Technology can be used throughout all phases of language teaching: course design, course delivery, and course assessment. Increasingly, teaching staff in private-sector and tertiary institutions are expected to have at least entry-level user familiarity with a range of technological tools or applications, and they are required to broaden these skills on the job. This course will enable students to develop confidence in their ability to integrate technology into their teaching, and in their capacity to explore other technological applications in response to workplace needs. Students will gain experience in using technology to support blended learning, to promote the development of particular skills, to facilitate greater learner interaction and engagement, and to create learning materials in a principled manner.
From the language learning perspective, technology enables potentially limitless access to rich language input and provides students with the option of exercising greater autonomy and agency in the learning process.
This course does not have the aim of introducing students to an ever-growing array of commercial applications or devices. Most of these come at a cost, and the pedagogical effectiveness (and the efficacy) of many is questionable. Rather, the primary focus in this course will be on the types of skill or language-based learning opportunities that can be supported through the integration of technology. Throughout the course, students will critically reflect on the relative benefits of particular applications with reference to sound pedagogical principles.
This course will be mostly delivered on campus in the traditional face-to-face mode, as the UoA prefers this delivery option. A blended learning component has been included to allow students to experience distance learning through technology, with some course content delivered online.