Technology's role in education has been debated for years, and recent news of Sweden backing away from screens in schools has reignited the conversation, at least amongst my educator friends. While some argue that technology can distract and hinder learning, others believe it can significantly enhance the educational experience.
I understand concerns about the overreliance on technology and its potential adverse effects on students' development. However, banning technology altogether is not the solution. Banning has never been successful or healthy in any society or community in the past, so why would it be now?
Instead, it is up to us, as educators and the education system, to ensure that technology is used meaningfully and effectively. Some significant systemic changes are needed to learn how to embed technology into our practice.
Our classrooms should reflect society; in today's digital age, technology is an integral part of our lives. By incorporating technology into our teaching practices, we prepare our students for the future and equip them with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital world.
In this blog post, I will share five apps I have used and enjoyed in my language class. These apps have helped to engage and motivate my students and enhance their language learning experience.
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Classroom Screen
It is a user-friendly free web-based app that helps manage and organize classroom activities. It has so many gadgets that you probably already use with different websites, but the cool thing is that you have everything in one place. It has a random name generator and a timer; you can add pictures, write, and draw. It also has a traffic light system, a QR code generator, etc.
You can use it as your main screen for each class and embed the content you want to cover. It’s super handy and a time saver.
2. Genially
It is a web-based tool that allows us to create interactive escape rooms and presentations. There are so many already-made templates ready for you to use. You just need to change the questions to adapt them to your teaching topic.
Escape rooms promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. Students work in groups to solve puzzles, answer questions, and complete language-based challenges. As a language teacher, Genially has helped to motivate and engage my students, promote teamwork and critical thinking skills, and practice language skills in a fun and interactive way.
3. Crowdbuzzer
Continuing with gamification, this year, I also enjoyed using this app that features a buzzer sound effect and a leaderboard that displays the scores of students. It can create competitive and engaging language learning activities like quizzes and discussions.
Crowd Buzzer can be used to gamify any language learning activity. It adds an element of competition that motivates students to participate and engage in their learning. It's so much fun!
4. Peardeck
As a language teacher, I discovered Pear Deck during the COVID-19 pandemic and still use it today, mainly as it allows me to assess my students throughout the lesson formatively.
It has helped me monitor student progress, identify areas of difficulty, and adjust my teaching to meet student needs, making it an essential tool for my language class.
5. Blooket
Blooket is a hit with my students; they don’t seem to get enough of it. While I sometimes wonder about the effectiveness of learning vocabulary through lists, Blooket offers a fun and engaging way to practice language skills if you create your own games. It can also be used as a fun brain break.
Technology is only effective if used correctly, and Blooket is an excellent example of how it can enhance language learning. If you have yet to try it, I highly recommend it.
CONCLUSION
Language teachers should be confident in incorporating technology into their teaching practices. We got scared when online translators came up, and yes, some students still use them unhealthily. However, adapting my tasks and assignments and emphasizing the importance of authenticity in their work has helped me win this battle, and we can do it again with AI and other screen-based tools.
Incorporating technology and gamification into language learning has revolutionized my teaching. Combining both promotes student engagement and motivation, and we will undoubtedly see more and more of this yearly.
As a result, I have put in a lot of effort to create games in my TPT store, so other teachers can incorporate them and reap the benefits of increased engagement in language class. If you are interested in gamifying your classroom, check out any of the apps above (they are all free to use) and check out my TPT store if you are a busy teacher with little time to create your resources.
What about you? Where do you stand in the use of technology in your language classroom? What apps have you found to be effective in enhancing language learning for your students? Let me know in the comments down below or get in touch by email. I love connecting with dedicated educators like you to exchange ideas and collaborate on innovative ways to enhance language learning.