Harnessing technology to improve language teaching
Working with colleagues across Europe, researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan University analysed the use of a range of technologies in the classroom and developed resources to support language teachers to realise their full potential and develop new teaching methods.
Interactive technologies have the potential to support more effective teaching. However, their potential is often not realised. Where teachers have used technology, their focus has generally been on the technologies themselves rather than the collaborative and interactive teaching approaches that they can allow.
Building on his previous research on interactive teaching, Professor Gary Beauchamp of Cardiff Metropolitan University developed a framework to assess how teachers use technology in teaching, focusing on interactive whiteboards (IWB).
From here, he joined the European Interactive Technologies in Language Teaching (ITiLT) project, and led the second iteration ITiLT2, which aimed to improve how language teachers use technology to enhance their teaching practice.
Realising the potential of interactive technologies
The research team worked with colleagues from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Turkey and Spain. They also worked closely with lecturers, teachers and pupils in these countries to plan, deliver and record lessons.
Their research found that many lecturers and teachers lacked confidence when using technology, which limited how they used it in their teaching. Even those who felt confident using interactive technologies were less confident about using them to their full potential to develop new teaching methods.
The project found that most classrooms were organised with a focus on the educator rather than the learner, particularly in the case of younger learners. To address this, the research team developed an online tool to allow teachers to analyse their use of different technologies in language teaching.
The ITiLT team also produced a wide range of resources related to use of technology for the professional development of classroom teachers and university lecturers. These included videos of lessons, e-guides and an online library, which were made available through the project website.
Worldwide impact
The team’s work changed the use of technology in language teaching in seven countries spanning Europe and Eurasia, benefiting an estimated 50,000 pupils and students.
ITiLT resources have been produced in French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Turkish and English. The project’s website has been used by teaching practitioners in Europe, North America, Australia and Turkey, and its online resources have been shared through professional bodies and networks such as European Schoolnet, a not-for-profit network of 34 European education ministries, which features ITiLT prominently on its website.
Research team
Professor Gary Beauchamp and Dr Emily Abbinett, Cardiff Metropolitan University