Introduction: Technology for Language Learning

There are a lot of technology tutorials online for teachers, and tech instruction is also available to teachers in their schools or districts as hands-on courses or workshops.  However, much of the time those workshops and tutorials consist of generic content aimed at teaching "how to's" or the "button-pushing" skills of particular computer tools.  What those generic workshops are missing is the "application"  piece: in our case, the application of technology specifically for language teaching and learning. 

In these technology modules, the focus is on the "why?" and the "what for?" - specifically for using technology for language teaching.  If we can entice you into exploring the uses of technology for language learning, we'll send you off to find out about the button-pushing aspects (if you need them).  In these modules, you will find many resources for ideas and support for integrating technology.

Each tech module starts with background readings, then examples of how teachers have used the particular technology. You will then have activities to get hands-on experience, or build up to using that technology. After the activities, you will find suggestions to create your own activity to use with your students. Each tech module finishes up with a discussion topic on the CoBaLTT discussion board, and a final section of addition resources for more indepth information: tutorials, other similar tools, related issues, or other information.

Even with all the various modules that you find here, this will only be a taste of the possibilities that new technology tools offer to us as language teachers. We hope that after these modules whet your appetite, you will continue to explore new ideas on your own, but also with your tech support people, and especially with your colleagues!

Please go through the" Introduction" module for important information on using these modules.

This introduction will give you an idea of what to expect from the sequence of activities in each module, as well as give you some preliminary instruction on how to use some of the sections.

Navigation:

• In the menu along the left side of this window, you will see the list of topics (modules) currently available to explore.
• When you click on a topic, you will see a sub-menu open with the same sequence of sections included for each topic.
• Under "Introduction..." you should now see those sections (click "Intro" if you do not).
• Click each section of the Introduction in turn to find out about each one, and to do some beginning activities.