

Action 3: Renewing curriculum, transforming pedagogical and assessment practices

Articulating clear learning objectives

Promoting an e-learning repertoire

Using e-assessment for student learning

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Action 5: Involving parents, stakeholders and the community

Communicating with parentsWorking with stakeholders

and the community

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Current situation at most schools

What e-resources are we using now?• e-Version of

the textbooks provided by the publishers

• Video sourced online (e.g. YouTube)

• PowerPoint slides prepared by the teachers

• Online platform developed by service providers

How are they used?

• to provide stimulation and arouse students’ interest

• to present new concepts (e.g. grammar & vocabulary items)

• to promote self-learning

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What is e-Learning?

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e-learning vs e-teaching

Extracted from a blog entry by David Warlick (http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/)

If you ask ‘How does IT facilitate my teaching?’, you still do not understand the genuine essence of IT in education.

‘How does IT help my students become autonomous and proactive learners, and increase their lifelong learning capacity?’, you are enlightened.

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Oe-Learning refers to an open and flexible learning mode involving the use of the electronic media, including use of digital resources and communication tools to achieve learning objectives. The essence of e-learning is the use of technology to deliver learning content more effectively and the learning process in e-learning environments is expected to consider three key elements for maximising learning opportunities conducive to 21st century skills development. They include blending formal and informal learning approaches, balancing individualised and collaborative learning to help learners to increase awareness of learning achievement and collecting evidence of improvement.

Extracted from Consultation Document on The Fourth Strategy on Information Technology in Education: Learning to Learn and

Learning to Excel A Holistic Approach

Definition of e-learning

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How can the use of information technology

change learning and teaching?

Discuss:

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Learning is…

Listening & Interacting

Reading

Presenting

Assessment

Collaboration

Researching

• To achieve learning objectives

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e-Learning is…

with the aid of electronic technology

Learning

e-Learning enhances L&T effectiveness through:

motivating studentscatering for learner diversityfacilitating interaction and collaboration

promoting assessment for/as learning

enabling self-directed learning

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Integrating e-Learninginto the English Language curriculum

Part 1

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Planning the implementation of e-learning

Curriculum

planning- Admin

measures- Entry Point- Strategic

planning of integration

The use of e-resources

- Classroom management

- Purposes

Resources

management

- Resources management

- Funding

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• Technology allows for the creation of new tasks inconceivable in the past

Redefinition

• Technology allows for significant task redesign

Modification

• Technology acts as a direct tool substitute with functional improvement

Augmentation

• Technology acts as a direct tool substitute with no functional change

Substitution

Dr. Ruben Puentedura, PhD. http://hippasus.com/rrpweblog/

En

hance

me

nt

Transfo

rma

tion

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Curriculum planning- The use of information

technology

Substitution (Enhancement)

Computer technology is used to perform the same task as it was done before the use of computers, e.g. students print out a worksheet and finish

the practice activity.Same old practice

with a

computer

https://sites.google.com/a/msad60.org/technology-is-learning/samr-model

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Augmentation (Enhancement)

Computer Technology offers an effective tool to perform common tasks, e.g. students complete a writing task with

Microsoft Word and send the file to their teacher.

Technology makes editing easier

https://sites.google.com/a/msad60.org/technology-is-learning/samr-model

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Modification (Transformation)

Technology allows for significant task redesign, e.g. students produce a digital story about a

little boy and his pet, with music, pictures and audio recordings inserted to present the ideas.

No computer = No product

https://sites.google.com/a/msad60.org/technology-is-learning/samr-model

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Redefinition (Transformation)

Computer technology allows for new tasks that were previously inconceivable, e.g. students create a documentary video on

environmental protection. They collaborate with students from other schools (or cities) to generate ideas for the product. They are expected to contact outside sources (e.g. Green Peace) for information.

Drastic change

brought by the use of

computer

https://sites.google.com/a/msad60.org/technology-is-learning/samr-model

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Curriculum planning

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Administrative measureskey focus of school development plan /

forming a core group

Appropriate entry points themes / levels / language skills /

student abilities / teacher readiness

Strategic planning of integration

Traditional Enhancement Transformation

E.g. Use of Sonic Pics / Pic Collage / Phonto (www.sonicpics.com, www.pic-collage.com)

- enable digital storytelling

E.g. Use of ToonDoo / Comic Touch / Comic Creator(www.toondoo.com, www.plasq.com/apps/comictouch, www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/)

- allow students to compose their own comics

• Some e-tools to enhance students’ learning motivation and enable effective presentation:

Integrating e-learning into the curriculum- The way to “Transformation”

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Example 1: Use of Phonto

Theme: NatureFocus: Writing a poemProcedure:

1. Students understand and appreciate poem(s).

2. Students learn poetic language and features.

3. Students collect images from copyright friendly sites (e.g. Pics4Learning.com, Morguefile.com).

4. Students create their poems and combine the photographs with poetry.

Digital Storytelling with an iPad by Karen Boschhttp://www.slideshare.net/kbosch/digital-storytelling-with-an-ipad

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Example 2: Use of Pic Collage

Theme: Endangered speciesFocus: Writing a reportProcedure:

1. Students read texts on endangered species.2. Students learn the structures and language of a

report.3. Students search for information and photos

online.4. Students create their reports with Pic Collage.

Digital Storytelling with an iPad by Karen Boschhttp://www.slideshare.net/kbosch/digital-storytelling-with-an-ipad

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Integrating e-Learning into the English Language Curriculum

Part 2

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Use of e-resources – Classroom management

Some considerations:Establishing classroom routineHaving control over students’

computersProviding clear guidelines /

instructions for using e-resources

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Catering for

learner diversity• Learning

styles• Learning

abilities

Facilitating

interaction &

collaboration

Social networking Exchanging

views on forum

Promoting

assessment for/ as learning

• Using the Google Doc / Forum to exchange comments

• Teachers collecting data on student performance on assessment platform

More informati

on available• e-Dictionary• Search

engine• Videos

Enabling self-

directed learning

• Computer-based courseware allows students to revisit content as often as they wish

Use of e-resources - Purposes

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Possible e-resources: blogs, interactive learning platformsAdvantages: Enhance interaction and collaboration between

students and teachers, students and students, establish a learning community among studentsE.g. Use of kidblog

(www.kidblog.com) - enable sharing of views and ideas

among students

E.g. Use of google docs (doc.google.com) - facilitate process writing and

assessment for learning

Facilitating interaction & collaboration

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Advantages: Provide timely feedback on student work with media-rich comments

(typed, written, audio and video comments)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6HJf_UKVR8http://www.edudemic.com/providing-feedback-student-writing-video/

Assessment for / as learning

Possible e-resources: Explain Everything, Google Doc

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Possible e-resources: e-textbooks, e-books, digital multi-modal textsAdvantages: Enable teachers to present concepts in different

modes of representation, e.g. through pictures, animations, videos and games;Allow students to acquire and explore knowledge in a flexible way and support independent readingThe Recommended e-Textbook List (https://

cd.edb.gov.hk/ertl/search.asp)

e-Books

Catering for learner diversity & self-directed learning

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Activity: DemonstrationSupporting independent reading with an e-text

Making predictions about the content using pictorial cues (e-feature: mask)Working out the meaning of words / phrases, i.e. ‘blend into’ by clicking on the words in bold (e-

feature: word definition) i.e. ‘blend into’, ‘sways like a flower in the breeze’,

‘shaped like petals’, ‘behave like giants’ by using semantic clues (e-feature: video clip)

Demo

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Resources management / funding

• Administrative measures to ensure smooth implementation of e-learning

• Capacity building• Hardware system• Making effective use

of fundingResources Management

• Quality Education Fund

• Pilot Scheme on e-learning in Schools

• Support Scheme for e-learning in Schools

Funding

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The interaction/communication among learners and with teachers is more important than merely communicating with a computer in the English classroom

Does e-learning mean using information technology throughout the English lesson??

What do students prefer, teachers or computers?

Teachers (48%)

Computers (19%)

No preference (11%)

No answers (22%)

A study on the use of computers to conduct oral proficiency assessment at Brigham Young University

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Modes of interaction in the English classroom

Teacher-Student interaction

Examples:

Giving instructions

Teacher’s demonstration on the use of language items

Human-Technology interaction

Examples:

Reading e-books

Playing online language games

Producing e-texts

Student-Student interaction

Examples:

Conducting pair-work / group work

Conducting speaking / writing activities to consolidate learning

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The purpose of using information technology is to facilitate language learning, not to replace teachers.

Does e-learning replace the teachers? ?

E.g. Use of Popplet (www.popplet.com) - teacher introduces the task - students organise ideas and collaborate - teacher gives feedback on the ideas

generated and enriches the mindmap

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“Technology won’t replace teachers”

“…those who use technology effectively will replace those who

don’t”Dr. Ray Clifford, 1983.

Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation will Change the Way the World Learn Clayton M. Christensen, Michael B. Horn and Curtis W. Johnson

Why School? How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere? Will Richardson

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning http://www.educatorstechnology.com

Ruben R. Puentedura's Weblog http://hippasus.com/rrpweblog/

2¢ Worth of Seeking the Shakabuku (Blog entries by David Warlick) http://2cents.onlearning.us/

References

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