A travel of reflection
through Technology-Enhanced Project Based Language Learning
How can we define telecollaboration? In a nutshell, as it is claimed by Dooly (tbp 2016), telecollaboration could be defined as the act of working with other people that are distant from each other -which is possible thanks to the use of CMC (Computer Mediated Communication)- in order to create an output. Nowadays, there is a wide range of varied tools that might help us to make telecollaboration more feasible and successful: Skype, Google Hangouts, Virtual Worlds, Padlet, Popplet, etc. And we can even use some of them at the same time!
This is Miriam and her telecollaborative group using Skype and Google Docs during the meeting so as to do a task:
Thus, telecollaboration offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with people all over the world. And that is great when it comes to carrying out a project, since language is used to communicate with others because of a real need. Actually, as it is claimed by Cuestas (2013), one of the main benefits of using ICT is that it helps to create this real need for students to speak in the target language, bringing a more authentic environment. In fact, we had a discussion about that...
Therefore, technology is a good ally both to find a language partner and also to provide a means to promote this communication. But, of course, if face-to-face collaboration is not easy, neither is telecollaboration.
Before, we have talked about the features of collaborative learning, and we have realised of how complex it is. In the same way, during this course, we have been discovering how we can achieve real collaboration when carrying out a telecollaboration project.
According to Dooly (2008), we can point out three types of collaboration: ‘Show & Tell’, ‘Zigzag’ and ‘Cogwheels’.
About the first level (Show & Tell), it refers to a basic information exchange (for instance, making students exchange a description of the school). Although they are able to practise the target language, collaborative learning is actually minimum.
Referring to the second level (Zigzag), it describes a collaboration in which students have to work in local groups and then share the information with the other class. In this case, collaborative learning plays a more important role than in the first level, but there is still not much interdependence between online partners.
And finally, the third level (Cogwheels) is the one that promotes real interdependence between partners. Thus, it is the level we ideally want to achieve, since it is when collaborative learning takes place at its maximum.
And which is the best way to get to know telecollaboration? Watch the following video!
TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT
Miriam: Hi guys! How are you doing with your telecollaborative groups?
Jesús: Hi Miriam! Quite well! Although this week our meeting lasted for 2 hours…
Miriam: Wow! I guess you were having a very interesting conversation about the task hahaha
Jesús: Yes, we had a good time!
Diana: Hello! In my case, the meetings are going well by now. But I sometimes wonder about the real purpose of telecollaboration… I mean, I wonder about why we couldn’t do the tasks with people in our same class. It’s difficult for our group to meet if we want to finish something because of time differences.
Miriam: It’s true… In case we need to take more time to do the tasks, it is not easy for our group neither.
Jesús: I completely agree… But Diana you know that if we had to work with people from our class, we wouldn’t use English.
Miriam: Yes, Diana. This is the reason why Melinda is doing it in that way!
Jesús: I agree! And actually this is the reason why telecollaboration will be useful for our students, because they will have a real need to use English.
Diana: I see! You’re right!
At the beginning, technology and project-based learning sounded like a good combination, but we did not actually know how technology could be used. Just as a complement? Is it referred to the use of tools such as online dictionaries, videos, vocabulary apps, etc.? Anyway, it was a promising mix, and we were expecting to discover how to apply technology.
As the course went on, we began to realise that in TEPBLL technology is not a complement, but an essential feature that boosts language learning. As said beforehand, we should find situations in which students need to use language for a reason. We especially remember when we got to know the project Healthy Habits. It was then when we clearly saw the role of technology in a TEPBLL. It is not about using technology just because. It is because technology might help us when it comes to teaching and learning language. What’s more, it may allow the use of the language for real purposes, making communication come to the fore. And that leads us to… telecollaboration.
Telecollaboration
And not only can technology help us when it comes to telecollaboration, but also to enhance different aspects involved in language learning, or even to help teachers carry out a project.
There is a wide range of technological tools that might help us enhance language learning, or even in our teacher daily life. During the subject, the technology showcases have given us the opportunity to get to know many of these tools, presented by our own classmates. Actually, preparing and presenting our own technology showcase was a great activity, since we could get to know a tool deeply, find out its potentialities and reflect on its strong and weak points.
We also realised about how important it is, for the teacher, to try the tools and get used to using them before he/she shares them with the students. Why? Firstly, because getting to know the tool is useful to identify possible difficulties that pupils might encounter when using it. And secondly, because it is when the teacher knows the tool like the back of his/her hand that he/she is able to maximise its potential.
And we should remember that, when planning, we need to save some time and plan some activities to let students familiarise with the tool they are using.
In the following Prezi, you will find our thoughts about the tools presented during the different technology showcases:
More enhancement...
Finally, we would like to highlight a key point that we also learnt from the technology showcases: although technology can be a great ally, we always need a plan B…