Introduction | Using ICT effectively: video case studies | Digital video in action | Action Research
Action Research
The Languages ICT Action Research Project, which ran from 2004-2007, was an initiative from CILT, the National Centre for Languages and the Association for Language Learning (ALL). Summaries of all projects can be downloaded from the Archives section of this page. The project supported secondary classroom teachers in reflecting on their use of ICT and understanding its impact on pupils’ learning. It piloted a range of support mechanisms for classroom-based action research and developed opportunities for dissemination. The Project was managed by Claire Dugard, Language Teaching Adviser at CILT, the National Centre for Languages and Terry Cooper, the Project Coordinator, who was involved in all aspects of project work, including liaison with the team of 8 mentors based around the country. The project was part-funded by Becta.
2006-07
Many schools who completed projects in 2005-06 continued into the new school year. Some undertook an extended project over a six-month period, while others joined newly-established regional networks in Sheffield, Birmingham, and Bristol. Peter Morriss of Gordano School delighted audiences at BETT 2007 with his accounts of his Wikimania project and demonstrated how easy it is to set up a wiki. The older Halifax network continued and worked towards a dissemination day in March 2007. A network of 12 teachers was created in Leicester to focus on digital video. All schools enjoyed mentor support at regular meetings, by email and with visits where appropriate. See Archived projects for details of projects. A group of action researchers presented their projects at a day-long strand devoted to the Action Research Project at Language World, ALL's annual conference held at Oxford in March. Further details can be found in the May 2008 issue of ICT Outlook.
2005-6
More than 20 schools took part in Action Research projects. Each school worked with a CILT-appointed mentor who made two visits, one to plan and the other to evaluate the project and prepare an online report. Four schools formed a Halifax-based pilot network, to encourage peer support and exchange of practice. Three schools came together for hands-on training in a small pilot network in Leicestershire to explore the potential of digital video technology. See Archived projects for details of projects.
2004
A survey sent in summer 2004 to an NfER sample of 1000 secondary schools in England to ascertain the level and nature of classroom-based action research into ICT and languages indicated that work in this field was very limited. 190 schools requested support in developing their own action research practice. A closed pilot project offered these schools the opportunity to attend 2 seminars on action research in ICT and languages and to apply for mentor support in setting up and completing their own projects. A very small number of projects were supported in this first phase. See Archived projects for details of projects.
Archived projects
Titles of individual action research projects from the Action Research initiative are listed below by school year, indicating the content and range of projects undertaken.
To browse full summaries of all projects undertaken in a particular year, download the relevant PDF document below:
Project summaries 2006-07 
(pdf 369KB)
Project summaries 2005-06 (pdf 149KB)
Project summaries 2004-05 (pdf 110KB)
All downloadable documents on this page are in Adobe Acrobat format. You need Acrobat Reader to be able to read these files. If you do not have this reader, you can obtain it free of charge from the Adobe Acrobat website.
Please also note that these projects are referenced in the Useful ICT ideas, effective language lessons database, which you can search by ICT type, as well as on other search criteria.
Project titles 2006-07
All Saints RC High School, Sheffield. Ms Carolyn George
Using digital audio and common software to improve speaking skills.
Billingham Campus School, Billingham: Using CPS (Classroom Performance System) to improve learning and promote self-improvement.
Brinsworth School, Rotherham Ms Fiona Hilton : Using ICT to promote creativity and develop the skills necessary for independent learning.
Clifton College, Bristol. Mr Bobby Trivic
Using digital language laboratory software to improve speaking.
Gordano School, Bristol. Mr Peter Morris
Wikimania II: using wikis to encourage autonomous, creative and collaborative writing.
Holmfirth High School, Holmfirth. Ms Sarah Godbehere
Using ICT, in particular digital audio, to improve pronunciation and develop narrative skills.
King Harold School, Waltham Abbey. Mr Terry Curtis
Making it personal: Using an e-portfolio to identify progression.
Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School, Lincoln. Ms Catherine Ogereau and Ms Catherine Turner
Using authoring software and other ICT to improve language skills and engage pupils.
President Kennedy Community School, Coventry. Ms Neeru Dahar
Collaborative drafting on screen to develop essay-writing skills in Panjabi.
Saltley School and Specialist Science College, Birmingham. Mr Abdul Majid Afzal
Using interactive whiteboard software to enhance whole-class teaching, in particular text manipulation and colour-coded activities, to complement paper-based activities focused on tense formation in Urdu.
Shenley Court Specialist Arts College, Birmingham. Ms Anne Brookstein
Developing confidence with graduated activities.
Sir Bernard Lovell School, Bristol. Ms Ruth Cole and Ms Caroline Saunders
Working with podcasts to enable pupils to take more control of their own learning and to develop error recognition, confidence when speaking and creativity with language.
Whose voice is it anyway? Engaging the imagination in developing speaking skills, using audio and video editing software.
St Julie’s High School for Girls, Liverpool. Ms Alex Heap
Using a protected online community for peer-to-peer communication and developing extended writing skills with a Year 7 group.
Project titles 2005-06
Adeyfield School, Hemel Hempstead. Ms Emmanuelle Atkins
Using ICT to develop cultural awareness within a business and enterprise context.
Billingham Campus School, Billingham. Mr Richard Henderson
Using digital video to develop speaking skills.
Brinsworth Comprehensive School, Rotherham. Ms Fiona Hilton
Pupils use authoring software to create multimedia interactive materials.
Brooksbank School, Elland. Ms Nicola Dean
Using digital photographs, and audio to promote creativity and independence.
Crofton School, Fareham. Ms Barbara Hlavaty
Using authoring software to improve performance and motivation.
Dixons City Academy, Bradford. Ms Amy Parker
Using common easily available software and freeware to develop language learning using all four skills.
Gordano School, Bristol. Mr Peter Morris
Wikimania, or using wikis to encourage spontaneous and accurate creative writing.
Halifax High School, Halifax. Mr José Godoy and Ms Rhiann Cross
Creating a short film using digital video to enhance speaking skills and increase motivation.
King Harold School, Waltham Abbey. Mr Terry Curtis and Ms Judith Harrington
Expectation, Motivation, Perception: assessing the value and effectiveness of using a Virtual Teaching and Learning Environment (VTLE).
Norton Hill School, Midsomer Norton. Mr Phil Clements
Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft Deutschland 2006.
Pilton Community College, Barnstaple. Ms Sally Blackmore
The use of CPS (Classroom Performance Systems) as an effective assessment tool.
Putteridge High School, Luton. Ms Anne Skennerton
Exploring the world of work and developing learning skills using the Internet and authoring software.
Redruth School, Redruth. Ms Lizzie Hoskins
Keeping pace: Using the interactive whiteboard to maintain focus.
Saltley School and Specialist Science College, Birmingham. Mr Abdul Majid Afzal
Developing reading and speaking skills, using authentic texts and the interactive whiteboard.
Sir Bernard Lovell School, Bristol. Ms Ruth Cole and Ms Caroline Saunders
Increasing pupil motivation for speaking tasks using interactive multimedia authoring software.
Skipton Girls High School, Skipton. Ms Cally Berry
Using foreign language podcasts to develop pupils' listening skills independently.
St Aidan's RC School, Sunderland. Mr Arezki Aouane
'Just listen to yourself' Using audio editing software to improve speaking skills.
St Julie’s High School, Liverpool. Ms Alex Heap
Using interactive materials to develop confidence in generating original language.
Whitcliffe Mount School, Cleckheaton. Ms Kate Hyland Collier
Using ICT to develop creativity, collaborative learning and increase pupil motivation.
Project titles 2004-05
Adeyfield School, Hemel Hempstead. Mr Yann Le Coguic
Working autonomously with ICT on a 'real-life' task in order to improve language skills, especially writing and speaking.
Bournemouth School for Girls, Bournemouth. Mr Jean-Christophe Sorin
Using web page creation to promote accuracy and independent learning skills.
Icknield High School, Luton. Ms Anne Skennerton
Using ICT to promote independent and effective use of the target language.
Pilton Community College, Barnstaple. Ms Sally Blackmore and Ms Val Dixon
The use of CPS (Classroom Performance Systems) to improve motivation at KS3.