Learning and Teaching (foreign languages) efficiently on the basis of innovative methods and ICT. http://www.lte-project.com/

Innovation in Learning and Teaching Interaction, Reflection and IT

What is Interaction? Two-way communication

Collaborative learning

Action and reaction with others (person(s), computer(s), surrounding environment

Why Interaction? Strong correlations between better teaching and learning languages Avoids one-way instruction Enhances collaboration Involves participants in learning to learnTell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Confucius 500BC

Why should we promote interaction? To increase motivation To increase participation To develop communicative skills To help to negotiate meaning To enhance the elaboration of speech To retain language concepts To promote autonomous learning To receive feedback

LTEs concept of Interactivity between teacher and student,

among students,

between students and course content,

in and beyond the classroom,

with or without use of technology.

We believe that successfulness of interactive learning and teaching depends on :

the teachers flexibility to be innovative the quality of the teachers training the effective willingness of the teacher in promoting student participation the teachers awareness in creating the course condition and climate for interaction the students motivation to collaborate to the learning process

What is Reflection?

Putting in place of the thoughts on something and giving it careful consideration.

Reasons for learning how to learn (= strategy instruction) (1) Strategy instruction then is one way of helping them to understand that they are not doomed to be bad at languages forever and that there is something practical and concrete that they can do about it for themselves.

Harris, V., Gaspar, A., Jones, B., Ingvarsdttir, B., Neuburg, R., Plos, I., Schindler, I., Helping earners learn: explorin strategy instruction in language classrooms across Europe, European Centre for Modern Languages, Council of Europe Publishing, 2001

Reasons for learning how to learn (= strategy instruction) (2)How students are learning is an essential basis for learning more effectively.

Reflection is essential for the development of understanding and of the ability to make use of complex ideas and concepts.

(Moon, J, 1999)

The value of reflectionReflection is a process that may be applied in puzzling situations to help the learner make better sense of the information at hand, and to enable the teacher to guide and direct learning in appropriate ways. The value of reflection in teaching and learning is that it encourages one to view problems from different perspectives. (Loughran, 1996)

Students will be more involved with their studies if they are encouraged to reflect Students will be able to identify their own strengths and weaknesses Students will be more aware of what helps them learn and what stops them learning Students will be able to measure their own development

BENEFITS OF REFLECTION

The adoption of technology in the classroom can lead to qualitative and quantitative improvements in teacher-student interaction.The increase in technology creates new challenges for teachers on how best to maintain high levels of interactivity in the digital classroom. Why use Interaction Technology?

Key Roles in Technology in Language Learning (1) It increases motivation to learn languages which can be achieved through games and other digital media.

It Enables language learning across institutions and outside formal educational contexts.

It offers opportunities for meaningful practice of language in authentic contexts

Key Roles in Technology in Language Learning (2) It offers opportunities for maximal progress in language achievement through responsive diagnostic and feedback.

It provides innovative language engineering devices that provide just-in-time support in language use.

It enables information and resource sharing between language teachers.

ICT Responds to key issues in Language Learning The need to ensure that learning a foreign language is seen as relevant and enjoyable to learners.The need to offer more opportunities for learners to practice using foreign language.The need to support language teachers, particularly at primary level, in rural areas or teachers working in less popular languages.

LTE purposeWork out an

interactive global teaching process

made ofguidelines

and a range of

effective techniques and strategies

in order to improve students learning

Further intentions help the teacher to reflect on his own practice and make the transition to a interactive-centered setting

draw on technology to bring innovative ways to promote interaction

set a large dissemination of LTE conclusions

influence training designs

ConclusionThroughout this presentation we have sought to point out :

the positive impact of interactivity on learning

the need to provide teachers with the require know-how

the tangible ways taken by LTE to achieve this project

*Learning and Teaching Efficiently in other words LTE is a Comenius European Project. This Project is a network that introduces Learning and Teaching efficiently on the basis of innovative methods and ICT. This Project is about creating an international platform through which innovative teaching and learning methods for education in foreign languages can be showcased and exchanged. The aims are to explore the content and objectives of existing national teaching plans; to compare tried and tested learning and teaching methods; to present, evaluate, improve and develop innovative approaches (for example low-stress ways of learning foreign languages, uses of information and communications technology, education for lifelong learning and independent learning). In addition, to disseminate innovative foreign-language learning methods at European Level. The target groups that are involved in this European Project are mainly teachers, students, school governing bodies and in general people of all ages who want to learn foreign languages. It is anticipated that new approaches to teaching and learning will be identified, so that anxiety, nervousness and tension in examination situations can be reduced and motivation can be increased.The intention is to incorporate the results of the research into teaching plans at a European level, therefore helping to improve efficiency in foreign language learning while reducing the stress associated with it. *The LTE Network works on different themes with regard to Foreign Language Learning such as: Stress reduced learning strategies The learning potential of interactive whiteboards Multimedia and of course Innovative teaching methods which I will be discussing to you about today.The Innovative group of LTE believe that the three standpoints of innovation in learning and teaching are: Interaction, Reflection and the Use of ICT.

*Such as communication between the instructor and studentsWhich can be peer-to-peer communication in a collaborative learning environmentFor example, in computers, interactivity is the dialog that occurs between users through a computer.

***Focused in this project includes all types of interaction that can take place such as interaction.**

*Reflection is a key component in Learning how to Learn

*****Such as offering real and relevant opportunities for linking with real language learners (through the internet/video-conferencing), and/or by providing access to relevant and engaging material.

Like video and e-mail links with schools in other countries, or bythrough personalised and mobile devices, or through home access to the internet which can offer learners the opportunity to practice languages outside the languages classroom.

ICT offer opportunities for practising language in context with real native speakers in all four skills areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in ways that would have been impossible before.

*Such as practising through drill and test systems enable learners to practise languages in an environment free from embarrassment where they can work at their own pace. These environments offer feedback on success, diagnostic testing of abilities and encourage learners to manage their own learning.Portable devices now can support dictionaries and pronunciation for example speaking dictionaries that help the learner with pronounciaton.The internet can function as a powerful tool for language teachers; by enabling them to create and share their own resources and models of good practice, and by creating databanks of games and tests that can be used by other teachers, or by offering lists of language resources in target languages that can be shared.

**The set of teacher guidelines that have been created aim to share some of the approaches that are innovative and have made the learning experience for learners more effective. All that our project asks is the completion of Feedback for any of the guidelines you try out.***This the guidebook that has been created by LTE.*