APRIL 2009
ICT Outlook | 2009 developments | 2009 events | 2008 looking back | Archives
This section of the website is maintained by the Association for Language Learning, the independent subject association for those involved in teaching languages. These pages, which are published annually, have been written by José Picardo. Check the Archives for previous editions.
The aim of this section of the website is to keep you up to date with key developments and events in the field of ICT and MFL. ICT Outlook brings you news of what is happening in the current year and throws a retrospective spotlight on the past year’s major initiatives, developments and events.
Hopefully, here you should be able to find what you are looking for quickly and easily. Welcome to ICT Outlook!
2009 developments and initiatives
eLanguages
eLanguages, a product of the collaboration between the British Council and the DCSF, is a free online collaborative tool, which enables teachers and pupils to use ICT to work in partnership with other teachers and pupils internationally. eLanguages serves teachers of languages specifically, but not exclusively, and offers many ICT features, which facilitate cooperation and resource sharing across the world on imaginative projects, thereby bringing a true international dimension to teaching and learning.
The eLanguages Project Toolkit , developed in collaboration with CILT, is an invaluable aid when planning and managing an international project.
New Diploma in Languages
The Diploma in Languages, currently under consultation, is a new qualification for students aged 14 to 19, which is due to be launched in schools from 2011 and aims to give students an insight into languages, culture and the wider world.
14-19 Reshaping Languages (CILT)
The ICT section of 14-19 Reshaping Languages includes a considerable number of case studies exploring the different possibilities for the use of ICT in the teaching and learning of languages at 14-19. The case studies cover a wide range of ICT and are of value to all teachers of languages.
Open Source Schools
Open Source Schools is a Becta-funded initiative which aims to promote the benefits offered by the use of Open Source Software (OSS), such as improving teaching and learning, engaging pupils and parents, managing information, resources and school administration.
CILT News Service
The CILT News Service reports the latest information about languages, including new policies and initiatives. The news bulletins often include ICT-related issues and are, therefore, a valuable source of information for teachers who are interested in integrating the effective use of technology in education. Here are two ICT-related items of news reported recently:
- Becta – ICT Excellence Awards
Becta’s ICT Excellence Awards recognise innovative use of technology in schools. The awards reward UK schools approaching ICT in outstanding or innovative ways, benefiting their whole community, inside and outside the school building.
- Consejería de Educación (Spanish Embassy)
The Spanish Embassy is looking for schools and colleges which can demonstrate excellence in the promotion and teaching of Spanish. The embassy will particularly be looking for examples of outstanding Spanish provision, innovation, extracurricular activities and the use of ICT and international links.
Becta - Next Generation Learning Charter
Becta is offering all schools in England the opportunity to make a public commitment to providing better learning opportunities through the effective use of technology. By committing to the Next Generation Learning Charter, schools make a public commitment and receive a certificate. They are then able to achieve the ICT Mark accreditation and can apply for the ICT Excellence Award, which celebrates innovative uses of ICT.
Becta - Entitlement of pupils in primary and secondary
Becta is reviewing the guidance it provides in respect of pupils’ entitlement to use ICT when learning languages in primary and secondary schools. The new guidance on entitlement is due to be published this year
Futurelab - Harnessing technology: Next Generation Learning
Futurelab, with the support of Becta, is undertaking a programme of work to develop the Harnessing technology: Next Generation Learning strategy. They are looking into strategies to bring about a step-change in the way technology is used across the education and skills system, enabling learners to take greater control of their learning. Emphasis is placed on five key areas: learner entitlement; engaging family and informal learning; professional tools and support for teaching; mobilising technology leadership; and fit-for-purpose sustainable technology based on personal ownership.
Futurelab - Create a Scape: personalised/creative learning tool
Create-A-Scape is a free teaching resource which allows teachers and students to create a mediascape, which can include sounds, images and video, using a PDA. This enables students to learn and be creative in an original way, providing a digitally enhanced, personalised leaning experience.
Futurelab - Enquiring minds: new approach to learning
Futurelab, in collaboration with Microsoft, is working on the Enquiring Minds project which aims to investigate new approaches to teaching and learning, exploring new ways to afford pupils greater control over what they learn and how they learn it. The project is looking for teachers and schools willing to collaborate by trialling and helping develop new approaches to education. Visit their website if you or your school want to take part.
GCSE - New Specifications for Languages
Further to the introduction of the new secondary curriculum in 2008, this year will see the introduction of the new GCSE specifications for Modern Foreign Languages, beginning in September 2009. A key feature of the new specifications is the flexibility and freedom afforded to teachers when developing tasks for examination. Moreover, the use of internet resources is encouraged.
Given the flexibility of the new secondary curriculum and the many opportunities for imaginative use of ICT in the teaching and learning of languages, it is to be hoped that ICT will play a key role in the development of stimulating activities as students prepare for GCSE.
ITT MFL: support for teacher trainers
A specially adapted version of the QCA Scheme of Work for French at Key Stage 2 can be found at ITT MFL. The Scheme of Work, specially adapted by CILT for initial teacher trainees and downloadable as a PDF file, matches units specifically to the KS2 Framework and the National Curriculum and, in particular, suggests appropriate ICT activities throughout. Each ICT activity is graded with the degree of difficulty so that users can choose activities which reflect their existing ICT skills. Useful for all those involved in the delivery of languages at Key Stage 2!
Links into Languages
Links into Languages is the new structure of regional support for Language teachers, developing a community in which language teachers in primary, secondary and further education institutions in England can obtain high quality CPD, information and networking from a nationally co-ordinated network of nine Regional Support Centres for Languages, starting operations from April 2009 and providing CPD as the year goes on.
As ICT is a key classroom tool for delivery of the new secondary curriculum and enhancing the teaching and learning of languages at all levels, it is sure to feature in CPD provision offered.
The Regional Centres will be based in Universities in the nine English regions and will bring together teachers and learners from schools, colleges, and universities.
New CILT website launch in summer term
CILT, the National Centre for Languages, has been working on revamping their website, which is due to be re-launched in the summer term 2009. We look forward to it!
Online CPD courses for ICT - Web 2.0 Visual Learning Collaboration Tools
Naace is developing a set of free online CPD courses about Web 2.0 Visual Learning Collaboration Tools. This online CPD, funded by the TDA, aims to empower teachers to gain confidence in the use of Web 2.0 Visual Learning Collaboration Tools, and to be able to integrate and apply these tools to enhance teaching and learning within ICT and the wider curriculum, including case studies focusing on Modern Foreign Languages.
The courses will be available from September 2009 and will be very practical in nature, focused on process rather than content and ensuring a high degree of future-proofing. They are to be founded on sound pedagogical principles and practice, related to curricular activities based on the national strategies for both Primary and Secondary.
The courses will also be visually rich and engaging, including diagrammatic models and concept maps, images, video case studies and exemplars, guidance and interactive links.
Open School for Languages
One of the key recommendations of the Dearing review was to develop an ‘Open School for Languages’ which would provide a virtual learning environment offering language learners a wide range of innovative resources available to them online as self study materials.
At the time of writing the successful bidder contracted to provide the ‘Open School for Languages’ is due to be announced soon!
Our Languages
The Our Languages website disseminates outcomes of a DCSF-funded project from a consortium led by CILT with the SSAT, National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education and the School Development and Support Agency in Leicester.
The project promotes community languages, with a particular focus on partnerships between mainstream and supplementary schools. You will find video clips of classroom practice on the website, as well as a searchable schools database, case studies, outcomes of pupil e-conferences, events calendar and a partnerships toolkit. Many of the schools in the project created ICT-based resources, which can be easily shared and adapted, particularly important in a field which is relatively under-resourced.
Primary Languages Training Zone merges with Nacell website
The Primary Languages Training Zone, which was launched in May 2007 to support the K2 languages entitlement by providing CPD and training to primary teachers, has merged websites with Nacell, the National Advisory Centre on Early Language Learning. Have a look at the media library where you can find many useful video clips, with accompanying text commentary, which demonstrate how ICT can be used to meet the requirements of the KS2 Framework and enhance the teaching and learning of languages at this level.
The new enhanced Primary Languages website was re-launched at the Primary Languages show which took place in Liverpool in March 2009.
Power League Web-based voting system
Although not language-specific, Power League is a free web resource for exploring any topic, through sampling group opinions and provoking group discussions. You can create your own visual online league table allowing students to cast individual votes. Power league can be used for stimulating debate and challenging opinions constructively... all in the target language!
2009 events
BETT
BETT , the world’s largest educational technology event, descended upon London Olympia once more in January 2009. Key themes this year were personalisation and flexibility in learning, collaboration, multimedia and interactivity. Large, medium and small suppliers, as well as government agencies, came together to display the latest tools and trends in teaching and learning with technology.
There were also interesting seminars throughout the event which were very useful for language teachers: Helen Myers, past president of ALL, gave a thorough and well received presentation on ‘Practical and existing ICT resources and ideas for language teachers’ and José Picardo, Head of MFL at Nottingham High School, demonstrated how Audacity, the sound recording and editing software, can be used by teachers and pupils to produce listening materials and podcasts as part of a seminar on the use of Open Source Software.
ALL Language World 2009 – Grasping the nettle
The annual Language World conference of the Association for Language Learning took place this year at the University of Leicester on April 3rd and 4th. The programme was wide-ranging, bringing delegates up to date on many national issues. Delegates were also able to explore aspects of ICT in practice, from mobile phones to wikis, and to dwell on the potential for creative use of ICT when developing, for example, the cross-curricular dimension, introducing the new Diploma in Languages, exploring the possibilities of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) within a global curriculum, or bringing an international dimension to the languages curriculum.
Primary Languages Show
The 13th annual CILT Primary Languages Show took place in March 2009 in Liverpool and provided an opportunity for ideas and experiences to be shared and explored by primary language teachers and consultants from all over the country. The programme offered workshops which aimed to inspire, challenge and play a part in developing the teaching and learning of languages in the primary school. ICT workshops and presentations included those about the use of animation, blogging and YouTube as tools for the effective teaching of languages at primary level.
TeachMeet - CPD for teachers by teachers
TeachMeets are informal gatherings of teachers from all specialisms, including MFL, who are curious about teaching and learning using technology. Events are organised all over the country by teachers for teachers with the aim of sharing real classroom practice and talking about the newest trends and tools. TeachMeets are free and often described by those attending as the best CPD event they have ever attended. You can find out when and where the next TeachMeet is taking place by going to the TeachMeet page.
The Language Show
The (London) Language Show, the UK’s largest dedicated languages show, takes place at Olympia from the 30th October to November 1st. With over 160 exhibitors and 80 free seminars, the show promises to please. Last year’s seminars contained a wealth of successful practitioners demonstrating how they had successfully integrated blogging, podcasting, wikis and Web 2.0 into their teaching. Let’s hope this year’s show is equally valuable!
Links into languages
As reported elsewhere in this edition, Links into Languages will be operational from April and should be offering CPD later in the year. Watch out for ICT-related events and training, and be sure to book your place.
2008 looking back
New Secondary Curriculum
The New Secondary Curriculum came into force in England for Year 7 in September 2008. With it came specific mention of the need to provide opportunities for pupils to use a range of resources, including the use of ICT, for accessing and communicating information in the target language.
For support and advice on the implementation of the New Secondary Curriculum, including some fantastic case studies involving the use of ICT in MFL, follow the links below:
- National Curriculum
- QCA MFL case studies
- New Secondary Curriculum case studies
- Supporting the new secondary for languages (ALL)
Relaunch of Languages-ICT Website
The Languages ICT website was re-launched in the autumn term of 2008, following the addition of some new and very useful sections, which are detailed below:
- ICT in action - These pages provide a wide range of practitioner-led projects including some very useful video case studies on the effective use of ICT.
- Useful ICT ideas: Effective language lessons - This section contains a newly-expanded searchable database of teachers’ tried and tested ideas using ICT in language learning.
- Technology for Languages –The new Key Stage 4 Resources section details useful websites for ‘hard-to-teach’ topics and advice for exploitation in the classroom.
- Downloads - This new section allows you to download specific resources, such as documents and video.
- Non-Roman scripts- This section brings together all previous documentation and advice for those involved in the teaching of community languages.
The new additions have proved very popular among teachers and educators, which has led to a doubling of the amount of visitors since the re-launch.
CILT 14-19 Conference - Success in Language teaching and Learning
‘Success in language teaching and learning’ took place in Nottingham in December 2008. Keynote sessions on issues of national importance including languages and the Diplomas came from high profile speakers including the National Director for Languages, Dr Lid King, CILT’s Chief Executive Kathryn Board, and Linda Parker, Director of the Association for Language Learning.
The conference also offered a wide range of workshops led by practising teachers and lecturers who have achieved success with their 14-19 students in languages. The workshops included a selection of hands-on ICT sessions covering the use of video and audio (James Pearson of Helston Community College), blogging and microblogging (José Picardo of Nottingham High School), video and music to improve reading and listening skills (Bernard Clark of Durham Johnston School) and the new Flip camcorder (Clive Hoare of Sheredes School).
European Awards for Languages
The European Award for Languages, a Europe-wide initiative supported by the European Commission, recognises creative ways to improve the quality of language teaching, motivate students and make the best of available resources.
CILT, the National Centre for Languages, assisted by an advisory group, is the UK coordinator of the initiative. Eligible projects in the UK can be based around any language other than English and are expected to have an international dimension. Imaginative and engaging use of ICT is often a key element of winning projects.
To find out about past winners and how to enter, visit European Award for Languages.
Social networking improves CPD for Languages Teachers
The May 2008 edition of ICT Outlook highlighted the boom in social networking sites, such as Ning and Twitter.
Nings (as each of the networks created using Ning are called) have been extensively used by teachers in many countries who are interested in sharing tips and ideas, often about the use of ICT.
A popular Ning with a global appeal is Classroom 2.0 and, closer to home, we have the wonderful Primary MFL Ning, just to name a couple.
Web 2.0
The education-friendly family of Web 2.0 tools available to teachers has increased during 2008/2009. Read about some of the newest and more exciting additions:
- Edmodo is a private microblogging platform, similar to Twitter, but which allows teachers to create private networks for their pupils. You can read more about Edmodo at Box of Tricks.
- Animoto is a video service which turns slideshows into stunning looking videos. You can upload your own pictures and importantly for the languages teacher, your own sound track (which can include music or speech). See some examples at Box of Tricks.
- Glogster introduces the concept of ‘online posters’, or Glogs. Glogs are multimedia posters which can include text, videos and sounds (including pupil recorded speech). See what a Glog looks like at Box of Tricks.
- Go!Animate allows the users to create wonderful animations easily and intuitively. It too supports the recording of speech which can then be used to give the characters a voice. See one in action at Asísehace.net.
- Comiqs is a free tool that enables pupils to upload their own photos directly from their computer or from a photo sharing site like Flickr and then add speech bubbles and captions in a variety of designs and fonts to create a comic strip. Wonderfully motivating, this is a great story-telling tool, perfect for eliciting writing. See an example at Box of Tricks.
Classroom and subject blogs
Classroom or subject blogs are easy to start and maintain with only the minimum ICT skills. As well as making languages more accessible to our pupils, thereby increasing the chances of learning taking place, blogs also help languages become more engaging and relevant to our students.
You can read more about how to start your own classroom or subject blog and how to use it in the article ‘Blogging and microblogging at the CILT 14-19 Conference’ which can be found on Box of Tricks.
From podcasting to vodcasting - The next generation
Podcasting by teachers and pupils continues to grow in popularity, thanks to the pioneering work from teachers such as Joe Dale and Mark Pentleton. Mark’s Radio Lingua Network offers a wide selection of podcasts in a different languages. All can be downloaded free but you must take out a subscription to access supplementary premium content.
As well as traditional voice recordings, some teachers are now venturing into the world of video podcasts (sometimes known as ‘vodcasts’), given the relative ease with which video can nowadays be produced and edited using tools such as Windows Movie Maker, iMovie or online video editing tools such as Animoto.
Adam Sutcliffe, from the Gordon Schools in Huntly, and José Picardo, from Nottingham High School, are among the teachers using video podcasts to enhance the teaching and learning of languages.
Go to:
The Gordon Schools
Asísehace.net
LAFTAs Competition winners
The Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) competition, run by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, invited young people aged 13-21 to make two-minute videos demonstrating the importance of languages. The winning videos were chosen by a celebrity judging panel, which included comedian Eddie Izzard, broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald and Sky Sports regular Guillem Balague.
25 clips were shortlisted, and eight were awarded prizes at the ceremony, but a video showing how a lack of languages skills can be fatal when under attack by Japanese dragons won the top prize at the LAFTAs ceremony in September 2008: Christopher Thompson, Guy Taylor and Michael Kinahan from Belfast walked away with the prestigious award for Overall Best Entry, as well as a top-of-the-range camcorder and Eurostar tickets.