How can we make CALL more effective? Towards normalisation
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How can we make CALL more effective? Towards normalisation Stephen Bax Canterbury Christ Church University England University of Cyprus, 27 th May 2006
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How can we make CALL more effective? Towards normalisation. Stephen Bax Canterbury Christ Church University England University of Cyprus, 27 th May 2006. Background. Stephen Bax [email protected]. Questions for this session. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of How can we make CALL more effective? Towards normalisation
How can we make CALL more effective?
Towards normalisation
Stephen Bax
Canterbury Christ Church University
England
University of Cyprus, 27th May 2006
Questions for this session
How can we make more effective use of computers (and other learning technologies) in language education?
How can we achieve normalisation of these technologies in language education?
Some questions
Look around you – note three examples of technology
What is normalisation?
See handout
Why is it a useful concept?
It connects CALL with the wider research concerning educational change
It connects CALL with the even wider research on the ‘diffusion of innovations’ (see Rogers 1995)
It therefore helps us to set an aim and an agenda
The agenda of normalisation
Seamless integration of technology with pedagogy (cf. the pen and the book) by putting pedagogy first (Handout)
CALL specialists: to make ourselves redundant
“The change agent should seek to put him or herself out of business by developing the clients’ ability to be their own change agents” (Rogers 1995:337)
So - how can we make CALL more effective?
Answer 1: Aim for normalisation in your own practice
How can we do that?
Start with students’ needs, then try to use technology naturally, simply and in tandem with other teaching tools and activities
Example: teaching reading
Skim reading
Task: Skim the texts and find X
-Ss read a text on paper
-Ss then read a text on the same topic on the WWW.
-Ss then discuss with a partner and compare the two texts.
-Ss then do an online task….etcetera
So - how can we make CALL more effective?
Answer 1: Aim for normalisation in your own practiceAnswer 2: Aim for ecological solutions rather than technological ones
Tudor (2003) argues that in language education we are obsessed with technological solutions instead of ecological ones
Try to accept the complexity instead of ignoring it.Don’t be satisfied with ‘golden bullet’ solutions
Blended learning
“The term is commonly associated with the introduction of online media into a course or programme, while at the same time recognising that there is a merit in retaining face-to-face contact and other traditional approaches to supporting students”
“Blended learning seems to have arisen from a general sense of disillusionment with the stand-alone adoption of online media. Many people felt that the promise of online media was somehow unfulfilled”
MacDonald 2006:2-3
How can we make CALL more effective?
Answer 1: Aim for normalisation
Answer 2: Aim for ecological solutions rather than technological ones
Answer 3: Be a model for others
Stages of normalisation in CALL
1. We see ‘Early adopters’ doing it
2. Ignorance / scepticism
3. Try once (‘no relative advantage’ Rogers)
4. Try again
5. Fear/ awe
6. Normalising
7. Normalisation
HOWEVER: This is not automatic
The tipping point
1. We see ‘Early adopters’ doing it
Who are these?
Gladwell: The tipping point
-Mavens: ‘the data banks’ (techies)
-Communicators: ‘social glue’
-Salesmen: ‘persuaders’
How can we make CALL more effective?
Answer 1: Aim for normalisation
Answer 2: Aim for ecological solutions rather than technological ones
Answer 3: Be a model for / encourage others
Answer 4: Research: do it and/or read it
What kind of research? (1)
Note: Each context is different (the issue of particularity)
1. Research each context
2. Identify factors which are impeding normalisation
3. Work towards dealing with them
What kind of research? (2)
A particular focus: the context in which CALL takes place.
“CALL research currently does not address … differences in context well” (Egbert 2005:4)
“in addition to rigorous, theory-based studies of multiple instructional contexts, [future] research should focus on CALL contexts and the variables at play within them. The field could benefit from more description of the learners, settings, and events in these contexts” (Huh and Hu 2005:17, my emphasis)
What kind of research? (3)
Sociocultural factors:
“Educational technology reform programs that have been more successful ...have devoted only a small portion of their attention to purchase and placement of equipment, and have placed much greater emphasis on human and social development through formation of school-community coalitions, implementation of long-term teacher training programs, and promotion of local autonomy for teachers, schools, and districts”.
(Warschauer, 2003:303, my emphasis)
Ethnographic approaches, action research
Illustration: Research project
Chambers (2000)
Chambers and Bax (forthcoming)
See handout
How can we make CALL more effective?
Answer 1: Aim for normalisation
Answer 2: Aim for ecological solutions rather than technological ones
Answer 3: Be a model for / encourage others
Answer 4: Research: do it and/or read it
Answer 5: Do your own action research
How can we make CALL more effective?
Answer 1: Aim for normalisation
Answer 2: Aim for ecological solutions rather than technological ones
Answer 3: Be a model for / encourage others
Answer 4: Research: do it and/or read it
Answer 5: Do your own action research
Answer 6: Aim for syllabus integration
Where next?
The use of computer and other technology in most institutions is not normalised
However, I suggest that if we
a) frame the problem in terms of normalisation, then
b) research the reasons which impede normalisation
c) we can start to identify targets and strategies
These will have a local relevance (particularity) and also perhaps a wider relevance
We can speed up the process of change
Thank you
Stephen Bax
Department of Language Studies
Canterbury Christ Church University
