ESL and Education Technology.
ESL class-rooms are not just text-books, paper work sheets and audio recordings in the 21st century. Extensive research has shown that technology innovations have made the classroom a fun place to learn English. Technology can be used to substitute paper with word processors, and built in dictionaries helps with spelling, and vocabulary accuracy. Groups of learners can collaborate and share and learn together on shareable documents like Google Docs.
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Overheads have been phased out in favour of smart boards, and powerpoint presentations. Nearpod has modified, and redefined the basic powerpoint, making it accessible on cell phones and interactive. Feedback has become more efficient as well. Floop is a software that that enhances this by allowing students to upload assignments, and return to see detailed feedback from the teacher. Not only this, but it allows for students to give feedback to each other. Video in combination with audio and text allows the students to use a holistic range in developing the four language competencies. Technologies such as Kahoot and Quizizz allows for some gamification of traditional multiple choice tests. AR allows for time saving and some TPR with cards that can be scanned vis a vis a camera in a cell-phone.
These technologies go some way to improving engagement in language classrooms. They do not supersede the ultimate objective, that being language. The sections analysis is a useful tool in pre-determining the usefulness in reaching that goal through technology use in the classroom. Below I have given examples, and highlighted how three of my favourite education technologies can be used to enhance lessons in the ESL space.
Flipgrid:
Flipgrip is a video collaborative site. It can augment class presentations for speaking and listening tasks. It can be used for alternative assessment. It's very adaptable to daily tasks, or larger culminating assignments. I like how you can create QR codes in each step, attach resources, and add text to explain what the objective is. It modifies the lesson by allowing further exploration, and response methods.
Padlet:
Padlet is an extremely useful interactive collaborative board. It substitutes regular board responses, however it can modify text and allows for video, photos, replies, and instant feedback. It is available on a computer, or cell-phone and can also be linked in powerpoint through QR codes. It has many templates as well. You can add voice recorded responses. It's fairly easy to give feedback on the spot. It is one of my favourite Ed-tech tools.
EdPuzzle:
This is a great video enhancer. I like to add notes to videos and add comprehension questions and open-ended discussion questions to tube videos. It's great for introducing language concepts, and short listening exercises. It allows participants to reply to open questions with text, or by recording an audio responses, which really augments the experience. Like all of these technologies, it is free and easy to introduce to the student.